robyn

Wonderful pics Hannah, I think I have a "hormonal imbalanced" spangle. I was advised Aqueous Iodine 3 drops per litre in drinking water may help. Haven't tried it yet. Mine is only 2008 rung. Either way your's is a little beauty. Little character by the look's of it.

Nice bird Tomlou, I have one very similar called Hulk, (because he's a big green bird.) He reared 8 chicks last season.

Hi Ratsy thank's for your reply, If nobody knows about carrot seed heads I won't try to give them that. I thought I'd try them with sunflower seeds because I grew a couple for Rosella's that visit and some seed mix's have a few in them. I can only try them. thanks anyway hope your birds are doing well. :thankyou:

Keep trying Metal book- mark?

Thank's for your quick reply Matt, I'll try the iodine in their water to be sure they are all getting it and leave the bells for breeding cages later. Even if he doesn't fill eggs as long as he doesn't have anything he can pass to other birds was the main worry. :thankyou:

Thank's for your information Matt, I have iodine bells in aviary but can't tell which birds are actually using it. Could you add the iodine to all aviary water? Would it harm other birds without this problem or only treat spangle? Did you mean your bird was still infertile after treatment? If it's hormone's is it likely to effect him in other health ways or just fertility. Even if I can't breed from him he's still a nice bird and don't want to lose him. Thank's again for your help. Thank's for reply, Matt has advised hormone's so hopfully it's not liver. He's looking good and healthy just his cere changing colour. Thank's Kaz, opinions seem to be hormonal probs. Just hope this doesn't lead to other health issues. Just infertility maybe ......drat, darn etc. wanted to pair him this next season.

Thanks Nubbly5, I've just checked and it's rung 2008 so not an old bird. Hope other things are incorrect for this bird, I was going to try him this next season, I guess time will tell.

Hi, I have a bit of a puzzle with this bird. I bought it in May 09 thought it was a Cock bird. picture 1. (Colours a bit different in this picture) I didn't try to breed this bird this season. I looked at this bird yesterday and it's Cere has changed. picture 2. It is being "chatted up" by this violet Cock only bred this season(Aug/Sept.) picture 3 Can anyone say which sex the Spangle is?Because I can't decide. I didn't try breeding this bird and it didn't really show any interest one way or the other in Aviary. But Cere was always blue until now.

Hi All, have been searching FAQ etc, can anyone tell me if it's safe to give green vegetable seed heads e.g. carrot to my birds. We have some gone to seed and wondered if they are safe? I read about apple seed but can't find anything on vege's. Thanks for help, have also grown sunflower seed do they husk them or do we have to do it? I would only give them a few here and there, as a treat not all the time as I read they are to fatty. Thanks for any help. R

Hi, I have one in Aviary that sounds just like the male king quail I had. Can't track down which one yet, but I'll find it. My Dad had a great talker that said heaps of phrases and sounded nearly like my Dad so they are good mimics, not all maybe but some.

Hi BudgieMum. Can you tell from her seed that she is really eating? Like seed husks left behind, maybe try her with a bit of greens, silver beet e.g. see if she takes any of that as a pick-me-up? A few down day's is a bit of a worry. If she's been inside away from excessive heat for a while and has'nt picked up? Keep us posted to see how she goes.

Hi all, just reading post about chlorsig eye ointment. I was given this to help scaring after I had a skin cancer removed. Thought that was odd when I read eye ointment but didn't realise it would also help birds.Great tip.

yes and you should see their heads now i will get picture monday as busy till then Starting to sound more positive now G.B. hope the worst of your troubles are over. Chicks looking great. Stay positive and keep posting, give the kids a big hug from "us" for their understanding as well.

Yuk!! did you take a picture. of bugs before you squashed them? It may have helped to identify them. Post again if you find out, could be something to look out for we can all learn from. Hope the rest of your chicks do o.k. Hi, Thanks for your concern. No i didn't take any picture's of the little creepy's, I was shocked to see them and just pulled them off and squashed them without even giving it a second thought. They looked like little maggots but instead of being all white were half black from the head to halfway down it's body. I lost another chick today so now have only one remaining from that clutch, the last chick is weak so i'm not expecting it to survive. I am actually thinking that whatever these little bugs are, are opportunistic and may even be internally destroying the chicks, it is really gross. I will have to quarantine the parents and scrub the breeding cages and leave them empty and hopefully break any cycles that these bugs may have. I am trying to contact our local Uni to talk to the Avian Vet but they are still on holidays so until then i am guessing. Lib Hi again Lib, Do you know what caused the loss of you other chicks? How old is last chick? Do you have any other breeding pairs at the moment. If so maybe check for signs of same thing. I have no idea what caused the loss of the other chicks, i ended up loosing the last two chicks which is sad. i am still at a loss as to what happened so i am asking the avian vet at the uni when he gets back. I do have other clutches and they seem fine, i have had a couple of chicks die but not anything unusal as they were large clutches and were sat upon by brothers and sisters, all other chicks seem healthy. very strange indeed. Lib Good luck with other bubs, let us know if you find out more about "bugs".

