I am fostercaring 2 baby budgies approx 3 weeks old fully feathered except for under their necks. The owners came home to find one baby attacked almost to death, both parents had blood on them. Resulting in taking babies away, and as as they would not be available to feed them regularly due to school, and work I suggested they bring them here and we would try to hand feed them

 

Well ,we are managing to get a little food into them but my concern is that one of them cannot seem to stand properly. I have checked his feet, they appear okay, but when you stand him on a table or floor of the cage he falls forward and leans on his chest, We Tried him on a low perch and it takes a while for him to balance and he still leans forward. I placed him on the floor, he sat up then flopped straight away and he seems to crawl on his chest.

 

I did not notice this problem until after his second feed at our place

 

Could he be a "moth" even though his feathers appear normal to me

 

All advice will be heeded

 

Cindy

Cindy, what was the actual extent of the babies injuries ? Is head damage/ brain injury a possibility ? That would affect balance.

all of my babies when learning to balance lean forwars almost and sometimes at the start on their chest.

 

is he behaving normally otherwise? the same as the other chick?

 

Balancing pictures:

 

 

Edited November 10, 200618 yr by Nerwen

I have had a couple of babies who, due to both parents being in the box with them and on top of them start out doing exactly what you are describing as they have been squashed and cramped in the nesting box. It's a possibility maybe ?

Bubbles,

(1) the one that was attacked, had fatal injuries worst luck. This is one of the two siblings that were removed for safety reasons, althouhg I have notice a blood spot on the inside of one wing and one under her chin. Don't know if that was incurred by the parents or not.

(2) I dont know if the nesting box was cramped or not,, There were only 4 babies, the on that got attacked, the two I have here, and the other is still with Mum as he is not fully feathered yet.

 

 

 

all of my babies when learning to balance lean forwars almost and sometimes at the start on their chest.

 

is he behaving normally otherwise? the same as the other chick?

 

Yes Nerwen, that is how he sits and walks.

After we fed him at 10PM tonight, (he doesnt take much food, prefers to blow raspberrys at us instead of swallong it .Yuk) he had a little fly, low to the ground and covered about a metre in distance, but we had padding on the floor for safety and hubby got him before he hit the ground anyway.

The only time he chirps is when I hold him in front of the cage where my 7 week old bubs are, and when they chatter he will answer back and it sounds so sweet.

 

I have placed them in a nesting box inside a large cage, and when the other sibling comes out, he will follow. I left the nesting box so they might feel a little safer.

 

I worrry that he may not be getting enough to eat as I am feeding him with either a syring or dropper as believe it or not, there are no budgie crop needles in Penrith at the moment. I dont want to lose lose him on them.

 

Will try to take pics tomorrow

 

Cindy

Cindy