poss canker

[ffiscool]

Max has a fishy smell, not all the time, but on and off. it seems to be when he has been at the cuttlebone more and often seems to be on his side rather than his mouth (the smell).

I had never come across this before, but I messaged the breeder - she said treat for canker/sour crop - which is why I am doing the ACV.. I have ordered ronivet s - which should arrive by friday. He is not sick/vomitting etc... so I would rather be safe than sorry.

anyone else had this with cuttlebone/cuttlefish?

I cannot smell it when I smell one, so not sure if that happens if eaten/ingested.

as it is not every day, it also seems odd

never had anything with Bailey like this or previous budgie.

I also read it could be from my not cleaning his water bottle properly - I would feel so awful..  he has just a normal plastic one that fits into a clip on the bars.. not a water bottle.. I did look at the hamster water bottles but seem big?


anyone recommend one for a cage?  Max was used to those where he came from, but is fine with the ones I have

agh agh

[jellybean]

I hope he's OK ffiscool.

I've always preferred the stainless steel water dish for my birdies, they are so easy to keep clean, when I'm doing the cage clean in the morning, I take the SS dish and place it in a jug of boiling water.

He will find the water whatever you use.

[ffiscool]

Thank you. I’ll look into that. I’m going to get new cuttlebone too and wipe all the bars down. I can smell it at the end of the cage. If it is Max, it wouldn’t permeate surely


He’s quieter, I came in and one of his perches had dropped together with his ladder, to the floor of the cage. There’s seed everywhere, he must have flapped about for a while.

[ariella]

Really hope Max will be fine ffiscool. I’m glad he’s not showing any signs of sickness. Hoping that it was just a particularly smelly cuttlefish. I’ve never noticed the smell of one in any of the cages and I also buy it in bulk as my tortoises use it too. When I get a fresh delivery from Haiths, there is a definite fishy smell from the box, but they don’t seem to smell either in the cages or the tortoise enclosures.

[ffiscool]

It’s just so odd. He’s in bed now, but definitely will wipe things down, see if the smell persists. I didn’t get close enough to him tonight to see if he smelled fishy. I was even sniffing the cage base to see if it’s that. I read too that canker can take ages to appear smell wise, so if it’s him, perhaps he had it already. The meds won’t harm him.

I feel stressed. Praying it’s not him

[ariella]

These little birds don’t half stress us out at times. Try not to worry and know that you’re taking all the right steps and can get it underway in the morning.

[tweetiepiesmom]

I also use stainless steel bowls for water for my guys. As jellybean says they are easy to disinfect.

I've not noticed fishy smell with my cuttlebones. Why not use just a mineral block? My guys go through spells where they just chew the cuttlebone and then they ignore it for a period of time. I hope little Max is just fine.

[ffiscool]

Thank you. He eats it most days, I’m thinking he must need the calcium, he also uses iodine block a lot.

Yes I’m going to get the ss. What size is a good size, seem quite a few like 7cm, 9 etc

[tweetiepiesmom]

Theses are the ones I have:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HHWT8OM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

They are 5oz. I also used them for seeds when my guys could eat seeds.

[starrymist]

I’ve noticed Brodie occasionally smelling fishy but it’s always come & gone, never persisted.

[ffiscool]

Maybe it is sour crop then, not sure if that can come and go

[skysmum]

Fran iv'e got Bailey and Iris using the bottles, mine are mid sized but you can get the really small ones that they use for hampsters etc.

Like these
www.amazon.co.uk/Nobby-Rodent-Water-Feeder-Classic-Deluxe/dp/B001UKNGLO/ref=sr_1_19?adgrpid=104569416443&dchild=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjf7ZmcKT8wIVjqztCh3V9AU5EAAYASAAEgJdX_D_BwE&hvadid=450446822595&hvdev=c&hvlocint=9046111&hvlocphy=1007009&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=14652068681276561259&hvtargid=kwd-317290121743&hydadcr=7140_1811378&keywords=water+bottles+for+small+animals&qid=1632345868&s=pet-supplies&sr=1-19

[Hezz]

I would put money on it being the cuttlefish bone. Take it out, give him oystershell grit instead, which is probably a better source of calcium anyway. Cuttlebone is actually rather a poor choice for adding calcium to their diet - apparently it is in a form that is not easily absorbed. I gave up on them years ago, and rely on the shell grit as something worthwhile to chew on. Getting the briny smell out of cuttlebones is very difficult.

I wouldn’t be giving ronidazole to a pet without a vet’s advice, it is not a light-weight drug.

[ffiscool]

Thank you. Yes it’s out and I have the oyster shell grit, that others are using.

I think the dosage is low but her totally what you’re saying

[Marianne Marlow]

I've noticed that cuttlebones do have a cheesy/fishy type smell. I agree with Hezz, I'd take him to an avian vet if you're that worried.