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Post by rose on Dec 8, 2012 15:24:14 GMT
The boyz' droppings - and particularly Marshie's - have been noticeably pale (i.e. a white bit and a light grey bit) over the past few weeks. (Sorry about the quality of the pic - can't seem to get a focused one on my mobile camera.) This is during the daytime. Their overnight droppings are usually much better looking (much darker - Ian's normal even), though Marshie's can be more watery than I'm happy with. What I've tried so far: - Took them to an avian vet, who gave them an examination and concluded they were on the podgy side but otherwise OK. Since then they've been on a draconian (for them!) diet of no millet, no Trill Toppers (sob) and their Trill diluted with a third canary seed. Plus attempts to get them to eat more veg.
- Following the very helpful advice of the Birdcare Company, have been giving them Guardian Angel for over a month now, plus also Potent Brew, Calcivet and Liver-Aid.
If anyone could suggest what might be wrong, or what else I might try, I'd be really grateful! I have to say that, despite the droppings, they're generally pretty lively and not suffering from the fluffed-up/sick budgie look at all.
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Nov 10, 2011 18:42:21 GMT
eve
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 52
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Post by eve on Dec 9, 2012 0:09:30 GMT
The boyz' droppings - and particularly Marshie's - have been noticeably pale (i.e. a white bit and a light grey bit) over the past few weeks. (Sorry about the quality of the pic - can't seem to get a focused one on my mobile camera.) This is during the daytime. Their overnight droppings are usually much better looking (much darker - Ian's normal even), though Marshie's can be more watery than I'm happy with. What I've tried so far: - Took them to an avian vet, who gave them an examination and concluded they were on the podgy side but otherwise OK. Since then they've been on a draconian (for them!) diet of no millet, no Trill Toppers (sob) and their Trill diluted with a third canary seed. Plus attempts to get them to eat more veg.
- Following the very helpful advice of the Birdcare Company, have been giving them Guardian Angel for over a month now, plus also Potent Brew, Calcivet and Liver-Aid.
If anyone could suggest what might be wrong, or what else I might try, I'd be really grateful! I have to say that, despite the droppings, they're generally pretty lively and not suffering from the fluffed-up/sick budgie look at all. occasionally, my pet budgies in the past (single ones) would have pale droppings, but would change back to regular ones. Thinking it has more to do with what they are eating at that moment.
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Post by Hezz on Dec 9, 2012 1:16:37 GMT
Extra veggies can cause them to get paler and green tinged, Rose. It can also cause the watery looking ones too, as your veggies have more water than seed. Think back to when this started ......... it may correspond to when you started them on their "draconian" diet. You don't have to deprive them of millet though. It seems it was an old wives tale that millet was fattening. It seems it was more that the birds would have the millet and then the same amount of their regular seed. Otherwise you will have to be the wicked witch and make them fly around the room when they are having out time.
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Post by barrieshutt on Dec 9, 2012 4:40:54 GMT
good posts above but i am concerned that you have given guardian angel for a month , cold black week tea for a week will help settle things
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Post by rose on Dec 9, 2012 10:54:56 GMT
Extra veggies can cause them to get paler and green tinged, Rose. It can also cause the watery looking ones too, as your veggies have more water than seed. Think back to when this started ......... it may correspond to when you started them on their "draconian" diet. You don't have to deprive them of millet though. It seems it was an old wives tale that millet was fattening. It seems it was more that the birds would have the millet and then the same amount of their regular seed. Otherwise you will have to be the wicked witch and make them fly around the room when they are having out time. Thanks, Hezz - that's useful to know about millet! However, the reason I took them to the vet's/started on the diet in the first place WAS the pale droppings ... And given how fat the vet thought they were then (Ian at 53g - but then he's bigger boned! - and Marshie at 50g) it seems like a good idea to keep them off anything but Trill mixed with plain canary seed for now?
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Post by rose on Dec 9, 2012 10:55:55 GMT
good posts above but i am concerned that you have given guardian angel for a month , cold black week tea for a week will help settle things Thanks for the advice, Barrie - how would be best to give them the tea? And would it matter that Ian (who seems more or less OK, droppings wise) was drinking it as well - i.e. if it was in the water fountain?
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Post by barrieshutt on Dec 11, 2012 7:05:42 GMT
good posts above but i am concerned that you have given guardian angel for a month , cold black week tea for a week will help settle things Thanks for the advice, Barrie - how would be best to give them the tea? And would it matter that Ian (who seems more or less OK, droppings wise) was drinking it as well - i.e. if it was in the water fountain? TEA COLD BLACK AND WHITE WILL REPLACE ALL THE BIRDS WATER FOR A FEW DAYS WITHOUT CAUSING ANY HARM TO THEM
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Post by Hezz on Dec 12, 2012 0:34:35 GMT
Thanks for the advice, Barrie - how would be best to give them the tea? And would it matter that Ian (who seems more or less OK, droppings wise) was drinking it as well - i.e. if it was in the water fountain? TEA COLD BLACK AND WHITE WILL REPLACE ALL THE BIRDS WATER FOR A FEW DAYS WITHOUT CAUSING ANY HARM TO THEM Barrie, sorry, but I am having trouble deciphering your meaning here. If I am not sure what you are meaning, maybe others aren't either.
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Post by rose on Dec 12, 2012 8:18:37 GMT
Yes thanks for the advice, Barrie, but I wasn't sure about the 'and white'? I'm assuming that I should try replacing the boyz' regular water with cold black tea (weak) for a few days?
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Post by BudgiesBuddy on Dec 12, 2012 9:56:30 GMT
By weak tea Barrie means that it should be at 50% strength from normal human usage.
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Post by Hezz on Dec 12, 2012 10:41:54 GMT
Yes thanks for the advice, Barrie, but I wasn't sure about the 'and white'? I'm assuming that I should try replacing the boyz' regular water with cold black tea (weak) for a few days? I too am not sure about the "and white", Rose. But give the half strength cold black tea for a week.
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Post by rose on Dec 12, 2012 14:48:25 GMT
Many thanks, BudgiesBuddy and Hezz. Not sure exactly what half-strength tea would be as I can't stand tea myself and never drink it! I'll err on the side of weakness, though.
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Post by Hezz on Dec 12, 2012 20:24:07 GMT
;D ;D Definitely err on the side of weakness. Do you have a teabag in the house? If so (use a cup with a white inside - easier to tell the strength) and dabble your teabag a couple to a few times. It depends on the tea; some release their flavour, and tannin, really easily, others take longer. Colour the water, but be able to see the bottom of the cup. Then take half and add the same amount of cool water. Let this cool completely and you should be right. If it seems still to be quite dark, add more water until it is a solution you can see through. You don't want to give the birds something you could stand the teaspoon up in. Hope this helps.
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Post by rose on Dec 12, 2012 20:32:48 GMT
;D ;D Definitely err on the side of weakness. Do you have a teabag in the house? If so (use a cup with a white inside - easier to tell the strength) and dabble your teabag a couple to a few times. It depends on the tea; some release their flavour, and tannin, really easily, others take longer. Colour the water, but be able to see the bottom of the cup. Then take half and add the same amount of cool water. Let this cool completely and you should be right. If it seems still to be quite dark, add more water until it is a solution you can see through. You don't want to give the birds something you could stand the teaspoon up in. Hope this helps. That's really useful, Hezz - thanks so much ! The boyz will start on their career as tea drinkers tomorrow morning.
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Post by Hezz on Dec 12, 2012 20:41:59 GMT
Much to their mum's disgust!?!? ;D
I should have added, make sure it is plain old black leaf tea ..... not one of these fancy flavoured things that are so available now.
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