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Some Advice Please


UK girl

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Hi I just wanted some advice on Charlie. We got him In August as a baby, he started his first big moult in October, and hasn't really grown many feather since, so he now has very sparce feather coverage and some are still comming out. He has regrown his big tail feather but it is not formed properly, it is tiny, not feathery at all and droops. His flight feathers haven't grown back either. He seems happy enough, eating normally, singing and chatting to Harry. He holds his own in any budgie diagreements ( not that there are many). We are basically snowed in so I can't get him to the vet. Any ideas on whether this is just normal and he isn't a strong chap, or is it something to worry about?

Many thanks

Liz

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Hi liz,

 

It sounds like he may be a french moult budgie. Can you please post some photos ?

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could we get some pictures? moults can take some time to finish but there normally isn't bald spots while it is happening.

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I agree pics...if it is not french moult what are you feeding him? It could be dietary too.

 

 

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Hi Have got as many pictures as we can. He isn't that sure of the camera , hopefully these will do...

 

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Thanks everyone :)

 

sorry you asked about food too. He has 'best budgie seed' from the breader - the best one they do, and veg, with millett when hand training him. Harry has the same and is in a very different state - as you might spot. Also they have cuttlefish Iodine block and a mineral block and sand with oyster shell on the bottom which they occasionally have a munch at.

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just wondering if anyone had any thoughts on what is happening to Charlie. I appreciate it is Christmas, so everyone is probably busy with family and food, but just thought I would ask...

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Looks like french moult alright =/

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Looks worse than average french moult to me. French moult doesnt usually affect the body feathers in that way.

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Thanks for your replies, is there anything we can do to help him?

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Thanks for your replies, is there anything we can do to help him?

Yes. Find a good avian vet and get him assessed.

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we have a specialist avian vet so as soon as we can get him there we will. Thanks so much. He is such a chirpy and happy chap, we will do all we can to look after him.

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  • 1 month later...

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I thought i would just update you on what we have found out. It is very sad news.. We took Charlie and Harry to the avian vet. Charlie has had lots of tests, xrays and bloods and sadly has beak and feather disease, which means Harry has too as they have been together since we had them.

 

It has taken me a while to come back as I didn't want to admit it to myself, never mind everyone here.. He has had some antibiotics and has actually perked up a bit. He doesn't seem in distress. We have separarate Charlie and Harry as Charlie never managed to get to the food, and needs to sleep more than Harry so they are very close but have their own homes.

 

The vet is lovely and has been supporting us in how to care for him as he seems to have the chronic form so may well live a little (I know it won't be a long time) while, he has vitamins, lots of veg and good quality seed, he has a heater in the room they sleep in case he gets cold and seems to be doing okay. As soon as he seems to be distressed we will take him back to the vet as we can't see him suffer, but for now we will just love him..

 

We know this means Harry can't have a companion once Charlie dies, which is sad as the reason we had 2 budgies was for friendship. Harry seems well at the moment, so we are hoping he has a slightly stronger immune system and will stay well for a bit. We also know that we will need to fumigate the house before we can have any more birds.

 

However the vet did make one suggestion you may be able to help with! She is Australian and said in Australia there are some dedicated owners who look after sick budgies and they knit them little jackets to keep warm once their feathers drop out.. Is this really possible? If so do you know anyone who makes them? I can't knit and can't see how you fit a coat on a budgie, but I would do anything for my little chap.

 

Any jacket suggestions are welcome...

 

Thanks for all your advice at Christmas

Lizzy

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hello lizzy

im so sad for your situation its horrible to find out your friends are so un well

i havent seen anyone that i know knit jumper but yes its true more for cockys and small parrots like loris and so on im sure someone here will be able to help you out with it

ill ask around and stuff for you :} is very possible

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hello lizzy

im so sad for your situation its horrible to find out your friends are so un well

i havent seen anyone that i know knit jumper but yes its true more for cockys and small parrots like loris and so on im sure someone here will be able to help you out with it

ill ask around and stuff for you :} is very possible

 

 

Hi Thanks so much, he is actually looking and sounding a lot better at the moment. I think his antibiotics helped and being in a seperate cage means he can eat and sleep as often as he wants without being pestered (and loved) by Harry. He is singing again and chatting to Harry which is a good sign in the short term. Any ideas on a little jacket would be great as I have no idea where you would start with that or how you would even get it on him!

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I'm no expert on this sort of thing. So take this with advice. But what about one of those bean-filled cloth bags you heat up in the microwave. You could pop it in the bottom of the cage wrapped in newspaper to warm up the air a bit when it's cold. You can get them at chemists or market stalls usually.

 

I don't know about knitted jumpers. I'd imagine they might get caught up in the threads, or pick and unravel them. Might be a bit dangerous. If you were going to do something like that, wouldn't it be better and easier to use something like tight woven fleecey fabric you could just cut to shape like a jerkin and do it up with velcro or something?

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Oh I like the idea of a fleecy Jerkin.. I think I could manage that.. at the moment he has enough feathers and they seem to be growing in one place and comming out in others, so overall he has a covering, and the good news is we are heading for Spring here, so it will get warmer. Here's hoping he stays reasonably happy, feathery and chirpy for a bit!

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  • 8 months later...

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I know it has been almost a year, but I thought I would let you know Charlie is still with us! He is tiny (very tiny) and hasn't got many feathers now, but is happy, and full of energy ( between sleeps). He plays lots and eats well, so although he is clearly unwell is a happy little chap. Harry doesn't seem to show any symptoms, and is also well (and about twice the size of Charlie). After a course of antibiotics and some decent rest in his own cage Charlie moved back in with Harry and they live happily together, snuggling up at night. Charlie still hold his own when he decides he wants something and has managed to become very skilled at climbing around the cage and up the ladder if he falls off the perch occasionally.

 

 

We decided not to go for a jacket - far to stressfull to think about dressing him each day, so a gentle warm lamp will do him as the weather gets colder again here.

 

 

Lizzy

 

 

 

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Charlie sounds like a real champion. Glad he's still happy.

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