:rofl: Well one of the lil guys I'm having to hand raise has over a period of two days got quite a bald head.. His feathers WERE coming through really nice but only within the last few days hes being plucked or something

He is in a cage with two other bubs and he (ketchup) is the oldest.. Is it normal for bubs to be plucking other bubs or are there possibly any other causes for this to be happening?

I don't find too many feathers plucked out in the cage although every now and then ill see ketchup nibbling on one that has been reefed out :rofl:

It is only on his head that this is happening.. any ideas would be great.. the bubs all do get along really well and are always snuggled up together sleeping.. I was wondering if he was snuggling down just a little bit too keen and RUBBING his head feathers out hahaaaa

Anyone had that happen before??

I DONT KNOW but i hope someone can help you out i hope he will come through fine! good luck with it all

 

xxElisexx

I read in an article on Budgerigars.co.uk that dehydration can cause feathers to fall out. Maybe they aren't getting enough water in the handrearing formula.

:rofl: EEK i hope thats not the case as not only does he get fluids from his formula but i also give them water mid feeds with apple cider vinegar.. they do drink quite a lot of water and its one thing i make sure they are kept hydrated (really hot and humid here) .. The other bubs get exactly the same and show no feather loss.. Hmmm I will most certainly keep it in mind though .. thanks

It's a puzzler.

I guess if he is otherwise happy and healthy, just keep and eye on him.

 

What about parasites (although I think the others would be affected too)

Edited December 7, 200816 yr by Sailorwolf

Other than just the obvious feather loss on this guy they all look and act happy and healthy.. Mayo and Pickles look GREAT with no feather issues, actually off topic but I'm REALLY pleased with how Pickles has come along, he had quite severe splayed legs almost to the point he could only just sit on his belly, leggies out the sides but after treatment you wouldn't have even known he had problems

I'm at a loss on the situation and can only really think that Ketchup's somehow rubbing them out when he burrows under the others although Ive never had this happen before and really he must be rubbing bloomin HARD id have assumed hahaaaa he is a silly lil thing though

Some of the more serious french moulters start with losing their head feathers. Can you post a picture ?

Argghhh i just made a big post and LOST it all

Long story short... Ive just been looking at Ketchup and I'm not sure if I'm just now being critical but he is not quite as nicely feathered as the others.. apart from the obvious balding on his head.. his wings are also not as neat as even the youngest ones (Mayo's) .. and he appears to be missing feathers which are instead patches of fluff... perhaps I'm being too critical of him now with worry?

Although in saying this.. Ive only just now for the first time found (other than the feathers he eats) what appears to be two small wing feathers.. not flights but those nice little ones that "fill in" hahah i don't know how to explain it..

Here are some pictures of him .. they also show his wings compared to the other bubs and also his bald head..

Actually ill show one of his head only about 4 days ago ..

and then NOW ..

I hope there is nothing wrong here although somethings telling me somethings not quite right

He still has his flights and tail feathers though.. Im at a complete loss..

Edited December 7, 200816 yr by »-(¯`Una´¯)-»

poor little fella. Hope you find out what's causing it soon...

In a way i hope that it is just dehydration.. although I'm not sure how it could be.. It just seems the better option (other than mites ) ..

My poor lil sausage ..

Looks very strange....give it a few days and see what develops

EEK.. Kaz i was hoping at least YOU would know hahahaaa I recon in a few days he may possibly be BALD :rofl: .. sexy budgie

EEK.. Kaz i was hoping at least YOU would know hahahaaa I recon in a few days he may possibly be BALD :rofl: .. sexy budgie

Well I have seen this before and it did get worse, so I was hoping to not be the bearer of bad news. Wait and see if he loses more feathers.

EEK.. Kaz i was hoping at least YOU would know hahahaaa I recon in a few days he may possibly be BALD :rofl: .. sexy budgie

 

If it goes bald and doesn't grow its feathers back look on the bright side you are the first owner of the "bald budgie" They'd be popular in the US... Could take over from the Bald Eagle..

Kaz are you thinking along the lines of French Moult or something else? PBFD?

Id really hate to think that the others could possibly at risk :rofl: .. I don't mind hearing your possible bad news now .. at least it may prep me for whats to possibly come...

