One of my hens looks like she is vomiting, then she swollows it back. She wasn't trying to feed another budgie. She is a bit dirty on her head, but she is cleaning herself.

I have her separated now and I gave her some weak camomile tea. She eats, drinks, and doesn't have any other problem.

I called my avian vet and she said that the budgie could just be in a breeding mood, so I should wait for 1-2 days and if it doesn't get better, I should bring her in.

Has anyone ever had a similar problem? Is there something I could feed her or give her to drink to make her feel better? She eats millet and celery and she seems to be okay

 

Thanks for any advice

vomiting is normally more violent with the seed spraying around becuase they shake their heads to remove it.

 

I would keep her separate like you have and monitor for other signs of sickness like the vet said.

Sometimes parrots will regurgitate and swallow it back. Regurgitation is a controlled up and down movement of the head and neck, usually just a few pumps. Vomiting is more a quick pump up and down, then a violent side to side motion as the bird flings the stuff out. Sometimes this will happen several times in succession. Vomit will be pasted on the head if the bird is sick often enough. If you notice seeds are sprayed and stuck to the walls or in places it is not normal for them to be, the bird is vomiting. Regurgitation is controlled, and the seeds will only be in places within easy reach of the beak.

 

I think your vet must feel it is regurgitation if you were advised to wait, as being in breeding mode does not cause birds to vomit. If the bird is swallowing it back, she is probably regurgitating. I can't imagine the bird being able to swallow back vomit, as it comes out too fast. Plus the bird obviously looks like it doesn't feel well if it is vomiting. You can see it in the eyes.

 

How long has this been going on?

It started the day before yesterday. I wasn't home yesterday, so I can't tell if she did it the whole day, but she did it yesterday evening. But today she looks okay, singing, eating. She definately doesn't look like a sick budgie. I didn't see her vomit yet.

Maybe I didn't describe it right, it looked like she was getting the food out of her crop (like when they feed each other - but she didn't feed any other budgie), then she swallowed it back, sometimes she shaked her head and the seeds were spraying around.

I just got scared, I've read about a crop infection - that the bird would vomit in this case too. But maybe it's not vomiting what she's doing

 

I'll see if she'll do it today (I'm home the whole day) and if she does, I'll take her to the vet.

Do you see small clusters of seeds stuck on the cage bars or the wall behind the cage? The first half of your description - it looked like she was getting the food out of her crop (like when they feed each other - but she didn't feed any other budgie), then she swallowed it back, - sounds like regurgitation, but the second half - sometimes she shaked her head and the seeds were spraying around. - sounds like vomiting. If she were regurgitating she would place the seeds on whatever she was regurgitating to. It is a deliberate act.

 

What did she eat the day you noticed this behavior? Can you remember if the water was maybe especially fouled that morning, or if she had veggies left in the cage for longer than usual, or if she was out and about unsupervised and may have nibbled on an unsafe plant or something? A crop infection would probably smell. If you can hold her and get close enough to sniff around the beak, do so. It will probably remind you of curdled milk if there is something wrong. Can you post a picture of her now? If she has been vomiting off and on for two days, there will be signs of it on her feathers.

She doesn't do it anymore. She had some dirty looking feathers before, but she's cleaned herself up and looks okay.

She was eating seed mix, celery, some washed grass, parsley, carrot and apple in the past couple of days. Same as the rest of my budgies and tiels. And they are all okay.

They are not any clusters of seeds stuck on the cage bars or the wall. I could see her spitting some seeds the day before yesterday, but not since.

She could't eat any dangerous plants, I have them on the balcony - far away from birds.

The water was okay, not dirty. I put some special acid liquid (for parrots) into their water, it should be antibacterial, helps their digestive system, etc. - I think it's good for their bellies.

I can't take photos now, our camera is broken (I dropped it :hap: ).

I think she is okay now, I'll watch her for some time and take her to the vet if she does it again.

Thanks a lot for your help

Just to let you know, my Giny is okay now. It was probably hormonal as the vet said :offtopic: