Jun 2, 2020 0:54:48 GMT
sylvia
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 2
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Post by sylvia on Jun 2, 2020 1:52:26 GMT
This post is just to inform others of the dangers of worms in budgies. A few days ago I lost my 8 month old male budgie named Pinnoccio due to worms. I had read online a description of different native grass seeds and bushes which were suitable for budgies so I started to pick lili pili leaves and berries, the odd eucalypt leaves and stems, grass seeds in my back yard and most recently picked grass seeds from an overgrown naturestrip close to home.
DON'T do that as they contain worm eggs which can't be seen.
The symptoms he displayed recently were constantly eating, many budgie naps with head tucked in and much less chirping and activity than normal so I made an appointment to see an avian vet who is only available two days per week (5 days time).
On closer inspection I noticed his vent was larger with feather loss in that area and when I tried to pull some poo away it came down in a long this strip so I thought WORMS. The next day I bought Vetafarm Wormout Gel and mixed it up according to directions and after half a day of drinking this he perked up a lot.
In the meantime I googled up worms and treatments and came up with a site which stated that "if a budgie has a bad case of worms" (which is hard to determine how much and for how long), do not give the recommended dose as that will kill the worms but can block up the passage if they cant be expelled, which I believe is what happened.
The next morning he was up early with more energy then went backwards very quickly so I rang the vet and they reluctantly agreed for me to take him in and would consult the avian vet by phone. I signed a form to have him euthanized if nothing could be done but he passed on before advice could be given.
Rest in peace Pinnoccio.
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Post by blue48 on Jun 2, 2020 9:31:04 GMT
I am so sorry to hear this sylvia, RIP Pinnoccio.
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Post by bud9 on Jun 2, 2020 10:38:54 GMT
So so sorry to hear about this, R.I.P. little guy.
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Post by clt80 on Jun 2, 2020 21:18:20 GMT
Sincere condolances, fly high little one.
Thank you for sharing this information.
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Post by Hezz on Jun 3, 2020 0:36:10 GMT
I am sorry you have lost your little friend but I doubt that it was due to worms unless this was the verdict given by the vet. There are very few parasitic worms that can be seen with the naked eye. I also don't agree that your experience with your bird is any reason for people to stop picking fresh foods - grasses, sprigs of budgie safe trees etc - for their birds. The healthier diet is of much more benefit to the budgies than the small risk of introducing some outside influence. Washing anything that comes into the pet birds' environment from outside will help alleviate any problems that might occur.
A simple worming regime is all that is required if anyone gets frightened at the word *worms*.
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Jun 2, 2020 0:54:48 GMT
sylvia
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 2
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Post by sylvia on Jun 11, 2020 3:40:29 GMT
Thank you all for your kind messages, much appreciated!
I agree with the comment that native shrubs and grass seeds are good additions to a budgies diet as long as worming is done on a regular basis. After so much googling to find as much info. about what is/is not good for budgies, I never came across the necessity to worm out, in fact never even thought about worms! It was only my humble opinion which led me to believe that he had WORMS. Hope that I haven't turned anyone against giving budgie safe native foods as that was not my intention. Merely put my post out there so people are aware of some of the risks, and never have to go through it.
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Post by tweetiepiesmom on Jun 11, 2020 4:30:30 GMT
Sorry you lost your young budgie sylvia and thanks for sharing.
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May 7, 2020 23:43:49 GMT
destinycall
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 65
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Post by destinycall on Jun 11, 2020 17:02:45 GMT
Regarding the safety of feeding fresh grasses, there are a few simple steps that you can take to reduce or eliminate the risk of exposing your birds to parasites, disease, or toxic chemicals that might be present on wild-harvested grasses.
First, when harvesting the grass, give the stalks a quick shake to knock off small insects. Most of these insects are not harmful to birds and can even serve as a source of protien, but some can harbor parasites or diseases that could be passed on to your birds.
Next, it is always a smart idea to rinse off any fresh produce before offering it to your birds and this is true for wild grasses also. This can help to wash away harmful chemicals that might be on the surface of the plant as well as removing other things like small bugs and eggs that might be clinging to the surface. Lay out the grass to let it dry off.
As a final step, you can freeze the grass. Freezing will kill the majority of living insects or eggs that might remain. If you want, you can freeze first and wash afterwards, right before you feed the grasses. And if you want an additional layer of protection, instead of washing with plain water, you can use a bird-safe antiseptic solution to disinfect the grasses.
Be sure to always visually inspect the grass before offering to your birds for any sign of mold, mildew, fungus or plant diseases. If the grass looks or smells odd, it is best to throw it out and gather from a different location. Watch for spots of discoloration and damaged or unhealthy looking leaves. Always aim to feed green, healthy grass seed heads that have been freshly harvested. Be sure to freeze any grass right away, if you will not be giving it to your birds within a day or two.
All that being said, the risk of contamination is pretty low and extensive sterilization is likely unnecessary in most cases. A quick shake and rinse is usually enough to ensure that you are offering a safe and healthy food to your birds.
Edit - I should also mention that it is very important to source wild grasses and other plants from areas that are free from pesticides, herbicides, and other environmental toxins. It is generally not recommended to gather from roadways or landscaped parks, as these areas may have been sprayed to reduce weed growth. Fallow fields, meadows pastures, and other natural areas are usually fine. And if you have access to private land where you know that no sprays have been applied for at least a year, that is ideal. If all else fails, it is even possible to grow your own fresh grass in containers, if you have time, space, and a love of gardening.
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