I went out to my budgies this morning before work and saw Sapphyre looking a bit ragged. He was at the seed dish eating just fine and he ran from my hand and chirped a lot at me for trying to catch him, so I thought he must have started to molt or something normal.

 

Now, the feathers all around the head were fluffed up and each feather had a black dot at the end, so in a way his head looked a little like a feather duster. I've seen it on some of my other birds when they were molting, but probably not this bad. I noticed one of my other birds has it a little bit, so I'm a little concerned.

 

I'd provide a photo, but I'm at work, and my partner has just called to tell me Sapphyre is now dead

 

Needless to say, I'm a bit worried. I've had Sapphyre for about 4 months now and Bitey seems to be okay (I bought them together from the same place).

 

Can anyone tell me what this might be?

It does sound like moulting BUT some birds have a really hard time through a moult and can get very depressed to the point of not eating properly. They lose condition drastically and some can die. When birds are moulting you need to check that they havent got a poopy bottom and that they arent thin and losing weight.

It looks like Sapphyre has had a hard moult and it has made him ill. When you get home check him for body weight and check his bottom and see if those signs were there.

I am sorry he has died

Edited October 15, 200816 yr by Neat

I am so sorry for your loss

 

I agree it sounds like he was having a rough time moulting.

Edited October 15, 200816 yr by KAZ
typo though into rough

Thanks for that.

 

My guess was a molt but I'm pretty sure he only had one about 2 months ago, he grew back all his wing feathers then. I will check him out when I get home though.

Another thing to check...the black dots on his head....check if its sticky, like vomiting up seeds.

I will check that. I was just reading about AGY (megabacteriosis).

 

It seems very consistant on each feather though, that is what gets me. On the other bird (the one that is still alive) its not as consistant.

I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope it was just a bad moult that made him unwell and nothing for serious that could harm the rest of your birds. Hugs xo

Thanks maesie. I don't want to lose any more of them.

Oh I am sorry ......

My partner said it looked like he needed to wash his hair... was a bit oily looking.

okay - Was there colour to it ???

Very sorry to hear about your loss

okay - Was there colour to it ???

 

 

Not really. Most looked a little dirty and that was about it.

 

All the other birds still look fine.