Concerned about my budgie as its cere has turned black

[skev]

Hello fellow budgie-lovers.

My 8 years old partner-in-crime male budgie Tweety has apparently changed colour on his cere. It went from beautiful blue to black, I'm not exactly sure when this happened as I haven't spend too much time with him the last days due to projects at home (don't worry tho, my mum gives him plenty company) - however she's not entirely sure when the colour shift occurred. Max. 3 days ago.

Anyways, I'll try and give some general information about him in case you guys acquire details.

Basically he lives in our conservatory, having a big branch that he sleeps on. He does have a cage inside the conservatory, however he only uses that when he has to eat. Whenever someone's home the doors to the conservatory is open and he gets to fly around our house, so I can't say he does not get proper cardio. He's still talkactive and sings a lot, although I wouldn't call it singing, more of a nuisance haha. He eats lots of different food, always have. He loves meat fx., basically whatever that is on my mum's plate he'll have a bite of. 

Uhmm. Also he's not sexually active with our female budgie, due to the fact that we do not wish to have more eggs, I really hope it's just him having blue balls. Please enlighten me, I'm sincerely hoping to have him for at least two or three years more


I read online that it may be testicular cancer? however I also read something about hormones, which like I stated is what I hope for it to be.

[jujubiiird]

I don't know what could be wrong, but if you post a picture that is clear and as close as you can so that the more experienced people can see it, then maybe they can help you when they get on!

Maybe if you also have a photo of what his cere was like before it changed, it could be helpful as well?

Btw, Welcome to the forum!

You can upload them to photobucket, then copy and paste the IMG link here for us to see the photos!

[skev]

Thanks for answering so quickly. I'll have a photo ready of him tomorrow once my mum comes home from work, since I have to borrow her phone.

oh and thanks for the welcome!

[Hezz]

Hi and welcome, skev. As mentioned, before and after photos are needed, but will still not be conclusive. You say you have a hen a well ...... does Tweety's cere resemble your hen's?

I hope for everyone's sake that Tweety does not have a tumour, but you would need a vet to be able to give you any sort of answer there. Are you able to get him to an avian vet? Not that there is really anything that can be done for tumours in budgies, unfortunately, but even if it is, you might still have him for quite some time. All you can do is give him lots of TLC and keep him comfortable, if the worst scenario does develop. But lets have some photos first, so we can see.

The other thing that can cause a male's cere to turn is an iodine deficiency. Increased iodine in his water for a week or two will give a quick indication as to whether this is the cause, as they react very quickly to the supplement. Do the birds have an iodine block to nibble on at will? If you wish to try the iodine treatment, you need to get Iodine Tincture from your chemist/pharmacy (25mg/ml is the concentration) and add three drops to each 100ml of his drinking water. Do this every day for two weeks; if there is no change then stop it.

[Shirls]

skev my Missy (hen) sky blue spangle, her cere turns black, usually one nostril at a time!!! (When in breeding condition).

[skev]

May 28, 2016 7:19:38 GMT Shirls said:

skev my Missy (hen) sky blue spangle, her cere turns black, usually one nostril at a time!!! (When in breeding condition).

New Pic from t

 
New pic from today

 
Years old picture, but the colour never changed afaik till recently

 
Years old picture, but the colour never changed afaik till recently

Hi again, thanks for the replies, truly appreciate it. After concluding what may be wrong I'll talk to my mum about having him see a vet. As for the Iodine Block, he used to have one in the beginning, however we stopped purchasing them and therefor he hasn't had one.

Also, when comparing him with Victoria, hers is way more light, however the upper of her cere is slightly brown (like 15% of her cere being brown).

FYI I hope the pictures are good enough, he was busy eating!

[Hezz]

I am hoping it is seed he has all over the tip of his beak, then, if he had just been eating. If you can get him to an avian vet, then good. Otherwise I would give the iodine tincture a go. It could be that he simply is iodine deficient and the tincture will give you an answer to that relatively quickly, as I have mentioned.

Tweety looks rather like my avatar boy, Blue. Unfortunately I went through this all with him, but sadly his was a tumour and I lost him all too soon. I sincerely hope that Tweety is simply iodine deficient and is back to his vibrant blue in no time.

[Shirls]

Your budgie is definitely a boy, so it's not the breeding condition thing. I'm afraid I can't help with a diagnosis, but Hezz gives very good advice and I would agree that a visit to the vet may be in order. Hope all goes well for the little chap.

[Marianne Marlow]

Oh Hezz, he's the spitting image of Blue!

Your advice is spot on. Avian vet visit required and possible course of iodine.