Musty smell from my budgies

[erica1]

Hello - I am new to keeping budgies and have got a beautiful hen and cock. I keep them very clean and they feed well - and have learnt to come out for a good fly about in the early evening and even put themselves back home on their own. They were 8-10 weeks when we got them on 14 August. 

The thing is, I cannot seem to shift this musty smell - and when the hen flew past me the other night I realised she smelled too. Everything is clean, no smell from their poo which looks as it should!

Is this normal? They seem very happy - always preening and scratching at each other.

Am worrying about them if I'm honest.

Thanks

[ffiscool]

I have no idea re smells from birds, but the things that might cause a musty smell normally is when something is damp and not dried.. had they had a bath or anything and then didnt dry off before flying?

[Deleted]

Hi Erica and welcome to the forum. I cant answer your question except to say my buds don't have a smell, well not one that is detectable from a distance anyway. Hopefully someone will be able to help you more soon.

[erica1]

Thanks. No, I noticed the smell before attempting to get them used to water - I have since trickled water over them as they're not impressed with my loving bath purchase! They love being splashed with water - and really I did that in an attempt to help the musty smell (thought maybe they needed a good clean). I have been using millet - and didn't realise you should really dampen it, so thought it might have been that (the particles floating in the air etc.) but it is still very apparent even with no millet. Hmmm...I may be being over sensitive but it's definitely there.

[Deleted]

If you read this thread budgerigarsforum.proboards.com/thread/2963 it's about what you are describing. Looks like he needs to see a vet.

[erica1]

OK - just read that - the poo is completely normal and doesn't smell though - and they're not drinking all the time.

[erica1]

Oh - and they certainly don't smell like a ferret's cage as has been described - more a dry musty (like damp hay) kind of smell - which is why I thought it might be the dust from the millet. Could it be they just need a really good spray/bath as opposed to my tentative trickles over them?

[Deleted]

Sept 4, 2013 16:03:02 GMT erica1 said:

Oh - and they certainly don't smell like a ferret's cage as has been described - more a dry musty (like damp hay) kind of smell - which is why I thought it might be the dust from the millet. Could it be they just need a really good spray/bath as opposed to my tentative trickles over them?

My aviary birds don't bath at all and they don't smell. It's an indoor aviary so they don't get wet in the rain either. They can bathe if they want to but choose not to. A bird will keep it's feathers clean by preening itself. There should be no detectable odour unless you have your nose on it's feathers and then it shouldn't smell bad. I would take it to an avian vet and see what they think.

[erica1]

OK thanks - I shall have to see if I can find one open this Saturday as I am at work today and tomorrow.

[Moogie]

hope they are ok....best to check with avian vet just in case then atlest you will know for sure,it may be nothing but at least your mind will be at rest.....let us know how things go xxxx

[ffiscool]

I know they would want to see them, but I wonder if you rang one and asked what it might be. As its such a distinctive smell, they might know and there might be something you can do before you can actually get there

[Hezz]

Sept 4, 2013 15:20:12 GMT erica1 said:

Thanks. No, I noticed the smell before attempting to get them used to water - I have since trickled water over them as they're not impressed with my loving bath purchase! They love being splashed with water - and really I did that in an attempt to help the musty smell (thought maybe they needed a good clean). I have been using millet - and didn't realise you should really dampen it, so thought it might have been that (the particles floating in the air etc.) but it is still very apparent even with no millet. Hmmm...I may be being over sensitive but it's definitely there.

This isn't going to help you with your musty budgie smell, but I am wondering why you think you need to dampen the millet? All this is going to do is promote fungal growth, and you really don't want that! All their seed should be kept as dry as possible.

[erica1]

Sept 4, 2013 22:41:02 GMT ffiscool said:

I know they would want to see them, but I wonder if you rang one and asked what it might be. As its such a distinctive smell, they might know and there might be something you can do before you can actually get there

That's a good idea - thanks!

[erica1]

Sept 5, 2013 1:15:13 GMT Hezz said:

Sept 4, 2013 15:20:12 GMT erica1 said:

Thanks. No, I noticed the smell before attempting to get them used to water - I have since trickled water over them as they're not impressed with my loving bath purchase! They love being splashed with water - and really I did that in an attempt to help the musty smell (thought maybe they needed a good clean). I have been using millet - and didn't realise you should really dampen it, so thought it might have been that (the particles floating in the air etc.) but it is still very apparent even with no millet. Hmmm...I may be being over sensitive but it's definitely there.

This isn't going to help you with your musty budgie smell, but I am wondering why you think you need to dampen the millet? All this is going to do is promote fungal growth, and you really don't want that! All their seed should be kept as dry as possible.

It was just something I read on another forum, - guess this is the problem with forums, everyone seems to have different ideas. I'm still learning so don't be cross - I want the best for my beautiful pair :-) Thanks for your help.

[Moogie]

i wonder if the wetting of the millet was actually ment as cleaning of the millet....i think it can be washed then sprayed with f1o then dried out in the sun...