We have had Bobby now for 4 days & he's just wonderful!!!

 

But this morning when I got up, the feathers on his head looked like he had rubbed his head in something sticky. His feathers were stiff & sticking up, with brownish tinge on the ends of the feathers.

 

I was a little concerned, & rubbed water on his head to try to clean him & see if they would sit down flat. By tonight, his feathers have sat back down, but they are still a little 'stiff'.

 

I also noticed a lot of seed around his cage....2 seeds were even stuck to the roof of his cage!! How on earth would they have got there??? Is he such a crazy bird, that he throws his seed around....or is he sneezing & they are sticky with his mucus? He doesn't seem to be mucus-y, & doesn't sneeze an abnormal amount, but how would seeds STICK to the top of the cage???? Mind you, it was ONLY 2 seeds!

 

Tonight he seems to be itchy, & keeps scratching everywhere.....his back, under his wings, his chest & his bottom. His bottom also seems to have light green staining on it, although he doesn't seem to have diarrhoea (spelling??). His 'poos' seem normal.

 

Do you guys think there is something wrong with him, that I need to take him to a vet? Or do you think that because he is now an inside bird, the heat is bothering him. I was wondering if he got hot & dunked his head in his water during the night. It's not that hot here, but my husband has the heating on all night (once it gets to 14 deg, the heating comes on....so it never gets below 14deg). If he is used to being outstide, the weather would drop to much, much colder than that at night.

 

Other than these 'symptoms', he's a happy bird. I can pat him in & out of the cage. He will sit on my shoulder, & doesn't try to get away when I try to catch him. He has such a gorgeous nature....from day 1, he's been beautiful. And he seems to eat often throughout the day, so his appetite is fine.

 

Has anyone had any experience with this? Any advice you can give would be GREATLY appreciated!

 

Thanks...

Tracey, Bobby & Trixie!

Edited July 18, 200619 yr by maximillian

It's a shame I can't help you , I've never seen something like this. I hope he's going to be okay.

It sounds like he is going through a moult and you are talking about pin feathers. Go to www.budgietalk.com under grooming does it look like this picture of the bird with pin feathers?

 

Preening is a normal process it looks itchy to us but they preen all the time to keep their feathers groomed and in place, it is survival because they need to be able to fly fast and take off fast if a predator was after them.

 

As for the green staining have you provided a mineral, cuttlebone or veggies or anything in his cage that green could rub on him?

 

As for seeds don't ask (Laughing out loud) I have found seed if very unusual placed :(Laughing out loud):

Thanks guys, for replying!

 

Lovey, it's not molting. It looks like clumps of his feathers have stuck together. I wish it was molting...I just don't have any idea how his head got dirty & 'sticky'.???

 

Bobby has cuttlebone, but I don't think he's taken any bites of it yet. He's got a toy in his cage which he can sit on (I haven't seen him sit on it though!!), but the top part of it is a green piece of wood. I don't think that's what's causing his staining.....but he seems to sit low, so unless sometimes he poo's & then drags his bottom & tail over it.....I don't know.

 

Having a budgie is just as bad as having kids! You worry about them just as much!!!!

 

Does anyone think I should take him to the vet, or should I just wait & see? Like I said, he doesn't act sick....actually, since I wrote the first message, he hasn't itched or scratched at all. I wonder if it's a nerve thing....I had him out of the cage & was playing with him. Maybe he was just nervous...I know I get hot & sweat more when I'm nervous, so maybe it's the same thing. Since he's been in the cage, he's been fine...he's been sitting on the perch & hasn't moved. I think he gets tired quick, still being a baby.

 

Thanks again!

Cheers,

Tracey

I would go with your gut.

 

I would say yes take him to the vet if you see more signs today for sure. Budgies can mask their illness which makes them so hard to treat. When Merlin was baby baby he would take at least 4 naps a day that I observed now he doesn't tuck his head at all but I am sure he naps.

I would probably take him to the vet just to make sure he is okay.

:rip: The "sticky" stuff sounds strange. Better the vet check it out.

