When budgies are left exposed to drafts what is the common illness they get a cold? How are respiratory infections caught? I have a baby budgie that sounds like it is sneazing/choking i dont know what it is

'Cold' is a term used to describe a set of symptoms which include sneezing, etc and may be caused by lots of different viruses or bacteria. The issue with draughts is that they put stress on a bird and when they are stressed their immune response is poor and they can't fight of infections. Most of us are probably carrying all sorts of things in small amounts in our bodies but with good immune function we fight them off and may not even develop any symptoms if they aren't particularly virulent. i would put your baby in a warm draght free room with a 20 watt globe above if you can. Might be worth a vet visit also.

It is not draughts that harm your bird ( they are exposed to draughts when they fly!!!). However the cold does not help. Stick him somewhere warm. Sneezing and such is usually a respiratory infection. What other signs does he have, any unusual behaviours. Fluffed up or sleek? Active or Dull? Having trouble breathing or okay? If you are really worried a vet visit is always a good idea

Edited June 2, 200817 yr by Sailorwolf

What can get a bird sick and I have had the experience is like SW said not the draft but the extreme heat or cold and an extreme draft if they are in a warm place and then the windows are open and it is cold outside that can cause them to get sick, their respiratory lining in their lungs is so delicate that is why exposure to teflon, scented candles, smoke, cleaners and such can cause them to die suddenly, Pretty died of a respiratory infection what I have learned is to keep the room Merlin is in a constant tempature with not a lot of flucuation in the temperature. Also keep their respiratory system strong you have to make sure they are getting Vitamin A (that can be in the form of food & not just seed & drops), Vitamin A is one of the #1 deficiencies in birds I read that and was told that through our avian vet.

He sounds like he is sneezing he is a 5 week old baby albino and is really small i was told he is small becauseof the sex link gene? he really is little and he was flying out of the nest box and sleeping on the cement floor so i brought him inside to keep him warm but its since he has been inside that he has gotten sick?????????

Is he spending alot of time on sawdust or anything like that? Maybe something is irritating him

I would consider taking him to an avian vet, when they are that small and babies they don't have a good immunity built up, it is better to be safe then sorry and have the regret I should have but I didn't.

Feather stains above the nostrals is a definate sign of respiratory distress.

Maybe he isnt eating properly , check his weight

Vitiman A is good , but always remember that in excess can cause more harm then good , you can poison your bird with excesses of vitA in the diet .

There is a famous story about the helmetted honeyeaters at Healesville Sanctuary. There were less than 50 or something of these birds left in the wild and 12 pairs were brought in to breed in captivity. One day someone gave them their Vitamin A supplement and got the dose wrong and over dosed them, only one bird out of 24 survived, like half the population killed in one accident!

Vitamin A even in humans is toxic because our bodies can't get rid of it like other Vitamins but it is essential so you must be careful, again though I believe a avian vet trip is in order.

Has he gotten sick since being inside???? have you guys got the heater going????? is he positioned so thst he is geting the drafts????Sounds like aresp infections - increase fruit and veg hospital cage, keep put of the drafts all else fails an avain vet rip mateA link to read

He is better this morning he is not making that sound anymore and he didnt have the staining above his cere so hopefully he just had something stuck in his throat he starting coughing just after i fed him some formula?

okay he is 100% better now and is happy and jumping around but now my lil albino is coughing and making a squeaky sound are there colds contagious??? The albino is really little and quite skinny he kept jumping out of the nestbox and sleeping on the freezing cold cement so he could have caught something from that? he is inside now so i am trying to nurse him back to health if its not one its the other!!! this stupid weather is crazy