Hi there

 

I got 2 pairs of budgies currently breeding in the same smallish aviary. Box 1 has 3 babies, box 2 has 2 babies.

 

I got a problem though - the parents of box 2 are showing really odd signs of illness. The sickness started in the male bird, I didnt notice it at first because its nothing like the typical sickness (i.e. puffed up, keeping to themselves). The bird is "fine" but cannot fly. He hops from perch-to-perch-to-box-etc. I thought it was just his way of getting around - this has been going on for over a week now. The problem became serious when 2 more of the birds in my aviary got the same symtoms. Main problem - one of the 2 birds is the female of box 2.

 

My question to you is: does this illness sound familar? I have never heard or seen of anything like this. Any help much appreciated. The VET is currently giving general antibiotic which seems to help but still no flying happening.

 

My fear is that something terrible happens and I loose both male/female from box 2. Is it possible to simply move the babies from box 2 to box 1 and hope the partents of box 1 will adopt/foster the "intruders"? Or should I start buying the equiment I need to handrear them?

 

ps: not sure which section this should be posted in, so I've double posted in "sickness" and "breeding" sections.

 

Many thanks in advance.

 

m4

Moderators message....

I have merged your double post into one topic. and will give you some answers shortly.

Bubbles

Edited January 4, 200718 yr by Bubbles

Have you checked the sick parents for body weight and if their keel bone is protruding ? Is it possible they have had a rapid weight loss ? Weakness is a symptom of dramatic weight loss but then so is a lot of other things. You could possibly have a lack of calcium or vitamins happening, but it is all guesswork unless a proper avian vet can diagnose.

With regard to the babies.....I would foster them immediately to take the pressure off the sick parents. But remove the pair that is sick to a separate cage with a heat source for warmth. The babies should be fostered by the other parents without too much drama. Most budgies will foster new babies, especially if you introduce the babies while the parents are out of the box and dont see you placing the new chicks into it. The younger the new chicks the better as some parents see a fully feathered chick (4-5 weeks) as an intruder. Young ones, usually no problems. Failing that you may have to handfeed these chicks yourself and that can be a task in itself.

Let me know any more details that can help us to advise you and we will do the best we can.

Cheers karen

Sigh :dbb1:

 

How can the best hobby in the world have such bad side effects at times?

 

I just got back from the VET. I took the sick parents in to see what the VET can do. Turns out, the female (whos symptoms only started today) had a combination of lymonia and something else which we still cannot pinpoint. I just witnessed the female die right in front of me. A combination of the bird stressing heavily (she wasnt too tame unfortunately) and the battling to breathe was far too much to handle. It is by far the worst thing I have ever seen in my life :D She will now be sent in to get a postmortum done so hold thumbs we get an answer. VET seems to think its a virus of some sort attacking the nervous system - hence the perfect health apart from not being able to fly. Very sad day indeed

 

So a change of plans is now in order, I have taken the 2 babies in, they currently under a lamp with a cup of water nearby to humidify the air.

 

From what Ive read, I need to have a pre-made mix for hand rearing birds. I got a mix called AV PLUS. Along with this I need to throw a bunch of seeds into a vender to get em grinded down, blow off the excess and this I can mix with the AV PLUS/water to feed them.

 

I fould this website: http://wishes.debian.co.nz/birds/index.php?pageid=40&drop=5 which looks comprehensive enough to get me started.

 

Any help would be much appreciated.

Edited January 4, 200718 yr by M4nimal

Did you try fostering the chicks first? Try fostering the chicks to the other parents first, and see what happens from then on....Keep an close eye on the other pair as well. If you try fostering the chicks it will take the burden off of you, and all will be well. If it doesn't turn out with the fostering, I would go back to that Vet and get all the information from him/her so that I would know how to handfeed and how to take better care of the chicks as the parents would. If you absolutely have to handraise the chicks, go back to the vet and get his/her idea of hand-rearing and have him/her give you lessons on how to handfeed.

 

The link that you posted had all the Basic areas on Hand Rearing chicks, but If I was you I'll get all the info from the net as I can get.....and more from the Vet. Good luck on what happens with you and the chicks and I hope that all goes well:)

I have a question. Wouldn't it be risky to the new foster parents and thier young to expose them to the possibly infected babies from the sick parents?

Good luck with them all,

:dbb1:

Shell

Yes. Shellball. That's what I was thinking the fostered babies could transmitt the virus to their foster parents if you do that. Make sure your sick birds aren't coming in contact with your other birds too.

I think you should hand-rear them rather than risk losing all of your bugies.

Edited January 5, 200718 yr by Sailorwolf

I'm sorry to hear that you lost the hen. How is the male going? I would try and hand rear the young like you are if the other family isn't affected the less contact they have now the better the chance of them not getting this virus.

 

I haven't experience with hand rearing but I would think the seed is added later when you are trying to wean them onto eating seed. The packet should have instructions on the back of what consistency to make it for the age of the chicks. How old are they by the way?

Hey all

 

Thanks for the replies and the support!!

 

Update: I tried hand rearing the babies and so far so good. The one chick was rejected by the parents before the hen died. Its head has been plucked of all its infant feathers and there is a bit of bruising. But the baby is fine..

 

I tried putting the male in a small cage, opened the entrance and put the breeding box at the door (with cage door open of course). So the male has access to the chicks.. Ive been monitoring him to see if he will take over parenting for me.. The results so far are okay. He seems to only be feeding the other chich that wasnt rejected. So I'm now taking on the task of hand rearing the rejected chick but I'll leave the other to the father.

 

The rejected chick battles to feed.. I think he is adjusting to the new feed and new style of being fed. He is not eating as much as I'd like him to (i.e. the crop is half as full as what it should be from what ive read online), so I'm feeding him every 3 hours rather than every 4 to ensure he is never on empty.

 

Holding thumbs and hoping all comes right

 

m4 :hap:

Hi M4, good luck with your little bubs.. I was really sorry to hear about your hen. Hopefully the vet will soon be able to tell you exactly what was wrong.

You are doing really well sofar. Goodluck.