Hi everybody,

 

Firstly, I apologise that this is my first post and that I've not introduced myself elsewhere on the forum.

 

I'm in much need of some advice from you wonderful people that are experienced with Budgies.

 

This afternoon my Father-in-law found a tame budgie in his front yard. It was being attacked by wild birds. My husband called me and asked should he bring it home (as we have one already and her cage mate died several months ago). I was reluctant to say yes, but I couldn't bear the thought of this poor budgies demise if I didn't take her in and look after her.

 

When my husband got home, I took a look at her cere and she looks to be a female (I'm hoping so as I'd like to introduce her to my budgie). On closer inspection, the entire area down her back where her wings sit when folded back (and right down the the start of the tail) is red raw and flaky. She was trying to pluck at it as it's obviously very uncomfortable.

 

I prepared a solution of warm salty water and bathed the affected area, and then put her into a small cage on her own with food and water and covered her up. She is now sleeping with her head tucked as normal. She has also been eating well and appears to be in good spirits allbeit a bit buggered from fighting wild birds for however long

 

I plan to keep her quarantined until she starts to show signs of recovery. I don't have a photograph at this moment as she is fast asleep and I don't want to stress her anymore. I realise she will probably need to see our avian vet, which is a cost we really don't need right now as I am pregnant.

 

Any help or suggestions would be HUGELY ppareciated, and tomorrow I will do my very best to get a photo for you to look at.

 

Fingers crossed that this little cutie gets better really soon. She's such a lovely girl!

 

Thanks so much in advance!

 

Erin

Good on you Erin for taking her in. Great job too knowing the importance of quarantine too.

One thing your new friend needs is a warm lamp by her cage as she will be unwell and a little in shock. When like that they cannot regulate their body temperature as well. If you have a lamp you can put by the cage with a 25 to 40 watt incandescent globe for warmth, that also will help her.

Look forward to photos and

Good on you Erin for taking her in. Great job too knowing the importance of quarantine too.

One thing your new friend needs is a warm lamp by her cage as she will be unwell and a little in shock. When like that they cannot regulate their body temperature as well. If you have a lamp you can put by the cage with a 25 to 40 watt incandescent globe for warmth, that also will help her.

Look forward to photos and

 

Kaz, thank you so SO much for your reply. I've just done exactly what you said with the lamp. I don't know why I didn't think to do it as I know that my vet uses heat if my girls visit. Thanks again for that excellent advice!

 

She seemed very happy when I just checked on her. She's started to chew the water container and just had a bit of a game with me "chew the finger" lol. She's also very chatty and is passing stools that appear to be normal. I'm starting to wonder whether I should not introduce her to my other budgie. My other budgie is not tame at all and I don't want to reverse how tame this new girl is if I put them together. I don't think that made any sense

 

Anyway...one step at a time. First thing is to get her better. Will get pics first thing in the morning!

 

And I promise to introduce myself too

Good on you. Quarantine I do 30 days, but some do longer. I'd also worm her and give her a drop of ivermectin on the back of her neck- mites etc... If she's plucking for others reason, lots of toys, natural branches and regular cage renovations can help keep her mind of things. She sounds like a doll... as to introducing her to your current budgie... it can go either way, but often they become closer to each other than us, but with time and constant work by you, it can work. Good luck and I look foward to see the photos. An Avain vet visit is also handy if you're worried.

Hi everyone,

 

Thanks maesie for the advice regarding putting the two together. We're going to 'borrow' a second larger cage today for this little one until she's better and then will make a decision when the time comes. I'm also going to go to PetBarn today and pick up some supplies to treat her and to "treat" her

 

So, I promised pics and here they are. She was so well behaved I think my husband has a new girlfriend!

http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~ezzaezza/...rin/Budgie1.jpg

http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~ezzaezza/...rin/Budgie2.jpg

http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~ezzaezza/...rin/Budgie3.jpg

 

From the little I know about these guys, it doesn't appear to be a mass, rather just a swelling of the bald skin.

 

Anyway, you guys will know far more than me. I really appreciate any help or advice you can give to increase the chances of getting this little one on the road to recovery.

 

Thank you!!!

Edited June 20, 200915 yr by KAZ
please edit photos before posting to our forum sizes of 480 by 640

That budgie is very young....a baby....I would say 5-6 weeks old at most, The area on her thats red seems to me to be pecking damage from the other birds. I feel you will see it regrow in no time at all. Within the week she should have some regrowth. I wonder how such a tiny baby, newly fledged has found her way out into the world.

Aww what a beautiful little baby! Good on you for taking her in, you are going to make a beautiful little friend out of all this!

 

If I were you I would take her to a vet for a full check up before you introduce her to your flock, get her tested for trichomoniasis, psittacosis and other bacterial infections like megabacteriosis.

Thanks ladies!

 

I thought she may have been young because of her clean cere? But wasn't sure.

 

I'm a little upset as my father-in-law phoned this morning, and he didn't know that we had been given the bird. I didn't realise that it was my Mother-in-law and husband that made the decision for her to go to us, without discussing it with FIL. So he now wants her back..but only after she is better I didn't realise I was a bloody vet!! I'm concerned for her welfare as they've not had a bird before and I don't know if they realise the cleaning involved (even though to you and I, it's not much).

 

So I'm in a bit of a pickle now. She's not ours to keep. Ugh!

Thanks ladies!

 

I thought she may have been young because of her clean cere? But wasn't sure.

 

I'm a little upset as my father-in-law phoned this morning, and he didn't know that we had been given the bird. I didn't realise that it was my Mother-in-law and husband that made the decision for her to go to us, without discussing it with FIL. So he now wants her back..but only after she is better I didn't realise I was a bloody vet!! I'm concerned for her welfare as they've not had a bird before and I don't know if they realise the cleaning involved (even though to you and I, it's not much).

 

So I'm in a bit of a pickle now. She's not ours to keep. Ugh!

She is a baby because she has barring markings right down to cere. She will need care for a few weeks as she may not be fully independant yet. Suggest he pays for tests needed to clear her with a clean bill of health and then see what he says....or offer to buy them another budgie....one that isnt so young or "sick"

Oh thats not fair Explain to them the care and effort that will go into her care while she is unwell, and perhaps offer to get them another bird like Kaz said.