I am fostering a budgie - apparently she is 10 years old. I have noticed that her cere is quite crusty and bits seem to have come off. One nostril is clear and one is partially blocked by part of the cere.

Can someone tell me what could be causing this?

Female budgie ceres change when they are in breeding condition. They turn various shades of brown and can become quite flaky. When they come out of condition they brown flakes off and can go back to a whitish colour. This could be what is happening with your girl. I don't have experience with budgies that old though. Can you post a picture?

A picture would help clarify things a little bit, if you could post one. If not, we will just have to guess.

 

The brown crusty cere in a hen budgie is caused by the hormone estrogen. It is normal for layers of the cere to flake off as estrogen levels drop, such as when she is going out of breeding condition. In birds with liver issues, sometimes the cere will build up too many layers (hypertrophy of the cere) and it will look like it is growing out and up from the bottom, with more layers than is usual for a hen in good health. Sometimes as the layers of the upper cere (near the nostrils) peel off the feathers directly above the cere will get dirty looking. I think this is from the bird wiping the beak and as the layers come off they stain the feathers there. But that is just an observation on my part - I don't know that for certain. The cere will change as estrogen levels fluctuate in the bird. What you are describing could be the result of the normal fluctuations in her body, or could indicate a possible health issue. How is her behavior otherwise?

 

**edit**

 

I apologize - welcome to the forums!!!!! I should have stated that first.

Edited October 1, 200618 yr by Rainbow

Thanks for the replies - I shall try and get a picture of her. She has only been with me for a few hours so it's hard to tell regarding her behaviour. It's just the fact that the cere seems to be partially blocking one of the nostrils that worries me. I am new to the budgie world also so that adds to the confusion! So any tips would be appreciated!

I will go and try and get a picture of her.

 

okay this was the best I could get - don't know whether you will be able to see from the pics

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v444/magicowen/Budgie2.jpg

 

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v444/magicowen/Budgie1.jpg

Edited October 2, 200618 yr by Rainbow

My oldest budgie, Happy, has this problem every so often. I had her at the avian vet for an unrelated problem a few years back and my vet said that this buildup occurs to the point sometimes where budgies have trouble breathing and showed me how to gently peel/scrape it off with my finger nail. It's a tough, waxy substance but comes off quite easily. So it might be worth a try to see if you can get it off to make her comfortable, good luck! (If she isn't tame, it might a good idea to wrap her in a small towel first, OUCH!!!!)

Her cere looks normal to me. Is the blocked nostril truly blocked, or do you see the piece move up and down as she breathes? More than likely she will remove the offending part with her toenail eventually, or sneeze it off. If the nostril is truly blocked and she can't breathe out of that side then that is different. Otherwise it is just cosmetic.

I shall look closely tonight and see if the bit that's partially blocking her nostril moves as she breathes. I have become quite taken by her little antics and don't know whether I am going to be able to let her go now!! She's such a little character and if I have read correctly 10yrs is very old for a budgie, I'd hate for her to have to go through the stress of a new home if she only has a short time with us, she's already had to deal with the move to mine.

Strange how these little ones effect you, I always thought I wasn't really a budgie person until she came along!

She looks like she is in good shape for ten. :wine Her beak is smoothe and the correct length, her nails aren't too long, and she doesn't appear overweight at all. Her feathers lay smoothly, and her feet are smoothe and look healthy. Her eye still has a "spark" to it. Plus you say she is active (and interactive! ), that is just great! 10 is pretty old for a budgie, I'd say most of them don't live nearly that long.

 

She is a pretty hen. These birds are truly special, aren't they?

Edited October 2, 200618 yr by Rainbow

thanks for the replies. We went to the vets and she said it looked slightly odd but was unsure whether that was just her cere or whether it was just scaly face starting out so she treated her with ivomec to be on the safe side.

Also she said what fantastic condition she was in for a bird of her age!

We have decided now that she won't be going to a new home, we are going to adopt her!