I think i might be harming my bird.

It all started with my daugter showing me a trick with our budgie petey. The trick was her sticking her tongue out at it and him pecking at it. I told her it was gross and she was going to get germs, this started about 3 days ago, we have only had him for 8 days and he is very tame and we all love him very much. So my daughter was pestering me to try it so i did and my husband tried it too. So for the pass 3 days we have been doing this not constantly but a couple of times aday. He even tries to pry open our mouth with his beak.

So tonight i was reading passed posts and it says that human saliva is toxic to budgies. So now i am freaking out and feel just so horrible and i am afraid he is going to get sick. Just wondering what our signs we should be looking for if he is sick. I am very worried and i tend to be a hypochondriac so any other info on this would be great.

Sorry about the length

Melanie

Melanie, there are a lot of things that people do, and don't realize they are not the best thing. Please stop letting your budgie kiss your tongue. It's not that saliva is toxic, it is just that there are so many germs that normally live in your mouth that are normal for people, but if ingested by your bird could make them very sick because they are not normal for budgies. Actually, it would not be your daughter that gets sick in this case. But there is no reason to scold her now, she did not know any better and neither did you. I know there was no malicious intent on anyone's part. Do not feel guilty. The hypochondriac part I get, :ausb: . Also, don't let your bird eat after you. I will eat after my birds, but won't let them eat after me. They usually get their own plate if it is something I want to share.

 

I would watch for fluffed up posture, inappetance, loose stools, change in color or consistency of the stool, stool that 'sticks' to the vent feathers instead of falling to the bottom of the cage, lack of "spark" in the eye. I don't think it bad that you want to kiss your bird. I kiss my birds (not that that makes it right or anything). I would just make sure your lips are dry, and only kiss on the top of the head. I doubt your bird will become ill, but if you notice unusual symptoms, just call your avian vet. A phone call never hurts anything, and many times an office visit isn't necessary if your vet has already seen your bird before.

Don't worry i will not be letting anyone do that again. As for his vet visit it is only next monday as i don't have a car and that is a day i have ride, but do you think i should move it up sooner just to be on the safe side?

I have noticed he likes being on the floor of the cage, at night he sleeps on the top perch with one foot up but during the day he tries to tunnel under the newspaper, i left today for my daughters skating practice and when i got home it looked like he wasn't in his cage so i called him and he came right out of a little whole that he made in the newspaper, is this normal. Also sometimes he naps during the day on th bottom of the cage he still tucks one foot in.

Sorry about all this i am very new to budgies and also suffer from major anxiety problems so i am off work right now because of it,and my mom and husband thought this would be a good way to occupy me and keep my mind off things. Man where they wrong i think they should have bought me fish.

again sorry

melanie

I think the one you have in a few days would be fine, unless you see any of the signs Rainbow talked about.

 

You have only just started this and so should be easy to stop, if he nibbles at your mouth you can distract him with a finger or another toy.

 

ANd your doing a wonderful job as a first time budgie owner.

I think the one you have in a few days would be fine, unless you see any of the signs Rainbow talked about.

 

You have only just started this and so should be easy to stop, if he nibbles at your mouth you can distract him with a finger or another toy.

 

ANd your doing a wonderful job as a first time budgie owner.

 

 

Thank you i tend to worry alot, He is a sweet bird and i would hate to loose him.

melanie

I think the one you have in a few days would be fine, unless you see any of the signs Rainbow talked about.

 

You have only just started this and so should be easy to stop, if he nibbles at your mouth you can distract him with a finger or another toy.

 

ANd your doing a wonderful job as a first time budgie owner.

 

 

Thank you i tend to worry alot, He is a sweet bird and i would hate to loose him.

melanie

 

Hey Melanie

 

When I got my budgie Skip in Jan I was just the same, he coughed up seed once and I thought he was going to choke to death. Give it time and you will realise that he is fine. As for the floor thing, it is quite common for young budgies to sit on the floor, and ,my budige still sits and sleeps there or plays with the wiffle ball on the ground, you only need be concerned if he is all fluffed up and not energetic.

As for the anxiety thing, if you feel anxious about him, it may be best to put him back in the cage, walk away into another room and take some deep breaths. Then try to think rationally about your fears/concerns, when you are anxious things can get out of proportion in your mind very quickly so just take a few minutes to get your thoughts in order.