Poo stuck to feathers

[ladybird]

Charlie is almost eight weeks old, his poo is normal and he is eating and drinking well...Because he is a white bird, it’s easy to see if he has any bits of poo dangling. This morning as I had him out of the cage and sat on my finger I had a good look.........he had quite a bit of poo stuck. I didn’t want to scare him but I gently got hold of him and had a good look.... Hi vent was clean, but his feathers are very long around it and the poo had just got stuck on them.....So I gently bathed him in cooled boiled water with some cotton wool and it came off easily.........He was very good, not getting too stressed , although I did get a nice peck! My question is......has anyone trimmed their budgie around the vent, as I can see this happening again with the long feathers....... He is doing his best to preen around there, I just don’t want it building up too much.......sorry for the long post........

[Shirls]

I have experienced this but I haven't trimmed the feathers, they usually preen it clean themselves. I think I remember a, or even some, members on here that have trimmed the feathers around the vent area. Giving them a shallow bath sometimes helps if it does become a problem. Try a casserole dish lid (on top of the cage) with tepid water in with a piece of herb in it to entice Charlie in. I put Basil usually in my birdies bath.

[ladybird]

Thank you shirls I will try that ......

[Hezz]

He will learn to clean himself up properly. Unless he was ill, the only reason I know for trimming the vent feathers is breeders of exhibition budgies trimming the feathers to aid with mating.

You are best off using something other than cotton wool to clean anything on a bird as it can leave strands behind on the feathers that the birds will ingest when preening. Almost anything else will do - clean clux, paper towel, even qtips/cotton buds don't leave behind the strands that the cotton wool does.

[OP]

I was going to add that as long as the poop is not blocking the vent and he is not poorly just leave it be. He will know it's there and will learn to pick it off in short time.

[ladybird]

Thank you for all the advise. I did trim him a bit, but found he still had a build up. I think it’s maybe happening because once he is covered at night he doesn’t seem to move and it builds up and goes hard. It’s easy for me to remove and he lets me.....but I worry that if we are away for a couple of days it will have to stay..... I couldn’t ask my neighbor to do that.
Yesterday I put water in a casserole dish and he loved it, today he isn’t bothered......The main thing is he seems happy and well and his poos are quite normal during the day..... The breeder told me not to give him millet for a while, and he won’t touch fruit or veg ( I even bought him basil and he just went to the other end of his cage).....Done all I can I think?

[jasonk]

If he is a big bird, and the kind with long course feathers, like the show English budgies, then this is a common problem.

It is fine to trim away the feathers around his vent to stop poops sticking to the feathers.

If you bird is overweight he will have trouble reaching around and preening down there... so check he is not too plump.

I know its a different kind of bird, but I commonly trim the feathers around my silky bantam chickens bottoms... as they are prone to get dried up poop stuck three too.

Your bird might just have this issue a few times, but if it keeps happening I recommend you carefully trim away the feathers... get someone to help you, wrap him in a light towel and cover his eyes to he calms down and keeps still makes it less stressful for you and him lol.

[Shirls]

He will get used to the Basil ladybird. Just introduce a small piece to start with, wet it too. Then as time goes by introduce larger pieces and eventually you will be able to hang a large wet bunch in the cage and he will love it!!

[ladybird]

Than you both......Jasonk, he is only 8 weeks old so won’t be fully grown yet. I have trimmed round his vent and it has helped. He is extremely tame now so holding him isn’t a problem , although he did have a little peck at me ( ouch) . I think trimming him is something I am going to keep having to do as he will have long feathers.
I will keep trying the basil.......

[jasonk]

Glad he is doing so well. If you do keep having to trim the feathers you will only have to do it once or twice a year.. as that is how often they replace the feathers.

Have you tried you budgie with steamed corn on the cob? My birds go made for it as it quite sweet. Make sure its cooled down though!!!

Mine also like big chunks of broccoli... and they even like to chew up the thick stalk.

They also like chunks of carrots. I take the skin off as chemicals can be concentrated in that.


Mine like these things the best. They won't touch any fruit.. apples, oranges, banana etc. They like the vegetables better.


You can give the dry millet spray and shake over some soil in a plant pot of in your garden and the millet plants will grown easily and very fast. You can feed you budgie the fresh millets sprays which are green and full of vitamins. I don't know any budgie which can resist a real fresh millet spray.