I haven't been on for a while, as nothing interesting has been happening with my two budgies. I don't suppose anyone would remember me, but we rescued two budgies last year which had been left to die in an aviary when the owners of the house moved. One of the budgies died after a couple months in my care, so we bought a new young one at the pet store to keep the remaining one company. They've both been fine for about 6 months now.

 

This new budgy is now looking all puffy and seems sleepier than normal. I noticed it yesterday but thought she might be cold, but it's not really that cold in my office... She seems to be eating normally, but is constantly puffed up..

 

Is this serious, do we need to see a vet about it? Anything I can do for her?

hmmm. is the bird moulting because this could be a reason for the bird to sleep alot.

 

when the bird is puffed up, check whether both feet are on the perch and whether it is sitting there with its eye closed. if they are, the bird must be sick.

Both feet are on the perch, eyes are closed some of the time. She's missing all of her flight feathers on one wing, but I didn't think it was time for her to molt again so soon....

The first thing you can do is isolate her from your other budgie, put her in a smaller cage, keep her covered on 3 sides, keep her very warm at least 75F in a room, make sure she is eating and if that means only millet then give it to her, and check her poops to see if they are normal. IF they are watery and all white it means she is not eating if they are all black with no white it means she is not drinking. Call your avian vet ASAP.

Did you worm the aviary birds you rescued ? and the new one that lives with the one left from the rescue ?

Yes, they were both treated for parasites. She's eating, but she's still sleeping most of the time, no change from yesterday really. I have no other cage to put her in, but I've kept the room warm and the cage partially covered.

Put some white paper under the perch and check the colour of her droppings.

I just noticed her vent is covered in poo, like the other one was before it died.

 

The poo on the paper looks completely normal tho. I just noticed she seems to be breathing quite heavily and makes kind of a rasping sound when breathing. So that means some kind of respitory thing maybe?

 

I need to take her to the vet, but they charge over $100 for a consultation, which I don't have, tests and meds will be even more. Anyone know a good, cheap avian vet in northern Brisbane?

Doesn't sound good. I agree, she needs to see a vet and fast. Try cleaning here vent up too, remove the poo etc with warm water.

I have concluded that it's a respiratory infection. I'll take her to the vet for treatment.

 

This is a video from about an hour ago..

 

Edited July 13, 200915 yr by lil_fuzzy

Yes, they were both treated for parasites. She's eating, but she's still sleeping most of the time, no change from yesterday really. I have no other cage to put her in, but I've kept the room warm and the cage partially covered.

 

Keep us updated on her avian vet appointment.

You DO need another cage, this means to me that you probably don't quarantine your birds if you don't have extra cages, this is a MUST. We have many topics on quarantine on the boards to read please do so when you have an opportunity.

 

You can purchase a small cage for less then 15.00, where you can use for quarantine for 1 bird and a hospital cage too. I personally would get one today so you can separate them.

The bird is now dying, because we couldn't get to the vet today. I talked to an expert on cockatiels earlier today, and she said it could be a cold, and that as long as she's eating she's prolly fine.

 

She was eating 15 minutes ago, and now she's dying. Im not gonna keep birds anymore.

Sorry to hear about you're budgie....

 

 

I also wanted to get out cause of budgie problems... but where all going to have problems.... I would recommend taken the dead bird to the vet so you know what exactly what the bird has.... and clean the current cage.... and hope the other bird didn't catch it..

 

Hope you keep you're current Budgie!!

She was eating 15 minutes ago, and now she's dying. Im not gonna keep birds anymore.

 

 

They pretend to eat when they are sick.....only by feeling their crop can you tell if they actually have been eating

I will be selling the remaining bird and cage seperately, they are too flimsy and delicate for my taste. Hoping to find a nice outdoor aviary for the remaining one, where she can live with other budgies like she was used to before I adopted her.

 

The cage is being sold seperately so that no one will keep her alone in it.

 

I've posted in the budgie for sale section, and will update with more info and photos in a little while.

The bird is now dying, because we couldn't get to the vet today. I talked to an expert on cockatiels earlier today, and she said it could be a cold, and that as long as she's eating she's prolly fine.

 

She was eating 15 minutes ago, and now she's dying. Im not gonna keep birds anymore.

 

 

This is very sad, I am sorry to hear this. An expert would never say that the bird has a cold they don't get colds they get respiratory infections that are not okay when left alone I know that is how I lost Pretty. Before you sell the other one, which I saw up on the board PLEASE wait at least a month to ensure that this bird is NOT sick and you will be giving her to a good home in good faith. Good luck and sorry for your loss. :what:

The bird is now dying, because we couldn't get to the vet today. I talked to an expert on cockatiels earlier today, and she said it could be a cold, and that as long as she's eating she's prolly fine.

 

She was eating 15 minutes ago, and now she's dying. Im not gonna keep birds anymore.

 

 

This is very sad, I am sorry to hear this. An expert would never say that the bird has a cold they don't get colds they get respiratory infections that are not okay when left alone I know that is how I lost Pretty. Before you sell the other one, which I saw up on the board PLEASE wait at least a month to ensure that this bird is NOT sick and you will be giving her to a good home in good faith. Good luck and sorry for your loss. :rip:

Agreed, so much for "tiel expert" to think that bird's get cold's? one of those people i guess...and if it's a respiratory infection... anything could have caused it... quarantine especially .....

 

Any update's on the little guy? did he survive?

The bird in question died Monday night. She was eating, 10 minutes later she was thrashing around, then she died a few minutes after that. I was planning on calling the vet first thing Tuesday morning.

 

There is no way I can keep the other bird for a month, she is already screaming and driving me mad. I'm sure whoever buys her will quarantine her, as recommended.

So sorry for your loss. Who ever told you that's it was a cold and as long as she is eating she'll be fine... is an *****!!! Unfortunately, as you have now seen, budgies hide their illness' very well, and at the first signs of ANYTHING, attention is needed... especially if you're not experienced. Hugs xo