Sept 19, 2022 10:41:47 GMT
chuckie
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 21
|
Post by chuckie on Sept 22, 2022 0:05:15 GMT
Thanks for all the helpful replies. Luckily there’s a light fitting just above the cage so have put a 40W incandescent light bulb in it and pointed it towards the cage, it’s off at the moment, as I assume it’s a bad idea to leave it on overnight, will see how he takes to it tomorrow. Poos are still soft with a lot of urine/liquid but not as bad as before or messing up his feathers too much.
|
|
|
Post by Hezz on Sept 22, 2022 1:36:47 GMT
To help with poops getting stuck and to sooth the vent itself, a smear of savlon can be helpful and is safe enough for Tweety to peck at if he felt that way inclined. A small smear of Vaseline will work if you don’t have any savlon.
|
|
Sept 19, 2022 10:41:47 GMT
chuckie
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 21
|
Post by chuckie on Sept 22, 2022 16:51:05 GMT
Thanks, there’s not too much sticking at the moment but will keep the savlon handy all the same. I need to take a poo sample to the vet, what’s the best method to collect it, just place some tissue under the bird?
|
|
|
Post by tweetiepiesmom on Sept 22, 2022 19:12:46 GMT
In the past, I've put wax paper on the bottom of the cage so the 'wet' doesn't get absorbed into the paper. Neither of mine go to the cage bottom so that's not a problem for them. If you are right there, you can collect the sample and put it in a plastic baggie. Others likely will have other ideas.
|
|
|
Post by Hezz on Sept 22, 2022 20:01:25 GMT
A fresh sample, fresher the better is ideal, but if not an option then as fresh as possible and as soon as possible after, place in a ziplock bag and refrigerate. Paper that is less absorbent is better than something like paper towel or tissue. Wax paper is good but anything like photocopy paper is fine, also.
Also try to get several samples on the one sheet which is when overnight collection is helpful. Not all disease-causing organisms are excreted all the time, so one sample may be the sample where the germ is not. You could do three overnight samples over three days, often asked for with humans for this very reason. But refrigeration is important in a hot climate as they, germs - bacteria, viruses and fungi - can multiply outside the body and give inaccurate information.
|
|
Aug 26, 2022 17:46:24 GMT
magpie
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 36
|
Post by magpie on Sept 24, 2022 5:29:10 GMT
How is your budge doing now?
|
|
Sept 19, 2022 10:41:47 GMT
chuckie
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 21
|
Post by chuckie on Sept 24, 2022 13:20:51 GMT
We went to the vets this morning. Having observed Tweety more closely over the past week I noticed his beak seemed to be interfering with his eating, or at least looked rather uncomfortable for him. The vet offered to trim it and did a grand job. However the vet, not being an avian specialist, was unable to provide any diagnosis of the underlying cause or testing of the poo samples. My plan now is to email the two next nearest avian vets (both just over an hour away) and see if they can offer any advice or treatment. Thanks to the help received on this forum and reading around I’ve realised we’ve been doing our birds a disservice by predominantly feeding them seeds. I’m going to just assume that the problem is due to liver disease and switch them to a diet of sprouted seeds and chopped veg, supplemented with guardian angel and milk thistle. Fussiness shouldn’t be an issue as they both love leaves and fresh veg. I also got some better pictures of Tweety’s beak(pre-trim) and claws while he was in the pet carrier.
|
|
|
Post by Loz on Sept 24, 2022 13:31:49 GMT
I'm glad Tweety's beak got sorted!
The budgies should always have seeds in their diet but sometimes they need to be strictly limited. I believe a typical seed-restricted diet is something like 75% pellets, etc and 25% seed.
|
|
Sept 19, 2022 10:41:47 GMT
chuckie
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 21
|
Post by chuckie on Sept 24, 2022 14:18:36 GMT
I'm glad Tweety's beak got sorted! The budgies should always have seeds in their diet but sometimes they need to be strictly limited. I believe a typical seed-restricted diet is something like 75% pellets, etc and 25% seed. Thanks, what are in these pellets and can you recommend any particular brand/variety?
|
|
|
Post by ladybird on Sept 24, 2022 15:03:44 GMT
Oh goodness his beak was very long, I bet he feels so much better now that is sorted……..What seed do you feed them at the moment?
|
|
|
Post by Loz on Sept 24, 2022 15:39:54 GMT
Thanks, what are in these pellets and can you recommend any particular brand/variety? I cannot advise in detail on pellets, I'm fortunate in not having needed to use them so far. Others on the forum can help here, I believe!
|
|
Sept 19, 2022 10:41:47 GMT
chuckie
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 21
|
Post by chuckie on Sept 24, 2022 15:44:10 GMT
Oh goodness his beak was very long, I bet he feels so much better now that is sorted……..What seed do you feed them at the moment? We buy the seed from a local pet shop, it’s unbranded they fill it into empty milk bottles, so god knows where they get it from. The other option is pets at home but theirs has sunflower seeds in and I read that’s no good for budgies. Also seen Trill brand at the supermarket but never tried it.
|
|
Sept 19, 2022 10:41:47 GMT
chuckie
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 21
|
Post by chuckie on Sept 24, 2022 15:46:42 GMT
Thanks, what are in these pellets and can you recommend any particular brand/variety? I cannot advise in detail on pellets, I'm fortunate in not having needed to use them so far. Others on the forum can help here, I believe! Ok no worries. What do you feed your budgies then? I’m thinking of something along the lines of 50% sprouts, 25% chopped veg, 25% seeds. At the moment they’re probably eating 80% seed.
|
|
|
Post by tweetiepiesmom on Sept 24, 2022 16:06:41 GMT
In the US, most vets recommend a diet that contains 25% seeds. I'm not sure which brands are available to you so I'll leave the recommendations to others. You will also need to monitor both budgies' weight as you change their diet.
I would also have gotten the beak trimmed, especially since you're not sure when you can get him to an avian vet. Be sure to show the avian vet the pictures. I'm sure he can hull his seeds better now.
|
|
|
Post by Loz on Sept 24, 2022 16:13:49 GMT
I'd have thought your proposed diet was a good mix but it's always possible that I'm overlooking something!
I believe my gang are at around 50-60% seeds and the rest is made up with mixed veggies & herbs plus sproutie seeds (I use Salad Toppers from Sainsburys). When I offer sweet corn, the amount of seed consumption drops. I also offer apple which is occasionally nibbled.
The Flock is very active and have free access to the lounge and kitchen most of the day. Because they burn so much energy I don't currently worry about their seed intake but obviously this is something I bear in mind.
I use supplements just in case: Zolcal F for Vit D3, Avipro for Vit A, C, E plus apple cider vinegar. Not all the time and not all at the same time, of course! I consider milk thistle from time to time but I don't feel it's necessary at this point.
It welcome any critique or suggestions from the forum!
|
|