Hi, I registered here today because I have a worrying problem. I have one bird which looks as if it's head has been attacked by something, it has lost an eye, and has a hole in it's skull.It is very ill, and I have taken it away from the others in a hospital cage. Yesterday it could fly, today it won't. It's only young and I am not sure if it is male or female.

Now I have 2 others, one male one female , with blood on their ceres. I am not sure if this is their blood, or if they have been attacking the sick one.

I have not seen any major fighting, but it wa svery friendly with a young albino who was separated from it's mother by the breeder we bought it from, because the mother was plucking it's feathers out.

Does anyone have any ideas? I have surfed the net and can't find a disease with these symptoms?

Thanks for your help.

It sounds like an injury, not a disease. It also sounds serious enough that the bird may well have to be put down. Massive infections can set in now because of the injury. Does not sound promising at all.

Would you think that the blood on the other bird's ceres is from the injured bird then?

Would you think that the blood on the other bird's ceres is from the injured bird then?

Only if the bird with the hole in its skull has fresh wounds. May be from other birds bickering. Check the dynamics of the birds aviary or cage...if bickering and fighting is going on....

do you have enough perches

do you have enough space

do you have enough feeding stations

do you have nesting boxes ina colony style aviary

 

Thanks. I reckon we should get another box. The sick one seems happier now it is out of the aviary.

I agree with Kas, and most times when there has been a bird attacked you can tell how did it by the blood on them, which is normally the beak and bib.

Edited August 7, 200717 yr by **KAZ**
double post

Thanks. I reckon we should get another box. The sick one seems happier now it is out of the aviary.

 

Sounds like you are colony breeding. If so you need twice as many nesting boxes as pairs of birds or you will meet with disaster...some of which you are already experiencing.

Read this

http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/faqs/i...lony%20breeding

 

It might help.

I have one bird which looks as if it's head has been attacked by something, it has lost an eye, and has a hole in it's skull.

 

Is there actually a hole in the skull itself, or just a chunk of skin missing?

 

If it was one of your own bred that was still returning to it's nest box then it's own parents could well have attacked it.

 

If it had not yet left the nest box it could have been attacked by it's parents (eviction attempt) or another bird, usually a hen, that wants that box.

 

As I see it there are 2 issues here - what caused the injury and how to treat it.

 

Kaz has addressed the colony breeding issue which is a likely cause. Budgies might look sweet and innocent but they can be VERY vicious - they take their breeding and territorial issues very seriously! The suggestions and links that have been posted should minimise the risk of this happening again.

 

What to suggest about your patient depends on the extent of the injury. Certainly isolating it in a small cage so it can't move around too much and with something to provide warmth is a good start. If you can post a photo of the injury and update on the injured birds behaviour it will help too.

 

Budgies are pretty tough and can bounce back from horrendous injury, but like all sick animals they are vulnerable while they are recovering and setbacks can come quickly with little warning.

 

Good luck,

KathyW.

Thanks for the advice everyone. Unfortunately the poor thing lost the fight overnight.

I am pretty sure I know who attacked it, we bought 3 young ones from a breeder,the injured one and the suspect were 2 of them.

I have read the info, and will get several more boxes so they can sort themselves out.

I really appreciate your time. Thanks.