Can Someone Please Help? Sick Budgie

[Marianne Marlow]

p.s. you do not have to deprive him of millet completely, just give it to him once a week rather than every day.

[jojo]

yes he has paper, not newspaper tho cos of the print. we use the tv page so the print don't come off, was worried in case it was toxic or something, I have always used this for my birds. Yes I will put a folded teatowel under it, thanks, that's a great idea.

[Marianne Marlow]

Fantastic. Let us know how he gets on

[jojo]

Also, Basil and Dill are on my shopping list for next week thank you.

[Marianne Marlow]

I hope he enjoys them as much as my lot do!

[Hezz]

Sweet corn is another favourite - I am not sure there has been anyone who hasn't gotten their budgie to eat corn. What does your little bird weigh? Is he a good flier? i would be trying to increase the seed content of his diet and get him eating more veggies, herbs, grass etc. Also adding some apple cider vinegar to his water can be of help if he does have arthritis ...... three drops to 100mls of water, (that is a maintenance dose) or a few more, seeing as he is in pain now. ACV with the "mother" is the best, but at a pinch the ordinary organic stuff still will work.

Edit: that should have read decrease. Sorry for any confusion

[jojo]

Hi, thanks for your reply. When you say sweet corn, how are you giving this? Excuse my ignorance but are you talking about buying a bag of loose corn and putting in a pot or a cob and taking some off? I’ve never known about this before. I don’t know what he weighs, but he is probably over weight because he rarely comes out to fly. I’ve never had a budgie like him before. All my other birds have always been out, talk, friendly etc, and I’ve never done anything different with Jaz that I haven’t done with my other birds, he’s just a ‘one off’ I think. (although he does talk). I am going to be getting the basil and dill as mentioned above and will also be adding the apple cider vinegar to list, I’ve never heard of this before either. Yesterday he didn’t have his usual ‘turn’, so I still don’t know if it is the Metacam helping (if it is arthritis) or it’s just a coincidence, but he had a better day. Today he has the right grumps, probably because I’ve taken his millet out!

[Hezz]

Either, re the corn. If frozen is easier for you, then do that. I usually buy a cob, use about half and have to throw the rest away. But I can get corn at a reasonable price, I also have frozen corn for those other times.

Re the millet, while you are medicating him, you can use a little knob of millet as a feel-good-afterwards/bribe . He will appreciate that.

[jojo]

Thanks very much Hezz. I'm thinking I will probably get the baby corn on the cobs, that way I can use one, put rest in freezer and get one out to thaw as I need them? I was going to ask "should I cook them", then realised that they wouldn't be cooked in the wild. I'm just asking ridiculous questions now
He went mad for toast this morning, as soon as he sees me get the toaster out, he goes berzerk! If anyone saw him they would think there was nothing wrong with him! Let's hope he stays like this

[Hezz]

If the bread is wholegrain, the toast is okay, but again, he should be limited to just a few nibbles or so. Most human food is not good, too many preservatives, etc.
So pleased he seems to doing heaps better; lets hope he stays that way.

[suesbird]

I have the seeded brown bread and they sit and pick the seeds out.

[jojo]

Hi, yes the bread is whole grain, he only has this once a week as I only really eat toast myself on a Saturday (don't really eat breakfast).
Well, he's gone 2 days now with no problems I just need to ask a quick question. Until I can get to the supermarket to stock up on fresh herbs, would dried dill harm him? I seem to remember the old Trill Toppers (discontinued), the herb ones were his faves and these had dried herbs on them. I've just looked at a new jar of dill to see what else there might be in it but it just says Dill. I tried him with fresh mint yesterday but it fell off his clip and freaked him out, so that's gone in the bin :/

[Marianne Marlow]

I wouldn't have thought that dried herbs would hurt him.

I have a box of dried herbs called "herb salad for birds"

[jojo]

thanks Marianne. I've been to the supermarket and bought fresh basil, dill and thyme, just planted in big pot in garden. I've put some basil in his cage, so far he hasn't touched it, I've also bought some baby sweetcorns and he has had a little nibble on it. I think at the moment he's probably a bit confused at the different veggies in place of the honey rings / millet. He'll get used them, it's a case of having to. And he hasn't had any falling/squeeling since Thursday, so all seems good at the moment

[Marianne Marlow]

That's great news jojo
Eventually he'll get curious and have some.