Budgie Mood ?

[toohp 0]

Every so often my bird act's differently , not as friendly even aggressive & very quiet & stand offish leading me to think she could be sick , but then the next day she's back to her normal self even extremely friendly . Ive changed nothing in her environment or diet when this happens so I'm wondering what it is ? Is this normal for budgie's ?

[Elly 0]

Do you find this is when she is going through her molt? Birds molt every 3-4 months depending on if they are inside or outside aviary birds because of this they tend to become more moody.

[Neat 0]

You say She ...

 

That will explain alot female budgies are alot like us females :sad:

[toohp 0]

You say She ...

 

That will explain alot female budgies are alot like us females

 

Yes she is a she and I was starting to think this could be the reason and no it's not during molt .

 

I have noticed she's not a morning bird too and to let her be untill she adjust's to her suroundings once the cage cover is removed , becomes friendly after about 20 mins .

[Neat 0]

Yep, Sounds like me hahahah

I am sure if she was human she'd be happier after her morning cuppa too

[Elly 0]

In the morning instead of just removing the cover do it gradually, I uncover Merlin from the front and then in an hour I take the whole cover off that helps them adjust to the cover being completely off.

[toohp 0]

I started thinking my bird was sick because of the behavior and some other signs like watery poo etc but then the next day she was back to her normal friendly self . Then this morning no problems very cheeky & happy but this afternoon very aggresive! I have noticed some feather's on the floor so could this behavior be from molting ?

 

Thanks

Edited September 6, 2008 by toohp

[Elly 0]

Yes most likely she is starting a molt.

[toohp 0]

How long does the Molting take ? I cannot see anymore feathers coming off her , this morning she was extremely friendly then when I arrived this afternoon she wouldn't come near me and if she did she would bite . I noticed she's rubbing her head a lot against her toys ?

[**Liv** 0]

moulting is an itchy process that lasts a number of weeks, normally budgies preen each other thought the moulting process but as she is alone she will use her toys and perches etc to remove the sheath from her new feathers.

 

Do you have any photos you can post??

[toohp 0]

Thanks Liv that explains it , she's been preening heaps and as I speak she preening and plucking a few feathers .

 

 

Cheers Ps I'll try & send some pics

 

Edited September 9, 2008 by toohp

[Neat 0]

okay, I do think that she needs to see a vet.

 

She has / Had a respiratory infection

She has swelling of the chest-

 

These symptoms combine aren't a good sign . She also doesn't look like she is molting

how ever she could have finished

Edited September 9, 2008 by Neat

[Elly 0]

I agree with Neat, the first thing that stood out at me was her chest, respiratory infections can come and go and lay low and they bounce back. It is best to have her checked out now before she does got into a molt full blow because that can cause a lot of stress.

[toohp 0]

My bird ( Fluff ) has a couple of problems and has always been a little battle'ler since she was given to me , the main one being two fatty tumours , one in her chest and the other behind her legs , she has alway's been over weight and together with the vet's help we have been trying to reduce it but proving to be difficult. I make sure my bird get's as much exersize as I can encorouge as she has a problem foot as well , but I have noticed in the past few days she has lost 4 grams but I did introduce a new diet food for her this week that the vet got in especially for her . Her poop has been a little watery and one yesterday was a grey & white rather than the black or greenish . her appertite is good , she appears to be breathing okay , no sneezing , just preening a lot and moody . But anyway she is due for a check up and I will try and get her in tommorow . She is chirping from underneath her covers as we speak .

 

Thanks for your replies

[toohp 0]

Looking at my bird this morning , her appertite is good , very active , but mood has gone back to nasty .

 

her poop has definatly changed colour to more of a grey & white , I'll post pics in health .

 

Cheers

[Elly 0]

Having just dealt with a diet change, did you gradually introduce the diet or did you just give it to her? One thing that I believe is when a budgie has a mood change being from listless to nasty something has happened.

 

I would make sure you are combining her old food with her new food until her body adjusted.

 

The black/grey is the poo which is the food that is going through her body and the white is the fluids hence it is urine. When you only see white it means the bird has not eaten and if you only see black then the bird is not drinking.

 

A picture would be good.

[toohp 0]

The only thing Ive changed in her diet lately is the budgie crumble that the vet recomended , a different brand and it's a organic diet one due to my bird being overweight , she don't eat much of it I have to sprinkle it inn her seed Ive never been able to fully convert her off the seed as the vet recomended as were trying to get her weight down . The good news is she appears to be a very happy & content bird . Just as I write she's becoming friendly again ( mood change ) and Ive noticed she's singing a new tune ( where's that come from ? ) Here's a picture of her Poop from overnight. Direct hit on her favorite toy .

 

Edited September 10, 2008 by toohp

[Elly 0]

I think you have 2 posts going for this, and Liv said it looked normal, I agree but that is a lot of poop lol

[Neat 0]

It is when the color is BRIGHT GREEN LIKE LIME OR PEA is when it is a issue

watery like the runs too

 

This poo is has solidness to it so I am thinking that it is due to changing of the food ...

If her lump on her chest SOFT????

 

Please be careful when changing food - it needs to be done slowly by mixing 1 part New food to 3 parts old food and every 2 3 day increase the New food and decrease the old food ....

 

A sudden change in diet can have a dramatic effect on a bird - Weird I know what it happens - Look at Ellys post

 

I wish you and this bird the best of luck

[toohp 0]

Thanks neat.

 

I have changed my vet app to monday so I can see the vet on duty that really knows my bird . Her behaviour is bazaar a bit like a different bird . New noises & chatter , she has a huge interest in my clothing trying to get out the cage and pick at it ( never done that before ) becomes friendly then refers back to bitey , did notice she plucked a feather out today but that's the only one, still rubbing her head on toy's so I'll still go with it's a moulting issue and continue to monitor her and see what Vet say's . Im a bit of a novice when it comes to handerling birds and havn't really felt the lump on her chest of late . Last time at the vet's from memory it was firm , I do manage to get her to sit on the scale's briefly so I can weigh her .

 

Cheers

[Elly 0]

sounds like you are her mate and she is looking to nest, keep an eye and make sure she is not finding places to nest and produced eggs. Keep us updatd on the vet.

[Neat 0]

Weird for sure - Could be like Elly said a nesting thing especailly since she has take a liking to your clothes :hap:

Good luck with the vets mate please let us know what they say I would be interested to see what they have to say -

 

And yes keep warmth on her :hap:

[Elly 0]

it could also explain the big poos....watch out for eggs and eggbum

[toohp 0]

Egg's ? :hap: Don't they have to mate for that ? What's egg bum ? She has been rubbing her bum on her perch .

she's still not friendly . Eating more spinach too .

 

What do I do if she drops an egg ? :hap:

[maesie 0]

Egg's ? :hap: Don't they have to mate for that ? What's egg bum ? She has been rubbing her bum on her perch .

she's still not friendly . Eating more spinach too .

 

What do I do if she drops an egg ? :hap:

 

They don't have to mate to lay eggs... but if she does... they will be empty. Egg bum is when their bums look large, it's kind of like a swelling around their vent. This means the egg is about to pass. If an egg drops, just remove it. She should stop after awhile. Also look for LARGE poo... the size increases as she is closer to laying... (That is if that is what it is :hap: )