Rachel

Thankyou for your reply, she has now passed

Hi there. I have an older famale budgie which is not handled/tame. The last few weeks has had had droppings collecting around her vent, but has seemed fine otherwise. I've been catching her every day or two by throwing a cloth over her and cleaning her vent and removing the droppings. It was suggested that I add apple cider vinegar to her water which I did. I've not taken her to the vet as our local vets are the farming type. Today she has been sitting on the bottom of her cage and I fear she is at the end of her days. Any suggestions for anything I can do for her? Cheers

Thanks Taz, Twisted and Genericblue

Thanks for the answer Taz I didn't think of it like that. I laid some cloth down in the spot she has been sitting (for it to be comfy for her) and also moved the cage to a different spot and since then I have not seen her sitting on the floor of the cage!

Hi Tas and Twisted. I notice you are both in Tasmania as I am. Do either of you know of any avian vets on the north west coast. I am concerned about one of my budgies. My local vets specialise in dogs, cats, and farm animals. Thanks in advance

bump any ideas? I probably posted this in the wrong section. I have just noticed her practicall laying on the floor, I'm afraid she's on her way out

Hi all I have 2 budgies - Bruce (female, approx 10 years old - not sure was given to us) and Snowball (male, 1 year old) We do not handle them or let them out of their cage as Bruce was unused to handling when we got her, we later got Snowball to be her companion and do not handle him either. The issue is Bruce has taken to sitting on the floor of the cage. Not all of the time, some days more and some days less. This has been going on for over a month now., I did take her to the local vet, but they are not avian vets, no idea why she is doing this. Nearest avian vet is 4hours away AFAIK. She seems fairly healthy. Any idea whats up? Cheers

I sent this picture to an avian vet and Bruce gets the all clear! She is just a bit hormonal and normal! The mites I thought were on her feathers seem to have gone too! Cheers for your help everyone!

Thanks for trying to help Neat. That last list is still just regular vets though. I will have to ring around and ask them if they have one I guess. Unless anyone on here is from my area and has a vet they can recommend? Cheers

Hi Neat Are they avian vets? I have many vets in my area but none of them seem to be avian vets? My local vet has no clue about birds! Cheers

Hi I know of only one avian vet in Tassie, which is in Hobart, four hours drive away! Also heard of a vet with an interest in birds in Launceston. Anyone know of one in Burnie/Devonport area? Looked on that link on here, which only lists the one in Hobart. Any help appreciated. Thanks

I guess I should do as you say an put the olive oil on her cere. I don't want to stress her too much though, she isn't used to being handled at all and now I am letting her out and having to catch her with a tea towel to put her in/out of cage. I can see her chest moving up and down as she breathes (after all this exertion) and hope it's not stressing her too much! I don't know about her having resp. issues, I hope not! I can't see the dark stains you're talking about? I think the person I got her from used to hang her cage outside every day and once she got left out all night in a frost! poor thing. I would love to take her to an avian vet but don't know of any. That website that tells you about avian vet's only lists one in Tasmania, and it is four hours away from me. Anyone in Tassie on the N-W Coast that can recommend a vet?

So you think she has scaly face?? I took her to the vet (not avian) who didn't have a clue and thought I should wait and see? Do others also think she has scaly face??

Bruce in her new cage. Best close up I could get of Bruce I think Bruce has some kind of mites around her face so I picked up some Avitrol Bird mite and lice spray from the vet's and will have to spray her tonight. Fun. I had an apple tree branch in her old cage and I think she must have got them off that? Cheers Rachel

Yes Bruce is a girl (well, her cere is brown, so I think so!) I appreciate all the great advice, just think i have made myself look like a tool (and feel like one too) for being so silly! Andrew had a similar mineral perch for Conan, it is wavy instead of straight though. I don't hold out much hope for Conan coming back, though. We think he was plotting his escape the whole time.... act miserable, wait for more treats to be put in cage to cheer him up, and BAM! escape when the time is right. Seriously though, he looked so happy flying around up there in the sky, and off into the distance. At least he is happy now (if he survives, but I'm telling myself he's a strong bird and will be okay). Cheers

Well, I am feeling horrible now. I went and got some millet sprays to put in Conan's cage because Bruce loves them so much. I opened Conan's cage door to put the millet in and Conan flew out the door (which was open so Conan could talk to the bird's next door). I feel so stupid. I have been beating myself up - Why didn't I make sure the door was closed?? I was just so excited to think Conan might like the millet sprays and cheer up. Such a silly mistake to make. Andrew has decided not to get another bird and I will have the cage for Bruce and we will exchange or return the stand for a taller one hopefully. Thanks for all your replies.

Hi all! Last Friday I was visiting a new friend and she gave me her budgie as she didn't have enough time to look after her. Her name is Bruce and she is around 5 years old. She was in a small cage, so I got her a slightly larger one from the tip (all cleaned up!) until I can decide on a new cage for her. She is a light blue colour. She is loving millet sprays and playing "push the bell" with me. She is not tame, she was very frightened of my hand going in the cage to remove food but is getting used to me now (I think!). I have let her out of her cage a few times and she is not very good at flying, she bumps into walls and then walks around! My partner (Andrew) is living away from me at the moment to go to uni, and was excited when I got Bruce. So he went and bought himself a bird! Which I found out when I arrived to visit him last night! Conan is green and yellow, and the pet shop "discounted" him as he is an adult, and was the last one left. Since Andrew got Conan on Thurs afternoon, Andrew doesn't think he has eaten or drunk anything (and I can see no evidence of any husks laying around) Conan shows no interest in anything. And hardly ever says anything (except when the birds next door are talking). Apparently in the shop Conan was talking away! Conan is a good flyer, sitting up on the curtain rails and preening himself there, sometimes having a sing. I have tried putting his food on the floor of the cage and also showing him the water. Conan's cage is prob 50w x 40l x 50h?? not sure. It is on a stand only about 60 cm off the ground. Is Conan upset he is not higher up? Or are we expecting too much too soon?? Conan's nails are quite long, with a thicker perch do you think they'll get shorter or should we get them trimmed? I took Bruce to the vet (not avian, knew nothing!) who said her nails should get a bit shorter with the new branch I put in her cage. (although Bruce's nails are short compared to Conan's!) We would probably like to have them together down the track, but for the moment they are living four hours apart! Would appreciate advice! Will post photos another day when back on my computer. Thanks Rachel