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Post by Hezz on Jan 7, 2021 22:09:45 GMT
WhileI’m pleased for you that Betty isn’t suffering from anything physically, that doesn’t help you very much, really. Not sure if it would be of any help, but you can get a product called Bitter Apple, a spray, that is supposed to deter birds from chewing things. It might work for her being sprayed on her feathers, but I would consult with the vet first I case they know something different. I got some for a hen who was a shocking chewer around the house but it kept her away for only the shortest time, so not sure how effective it would be for Betty, anyway. She hasn’t lost a mate recently, or a family member she was close to left home? I guess the vet didn’t offer any solutions if this is a mental health problem? A long shot, but if she is wanting to mate, I come back to maybe she is a frustrated hen and needs a clutch to settle her down. ?? Would that be an option?
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Jan 2, 2021 14:18:07 GMT
jason96
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 12
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Post by jason96 on Jan 7, 2021 23:46:52 GMT
HezzI know, me and my mum were wracking our brains trying to figure out what could be bothering her. I have four budgies in total: two males and two hens. The males used to squabble over Betty constantly, so I had to separate them. I removed Betty and her mate and put them in another cage. This cage was significantly smaller than the original and we couldn't fit all of her favourite toys in there. My mum thought that a) maybe the cage is too small and there isn't enough toys b) she might of felt lonely while separated from the other two (My mum felt it was unfair of me to move Betty when it was the two males that were squabbling and that she was being punished for her mates behaviour) We managed to buy a second hand cage that is much bigger than the other two that we own. We have put all of the toys in there (including Betty's favourites) and put all four budgies in there. So far there has been no fighting between the males. Betty seems a lot happier, she was very active and exploring the new space. There has been no plucking so far, but I'll keep a close eye on her tomorrow. If the plucking continues then I'll look into bitter apple and get a vets opinion on possibly spraying it on her feathers. The vet also suggested something that acts like a cone you'd put on dogs but for small birds, though I forget the name of it. Is a clutch like a nesting box?
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Post by Hezz on Jan 8, 2021 9:03:28 GMT
The new bigger cage sounds like the answer. So it would seem that boredom was her problem, and hopefully it is as simple a fix as that! Small cages are never good, and I serious agree with all that your Mum suggested. I could say ... “always listen to your Mum!” . Keep an eye on her for the next few days and hopefully you will see an immense improvement in her behaviour from now on in. I really hope so. When I asked if anything had changed in her life recently, that would have been the smaller cage and less stimulation. A clutch is a clutch of eggs, but it would seem that you (and Mum) may have realised the problem before things got too bad, so that would be your last resort. . You don’t need to be breeding without a lot of forethought.
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Jan 2, 2021 14:18:07 GMT
jason96
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 12
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Post by jason96 on Jan 8, 2021 10:17:11 GMT
Hezz The reason I didn't bring up the small cage before was because I didn't think it was a problem until my mum pointed out that compared to the original cage, the smaller cage was a massive downgrade. It sounds so obvious now though. I uncovered her this morning to no feathers on the ground, just a little fluff. She's gone straight from her sleeping swing back to exploring which is a good sign! Thanks again for all of your help!
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Post by Hezz on Jan 9, 2021 0:09:29 GMT
That all sounds very positive. A great way to start the morning, for sure. Her skin may have seemed a bit irritated due to her pulling out feathers that aren’t ready to drop - they don’t come out all that easily. I am so pleased that she seems to have turned the corner; that must be a massive relief to you, as well. Please let us know how she is getting on over the next couple of weeks - I’m looking forward to a good-news story.
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