9 year old budgie moulting A LOT

[mintysowner]

Hello!

My 9 year old budgie has been moulting/losing his feathers an awful lot the past couple of weeks, the most I've ever seen. You can see where he's lost it mostly on his chest and under his wings he looks a little bald.. But what's concerning me the most is he's been very quiet and sleeping a lot, he is eating and drinking fine though. A local budgie place suggested I give him a probiotic but would that help? I don't want to make things worse for him but just wondered if this moult could be making him feel rubbish. I put a cover over him at night so he's not cold as I thought maybe that was the reason he's sleeping a lot (head under his wing etc). Thanks for any advice anyone can give me

[kikkinu]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

If you can post some pics it would probably help us take a look, but it could various causes. I lately had a budgie doing that cause she was being stressed by another hen.

[ffiscool]

Bailey hasn't moulted much in the last few days, but today he is quieter, although eating. But now at the end of his perch behind his mirror, chatting to himself, but fluffy. Not sure if because he is in a nap mood or something the matter.

Hopefully he will want to come out and play later....

[Hezz]

Moulting takes a lot out of the birds - replacing all those feathers requires a lot of protein and this saps their energy if it is a large moult. Top him up with hard boiled eggs or commercial eggfood either moistened into a paste and fed separately or sprinkled dry over his seed. Some will eat one but not the other. Probiotics could help; I doubt they could do him any harm. All you are doing there is supplementing his gut flora; usually given after a dose of antibiotics for this very reason. Unless you use something like Guardian Angel which has probiotics and also heaps of micronutrients.

[ffiscool]

Am sure it doesnt help their moulting when its grey and dim, even with lights on.. and nippy. We are deffo heading into winter ...

Bailey is out of the cage today but stood on top and hasnt moved in ages, he is chatting but normally he wants to come and sit/bite with me, when working

also, his feathers immediately above cere obviously bled again when coming through.. wish that would just go now

I wonder if he will always have that, would be nice for him am sure (and me to see), if he just had a white head