Hi all I would like some advice about 2 of my budgies, most of my birds have finished molting but Jack and Eddie seem to be having a really hard time of it. Jack has been at it for about 6 weeks now and seems to be having trouble around his head, there are pin feathers growing in but it is driving him nuts, all he does is scratch and rub his head on anything rough I am worried cause he's had little scabs too.

Eddie is also having trouble around his head just above his cere, the pin feathers are coming in but seem to be a browny red colour like they have been bleeding.

I have been giving them their veggies and also vitamins in their water (i tried to find molt ease but couldn't). They don't have mites or scaly face either. should I be worried or will they get over it eventually?

Ohh and when Jack isn't scratching or rubbing he sleeps, is this cause he is exhausted for the preening?

Edited August 28, 200816 yr by *libby*

They are the symptoms of a heavy moult - mine all did that when i changed their seed brand earlier in the year - I will never do that again!!! poor little guys

 

They are bleeding because they are over rubbing the growing blood feathers. Blood feathers on the head are rarely a problem, but you still need to keep watch encase they break a number of them at once.

 

Has their food changed in any way before the moult??

 

There is not much you can do other than keep them well fed with quality foods. Watch for bleeding and try not to stress them with anything as they are already stressed. The pin feathers coming though means the end is near.

 

I hope they are both feeling better soon.

thanks for that Liv, I haven't changed their food since I got them. except for the scabs on jack I haven't seen any actully bleeding, they just look nasty, I feel so sorry for the poor little things.

Feather moulting on the head and having a hard time of it can actually cause a feather cyst isue at its worst. MOULTING AID is the additive you need and is a vetafarm product...should be available from bird suppliers or through vetafarm online.

I have not come across vetafarm products here in SA either and when i talk to the people who run the shops, they are like "Yeah, that name rings a bell... ??? ??? "

 

Internet would be a better bet for getting moulting aid

Edited August 28, 200816 yr by **Liv**

Feather moulting on the head and having a hard time of it can actually cause a feather cyst isue at its worst. MOULTING AID is the additive you need and is a vetafarm product...should be available from bird suppliers or through vetafarm online.

 

hey Kaz what does a feather cyst look like? he doesn't have any lumps.

Feather moulting on the head and having a hard time of it can actually cause a feather cyst isue at its worst. MOULTING AID is the additive you need and is a vetafarm product...should be available from bird suppliers or through vetafarm online.

hey Kaz what does a feather cyst look like? he doesn't have any lumps.

Its good that he hasnt any lumps so all is well. Just that excessive trouble on the head can cause it. I have a photo of one somewhere ....I will look

 

here it is...started from a hard moult, itchy head, ingrown feathers.

Edited August 28, 200816 yr by **Liv**

Feather moulting on the head and having a hard time of it can actually cause a feather cyst isue at its worst. MOULTING AID is the additive you need and is a vetafarm product...should be available from bird suppliers or through vetafarm online.

hey Kaz what does a feather cyst look like? he doesn't have any lumps.

Its good that he hasnt any lumps so all is well. Just that excessive trouble on the head can cause it. I have a photo of one somewhere ....I will lookhere it is...started from a hard moult, itchy head, ingrown feathers.

ouch that looks nasty but lucky not what Eddie or Jack look like.

I put some aloe on them this morning and Eddie's doesn't look quite so bad, alittle less red, and now the scab has gone on Jack it's just pin feathers here are a couple of pics of them

They look fine as far as their pin feathers go.

 

BUT this boy

 

 

 

needs to be treated for scaly face

ohh okay what do I use?

I agree - they look fine.

Your first boy is almost done

Your second boy will be in the wars for a little longer. treat for scaly face like Kaz said too

 

You could use some cooking oil on him because its so mild.

aply to the affected area 1-2 times a day for 5 days.

Edited August 28, 200816 yr by **Liv**

Neither of those two are in a breeder cage are they ?

just plain vegetable oil or olive oil? and do I have to treat the rest as well?

olive oil is okay and so in any unscented baby oil. I only treat the ones that have it and also use spot on for all mine that end up with scalyface. I also use spot on on any incoming birds as a matter of course.

okay will get too it right now thanks for that

Neither of those two are in a breeder cage are they ?

are they breeding ?

Neither of those two are in a breeder cage are they ?

are they breeding ?

 

no they are not breeding, they don't seem the slightest bit interested in the girls at the moment

no they are not breeding, they don't seem the slightest bit interested in the girls at the moment

thats good news that they arent breeding as they both have issues right now. No wonder they arent interested :sad:

Edited August 28, 200816 yr by KAZ

thats good news that they arent breeding as they both have issues right now. No wonder they arent interested :sad:

 

:sad: your telling me, its all good though cause the girl I have in mind for Jack has gone out of condition and I got Eddie's girl a new man, she wasn't much interested in him anyway, problably didn't think he was to handsom what with his scabby head and all :sad:

Edited August 28, 200816 yr by KAZ

thats good news that they arent breeding as they both have issues right now. No wonder they arent interested

 

your telling me, its all good though cause the girl I have in mind for Jack has gone out of condition and I got Eddie's girl a new man, she wasn't much interested in him anyway, problably didn't think he was to handsom what with his scabby head and all

:hap: