Post by LydiaMinx on Oct 25, 2012 9:21:58 GMT
I just adopted a male budgie from my college's Animal Center aviary as he has been in a bad way since I started my Animal Management course.
We don't do a lot on birds so I am unsure on what is wrong with him. About 6-8 months ago when I first saw him, he had plucked all of the feathers above his cere out and his flight feathers. The long feathers that he did have appeared curly. He was in isolation at this point.
He was placed in with finches instead of budgies as they thought he may be bullied by them, and was fine with the finches until recently (although it was mentioned he would rarely leave his perch, even to eat) when he plucked all of his flight feathers on his left wing, to the point of bleeding.
Now, I have him in my house, as the college didn't appear to want to bother with him or find out what was wrong to get him better.
He cheeped about 3 times last night, and has been eating his seed but not his veggies.
He can't move about very well because of his missing flight feathers, and his claws are very long and spindly. His beak also looks to be in a bad condition. His long feathers still appear scruffy and curly.
I plan on taking him to an avian vet in a week when I am paid, however right now I have no money and need to know what he may have, as I have two other budgies that I keep together separate from this new budgie (who we have named Edmund) in case it is something contagious (like Polyomavirus).
I know feather plucking can be caused by boredom and loneliness, however he was with other birds in an aviary with toys, so I'm skeptical of this being the cause. I think stress or an illness may be the most likely causes, that I am aware of. But I'm by no means a bird expert, which is why I came here ;D
Any help is greatly appreciated, I want to get this little man better for good :)
We don't do a lot on birds so I am unsure on what is wrong with him. About 6-8 months ago when I first saw him, he had plucked all of the feathers above his cere out and his flight feathers. The long feathers that he did have appeared curly. He was in isolation at this point.
He was placed in with finches instead of budgies as they thought he may be bullied by them, and was fine with the finches until recently (although it was mentioned he would rarely leave his perch, even to eat) when he plucked all of his flight feathers on his left wing, to the point of bleeding.
Now, I have him in my house, as the college didn't appear to want to bother with him or find out what was wrong to get him better.
He cheeped about 3 times last night, and has been eating his seed but not his veggies.
He can't move about very well because of his missing flight feathers, and his claws are very long and spindly. His beak also looks to be in a bad condition. His long feathers still appear scruffy and curly.
I plan on taking him to an avian vet in a week when I am paid, however right now I have no money and need to know what he may have, as I have two other budgies that I keep together separate from this new budgie (who we have named Edmund) in case it is something contagious (like Polyomavirus).
I know feather plucking can be caused by boredom and loneliness, however he was with other birds in an aviary with toys, so I'm skeptical of this being the cause. I think stress or an illness may be the most likely causes, that I am aware of. But I'm by no means a bird expert, which is why I came here ;D
Any help is greatly appreciated, I want to get this little man better for good :)
.
I just re read that I put that they were still curly, but on closer inspection they do just look slighty out of place and scruffy. Thankfully no curls like before!!
