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Sleeping Budgie


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Just recently, its been about 5 wks now I'd say, I hatched 5 baby budgies. Well I didn't hatch them, but I watched intently!

 

4 of the 5 seem to be okay and are now sitting up on the perches. The last hasn't quite gotten there yet. It spends all its time on the ground, often lying flat on its stomach. I think there must be something wrong with one of its feet. It tends to lean to one side when it is standing up and when I put it on my finger it doesn't clasp with both feet and finds it VERY hard to balance.

 

Do male budgies have a history of being aggressive with their young? I think we caught the father rough housing some of the babies so we took him out a few days ago.

 

Several of the budgies seemed to have the foot problem but they seem to have gotten over it. Any suggestions? I have been taking the ground budgie out daily and holding it on my finger to see if I can strengthen it or get it used to perching, but I don't know if its helping. It seems to get really tired.

 

Am I doing the right thing? Any suggestions?

 

Thanks

 

Simon

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Sounds like splayed legs. If it is, it should have been identified and corrected early in the nest, as it will now be permanent. If the leg is jutting out at a weird angle, this will surely be splayed legs.

 

It severely effects the life and ability of the budgie concerned. Most learn to adapt, but it is either a result of calcium deficiency in the egg or as a chick and secondly it results from poor footing in the nest box (a floor which provides unsuitable grip, causing legs to jut out at weird angles and the bones harden and set at this angle as the chick grows).

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Should I separate this budgie from the others? Will it get picked on?

 

And how do I prevent this in the future?

 

Thanks for your help by the way.

Edited by Simon
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Any chance of a picture of "sick" chick Simon? It may help sort out it's problem , if you have 5 and it's the youngest it could be 10 days or so behind others try a picture if possible.

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I'll try a picture tomorrow when I get it out. Its a big ordeal!

 

I've been looking at some pics online. Its not as bad as some I saw. Some have both legs out 90 degrees. This chick has just one leg that sticks out a little.

 

We will be selling the healthy chicks and this one if someone wants it. If not, I'm happy to keep it and hand tame it. Does it take a lot to care for a budgie with a splayed leg?

 

Thanks for your help! I really appreciate this and the cockatiel forum! What would I do without you! The internets not all **** and Nigerian emails after all!

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Hi Simon, If it is splayed legs. Go onto HEALTH TIPS on forums there is a PINNED ARTICLE called splayed legs a solution. Have a look at this method of splinting legs OR I had some I fixed with pipe cleaners, you wrap the pipe cleaner in a loop around one leg leave about 1/2 in or so then around other leg above the knee. This holds hip in right position. BUT if yours is five weeks it might be a bit late to help it but you could still try even a bit of improvement would help it. Still post picture if you can to make sure that is problem. You would have to leave it on for a couple of weeks to see if it helps. Added liquid calcium ( 1 drop daily to the beak) may help. :)

 

As to other query's did you have smooth bottom on nest box? This is what caused mine, so I found out from others on here. Or the parents sitting too tightly on chicks, or lack of calcium are all causes apparently. Make sure you have shavings, rolled oats, clay type kitty litter etc. in bottom of box, hens will pick it out but keep putting it back after chicks hatch.

 

I don't know if it will get picked on, maybe, but if you can improve it enough for it to perch and fly etc without leg causing it problems it should be o.k.

 

Hope this helps a bit but keep posting to see how you go. :hurryup:

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No photos yet. I think he is getting worse though...

 

He, well I'm saying he because I figure thats better than it!, is still on the bottom of the cage, not flying, lying on his chest and doesn't seem to be getting any better. He sits up sometimes and we have been taking him out of the cage and making him stand on our fingers or a stick but he tires really quickly.

 

His leg doesn't stick out to the side much. He tends to lean to one side and doesn't use one of his feet at all.

 

I'll try for photos.

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Hi Simon, does your chick look like this?

 

spl1.jpg

 

If so it's splayed, next picture is one splinted but a lot younger than yours.

 

 

spl3.jpg

 

If it's similar to first picture. try the splint, it might not help now but if all else fails, give it a go. If not do you think its leg/foot could be broken? Hope this helps a bit. ;)

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Our budgie doesn't look like the first picture. It sits on the ground all the time but not with its foot out in such a pronounced way. He has started flying a little bit. When he perches on my finger he tends to lean to one side. Sometimes he grips with both feet, but often one will have toes straight, not gripping. Possibly a broken foot?

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Simon he sounds like he is splayed but not to a great degree. If he is enjoying life with you and getting around, just go with what he can cope with. He is too old to do anything about now anyway as repairs must be undertaken from 12-14 days. If he needs ladders or platforms I am sure you can make these to make life easier for him.

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He has four bro/sis that we're taking down to the pet store tomorrow. They are some beautiful colours. Their father is green and gold but the mother is a rainbow of budgie colours and she's passed that onto her offspring.

 

I think this little guy might be staying with us. I've wanted a budgie to hand tame for a while but it just hasn't happened. I might make him a little jungle gym with some platforms and stuff. He seems to like it on the floor though. I have a ladder in his current cage but he stays on the floor.

 

Thanks for your help guys. Now I can avoid this in the future! I'll keep you posted on our little guy!

 

I've got four cockatiel eggs and a CRAZY father at the moment as well!

 

 

Thanks again

 

Simon

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Hi Simon, Glad to hear your little fellow is starting to get around a bit. Been away and just caught up. :P

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Our little guy is perching! Not sure if he's flying very well yet, but he's perching so thats a start. He looked very proud on the branch! B)

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Our little guy is perching! Not sure if he's flying very well yet, but he's perching so thats a start. He looked very proud on the branch! B)

Great news. I had one that had a leg splayed but not to a great degree....he was able to perch too. Its encouraging when they adapt.

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B) Great news, great when a plan comes to-gether,only up from here.
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