URGENT: Bent/Broken Wings???

[meike]

Hello everyone! This afternoon, out of nowhere, I saw that my lovely lady Chichi's wings are out of place.... Instead of being flush against her body, they are sticking out at what looks like an uncomfortable angle. She is acting normal, eating, drinking, and climbing around... she's as beautiful as ever, but her wings definitely don't look normal.

While she and her friend Frieda enjoy each others' company, it is not uncommon for them to fight sometimes: is it possible that Chichi may have broken/bent/dislocated her wing(s) in a squabble?? I have had her for 13 years and I've never seen her look like this... I'm getting very worried that something is wrong.

***BOTH BUDGIES ARE RESCUES AND DO NOT LIKE TO BE HANDLED** Taking her out of her cage would be extremely stressful for her, so I am trying to avoid taking her to a vet (which is far away) or otherwise invading her space. They do not like to be touched, so attempting to spread the wing is impossible and would likely do more damage.

I will post photos for a visual reference, and if anyone has any input I would be very grateful for it!

Thank-you in advance,

Meike.

Here are the images:

[starlingqueen]

She hasn't hurt herself, I would say she's probably sick. Dropping her wings like that is a sign she's not feeling well.

[meike]

Thank-you for the input starlingqueen! Any ideas as to what kind of sickness it could be? Is it something that can be remedied at home/with time or do you think a trip to the vet is necessary?

[milliej]

Can I just say that you mention you've had her for 13 years? That's a grand age for a budgie so she's an old gal

[periandviolet]

Her wings don't look droopy so much as held away from her body. They will hold them out if they are overheated. Is she panting at all? Is she able to fly? Is there a heat source nearby that she may have been too close to?

[meike]

Thank-you milliej! Yes she is an old gal, her partner before her passed away peacefully just last year at the age of 18... They have been my dear friends for a very long time

periandviolet: Hmm, I see what you mean in that she's sort of holding them away from her body... There is no way that the temperature has changed for them though (they are placed high up almost to the ceiling and there is no radiator nearby)... Someone mentioned earlier that she may be sick... Is it possible for birds to get fevers and that's why she may be feeling overheated?

She isn't panting and when I approach her she raises her wings normally to say hello. I haven't seen her flutter or stretch her wings outwards though, so I'm not sure whether she is able to fly or not

[starlingqueen]

Apr 27, 2016 19:44:18 GMT meike said:

Thank-you for the input starlingqueen! Any ideas as to what kind of sickness it could be? Is it something that can be remedied at home/with time or do you think a trip to the vet is necessary?

It's impossible to say what could be wrong. Maybe try some guardian angel on her food to see if that helps. She may just need a quick trip to the vets to check her over if she's not perked up soon. I don't think it's due to being hot, the way she's holding her wings is wrong for that.

[Hezz]

I would be very confident that she hasn't broken, or dislocated anything - the fact that she can move, and wants to move them, and also the fact that both wings are in the same position. If she can bring her wings back up into the normal position, but chooses not to, then you need to wonder why. Is it a neurological thing, or simply that she doesn't want to. I would leave her be for a couple of days, as long as she doesn't seem to be in any pain, and see what happens, or if you are very worried, then by all means get her to a vet.

Besides the wings being dropped, is there anything different about her? Tail bobs, breathless etc? Besides her wing position she seems a healthy looking little girl to me, but a vet will give you a better indication than I can.

[skysmum]

I think its possible that she has had a slight stroke. I have an old bud too and he had a stroke a while back and held his wings like this. He has made a full recovery and although his wings are still a little like it they are much better than they were. Just keep a very close eye on her

[Hezz]

I was thinking stroke, as well, skysmum, but wasn't sure it would affect both sides to the same extent. So Jo's did the same? Chichi is a grand old age as well.

Sparky can move his back into the correct position, but can't seem to keep it there.

Just something I have noticed, that is that Sparky's dropped wing gets the quivers now and then.

[skysmum]

Apr 29, 2016 8:26:37 GMT Hezz said:

I was thinking stroke, as well, skysmum, but wasn't sure it would affect both sides to the same extent. So Jo's did the same? Chichi is a grand old age as well.

Sparky can move his back into the correct position, but can't seem to keep it there.

Just something I have noticed, that is that Sparky's dropped wing gets the quivers now and then.

I was mainly his left side Hezz, head tilt and left leg but both wings drooped, the left was worse. They have almost gone back to normal but I don't think they will ever go back completely.

[meike]

Hello everyone! I would like to thank you all for all of your responses, they've really helped! As a quick update: it's been about a week, and Chichi is still the same, but she seems very happy!

She has had a type of "mini-stroke"... so it's possible that her wings will permanently stay a little drooped, but besides their position she is active, chirping, and as sassy as ever!

Thank-you all again for taking the time to help me out, I really love this forum, I think it's a great idea! You've all been so helpful

[jellybean]

I hope she continues to be active and chirpy and the effects of having the mini stroke don't give her too many problems.
She's a lovely little girl.
I hope you continue to stick around and enjoy the forum meike.

[starlingqueen]

Thank you for the update. So glad she's doing OK, long may it last.

[Hezz]

I am sure the stroke will not impair her in the least, for the time being. When she is older, who knows, but my little bud's droopy wing certainly hasn't slowed him down at all. Glad she is doing well.