Hello all.

I've recently noticed one of my budgies has a brown mark above his cere. I'm not sure if its scaly face. I've looked at a few pictures of budgies with scaly face and I honestly dont know what it is.

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/9306/blueycb4.png

Does anyone know what is wrong with him?

Thanks for the help

No, Not scaly face. That dark staining is a symptom of a respiratory infection. He will need to see a vet to be given the appropriate antibiotics. I have 2 birds who had the same stains this year, they are all better now after they finished their treatment

I agree with Liv. It can also be a sign he is a carrier of psittacosis.

Thanks for the replys. Can I get treatment from pet shops? Or do I have to go to the vet to get it treated? If its a disease that would mean he could spread it to other birds. Is psittacosis curable?

 

Thanks

Pet shops are not the places to buy good meds for birds. The staff will sell you anything. The treatment for psittacosis is doxycycline and yes psittacosis is highly contagious and dangerous. A carrier may not become ill from it but he may well make any bird he is with ( under stress condtions ) ill.....such as putting him in a breeding cage with a hen.

If it is just due to a respiratory illness then the only one who can tell you if its that or psittacosis is a vet.....and avian vet.

 

 

*****Another point to make is...when choosing birds to buy, NEVER buy birds with staining above their cere.

Edited July 16, 200817 yr by KAZ