Hi all!, just wanted to ask a quick question, not about my birds they are all doing well, my 2 little friends that were flightless are now both flighted

 

the question I have is, a friend of mine just asked me to come and have a look at her bird, she said she is not looking to well, when I asked what was wrong she said "lost her feather's on front and looks pink and scaly" now this bird will probably not be taken to the vet coz its kinda seen as a goldfish, so I was hoping someone would be able to maybe give me some idea of what might be wrong so I can give her some idea how to treat rather than just leaving it to suffer..

 

thanking in advance

Its a little bit vague Jules. Can you get photos ?

 

PS Very pleased to hear about your budgies

Hiya Jules, I was just thinking about you earlier today. Did you ever get some rope perches? Also very pleased to hear that your babies are well.

 

You didn't say what type of bird your friend has...

 

Feathers.

Glad your birds are doing well juleslou and like Feathers said, WHAT kind of a bird is it? Read your friend the riot act and say that vet care is required! They are not goldfish! :greenb:

Hi Jules,

 

I am not expert but is the bird is losing it's feather at the front..( Chest) It could be bored if it is alone.

Try and take a photo of the bird ( what breed )...

Apart from feathers and Scaley is it okay, eating, flying, etc???

 

She really should take it to the vet! Everything has feelings...

 

Glad to hear your bubs are doing well

As with the other is this a budgie? Budgies are not known pluckers unless they have an underlying illness. The pink and scaly part is that on the beak or chest? Does your friend have a computer where she can post a picture of her bird? Know we are not avian vets or vet so we can help assist in telling you or your friend what needs to be done but we can not give a definite diagnosis or treatment.

Thanks all for your reply's, the bird is a budgie, sorry it was so vague I hadn't seen the bird yet, I went to see it today.

 

The bird is female, not sure on age as it was given to her by another friend who didn't want it. it is in a small cage with a male budgie, the cage is not regularly cleaned and the female often lays eggs in the bottom of the cage in newspaper she has chewed up.

 

pheobe I have said something to this person about it, but there is only so much I can do, and if I can find out some how what might be wrong with it and give her some idea's how to fix it herself that is better than doing nothing, as much as I might say it needs a vet it wont get taken as money is an issue and its seen as sort of a "throw away" pet.

 

I can't take a photo of her, but I went there today and the budgie was sitting on some eggs in the bottom of the cage, I asked if she had seen her plucking her own feather's and I was assured she is not doing that, I hope this description helps..... she has lost most of her feather's on her front her front looks kinda like a plucked chicken, and her skin is pink looks a little like crape paper, I took her out and had a good look at her its hard though as she is really hard to handle she is really aggressive and thats probably made worse by the fact she had eggs in there, so today we took her out of that cage as it was filthy and I put her and her friend in a clean cage I candled the eggs, and as usual they were empty.

 

some idea's if anyone has any would be really helpfull I would rather do this than nothing at all and let the little thing suffer.

Thanks, that helps a little. Because she and the male are housed in a small cage, the male is probably plucking her out of frustration and boredom. Also, because of constant egg laying, she is probably not getting all the calcium and nutrients she needs and her feathers may just be falling out. Also the male and female need to be separated. From your description of the the filthy little cage which is not cleaned daily and the general condition of the birds, maybe suggest that your friend surrender them to a reputable rescue agency. All you have to point out, at the risk of offending her (but who cares, who wants a friend like that anyhow), that the budgies deserve better and she is not caring for them properly at all to the detriment of their health.

Edited April 21, 200718 yr by Phoebe

Can you ask her to sign up for the BBC forums here and we can advise her personally that may help. I also remember Nerwen saying that budgies will pluck their own feathers on their chest when they are laying to layer the nest (the feathers will grow back) but since she is constantly laying eggs she could be doing this all the time along with the information that Phoebe mentioned. This poor budgie will not be around in this life time if she continues to abuse her that is literally what it is pet abuse. If she sees this as a fish MANY fish including my own get better care then this poor budgie. I hate to be harsh these are God's creatures and we are the higher intellect he put them here for us to care for them not abuse them.

Hi Jules, well done for at least getting these guys into a clean cage. From what you have said I would imagine that the hen has plucked herself. Some brooding hens do this on purpose so that there is good heat transfer from herself to the eggs. She is just trying to be a good mum.

 

How long has she been sitting on these eggs? If it is way past due time for them to hatch then remove the eggs altogether. It may be a good idea to separate the male and female budgies to stop her from egg laying again.

 

 

Feathers.

Maybe you could offer to take them form her.

I think this friend of yours needs a good lecturing!!!!

While I agree with all of you, I am in a very very difficult position for reason's I would rather not talk about.

and I do have to say its not 100% her fault but she is not really helping, it was her husband that wanted the birds and he is one of these people that get these things thinking they are a good idea at the time and then he loses interest, and she is now left with a responsibility that she didn't want, I have offered to take the birds but for some reason she wont give them up, to me anyway.

 

feather's I did remove the eggs because I candled them and they were empty and I was told she had been sitting on them a while, one of them even had a small hole in it.

 

Pheobe I really don't think the male is doing it as the female is really dominant and wouldn't let him, while I understand what you have said please try not to be to frustrated and harsh, as this is a really difficult situation for me, one I would rather not advertise in a forum, if you are really interested I am happy to give you some idea personally but not on the forum that everyone can read, I hope you understand.

 

she has never lost her feather's before when she has laid.

 

I really appreciate everyone tryin to help, I am just glad she actually asked me to look at it and didn't just leave it.

 

THANKS!!!!

Edited April 22, 200718 yr by juleslou

Your right about that she did ask and that shows she does care. We don't know the full situation so I hope whatever it is things will work out for not only your friend but the 2 birds that are in distress.

Thanks Elly, and I just wanted to say to you, I haven't been on here for so long, I only just read the post about pretty, I am so so so sorry for your loss, I was shocked to read it (((hugs)))

 

I hope these 2 birds are okay 2 maybe if I just keep at her about them things might change

The best thing you can do is to encourage and support her we don't always like what our friends do but what we can do is make a difference by constant encouragement plus you may even say I will help you out with keeping the cage, water, food clean and the eggs out of the cage. Especially if you are close to her and see her often.

 

Thank you for your words about Pretty , it was a very sad and shocking loss for us.

I am just glad she actually asked me to look at it and didn't just leave it

 

That's always a good thing

 

 

Feathers.

Yes, on these boards, it's not entirely black and white, many factors involved, hope the budgies make out okay. :greenb:

Edited April 23, 200718 yr by Phoebe

Something noone has offered up to this point and may be very relevant...is

hens often pluck the front feathers out to make better body warmth and contact with the eggs for incubation. As this hen has no nest, she has just plucked a few more for this very purpose. She will be okay about her feathers as they will grow back. I dont think she has a plucking problem, she is just doing what hens do. Since she is trying to make a "nest" she is using more feathers thats all.

Good on you Jules for trying to do what you can.

 

Cheers karen

Excuse me Miss Kaz Elly and I posted a reply at the same time the other day, telling her just that

 

[pokes out tongue in jest]

 

 

Feathers.

:fear Sorry guys ....I have had a rough day with poisoning in the aviaries and havent paid close enough attention

Sorry guys ....I have had a rough day with poisoning in the aviaries and havent paid close enough attention

 

I still can't get over this... *hugz* again

 

 

Feathers

:fear

Just wanted to say THANKS HEAPS EVERYONE!!!!! for all your help, I will try and keep you all updated