Budgie can't fly properly or walk properly

[hsvgun2]

Hi - I have a large outside aviary with about 11 birds - all are well and we started breeding last year and have been learning a lot.

I have one of our original girls that we bought - she was apparently only 2 odd years old so not too old or anything.  Anyhow about 3 months ago she seemed to be having some issues so we bought her inside to a single cage and made sure she was warm etc (we live in Canberra in Australia and it was still cool outside) - She didn't get any worse and seemed so lonely so we put her back in the aviary - she seemed to be ok.

Then she got weird and went into one of the nesting boxes and like wouldn't come out but after a bit of research we decided she was just being particular and left her alone.

Then about 3 weeks before Christmas we noticed she had fallen to the bottom of the cage but was climbing back up the wire, or would end up on a branch somewhere but then spend the night on that branch.  Her mate would always go down and help her out.

She looks well, has all of her feathers, no symptoms like redness or lumps etc, anyhow now I have come back from leave and find she is constantly ending up on the bottom of the aviary and cannot climb back up - I noticed she seems to stumble when she tries to walk away from me, and had some dried poo on her bottom, but no signs of diahorrea. She's not fluffed up, has no broken feet/legs, wings look good.

oh and now she is also sitting with her head sort of tilted back and eyes closed at times, as if she's having a nice snooze.

It is almost what I would expect of an old lady.

Any thoughts or comments would be really appreciated.

PS;  all other budgies are fine - no mites, no similar problems etc etc.

[starlingqueen]

I can only suggest you take her to an avian vet. She doesn't sound well at all.

Welcome to the forum.

[Hezz]

Do the birds have access to cuttlebone, iodine/mineral blocks, and what other supplements do you give them? Is this a hen who has had a clutch or two? Have you checked her feet for sores? Also, it sounds like you are colony breeding - correct?

[hsvgun2]

Hi Hezz, yes they have access to everything - we get fresh cuttlebone from the beach regularly and they have mineral blocks and so on - we also provide some greens regularly.

She had a clutch a while back (2 years ago) but nothing this season - her feet are in great nick, I decided to keep her at ground level as of yesterday as I spent a bit of time watching her and noted she seems to fall forward a bit when she is rushing (i.e. if I am trying to pick her up and she doesn't want to be picked up) - she hasn't gone blind but didn't seem to really know where I was coming from so to speak.  so I set her up with a habitat down low and plenty of branches so her mates are coming down regularly to talk but I noted she isn't really socialising but does go off at me if I pick her up to put her somewhere else. She seems fatter so I am thinking that could be a result of no exercise due to the lack of flying - Her beak and cere and everything looks good.  I had a really close look at her wings and she seems to have everything although there were a few little feathers missing at the rear of the inner section of the wing - sort of where it says 3/4 in the labelled diagram here

www.budgie-info.com/images/labelled-wing-feathers.jpg

She gripped my finger really well yesterday but I don't think she can do it on a branch as her balance is obviously a bit off - could this be a tumor/stroke or ear infection etc??

[Hezz]

It certainly could be due to a stroke or tumour. Either way, there isn't a lot you can do to help her, I'm afraid. I think you need to get her professional help.

[hsvgun2]

HI and thanks again. Yes I note she's able to get around fine on the ground so I am really thinking she's progressively put on weight through not flying for the past few months and is now having difficulties with movement in general - she seemed much more alert yesterday and today - so off to the vet we go - managed to find a bird vet within driving distance so will post an answer when I get one. Thanks for responding.

[hsvgun2]

My girl died quietly yesterday - no good reason, no outside signs of ill health so we are putting it down to stroke or other similar issue.

[jellybean]

I am so sorry to hear your sad news. Soar high little girl x

[Deleted]

That is very sad news. I'm sorry to hear it. I was hoping something could be done for her.

[sweetpea]

So sorry. Fly high little one.

[Hezz]

Sorry to be reading this. Did you even manage to get her to the vet? Just wondering if they were able to enlighten you at all. Poor little girl, gone too soon. RIP

[budgiefriend]

Rest in Peace, sweet beautiful little girl. Keep her cute face and happy song close to your heart, and she will ve with you forever. They leave us much too soon. I am sosorry for your loss. So sad.