I have a 7 y.o male who is let out of his cage daily to fly around etc. Normally, he just does flying laps of the kitchen, but today when i took him out, he did a couple of laps and landed on his cage (normal). when he took off to fly again, it was like his tail was mis-aligned and it was almost like he couldnt fly straight (kinda like wanting to fly around in circles). This obviously scared him because he was squaking which he doesnt normally do. I checked his vent and he had no poo or anything stuck. I'm not too sure whats wrong but this is really not normal for him.

 

I recently changed his diet about 3 weeks ago after discovering he was too fat - he had developed a fatty deposit on his chest which has since gone down...so his diet is raw corn, peas, beans and some millet spray. I had notied that Trill must have made him a bit ill because he had a lot of regurgitated bird seed in the bottom of his cage so that gave me reason to change it as well. He's much better with the millet sprays now.

 

His breathing seems normal, although he had sneezed a little this morning (no fluid tho).

 

Any ideas on the wierd flying? I'm a little nervous about it.

Edited February 16, 200817 yr by georgiespet

did you spread out both wings to see if he has any feathers missing?

did you spread out both wings to see if he has any feathers missing?

 

I checked and his wing feathers seem okay, although he had lost a couple in the last 1-2 days

 

I watched him flying towards me and when he spreads his tail feathers out, they seem to be more to his left that being in the center. I thought it was strange.

Hi and welcome!!

 

I agree with Elly. He might just be moulting and lost a couple extra flights in one of his wings.

 

As to the other stuff, i am not sure, but the regurgitated/vomited seed doesn't sound good. Hopefully the others will have more of an idea.

 

Good luck. Hope he is better soon

 

**edit**

If he is lopsided with his flight feathers he will be trying to correct his flying direction by using his tail more, and it will look off center. Just like an aroplane. Birds with 1 cut wing fly the same.

It should correct when the flights grow back.

do you have any photos???

Edited February 16, 200817 yr by **Liv**

I'll wait and see how he goes in a week or so...hopefully once these flight feathers have grown back, he wont be over compensating and i'll stop panicking He's instead been running around on the floor and chasing us around instead of flying (what is it with budgies and human toes??)

 

The new diet is working well- he's happier and chirpier and he's not sick on bird seed any more.

 

 

 

By the way = thank you so much for the quick responses

Edited February 16, 200817 yr by Elly
edited BTW not approved shortcut

I'll wait and see how he goes in a week or so...hopefully once these flight feathers have grown back, he wont be over compensating and i'll stop panicking He's instead been running around on the floor and chasing us around instead of flying (what is it with budgies and human toes??)

 

The new diet is working well- he's happier and chirpier and he's not sick on bird seed any more.

 

 

 

by the way = thank you so much for the quick responses

 

I'm sorry about the issue with your budgie. Watch him carefully (esp if there are any more signs of sickness) Budgies hide their illness' very well, so if you notice anything, it's more than likely been around for a long time. Best of luck and let us know how you go.

Edited February 16, 200817 yr by Elly
spelling

:ygbudgie: Sorry to hear Georgie is having flight problems. The first question I was going to ask if he was overweight as my 2 birds with lipomas (Monty, Happy) have problems with flight. Good he is losing weight and hopefully it is just a feather proglem.

Hi, welcome to the site.

sorry to hear you budgie is having some flying issues, hopefully the problem is only caused by him molting his feathers. keep a close eye on him, to make sure he is okay

Good news - Georgie lost a flight feather from the opposite wing this morning and is back to flying normally (so he has 3 on each side, instead of 3 on one and 4 on the other). He seems to be more interested in running on the floor now than flying, but i'll let him do what he feels is best.

that is great!!!!

:yellowhead: Fly on Georgie!!! :greenb:

Excellent news :yellowhead:

That's fantastic news!

wonderful news :hap: