sore under wing

[maggie]

By poor budgie is not having a good time. She is moulting and making herself very sore under the right wing. She is red raw and bleeding, she has no feathers in the armpit only newly emerged pin feathers still stuck together.

I have read a bit on the forum and have been misting her the past few days. (we have the heating on a lot as it has been cold) They are not near a radiator.

I have had her out and washed her with a salty water solution. (She did not appreciate this!) I have also sprayed the area with savlon spray.

My main question is how do I stop her from worrying the site, her beak comes away with a little blood on it, but surrounding face feathers are still clean.

How often should I clean the site (if at all) ?

[maggie]

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

I cannot get a better one till later today as i need someone else to take the picture so I can have two hands to spread the wing. She looks terrible, still playing with her favourite toy, wants to preen billy still. I haven't seen her eat, but have seen her giving the cuttle fish a good going over.

[Marianne Marlow]

Ouch. That does look sore.

No idea what it is, just enlarging so that others can comment for you.

[stace]

Hmmm. I've not seen this before. But it looks like the feathers I can see there have come out in a clump, rather than feather by feather in a regular moult. Could this be mites? Is she pulling the feathers out herself, do you think? because she's itching?

Experts?

[maggie]

Its under the wing that is really sore, the feathers at the bottom of her belly have fallen out aver a few days, hence all the questions about moulting, there are blue pin feathers growing back there, she is too flighty to get a good pic.

[BudgiesBuddy]

Is she shedding feathers from this area only or the whole body?

[maggie]

All over, there are a variety of feathers on the floor of the cage. There is blood all over the wing, mostly dry, only spots wet right in the armpit where she keeps picking.

[Hezz]

I wonder if the pin feathers are aggravating the sore area because they are sharp. I think the savlon spray is a good idea, but I am wondering whether slapping a thickish amount on the sore area may help, for two reasons - she would (maybe) less likely to worry the wound and if the pin feathers are irritating the sore, the cream could provide a bit of a buffer. Shrug

Definitely a photo with the wing stretched out and a clearer view will help.

[maggie]

Hi all, i have taken a few more photos. Lilly seems less agitated this morning. I am happy that there are no wounds under her wing, I am sure she looks worse that it really is.

She was calm and peaceful all yesterday afternoon and slept well in the evening too. The pictures were taken after i had washed her a bit. (She did protest a lot and i have the plaster to prove it!!)


Under the wing


A view from above.

[Marianne Marlow]

Oh those look painful.

The wing feathers don't look like they have come out of their shafts?

[stace]

How is she now? Any better?

That kind of feather loss doesn't look right to me. Anyone else got any ideas?

[Ryan.W]

it reminded me of a post i saw about Polyfolliculitis, numerous feathers grow from one shaft, this agitates the bird and they pluck the area. I would take her to a vet it doesn't look right at-all.

[stace]

Jan 18, 2012 11:26:16 GMT Ryan.W said:

it reminded me of a post i saw about Polyfolliculitis, numerous feathers grow from one shaft, this agitates the bird and they pluck the area. I would take her to a vet it doesn't look right at-all.

You could be right there, Ryan, although I've never seen it before. It is quite rare, I think.

An avian vet would probably need to diagnose it.

[maggie]

Lilly is not a young bird so shouldn't a problem with the feathers be apparent at previous moults.

She is looking happier today, i have seen her eating, and she is not attacking herself any more. I can see lots of new blue feathers coming, and the ones on her belly are starting to open now.

I have been misting them each day, and I am keeping my fingers crossed. Maybe its because of the heating being on so much lately, its been quite frosty here the past few days.

[Ryan.W]

Jan 18, 2012 13:59:16 GMT maggie said:

Lilly is not a young bird so shouldn't a problem with the feathers be apparent at previous moults.

She is looking happier today, i have seen her eating, and she is not attacking herself any more. I can see lots of new blue feathers coming, and the ones on her belly are starting to open now.

I have been misting them each day, and I am keeping my fingers crossed. Maybe its because of the heating being on so much lately, its been quite frosty here the past few days.

even still this problem could come back another time, personally i think you should take her to a vet and find out the cause of the self mutilation. it will put your mind at rest about whats causing it if nothing else.