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Post by Shirls on Feb 16, 2013 9:05:10 GMT
One of my four budgies, Harvey, does, every morning before eating, drink loads of water. He has also started eating the cuttlefish which he has never done before (I have had him for 5 months and he is two). And now his poo in the mornings is totally liquid, with just a tiny weeny bit of white in (maybe cuttlefish??) Is this a problem, do I need to do anything and will Guardian Angel be of any help? Thanks in advance for any advice you can give.
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Post by stace on Feb 16, 2013 9:46:32 GMT
This shouldn't be happening. His poop needs to have the white and the dark (faeces) in it.
Check his entire environment. Is there something he's been chewing on and eating? Rope, paper, fabric? Or something metal with any sign of rust on it? In the cage and outside.
If so, he might be gorging on the cuttlebone and drinking lots of water to compensate and flush himself out.
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Post by Hezz on Feb 16, 2013 10:11:16 GMT
There may just be something he needs to replace and the cuttlefish is what he wants; a whole load of cuttlefish is going to make him a thirsty bird so hence a big drink of water. I wouldn't worry straight off. Give him time and see what happens. If it goes on for weeks then I would start to be concerned, but for a few days/ a week, I would let him sort it out for himself. He may well have just discovered the cuttlefish and it is a novelty, so he is over-doing it. Big drinks are going to go straight through him and you will end up with the odd dropping that is pure water. Guardian angel is only for sick birds who need the extras to give them the strength they need to fight whatever is going on in their poor bodies. If all other signs from Harvey are telling you he is happy and healthy, keep an eye on him but leave him be. That is what I would be doing.
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Post by Shirls on Feb 16, 2013 11:49:39 GMT
Thank you Stace and Hezz. That's most helpful. There is nothing Harvey can chew on in the cage that would harm him. He seems fit and is very active as usual the only new thing is the cuttlefish - he even sleeps by it!!! At the moment he is singing away happy as ever. I will keep an eye on his poops and if needs be take the cuttle fish out in due time if he still loves it so much. Thank you so much guys.
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Post by Shirls on Feb 17, 2013 11:49:13 GMT
Hezz - Harvey's poops are ok today and I haven't seen him eat any cuttle fish. He did however have a big drink this morning, and all seems well at the moment. Thank heavens!!
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Post by Hezz on Feb 18, 2013 0:24:56 GMT
That is great, Shirls. My birds will often have a big drink in the mornings, once they have been out and about for a bit. They probably wake up a bit thirsty, not having drunk all night. If all Harvey's poops were horrible, then you would have cause to worry, but looks like everything is good.
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Post by Shirls on Feb 18, 2013 20:27:23 GMT
They certainly are all different Hezz: Harvey has a good guzzle of water first thing and Oscar goes round ALL the seed stations and stuffs himself silly first thing!!
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Post by stace on Feb 19, 2013 6:53:40 GMT
Glad to hear Harvey only had a temporary hiccup. It's so hard to know sometimes. I waited too long with my bird thinking his odd poop was just a passing thing. I'm still kicking myself for it.
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Post by Shirls on Feb 19, 2013 17:35:04 GMT
We can't be right all the time Stace, but we do the best we can and that's as much as we can do. You must stop kicking yourself now!!
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