The worst french moulters lose feathers from the back of the head just like that at first. Wait and see. Nothing else you can do. I dont believe its contagious at all having experienced it many times in various ways. Your other birds are safe.

Okay so .. IF its that.. the young can still grow up okayish and re grow feathers on the first moult BUT have a weakened immune system because of the Polyomavirus weakening it and making it more susceptible to diseases.. yes? Perhaps not with a chick with it really bad, perhaps they don't normally make it that far?

Have you ever seen or experienced any that do make it through to the other side to live a relatively normal happy life? .. If everything goes okay with him he will be living inside here still with the inside gang..

Sorry for all the questions.. Id like to arm myself with as much information as possible so i know what to POSSIBLY expect from the situation.. although i understand its a wait and see game, I am still curious...

Thank you :rofl:

I have two french moult budgies living a happy life in the aviary....started out just like yours. Right now they have few feathers.......no flights or tail and half their body feathers missing. BUT they have lived in the aviary summer and winter and do well. They are nearly 2 years old. I have had others...worse that seem to inherit heart disorders and epilepsy along with it...they dont last as long.

Think positive and you never know. Might be nutritional disorder and the feathers may grow back...some do

 

One of the signs is hotter body temp than other budgies.

Edited December 7, 200816 yr by KAZ

Thanks for that good news Kaz .. atleast i have something positive to think about now .. PHEWWWW

French moult can be spread via faeces and Dander. Adults just don't seem to succumb to it. It may pay to separate the other babies from him though just as a precaution.

French moult is a weird one in the way it is spread and nobody really knows how it works.

I've read so many articles on this.. some say it can be transmitted others say it can't. some say don't breed with them others say they get their best birds from them... There are somethings, as humans, we just don't know yet...

French moult can be spread via faeces and Dander. Adults just don't seem to succumb to it. It may pay to separate the other babies from him though just as a precaution.

French moult is a weird one in the way it is spread and nobody really knows how it works.

 

Thats one of the theories and I do not believe it to be true. I have had wide and varied experience of this in my aviaries under all kinds of situations that absolutely blow those theories right out of the water. Over a thousand chicks or more the various ways it has appeared in my stud leads me to definite theories of my own, and it isnt viral. Pity that there is still 50 different theories transversing the internet and study books

 

PS if it spread via faeces and dander every bird in my stud would have french moult as my french moult birds live happily in and amongst the others.

Edited December 7, 200816 yr by KAZ

Kaz. Just because it spreads by faeces and dander doesn't mean all your birds are going to get it. They are all obviously very healthy and have competent immune systems that can prevent it setting up infection or from affecting them. It is likely that many of your birds carry it, but are not affected by it. Infected birds continue to shed the virus throughout their lives if I remember rightly (I don't have my notes with me) and other birds may pick it up, but it may not establish an infection as the bird is healthy and can deal with it, or the bird gets infected, recovers and becomes immune, or it does set up infection but does not effect the bird, turning it into a carrier.

It is viral. It is a polyomavirus. We studied it and it is caused by a virus.

I'm just glad we don't have it in this country.

Edited December 7, 200816 yr by Sailorwolf

:rofl: I'm not exactly sure which advice is best but from the little Ive read it is telling me pretty much that if the others were going to have it.. they would by now since they have been living together since they were bald peanut shaped blobs though they may not display any symptoms..

Id hate to separate him from his buddies as they all just get along so great and snuggle in together so adorable, preening and pretend feeding each other

Also i guess as already stated in how its possibly transmitted .. ALL my inside birds have been exposed to it and are possible carriers :hap:..

Kinda on topic but in relation to another bird.. Kaz do you remember not to long ago i posted the photos of my little girl buddy who i was wondering if she had French moult? all her feathers are still looking ick and curly and when she started trying to fly most of her flights broke off :hug: so even though its possibly still only diet related I'm still suspicious of her.. :hug:

Edited December 7, 200816 yr by »-(¯`Una´¯)-»

How do you explain some birds get it in a nest and others dont. How would you explain donor eggs where some are raised in one nest and others in another nest and only some get it ?