Bunting Bird as Pet

Buntings are the members of the finch family.



This bird can live for more than ten years with proper pet health care. Buntings are said to be healthy if they are active and alert, eat and drink throughout the day and if the beak, legs and feet look normal. When they are healthy they have dry eyes, their nostrils are dry and bright, the feathers look smooth and well groomed and the vent is clean and dry.



Some of the common health issues seen in buntings are pox, diarrhea, feather lice, scaly legs and face and red flags. Most diseases and health issues can be avoided by ensuring a good diet and cleanliness.

If a bunting is suffering from diarrhea, the fecal portion or stool might not be formed properly. Diarrhea can have several causes from changes in diet to internal parasites.



The very first thing to do in case of diarrhea is to consult a vet. Reduce fruits in the diet and ensure a healthy diet. Another very common health issue in buntings is lice or feather mite infestation. If the bird has lice or mites, you might sehim very restless, picking on feathers or scratching. This condition is better treated if you seek veterinary attention. One way to avoid this is to keep the cage clean. There are also mites that cause the scaly face and legs disease. If your pet bunting is suffering from this disease, you might see some symptoms like white deposits on the beak, ears, legs and feet. Another very common disease that buntings suffer from is pox. One might see lesions in the mouth or scabs on the eyes and face as symptoms of this disease. In such a case one should isolate the bird from the rest of the buntings and consult a vet immediately.

Red flag is another disease which affects buntings. This is a disease which can have serious complications or can even cause death. There are many symptoms of this disease like loss of appetite, beak swelling or accumulation, wheezing or coughing, eye or nasal discharge, red or swollen eyes, runny or discolored stools, favoring one foot, sitting on floor of habitat and fluffy, soiled or plucked feathers. If you suspect that your pet buntings are suffering from this disease, you should immediately consult a vet as this disease can aggravate rapidly. There are not enough cured or treatments for this condition and the chances of the bird’s survival are less.