My cockatiel has something in his nostril, he won't let me get to it. Any way to get it without hurting him?

Question

It's something hard, and white. It's back pretty far, but it doesn't seem to be bothering him that much. He seems to be breathing normally, and everything. But, it must be annoying. I'm thinking it's some kind of feather build-up. I've tried to hold him, and get it with my finger nail, but it's back too far. I'm allowed to pretty much do anything I want to him, except get this. Tweezers are too sharp, and a Q-Tip is too soft. Please help. Thank you!

Just so you guys know... it's still not out...also, my bird is about 16 years old. I've never, ever seen anything like this in his nose before. I've tried wetting a Q-Tip, and that didn't work. My nails are long, and I've tried picking it out by hand, that also didn't work...

Answer 1

Ok that guy is a jackass

Try wrapping your bird in a bath towel so that only his head is free. This should keep him realatively still. Moisten either a Q-tip or a paper towel with warm water (a little bit of baby shampoo in the water won't hurt either). Try to soak the one nostril so that whatever is in there will soften. He'll probably sneeze a lot which should help get the crud loose. If it starts wrking its way to the nostril opening you may be able to grab it with blunt tweezers.

If none of this works, you may have to take him to see an avian vet.

Answer 2

you prbable should not try and take it out yourself because you may hurt the bird. Take it to the vet becuse it may have a seed jamed inside of its nostril. if the bird has difficulty breathing or anything take it to the vet imidiatle. If i has trouble breathing get a tooth pick but have someone help you hold the bird so that the bird will be still and you can take the whatever i has in its nostrill carefully without hurting it.

Answer 3

There is nothing wrong with your bird dont do anything to it! A cockatiel nose from time to time will look like that it is nothing to be alarmed about. I thought the same thing too until I learned that some of them just look that way because thats the inside of their nose. They dont have big noses and it looks crowded in there sometimes. Leave it alone or you will hurt your bird sticking things in its nose trying to dig out its flesh! Plus if you make its nose bleed it will die from drowning in its own blood. If there is something in there for sure the cockatiel will scratch it out itself as I have seen happen many many times. Its simply part of the bird. Thanks for asking before doing anything, I have raised cockatiels for 20 yrs and have seen it all.

Answer 4

wrapped vwith towel so you can'thold him put his face in water than lift up and with paper clip take his stuff from the nostril . warning you bird is getting sick look after him to see if has burgers. i'm saying this because i had cockatiel who had and white in nose and my husbend took it off from his nostril and it kept on coming back because he had flu and he died like about week. be careful with your bird. i'm saying this because i don;t want what happern to me to you.

Answer 5

when my cockatiel was younger he'd get little seed husks caught in his nostril and i'd be paranoid and pick them out for him. when i couldn't get it, i realised a couple of days later it had come out of it's own accord anyway. if it doesn't come out within a few days and you're getting worried, then take him to an avian vet.

Answer 6

1 cockatiel, cut into 8 pieces
2 cups low fat buttermilk
2 tablespoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons Hungarian paprika
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Flour, for dredging
Vegetable shortening, for frying

Place cockatiel pieces into a plastic container and cover with buttermilk. Cover and refrigerate for 12 to 24 hours.
Melt enough shortening (over low heat) to come just 1/8-inch up the side of a 12-inch cast iron skillet or heavy fry pan. Once shortening liquefies raise heat to 325 degrees F. Do not allow oil to go over 325 degrees F.

Drain cockatiel in a colander. Combine salt, paprika, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. Liberally season cockatiel with this mixture. Dredge cockatiel in flour and shake off excess.

Place cockatiel skin side down into the pan. Put thighs in the center, and breast and legs around the edge of the pan. The oil should come half way up the pan. Cook chicken until golden brown on each side, approximately 10 to 12 minutes per side. More importantly, the internal temperature should be right around 180 degrees. (Be careful to monitor shortening temperature every few minutes.)

Drain cockatiel on a rack over a sheet pan. Don't drain by setting chicken directly on paper towels or brown paper bags. If you need to hold the cockatiel before serving, cover loosely with foil but avoid holding in a warm oven, especially if it?s a gas oven.

Answer 7

when my cocktail has this problem, she sneeze it off or it goes away by itself. take him to the shower with you. humidity will help
GOOD LUCK