This morning we woke up and noticed Meeple seemed to be in discomfort with her right leg. She could still move it and use it, she just doesn't want to. Could she have gotten caught on something and sprained it?

Entirely possible. Birds get caught up all the time.

Would I need to take her to a vet or anything?

 

Edit:

 

She definitely looks like she is having trouble. She can't turn around on her perch without hanging on with her beak. Also, how long would it be before it would start getting better, if it was sprained?

Edited January 21, 200916 yr by Budgiesaurus

If you think the injury is causing pain or there may be a broken bone then YES. If its a sprain then rest will help. If you cannot assess but need the vet to look her over, then take her to the vet.

Edited January 21, 200916 yr by KAZ

okay I will take her to the vet. I'll take my other bird as well to see if I can get some Ivermectin for her scaly leg. But how are you meant to get a budgie to rest???

In the last 2-3 weeks, I have been through the whole birds witha broken leg issue. My bird went to eh vet, had a splint put on, was restricted to a small cage with no perches. She kept removing the bandaging, so she had it applied again and again, but here she is 3 weeks later, and it is as good as it ever was. Vet treatment is essential.

 

You can check out my thread by going here to Kiwi's injured leg thread

I have read the thread about Kiwi before, it was the first place I looked this morning. I'm glad to hear she has healed now.

 

Meeple's leg isn't non-responsive, as far as I can tell. She can definitely move it, just doesn't want to.

 

Another edit:

 

I have booked a vet appointment for 3:30 this afternoon. I hope she will be okay.

Edited January 21, 200916 yr by Budgiesaurus

that it is just a sprain...

You are best taking your bird to the vet and getting advice. Even a sprain might be strapped and she might get restricted movement for a day or two.

The earliest appointment we could get was 3:30pm so we are taking both birds then. I have two small travel cages so I can get them there. Should I separate them into different cages and put them next to each other in the car so they can still talk to each other but can't bother each other?

 

 

Edit:

I'm trying to upload a picture to the computer so I can post it but it's taking a while.

Edited January 21, 200916 yr by Budgiesaurus

Here are a couple of pics.

 

Meeple and Tikal. Meeple still has her foot up.

 

 

Meeple is having trouble perching with her foot.

 

Edited January 22, 200916 yr by Budgiesaurus

They will probably be fine in one travel cage. You could put them in both if you want, but if the one you have is big enough, just use that one.

 

I came back from perth with 29 birds in one travel cage. Sure, it was bigger than what you have, but the point is when travelling, the birds prefer to squash together rather than have a lot of room

29 in one cage?

 

okay, they should be fine :sad: I'll try and make sure they have all their favourite foods in the travel cage..I'm not sure how big it is, probably about 30x35cm.

Edited January 22, 200916 yr by Budgiesaurus

UPDATE:

Just got back from the vets. Meeple seems to just have a sprained leg. I hope she is okay. The vet says she most likely did it while hanging upside-down and getting caught on something. We were told she would just have to wait for it to heal and that we should gently pull her leg out to stretch it daily. He also noticed that Meeple had scaly face on her beak (I hadn't noticed before!) and would have to be treated for it. I was also told that Tikal didn't look like she had scaly leg but when we told the vet about how she had been chewing and itching her foot he said it probably was. Both were treated with two drops of Ivomec to the beak (neither of them liked eating it). They are quite glad to be home now and preening their feathers and chirping Apparently we have to go back in a week for a second treatment with Ivomec. Is this necessary as it wasn't a very severe case of scaly mites?

Edited January 22, 200916 yr by Budgiesaurus

Did you ask if you could buy Ivomec from the vet? Some vets like animals so much the keep inviting them back just to see that they still exist No offence to the very smart Vet students here, I know you would never do that

I did ask about buying Ivomec but he said they don't sell it

Really? WOW, I know my avian vet asked me why I wanted it and he was more than happy to sell me some

 

Gald to hear it is only a sprain. Should be fine in a couple of days

 

You did the right thing taking you bird to the vet - well done.

 

So you know, my travel cage was probably about 50 cm long, 45cm wide and 20 cm deep, so it was big. There is a picture of the box here and later on in that post, a few pages on, you can see the box in relation to the size of the birds

Yes, definitely bigger than what I have When we asked the vet if he would let us buy some and treat them at home because they aren't accustomed to travelling he said no you can't treat them at home. And nowhere else have I seen Ivomec except for in a fodder store but I would have no idea how to dilute it properly, plus it was more than $100.

Hmmm see most vets do sell it. Or you can pick it up at bird sales. I can see if I can get a bottle for you and then you just treat them to one drop on the back on the neck every three months.