Messy Droppings

[rachelrose 0]

I bought to handraised budgies last week. Since being home they have developed watery droppings and messy vents. They are on seed only while in quarantine, and I have been giving probiotics. One of them started having better droppings while the other is still very watery and hasnt changed at all :s have spoken to breeder and another lady who bought a budgie same cage they all have normal droppings.

 

Any suggestions greatly appreciated. Both budgies look and act lively and active - chirping grooming etc.

 

 

 

[Bird Junky 0]

Hi Cut-out the probiotics & put them back on a normal diet. (See nutrition posts on site.)

Such sudden changes in a young birds diet are bound to cause upset stomach.....B.J.

Edited December 26, 2012 by Bird Junky

[rachelrose 0]

I havn't changed their diet I started probiotics a few days ago from advice to try and adress the messy droppings but hasn't had an effect on the second budgie. They were getting seed, millet and celery at breeders and I have given them the same without the celery, which is why I'm so confused about what's causing this

[Bird Junky 0]

Hi A short term upset isn't anything to worry about.. Seed & Celery, or Seed without Celery is not a healthy diet

for any growing bird...See nutrition posts .....B.J.

[rachelrose 0]

Hey b.j thanks for the replies, I know it's not ideal but it's what he was fed at breeders and as you said I didn't want to change diet yet when he is still settling in and having runny poos. It's been a week now of runny droppings and I've wormed them and tried probiotics.

[robyn 0]

If your chick is looking healthy not fluffed or listless etc. it could be just the new surroundings etc. if it hasn't became any worse over a week then I think I'd just keep an eye on it for any further signs that it's sick. I'd stop any veges for a while to see if it picks up. How long was it on seed diet before you got it? It may just be a bit younger than other chicks.Keep posting if things don't improve.

[rachelrose 0]

It's actually older chick, his younger brother is not as bad. anywah I took them to the vet today, they haven't gotten worse but I was still getting a bit worried,over a week is too long I wasn't confident it was going away on its own. The vet did a faecal smear and crop wash, both comes back clean so I'm not really sure what's wrong but I have some antibiotics to give and hopefully that helps? :s Ill let you know what happens!

[robyn 0]

Great you got vet. advice, if they weren't worried I'd say they will improve soon. Post again with some pics if you can.

[rachelrose 0]

Budgies have been on flagyl since Saturday and no differences in the worse budgies droppings. The other budgies droppings looks normal but he till has a messy vent as well. If anything the worse budgies droppings are looking even sloppier and he is skinny, can feel his chest bone quite prominently. Any ideas? Also I remember breeder telling me he had a bit of a struggle weaning and took longer than the others if that contributes to anything?

[robyn 0]

Hi Rachelrose, Just a thought, do you have any hand raising mix? Wondered if he went back to that for a while if he would pick up? At least it might fatten him up a bit and head him in the right direction. Maybe the flagyl is keeping him loose. I don't know why he would need it if his tests were clear for infections etc. can you tell if he's actually cracking seed or is he just "pretending to eat". Even if you put some hand raising mix in cage with seed and see if he picks at it. It's very hard to know what is the best way to go. I had one a little while ago, that I think just starved itself to death because I couldn't get it to eat, even when Dad and other chicks were eating normally. Hope it picks up.

[rachelrose 0]

Yeah I'm not sure why flagyl but ill continue until the 7 days are over and then give some probiotics to help his gut. Also I don't have any hand raising mix but I have been thinking of getting some to supplement his diet as he is a bit skinny and the breeder said he went crazy for it. He is eating, it's been almost two weeks since I've taken him home so he has to be eating but I think I'll definitely try some mix for him. Hope he gets better hes a gorgeous bird, look in my post "black and white pied?" In pictures forum to see him as a bub and growing up

[rachelrose 0]

Still wet droppings and getting very skinny I'm offering mix and come pellet food and I think it's helping. I definitely think these budgies havnt been properly taught how to eat seed or realise the possibility that there is more seed under the husks waiting for them :s this they would learn from older budgies but I can't put them with any other budgies while they have wet droppings. Looks like I'm going to vet again tomorrow.

[robyn 0]

Looking at your pics, did you have chick at home in 3rd picture? I really think this breeder may have sold them to you very young and not feeding themselves enough. I think I'd take the chance and maybe put an older bird in with them, to see if they will start to pick up what they are supposed to do. Preferably an older breeding age bird who has reared young, (It could be like giving a baby solids before they are old enough to handle it).If their health checks were clear it should be fairly safe.

[rachelrose 0]

No I got him a few weeks after that photo. Apparantly he was 12 weeks when I got him and she seemed to want to rush me in picking him up even 2 weeks before I did. I don't currently have a budgie who has reared young to put in with them but I so have a few older hens that might help the young boys? Or would an older male be a better dynamic? I had a young bush budgie come to me at one stage and I took a chance she looked healthy enough just young, I put her in with my tame male bush budgie and he taught her the ropes now they are bonded and inseparable. Why are breeders so eager to get rid of baby budgies so young?

 

I do still think there is more going on here than just young and not eating properly. There is far too much urates in his droppings I think there may be something up with him if not an infection of some kind.

[robyn 0]

Hi, I've been off air more than on. Has there been any improvement? Is the breeder you got him off a recognised breeder or a b.yard breeder? (not that there's anything wrong with we yardies) we're their other birds looking bright and healthy? It's strange that he hasn't responded to something. I think I'd still try the older bird trick, so it can learn what is normal behaviour. Hope there has been some progress.

[rachelrose 0]

Hi there,

 

I don't think she's a recognised breeder but she owns a lot of different birds all looked in good condition when I picked him up. She has conures budgies cockatiels love birds burkes etc and brooders inside for hand raising. He's not improved still wet droppings but still both very chirpy and happy, he is very skiny tho but naturally with any wet droppings or prolonged diarreah that's expected. I'm running out of options and I want to be able to put them in my aviary but I definitely won't while i still don't know the caue of this. Also talked to another lady who got a budgie from the same cage and that budgie is fine.

 

I have had more trouble with birds from private breeders than I ever has buying a bird from a pet store. I've never had any problems with pet store birds actually haha isn't it ironic?