Yuk!! did you take a picture. of bugs before you squashed them? It may have helped to identify them. Post again if you find out, could be something to look out for we can all learn from. Hope the rest of your chicks do o.k. Hi, Thanks for your concern. No i didn't take any picture's of the little creepy's, I was shocked to see them and just pulled them off and squashed them without even giving it a second thought. They looked like little maggots but instead of being all white were half black from the head to halfway down it's body. I lost another chick today so now have only one remaining from that clutch, the last chick is weak so i'm not expecting it to survive. I am actually thinking that whatever these little bugs are, are opportunistic and may even be internally destroying the chicks, it is really gross. I will have to quarantine the parents and scrub the breeding cages and leave them empty and hopefully break any cycles that these bugs may have. I am trying to contact our local Uni to talk to the Avian Vet but they are still on holidays so until then i am guessing. Lib Hi again Lib, Do you know what caused the loss of you other chicks? How old is last chick? Do you have any other breeding pairs at the moment. If so maybe check for signs of same thing.

Yuk!! did you take a picture. of bugs before you squashed them? It may have helped to identify them. Post again if you find out, could be something to look out for we can all learn from. Hope the rest of your chicks do o.k.

Hi. Maybe she has a bit of grit, e.g. in her eye, maybe you could try flushing it with an eyedropper or something to see if that helps?

Hi G.B, just a thought, I may have missed it somewhere but do your birds have access to direct sunlight and outdoors or are they under cover?

Hi Nubbly, That's the confusing part , no blood, checked his droppings in cage, seemed normal, he was eating soft seed and looks like he even cracked seed in hosp. cage but he just died!! I even have picture of him eating in hosp cage, the day before he died. I guess I'll just put it down to fate. With an eagle eye on rest of my flock.thanks for the interest.

Thanks Splat, but I would need to see some qualifications (tongue firmly in cheek). I have buried him now so can't check anything else. The picture I took I enlarged cropped etc. it looks like a jagged break with some bits of beak still on skin side and broken on beak side leaving a hole , he was only 4 mths old so I don't know. picture below is him, I took one 9 days ago but couldn't work out p.bucket. It seem's to be doing something odd it can't be ME. But he looked very similar as in this picture.

You dont need to do that. The sexes have been worked out here on this forum. DNA sexing is most often done for parrots where its harder to tell. Budgies ceres are the indicator and easier to sex than most parrots. Oh good. I was dreading doing that to them. My vet said the same things you guys did about me having 2 females and a male. He said people do the DNA testing thing just to be 100%. Thanks Again. I'm learing alot on this forum. I'm glad I joined!!! Welcome. You have arrived at the right place to help you with any problem's you may encounter, and you will, just holler help and stand back. l.o.l.

Yes G.B. I checked a couple off my birds (and got bitten for my trouble). It looks different from my dead bird in that their skin etc is still attached to beak but dead bird had a jagged "hole" not attached to skin on underside of beak. If that makes sense?yes makes sense well next time you get a dead bird even if it ages away and lets hope it is just check to see if they looked the same as the one you just got my other thing is check aviryfor anything at all he could of got hooked on in case as when birds died the tend to sink in places so.... all best darl it them allThank's a lot G.B. I hope I don't lose anymore either but I'd rather know what it was, than wonder.I've been following your other thread, but haven't posted because I don't show birds plus I'm not experienced enough to comment. I just hope your birds take a big upward bound and put all your worries to rest. Thanks heaps for taking an interest in others "minor" setbacks. Since I posted I remember them having a night fright thing a while ago. Couldn't see what set them off maybe my little fellow got hurt that night, I guess I'll never know. Cheer and good luck with your flock. :laughter:

Yes G.B. I checked a couple off my birds (and got bitten for my trouble). It looks different from my dead bird in that their skin etc is still attached to beak but dead bird had a jagged "hole" not attached to skin on underside of beak. If that makes sense?

How would I have time for it all ? Easy....my husband does the housework So that is your secret!!! Finnie goes to look for additional husband..... lol if thats the answer count me in mabe its time for a man in my life BEWARE, GB, It needs to be the cleaning type, not the sit on the couch with a beer type! :rofl: They are rare. don't worry about me mate i know what type im after and just happened s their all extincted or married or not able to handle me or extincted or in hiding as for couch potatoes i have a man management sceem...lol 1..he must have his own home to return to 2..he must be able to cope well with a month in the bush with bare essentials and be resourceful enough to think of ways to productively use his brain 3.. he must be able to malt- i- task 4..have a drivers license that is current..not lost or on probation for losing it extra (i dont care if he doesn't own a car just must retain a license ) 5..be an Australian citizen....(eg im not marring anyone to get them into the country ..lol they can jump on a boat for that they would have better luck, lol 6...have a straightforward approach to life 7,be sensible,humorous,witty and occasionally cynical 8.. be directive but not stern , respect and appreciate,my efforts to maintain them as a partner with all their needs 9, can not be aregent or obnoxious,yet must be proud and have direction in sight and knolage they will achive 10....last but not least , a smile on their face not much i know ... :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: oh i forgot the important one 11.... must do house work .. :yes: its a 45 year plan and im only in my 36th year G.B. YOU FORGOT TO ADD MUST LOVE BUDGIES!!!

Thanks G.B. Maybe I'll have to think again about beak? He had only died an hour or so before I took picture. It was connected both sides just underneath looked broken away from skin. I have buried him now, but there was nothing else wrong. He was very thin when I picked him up. only seemed to eat the soft green seed heads not other seed. If he was ill beforehand he didn't show it, I'm in and out of aviary all the time and check each morning for any signs of an "off" bird. He wasn't fluffed up etc just sitting on floor which was odd, I had no trouble catching him to check so put him in hosp. cage for safety sake. Only thing makes me wary was we had about 8-9 days from boxing day, rain (drizzle to reasonable) the aviary was dry but the birds could go in and out to flight in rain if they wanted, which they did they have a ball out in it. I have treated all now with their 3 mth dose of Avimectin. and all look good. Hoping this was just an isolated snag.