Healthy owls are alert, have a good appetite and a clean beak and legs. A sick animal will retreat and the feathers bulge. If the sternum protrudes palpably, the bird is too skinny.
There are several serious diseases for which you can have a bird tested beforehand. An annual health examination is also recommended. Look for this best contact with a specialized veterinarian.
Common health problems are:
Growth of the legs or beak, bumblefoot
Symptoms: skewed legs or beak, inflammation of the legs
Growth or lag in growth is usually the result of too one-sided feeding, for example only day-old chicks. Ulcers on the legs are often the result of dirty housing and the wrong supply of perches. The sticks should vary in thickness so that the animal has to spread its toes to a greater or lesser extent.
Behavioral problems include being anxious, screaming, losing feathers, etc.
Symptoms: repeated feather plucking, screaming and sometimes aggression towards other birds or people
The bird is bored or has stress. Behavioral problems can be reduced by meeting the animal's needs, for example by letting them fly, handling and feeding them only at night and leaving them alone during the day. Squealing can be done when the animal is hungry or very anxious.
Tuberculosis
Symptoms: listlessness, respiratory disorders, weight loss
This disease is contagious to birds and humans. Consult a specialized bird vet.
Internal parasites and pathogens e.g. worms, salmonella, etc.
Symptoms: slimming, general poor condition, aqueous or yellow manure
Preventively keep the cage clean. The veterinarian can prescribe a worming agent. Young birds can already be infected with salmonella via the egg. Salmonella is a zoonosis, therefore you should wash your hands thoroughly after handling the animals.
External parasites e.g. lice, mites, mange
Symptoms: itching, bald spots, flaking, white granular 'lime legs', lethargy
External parasites cannot always be prevented. Mites, for example, are sometimes in the ground cover. Make sure you have a good resistance and consult a veterinarian at one of the symptoms.