First, thanks for a place in which I can ask this stuff!

I got a pair of males today, 2 & 4 years old according to the girl I got them from. I've been reading around for a few days about unsafe foods but must have glossed over any mention of mushrooms, as I gave them a piece to try earlier (closed cup variety, peeled). I foolishly checked to make sure it was safe afterwards, and have found word to the contrary. I yanked the mushroom and checked it, one of the birds had taken about 10 bites.

So are we just talking about a fungus intolerance here which is bad long-term, or is immediate action required? Is there any cause for worry?

Also (and this may be an unlucky bird!) the same bird has baldness around his eyes - I thought it might be overpreening by his cagemate, but he has been scratching a lot there with his foot today. Also he is rubbing his eyes on his wings when preening and has been pretty puffed up considering he has changed owners today. Also he has been rasping a bit.

I didn't ask the girl much about them as she was foreign and had only had them 2 weeks, she said she had got them from a pet shop in Littlehampton but didn't know the name. Some of the seed she gave me with them was labelled 'Animal Magic' which is there so I presume it's that place, I'll ring them tomorrow as well but maybe somebody has heard something which might help the bird. The other bird is 100% by the way as far as I can tell.

I was going to get check-ups for them soonish but will now arrange an appointment in the morining. I'm more worried about the mushroom thing but more information on the other stuff would be nice too!

Not sure about mushroom as i only give mine seed mix some fruit and nuts he may have lice thats why hes scratching

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life is not measured by the breaths wee take in a moment but by the moments that take our breath away...........

The bird may have a mite problem including air sac mites that live in the throat and lungs causing the rasping.This can be cured by the application of Ivermectin or similar to both birds.It is applied from a dropper on the back of the birds neck,entering the bloodstream and destroying mites.Google it for suppliers in your area.
And read up on mites and air sac mites in general.

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Thanks for your answers, hopefully this won't be serious then.

I've phoned the vet and got an appointment for Wednesday, even the girl who answered the phone has 27(!) cockatiels she told me, so they should be in good hands!

Just for anyone who's interested, 24 hours on and the mushroom seems to have manifested itself in some particularly runny poo, but nothing else - the bird is eating heartily and sang to me earlier, so it looks like an intolerance where mushies are concerned.