Some colleagues of mine found a baby budgie on our construction site today. As I already own a budgie, I put my hand up to take care of him (pretty sure it's a "he"). Is anybody able to give me some advice as to what I should do to assist his survival? He has a full set of feathers but seems pretty young (he can't fly and he is currently sleeping in the budgie seed mix - presumable because he feels safe there).

 

Some of the things I need to know are:

 

-What to feed him (bare in mind there a no pet stores open at the moment).

-What shelter, if any, I should provide him tonight.

 

He has access to budgie seed and millet spray but doesn't appear to have any interest in them. Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

Have you checked him over for bodyweight , sharpness or not of keelbone, and poopy bottom ? Have you a warm lamp on him ?

Edited February 20, 200817 yr by KAZ

Have you checked him over for bodyweight , sharpness or not of keelbone, and poopy bottom ? Have you a warm lamp on him ?

 

 

Unfortunately, you are talking to a complete novice... What should I be looking for in bodyweight? What is a keelbone? He is pooping but I'm not sure specifically what I'm to be looking for and I haven't a warm lamp on him (but the house isn't cold).

Feel the bone running down the centre of his chest vertically. If it feels sharp and there doesnt seem to be "padding" each side of the bone...he is thin and sick. Does he feel light weight to you...like he would blow away in a soft breeze. Is he unsteady on his feet and unstable ? Does he have clagged up greenish poop stuck to his bottom and feathers there ? :sad:

 

PS a bird that is unwell or in shock needs added warmth...it helps. If you have a lamp you can put by the cage ( 25 to 40 watts globe ) it will help.

Edited February 20, 200817 yr by KAZ

Have you checked him over for bodyweight , sharpness or not of keelbone, and poopy bottom ? Have you a warm lamp on him ?

 

 

Unfortunately, you are talking to a complete novice... What should I be looking for in bodyweight? What is a keelbone? He is pooping but I'm not sure specifically what I'm to be looking for and I haven't a warm lamp on him (but the house isn't cold).

 

The KeelBone is the breast bone (same as a chicken) if it feels quite sharp then he is VERY underweight. If there is some "meat" there, then he is good.

 

He needs extra heat - like us with the flu ( we feel cold even though when its hot)

 

edit

 

Kaz and i posted at the same time hehe

Edited February 20, 200817 yr by **Liv**

Good on you Dennis for giving this guy a chance at life. Here's a few links to the FAQ's that might help you:

 

Handrearing budgies: http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/faqs/i...&artlang=en

 

Handfeeding baby budgies: http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/faqs/i...&artlang=en

 

Building a Hospital cage: http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/faqs/i...&artlang=en (this could be used to keep the little fella in...with a possible nest type thing for it to sit in?)

 

The keel bone is down the front of the budgie... down the chest... it should not be sharp and prominant (this means it's underweight). Poop should be black/white, it should not dirty it's vent (bottom), it should be solid and not runny.

 

Also, it's very important to keep this new boy away from your own budgie. It may be sick and you wouldn't want your budgie getting sick also.

Edited February 20, 200817 yr by maesie
posted at same time as Kaz and Liv... lol

Keelbone is sharp. Just took him out of the cage, his eyes are closed and he is looking shakey and almost non-responsive. Pooey bum, definitely still alive. What should I do now?

Keelbone is sharp. Just took him out of the cage, his eyes are closed and he is looking shakey and almost non-responsive. Pooey bum, definitely still alive. What should I do now?

 

Not sounding too good :sad: ... Try putting him down your top (against your skin to warm him up) Try dripping some warm water into his beak...

Who knows how long he has been without food. Warmth is essential. I would crop feed but that isnt possible for you probably. Signs of weakenss arent good. Needs urgent help, but may be too late for that ?

Edited February 20, 200817 yr by KAZ

Some colleagues of mine found a baby budgie on our construction site today. As I already own a budgie, I put my hand up to take care of him (pretty sure it's a "he"). Is anybody able to give me some advice as to what I should do to assist his survival? He has a full set of feathers but seems pretty young (he can't fly and he is currently sleeping in the budgie seed mix - presumable because he feels safe there).

 

Some of the things I need to know are:

 

-What to feed him (bare in mind there a no pet stores open at the moment).

-What shelter, if any, I should provide him tonight.

 

He has access to budgie seed and millet spray but doesn't appear to have any interest in them. Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

When i was feeding my babies i put them in a 4 liter icecream container, slice some air strips half way from one corner with a teddy bear for comfort and clean wood shavings, (if you have any), they were warm and safe, foor wise if you have any egg and biscute mix that might help!

Be very careful about trying to put food and water into this little one right now ...he may aspirate at this stage and breathe it into his lungs.

