Cleaning chick's vent and an older bird funny wing.

[Biggles]

One of the chicks (about 3 weeks old) has got rather dirty round their vent. I've tried holding a piece of damp kitchen roll and gently teasing it off, but it's not coming off easily. Any suggestions. It isn't keen on it (a bit like wiping the face of a toddler!)

I know it's managing to poo fine as while I was cleaning the cage it climbed all the way up my back and produced evidence on my shoulder


The other thing was this afternoon one of the older budgies (at least 12 years old) I noticed was holding its wing in a funny way. I've put the best photo I could get. The wing was trembling in that position. I did notice it's lost the two longest flight feathers from that side in the last day or so. The other side is fine.
It's eating and moving fine now and the wing's back to normal position. Any suggestions.

[jellybean]

Sorry I can't help with his wing, but, please remove the bell ASAP, it is full of rust, and if ingested could kill your little bird.

[Biggles]

Sept 24, 2021 18:14:29 GMT jellybean said:

Sorry I can't help with his wing, but, please remove the bell ASAP, it is full of rust, and if ingested could kill your little bird.

Thanks.
Done. I've replaced it with a new one. I don't think I've ever seen him chewing it though.

[jellybean]

Thank you for changing it.
Always look out for rust on toys, and cage bars.

Better to be safe than sorry.

[Marianne Marlow]

Has the budgie been chewing his feathers? the one on the other side looks slightly mauled.

[Hezz]

Try holding the chick’s vent area into a bowl of tepid (plain) water and let the poo soak for a short time. Is it stuck to feathers or the chick’s skin? Either way a soaking is the best way to remove the poo. As a last resort, if on the feathers and if it seems to be causing a clog up, you may need to trim the feathers.

As for the other bird’s wing, it could have been almost anything - a knock, a feather not sitting properly, a feather about to fall out, a muscle spasm, etc. The best thing is that it has righted itself.

[Biggles]

Sept 24, 2021 22:15:37 GMT Marianne Marlow said:

Has the budgie been chewing his feathers? the one on the other side looks slightly mauled.

I don't think so. It must be the angle or something. They look fine now anyway.

He is moulting though-has lots of pin feathers on 

[Biggles]

Sept 25, 2021 1:44:53 GMT Hezz said:

Try holding the chick’s vent area into a bowl of tepid (plain) water and let the poo soak for a short time. Is it stuck to feathers or the chick’s skin? Either way a soaking is the best way to remove the poo. As a last resort, if on the feathers and if it seems to be causing a clog up, you may need to trim the feathers.

As for the other bird’s wing, it could have been almost anything - a knock, a feather not sitting properly, a feather about to fall out, a muscle spasm, etc. The best thing is that it has righted itself.

Thank you. I've done that now and it's looking much better. Chick wasn't very impressed at the treatment, but then spent the next half hour cuddled into me to dry, which it seemed to like.

I thought there was a small lump at the top of the wing this morning, but then it scratched it and it went so must be feathers only.