Not sure if this will work.. I will TRY to post a photo of Charley's head.

 

I noticed in the last day or two that he has a red irritated patch on top of his head. THere is no crusting or any kind of discharge or flaking, its just a (pretty) dark pink/red. I have noticed that he has been rubbing his head on one of the toys attached to his cage, it looked like he was in love with it as he was rubbing his little head the way they do on each other when they're being affectionate.

 

I have taken the toy away to see if it helps. I have had all sorts of troubles trying to get a photo of him. He's hopeless!!! If I put the camera to close he jumps on it, if I move away a little he follows as he just has to know what I'm doing! If it looks like a great shot, I check it and its an empty shot!! he's already moved out of the picture. This one is the best I can do for now... I know you probably cant tell from the photo wht the problem is but I wonder if anyone else has had this kind of experience.... rubbing of the head until it is irritatingly red. He's not losing feathers but of course it is making them stand up due to the rubbing.

 

what type of a toy is it ?

 

and im sorry but can you please try and get a better picture.

 

regards Joel

Edited September 5, 200816 yr by maesie
changed soz to sorry. Please don't use text shortcuts.

Poor Charley! He might have some sort of irritation and by rubbing his head it is releaving it??? Maybe mites??? If you have spot on ivermectin, I'd give him a spot of that on the back of his neck and see if this helps.

Is he molting ...

 

My Violet looked like this when his new cap feathers were coming through it was Horrible looking But he is good now

Can they get mites if they are indoor, caged birds? and where do you buy Ivermectin, can you get it in the supermarket .. or petshop... and is it in a bottle?

 

This is the toy, it attaches to the side of the cage.. (hope the photos arent too big.. i did reduce them)

 

 

 

and yes, he has been moulting for the past few weeks.

I don't think mites is very common if they are indoor birds and you are not bringing in new birds. I would say he is having a bad molt right there and it is itching pretty bad, you can buy the Molt Aide (I believe Kaz suggested it for me once) and spray him that will help him out a lot along with offering bathes.

Moulting aid goes in their food or water...its not a spray.

Its a moulting irritation. Wouldnt spray anything on it.

But moulting aid helps with the feathers coming in...extra boost for them.

Edited September 5, 200816 yr by KAZ

Moulting... yes!!! Good thinking 99 Some have more trouble than others. I hope he gets through it soon. Does he enjoy a bath? Maybe a luke warm water one? This may soothe it or irritate it more?!?! Anyone else?

Edited September 5, 200816 yr by maesie

Moulting aid goes in their food or water...its not a spray.

Its a moulting irritation. Wouldnt spray anything on it.

But moulting aid helps with the feathers coming in...extra boost for them.

 

I have seen it in spray form here in the U.S. that is why I said that Kaz, thank you for the correction.

Moulting aid goes in their food or water...its not a spray.

Its a moulting irritation. Wouldnt spray anything on it.

But moulting aid helps with the feathers coming in...extra boost for them.

 

I have seen it in spray form here in the U.S. that is why I said that Kaz, thank you for the correction.

AHA

Great advice, thanks guys! Charley LOVES his bath so tomorrow I'll put it in for him. I havent been giving him his little bath lately as I was worried he'd catch a cold. I'll give him a lukewarm one tomorrow and ensure that the room is not too cold. As you say, I didnt think mites would be common in an "only" bird kept inside, no contact with any other birds. It looks like the moult is making him itchy and he's scratching his head on anything he can.

 

I've noticed he's also extremely "affectionate" at the moment, he loves me to tickle his chin and neck, moreso than usual and he seems to be "in love" with me, whispering sweet nothings to my hand as he gently "nuzzles" it. Very very cute!! :hap: I thought moulting generally made them cranky, but it seems to have the opposite effect on him. Is this common?

 

As I've mentioned before, I'm a grandmother living alone and he's my sole companion, I adore him and always keep a very close watch on him to make sure I pick up any signs of "non wellness" so I can get to it asap!!! I do have Maxie as well of course but she's still terrified of me and has never bonded. Charley is the love of my life!! (some people think I must be "losing it" in my "older" age ... .. and do NOT understand how one can be "in love" with a bundle of feathers!!)

Poor Charlie must be itchy... and all the attention you've been getting probably has an ulterior motive... he's getting YOU to scratch his itchy bits!!!! Smart boy! You have a great companion in him

I'm relieved to find that Charley's "naked red head" has given way to a porcupine head! :hap: The head rubbing was therefore perhaps due to itching while his new pin feathers were coming through? Is that what happens?? Do they really itch and annoy when they're coming through?

 

I've never seen him with pin feathers on his head before. He is one year old this week so perhaps he is approaching "puberty"??

 

 

He looks terribly cheeky with his spikey hair style!!!

Edited September 13, 200816 yr by thk

Aw that poor little thing hehehe - I love the PIN CUSHION look

Sorry i missed this threa, some birds molt harder (??) more offen and longer then other birds. Boof has shocking molts and his head looks like Charlie's does, glad you got to the bottom of it. Just make sure to keep an eye on him while he has the red cap stage cause if he breaks one you need to know what to do to stop the bleeding. But you should not have to worry about that for 4 - 6 months.

I'm glad you have got to the bottom of his 'red head'... and boy does he look like a spunk rat with that spike do!!!

thk if you could get a good head shot you should submit for budgie of the month lol

 

Merlin has gotten really spikey like that too, I notice they either molt out in the body a lot or their head but they don't do it all at one time

Thanks for the comments. I really was worried when he had the "head rash". I'm so happy it wasnt a disease!

 

And here I was thinking he was in love with my hand when all the time he was merely using it as a scratching post!! :devil: :devil:

 

I have never seen a budgie's head this spikey before!! :hap: I'd love to get a good headshot of him but he's got to be the most annoying photo-model ever!! He just wants to sit on the camera and trying to catch him 'unaware' is almost impossible. I'll keep persevering though! :hap:

:hap: Merlin is like that I usually put the camera by the bar spaces and zoom in other then that if he is out he will fly on the camera too.

Managed to get a few shots of "spunkey spikey"!

 

 

 

 

this one isnt very clear.. but I thought I'd post it anyway as he's having a great giggle to himself..

 

 

(I have reduced the photos as advised on the forum, hopefully they're not still too large!)

Edited September 14, 200816 yr by thk