Berry: testing for PBFD?

[birdguhl]

Another thread on Berry's story of feather loss, over-preening and possibly worse... Apologies for going on about this so much but I am very grateful for fellow forum members' concern and suggestions so far.

The mite treatment last week seemed to change the preening behaviour a bit - he was doing less agitated-looking preening and more activity involving the preening gland which seemed like a good sign. He now has one long flight feather on both sides and these have lasted longer than previous ones. (I treated Woody for mites just in case as well - was nervous about doing it but I managed and he seems to have regained his composure.)

On the minus side, I see more very thin patches under Berry's wings and his short tail feathers which are normally only visible during flight, are kind of splayed out all the time now. I saw him pull out / remove another big feather today as well. Also, his attempts to fly are definitely getting worse. A few weeks ago he could fly on the level, but now he just flutters down to the floor and can only jump up a few inches confidently. Yesterday I had to retrieve him (from under the gas fire (not on!) for the second time for his own safety as he just wasn't coping. Otherwise he seems happy enough and they are lovely with each other.

Now the vet who saw Berry just before Christmas is now advising me to go for blood and feather testing to confirm or rule out BPFD. She says that he was mite-free when she examined him but the budgie breeder I know said that it is not always possible to be sure on a purely visual examination so advised the mite treatment anyway. Resident expert Barrie seems sure that this is a case of feather stress rather than BPFD.

I would like to know for certain what is going on with him, but am thinking that this will be a distressing and risky procedure (involves general anaesthetic) and also, as far as I know, there is no treatment for PBFD.

I guess if PBFD is ruled out, then I could consider adding another two birds which would provide flying companions for Woody. But obviously if it is diagnosed then I can't do this, and they just have as good a life as possible for however long they've got (assuming Woody has it or gets it as well).

I want to do the best for them, of course, but don't want to put Berry through further distress if there is little benefit for him.

Are there any other things I should be thinking about regarding this? Any thoughts very welcome. Thanks!

[mizloco]

What's BPFD PBFD?

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[birdguhl]

Oh - Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease - from what I understand an untreatable condition which shortens a budgie's life. This is where I have read most about it: www.birds-online.de/gesundheit/gesgefieder/pbfd_en.htm

[Hezz]

Beak and Feather disease and French Moult are both caused by viruses, different ones. French moult is caused by the Polyomavirus, PBFD by Circovirus. Most people who have budgies with FM still have them mixing with their other birds without it being passed on. I don't know much about PBFD, but I gather there isn't a lot of difference in the symptoms.

For myself, I would leave him be, Birdgurl; fix him up with a high protein diet and see what happens. It seems like a lot of trauma, stress and money to have a definitive answer that doesn't really help Berry.

[Nani]

Could he be stressed because Woody has moved in with him?

I'd provide varied foods, leafy greens, lots of protein foods and leave him be. You could separate both birds as it could be stressed from sharing a cage but as its big I doubt it. I would just keep it all the same and just provide lots of happiness and perhaps mist them-in a warm environment...my cola chinga who I also suspected of having the same did fine until her last day.

Just shower them with love.

[birdguhl]

Thanks for your thoughts. They chime with mine. I don't really want to put him through all that. If he seemed acutely ill or there was a chance of treatment it would be different.

Nani - the boys have always been together and generally get on brilliantly so I don't think separating them would help, but showering them with love - definitely! They are a bit iffy about being sprayed with water though - must try a saucer on the floor again as Berry used to have a wee splash when they were in their old home but then it wasn't so easy to do when they moved to their big cage (doors not big enough to get it in). As I am getting them used to going between both cages, I can do that again.

[skysmum]

Im sorry your having this uncertainty with little Berry, as you prob know my Jo has FM and Freddy has a bad wing so neither can fly but they get around fine, we have the odd fall now and then and i have to watch Jo for bleeding, i have noticed he wont sit up on the swings any more and seems to know his capabilities, they are very canny and adapt well. I would hesitate putting Berry through these tests, they do seem traumatic for one so small. If he is otherwise healthy i think i would suck it and see. The only thing you can do is up the protein which i think you are with the egg food. Mine wont touch hard boiled egg so i always keep a little dish of dried egg food in the cages. Some people feed a little meat i think but this is something i haven't tried. Keep us up to date with him .