Well, I don't know exactly she isn't well.

I feel she is okay but my parents are worried about her.

 

Today was 34 degree's celcius and around 80 percent humidity. Mum brought her and Sam inside around lunchtime and while Sam came out to play and drive mum crazy, apparently Boris stayed in her cage. This is unusual for her. The past couple of months she has not been cleaning herself very well either which results in me having to bath her every couple of weeks.

Later this afternoon she was sitting fluffed up - this was what my father said.

 

When I got home from work tonight Boris was as boisterous as always and play biting and singing to me like she always does.

I have tomorrow off from work so will keep a close eye on her and if I think she isn't well I shall take her to the vet. Not the vet I don't like but another that I used to take my lorikeet to. He's not an avian vet but he always knew what to do with my lorikeet.

I always - even if a bit absent mindedly - check her poop every day and it is normal and firm. Occasionally, usually on hot days - it does go a little green but goes back to it's normal colour when it cools.

I just had a thought as I was about to hit Post - Boris is in season right now and has been biting and clawing at the cage bars between her and Sam. Pity Sam is a peach face and doesn't seem to understand what her advances mean (he prefers his dumbbell toy to mate with).

First thing tomorrow though (around 11am when warm) - she gets a bath!

 

I am sure my parents' fears are unfounded as I know that bird better than any other bird I've ever had.

However, to keep my parents' mind at ease, I will keep a close watch on her.

 

Boris is 3 years 7.75 months old.

You say "Boris is 3 years 7.75 months old" I had never thought about "bird years" I knew about every one of ours being 7 dog years. How does it work in the bird world?

I don't know - wish I did. Boris hatched on 1st June 2005 so that's why I typed her age like that. Perhaps a bit too much information.

A good friend of mine, her budgie just died in the past couple of days and he was 12 years old. So I guess they do last quite some time but as for converting their years to equal our own? I do not know if there is a study into that. Certainly would be interesting to know.

Not a post I want to see Karen, we love Boris. I would keep her in a small cage and keep her very warm this will help them greatly - I have learned this since Pretty passed away. She may be going through a heavy molt? Merlin just went through one and he was very quiet, looked like *** and I was worried about him but I really kept him warm and he is fine now and back to his old self . Keep us updated okay.

Well I gave her a bath today and mum had her wrapped in a towel on her lap along with Sam who also had one.

After half hour Boris came over to me and I wrapped her up in my shirt and while she was laying there I was massaging her head and felt a mass of pin feathers! So that confirms it Elly - you are correct, Boris is in a moult. Her poor head, I had to be very careful with the massage as I accidentally knocked one and she whined so I took more care.

We had the air conditioning on after the birds were dry and she (and Sam) slept alot. I opened her cage about 3.30pm and she came out and Sam annoyed the heck out of her (as usual). She was flying around but didn't have as much puff as usual and was relatively easy to catch and she voluntarily hopped into her cage.

So, heat, humidity, being in season and a heavy moult - no wonder she isn't feeling 100%

Moult explains a lot...some of them get downright miserable when they are moulting and it takes so much out of them.

 

BUT What do you mean by ïn season" because that doesnt happen to budgies like it does to cats and dogs, and the dont feel like breeding especially if they are moulting.

My Alexandrine used to have heavy moults. One morning I found him lying at the bottom of his cage, barely moving, I thought he was dying. I put him in a smaller cage and kept him warm and gave him loads of attention and the next morning he was being rude and cheeky like normal! I hope that's all it is with Boris :rofl:

Poor Boris lowers herself into the mating position. No matter how many times I patiently explain to her that not only am I the wrong species, I am also the wrong sex. Sam just thinks she is playing and tries to knock her off whatever she's standing on when she does it to him.

Boris has never moulted this heavily before, more Boris feathers than any other bird.

I hope my baby gets over it soon!

Maybe you should give her some moulting aid this time around to help her through ?

oh! *slaps forhead* I can't believe I didn't do that! I don't actually keep any on hand though. Any alternatives I could give her?

Must remember to rejoin the Vetafarm Club, I let it lapse.

Glad to hear it is a molt, keep her nice and warm that works best plus the moulting aide .

How is she doing?

Boris looks terrible! She is completely miserable and doesn't want to play with me at all - this is very unusual for her. She won't even talk to me. Despite her giving me the evil eye I took a couple of pictures of her which I will post up before too long.

look forward to the pictures, are her dropping okay and she is still eating Karen?

Yes, she is still eating and her poops are okay.

Pictures are up in Budgie Photo section.