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Post by lemonora on Dec 26, 2020 9:22:09 GMT
Homer has been acting weird lately, picking his feathers and skin especially a specific spot over his shoulder that I can actually see a spot of bare skin when he turns his head (pic below) today I saw these black spots on his cage paper, could it be mites? not to mention that for a few months now his chest feathers are brown on the edges (pic below) I’m not sure if it’s related. we have this spray. we are too afraid to take him to the vet because he is an extra frightened one, especially that he can’t fly. any input would be appreciated.      |
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Post by Hezz on Dec 26, 2020 10:24:53 GMT
I seriously doubt that he has mites, being an indoor bird for all this time. To me the marks on the paper look like what I see when my guys have a ton of pin feathers and have a big preening session before I get them out of their cage. they look like random bits of feather junk to me, there doesn’t seem to be anything uniform in the shape or size of these bits. If they were mites, they would be of a uniform size and shape.
I don’t have an answer to his chest feathers changing colour; that is not something I have come across. Generally a change in plumage is a cause for some concern, being an indicator of another problem. We did have another question about something similar ages ago where a budgie’s feathers had started to get a blue tip, not brown like Homer’s; we never did find out what was the cause.
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Post by Hezz on Dec 26, 2020 10:28:17 GMT
lemonora, are you able to get a good close-up shot of one of these feathers when he moults one? Just wondering if they show anything different to a normal feather. The photo would have to be in perfect focus to be able to be enlarged to see if there is any damage to the tip of the feather.
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Post by lemonora on Dec 26, 2020 10:36:41 GMT
I seriously doubt that he has mites, being an indoor bird for all this time. To me the marks on the paper look like what I see when my guys have a ton of pin feathers and have a big preening session before I get them out of their cage. they look like random bits of feather junk to me, there doesn’t seem to be anything uniform in the shape or size of these bits. If they were mites, they would be of a uniform size and shape. I don’t have an answer to his chest feathers changing colour; that is not something I have come across. Generally a change in plumage is a cause for some concern, being an indicator of another problem. We did have another question about something similar ages ago where a budgie’s feathers had started to get a blue tip, not brown like Homer’s; we never did find out what was the cause. Thank you very much Hezz for your reply and help  I’m so so relieved I will try to get you a close picture of one of these feathers when he molts as he seems to be starting one, I would’ve tried to get a close up now but he won’t let me hold him 😕 thanks again Hezz I really appreciate it ❤️ |
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Post by Hezz on Dec 27, 2020 1:08:39 GMT
I look forward to seeing a feather. If we can get a close detailed look at one it might help throw some light on what is happening.
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Post by lemonora on Dec 27, 2020 5:51:11 GMT
I look forward to seeing a feather. If we can get a close detailed look at one it might help throw some light on what is happening. Will do as soon as I can 👍🙂 thank you again Hezz for your help and sincere care and interest in their well-being ❤️ im so grateful that I met you and very thankful for everything ❤️ |
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Post by Hezz on Dec 28, 2020 6:29:17 GMT
I’m not sure I deserve such accolades, but you are welcome to any help I’m able to give. |
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Post by lemonora on Dec 28, 2020 8:43:41 GMT
I’m not sure I deserve such accolades, but you are welcome to any help I’m able to give. ❤️U deserve more |
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Post by mona on Dec 28, 2020 10:11:45 GMT
I’m not sure I deserve such accolades, but you are welcome to any help I’m able to give. You deserve it for sure! It takes a lot of effort and time to dedicate yourself daily to answer everyone's queries and trying to help everyone out, as a regular routine! So, definitely a yes! And the same applies to everyone else over here too! That's what makes this space a lovely one! 🧡 |
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Oct 6, 2011 7:41:27 GMT
Marianne Marlow
Administrator 
George, Daisy, Iris, Billy, Peter, Chipper, Dinku, Barney, Ayla and Rocky
Posts: 28,743 
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Post by Marianne Marlow on Dec 28, 2020 11:01:06 GMT
Hezz, you DO deserve it. You take out a lot of time to help people with their queries 
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Oct 6, 2011 7:41:27 GMT
Marianne Marlow
Administrator
George, Daisy, Iris, Billy, Peter, Chipper, Dinku, Barney, Ayla and Rocky
Posts: 28,743
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Post by Marianne Marlow on Dec 28, 2020 11:03:06 GMT
yellowfacedviolet Have you ever seen anything like this before? Is it anything to do with his mutation? 
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Post by yellowfacedviolet on Dec 28, 2020 16:37:25 GMT
yellowfacedviolet Have you ever seen anything like this before? Is it anything to do with his mutation? Wow. No. This is a new one on me. I suspect it has something to do with spangle and pied teaming up, though that is not an unusual combination and one would think we would have seen it before. This is the opposite of incomplete expression--it's
hyper-expression of spangle, or a spangle-like phenomenon. |
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Post by Hezz on Dec 29, 2020 1:04:54 GMT
lemonora, is Homer the bird that has liver problems? Health problems do sometimes cause changes in other species, but certainly not a common thing in budgies, but perhaps this might go some way towards explaining it?? We had a member ask a question regarding her elderly budgie’s feathers on the chest and back. We never did get any answers and the poster didn’t ever report back in with an update. Not exactly like your Homer is getting as her green bud’s feathers were getting a blue tip to them. If you would like to read through the thread out of interest, I have finally found it again! budgerigarsforum.proboards.com/thread/7842/feathers-changing-colour
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Post by lemonora on Dec 29, 2020 1:48:13 GMT
lemonora , is Homer the bird that has liver problems? Health problems do sometimes cause changes in other species, but certainly not a common thing in budgies, but perhaps this might go some way towards explaining it?? We had a member ask a question regarding her elderly budgie’s feathers on the chest and back. We never did get any answers and the poster didn’t ever report back in with an update. Not exactly like your Homer is getting as her green bud’s feathers were getting a blue tip to them. If you would like to read through the thread out of interest, I have finally found it again! budgerigarsforum.proboards.com/thread/7842/feathers-changing-colour No, this is the one who can’t fly and who fell a few months ago, so I ended up putting him next to me on the couch and then after a month or so I realized that he started getting these lines on his chest so I assumed it was from lack of exposure to the sun, so I started putting him in front of the window for a few hours each day and got him vitamin drops as well, remember? I posted about it maybe a month ago I can’t wait till he molts, hopefully he’ll get new normal feathers, I’ll post a pic as soon as I get my hand on one of the browned feathers. thanks for the blue tip feathers post, I wish we knew what happened. thanks again Hezz ❤️ |
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Post by yellowfacedviolet on Dec 29, 2020 2:20:01 GMT
How old is Homer?
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I’m so so relieved 