We have had Bobby now for 4 days & he's just wonderful!!!

 

But this morning when I got up, the feathers on his head looked like he had rubbed his head in something sticky. His feathers were stiff & sticking up, with brownish tinge on the ends of the feathers.

 

I was a little concerned, & rubbed water on his head to try to clean him & see if they would sit down flat. By tonight, his feathers have sat back down, but they are still a little 'stiff'.

 

I also noticed a lot of seed around his cage....2 seeds were even stuck to the roof of his cage!! How on earth would they have got there??? Is he such a crazy bird, that he throws his seed around....or is he sneezing & they are sticky with his mucus? He doesn't seem to be mucus-y, & doesn't sneeze an abnormal amount, but how would seeds STICK to the top of the cage???? Mind you, it was ONLY 2 seeds! :ausb:

 

Tonight he seems to be itchy, & keeps scratching everywhere.....his back, under his wings, his chest & his bottom. His bottom also seems to have light green staining on it, although he doesn't seem to have diarrhoea (spelling??). His 'poos' seem normal.

 

It sounds exactly like he is vomiting. The description you gave of the feathers fits perfectly, and if you wet those feathers after they dry they still don't look right. I'll bet if you touch them they feel slimey, even though they are dry. Seed is dry and will not stick to anything unless it is wet. He would not be able to regurgitate to all those places, and regurgitation does not affect the feathers on the head. If he is vomiting, you may not even notice it because it is usually a quick side to side flip of the head. I would get him to a vet ASAP.

Edited July 19, 200619 yr by Rainbow

I was just about to say the same thing, as I had a bird doing exactly that once. Vet attention is needed if this is the case.

Thank you so much guys!!! That sounds exactly like what's going on. After his 'stiff' feathered head the other morning, there has been no more episodes. His feathers are now back to white, & almost back to normal. They don't even feel very stiff anymore.

 

I think what may have happened is he's just stuffed himself on millet. I had hung a bunch in his cage the night before, put him bed & when I got up the next morning that's when I noticed his head. The last 2 days, he's been full of energy, chirpy & eats anything in sight! Plus, the millet bunch was almost empty & it was a large bunch. He must have eaten for most of the night!

 

Trixie eats nothing but seed & cuttlebone, but Bobby eats anything he sees! I cut up an apple, & he ate a bit immediately....whereas Trixie won't come near the offending food - EVER!! I think I have to limit his food intake!! I will be keeping a VERY close eye on his behaviour, & if it changes in the slightest we'll be off the vet ASAP!

 

I really appreciate you taking the time to answer me. Thank you.... :ausb:

 

cheers,

Tracey

Vomiting in budgies is unusual Tracey. Please watch closely for any other symptoms as it may not be due to the millet. It would be unusual to put it down to overeating on some millet. Watch Bobby closely for awhile and if any other symptoms seek a vet. Good luck with Bobby.

Thank you Karen. You can be sure that Bobby will be well taken care of. If there are ANY unusual symptoms/behaviours, he will absolutely be rushed off immediately. He is such a special bird...

I am sure Bobby is getting the best of attention under your care :angel1:

He sure is! Thanks Karen....

I have a couple of budgies that vomit and it fits the description perfectly.

 

I dont know what causes it but the birds ahve been checked by vets and have nothing wrong with them. I have noticed it happens first thing in a morning when it does and probably after they have pigged out just before bed.

Thank you so much Boomberry! I have been watching Bobby closely, & he appears to be fine. He is energetic, chirpy & full of life. If he was lethargic, & looked sickly, he'd be at the vet immediately.

 

You've helped put my mind at ease....thank you!

 

By the way....do the birds that you have, that vomit...do they do it regularly, or is it a one off thing? I'll be worried if he does it often...but at the moment, it's only been once. Mind you, we've only had him less than a week!

 

Thanks again....

 

Cheers,

Tracey

if he is vomiting I think I would take him to the vet to ensure his digestive system is okay. It is very unusual for them to vomit there may a few cases where it is normal like Booms bird but if you see it more often my personal choice would be a vet trip.