Have you organised a lamp for the extra warmth ?

Edited February 20, 200817 yr by KAZ

Who knows how long he has been without food. Warmth is essential. I would crop feed but that isnt possible for you probably. Signs of weakenss arent good. Needs urgent help, but may be too late for that ?

 

He's now under a 25w lamp and he's fluffed his feathers up but is just sitting there. I can keep him warm overnight but how on earth do I feed him? Can I use breadcrumbs? Or crushed weet-bix? Ideas???

 

He's such a beautiful bird, I'd hate for him not to survive.

I'm not sure what you can feed him. As Kaz said, he needs to be crop fed, which a vet could do for you tomorrow, if he makes it through the night. I've done a quick look through posts in the breeding section and came up with this... weetbix (soggy with warm water) or yoghurt. Both need to be warm so the chick doesn't get chilled. I've never used either so mayb wait to see what others say... but it might get your little guy through the nite...

Edited February 20, 200817 yr by maesie

I'm not sure what you can feed him. As Kaz said, he needs to be crop fed, which a vet could do for you tomorrow, if he makes it through the night.

 

Thanks for sticking around maesie.....

 

I guess I'll just have to see if he makes it through the night. If so I'll take him to the vet first thing and go from there. Divine Order.

Best of luck - We are thinking of you.

Hope he makes the night :sad:

I'm not sure what you can feed him. As Kaz said, he needs to be crop fed, which a vet could do for you tomorrow, if he makes it through the night.

 

Thanks for sticking around maesie.....

 

I guess I'll just have to see if he makes it through the night. If so I'll take him to the vet first thing and go from there. Divine Order.

 

No probs... I added to my previous post re food ideas... runny weetbix or yoghurt (both warmed).

Edited February 20, 200817 yr by maesie
spelling

A long time ago i use to feed rescue birds crushed weetbix with warm water as emergency food. It gets very sticky and messy so you will have to be careful with it around his feathers. Perhaps try dipping a toothpic into the mix and gently placing the food to the opening of his beak. He may be too week to take it, but its worth a try.

 

edit

Hang on, Kaz said not to try and feed as he may asperate..... she has LOTS more experience than i, so now I'm not sure - personally i would try and get a little food into him though

Edited February 20, 200817 yr by **Liv**

I would go for a runny mixture of either yoghurt or weetbix. The longer you leave him with out food the weaker he will become and the more likely he will aspirate when fed later. If he will aspirate he will aspirate I am thinking, so I would try to get food into him now because it doesn't sound like he will survive the night otherwise

 

Yoghurt is probably better right now as it has sugar in it and this little guy will be low on glucose and needing that energy boost

Edited February 20, 200817 yr by Sailorwolf

Thanks for all of your advice. I'll try the yoghurt and let you all know how I go.

Edited February 20, 200817 yr by Dennis

Good luck with it... try in on a tooth pick or something similar, putting a little just inside his beak (hopefully he'll want it)... and remmeber to warm it a little :sad:

I personally think you are doing everything possible for this little fellow , Warmth is the key , if he is strong enough he will make it through the night so you can get him to the vet , as he will need fluids and energy which will be given via crop needle , Food at this stage will I dought help as his energy levels will be very low , as with us when you are tied and lerthargic your body needs sugar to get you going.

One suggestion , 100ml of water 1drop of orange cordial , Try with a dropper to the beak one or two drops but dont force to drink . Leave it at that and cross your fingers he makes it through .

I believe thats the best you can do for him at this stage .

Goodluck

Good luck with it... try in on a tooth pick or something similar, putting a little just inside his beak (hopefully he'll want it)... and remmeber to warm it a little

 

Didn't really take to it. I think he's too weak at the mo, has his eyes closed most of the time. He still has quite a grip on him though. I'll try again before bed. Fingers crossed he can tough it out the night.

If it was me with the bird I would be giving a drop of calcivet to the beak...( calcivet is calcium with glucose )...thicker than water and less likely to aspirate. The glucose helping his low reserves. I would guage his state and if I felt he could stand it, I would also crop feed the little mite. Thats me and you havent what you need or most likely the equipment or knowledge that you need to crop feed.

The reason I cautioned against the advice for normal food and the warm water, is...in a weakenedd state he may be breathing hard or heavily and more prone to aspirate anything that went into his beak. In a desperate need to feed or give fluids by BEAk over crop feeding he would more likely aspirate than take it into his crop. Crop feeding by passes all those dangers.

Warmth for tonight and if he makes it...vet tomorrow looks like.

Edited February 20, 200817 yr by KAZ

How is he this morning??

Any news? I hope the little guy made it.