Hi,

 

Im new to this forum and Im worried about my son's pet budgie. We've had Cheeky for 4 years now and just this week (From Monday this week) she's been acting strangely and has been perched on her perch like this, shoved up against the "fake" bird that she has in her cage. She hasn't been tweeting this week at all until this afternoon, she tweeted once.

 

This is Cheeky as of 15 mins ago:

 

http://i842.photobucket.com/albums/zz346/Bepibarina/th_P1210066.jpg[/img]

 

As far as I can see, she's been eating okay. It's been extremely hot this week in QLD and I have been keeping her cool inside and leaving her cage at the window so she has light and can see outside etc.

 

I thinking that either Cheeky is sick or could be lonely and wanting a mate?

 

Im worried she's sick, we simply cannot afford to take Cheeky to an Avian either

 

I was wondering if anyone has had any similar experiences?

Edited January 21, 201015 yr by BudgieMum

Sorry, your photo has been deleted or moved from its original place in Photobucket and is not showing at all .... hard to help without a photo to go by.

Maybe in your attempts to keep her cool, she's been in a drought and caught a cold. Sorry I couldn't see you picture, but the local pet shop should have a sulpher based medication that may help. Clearwing

If it's hot I'd move her away from the window, as this would allow heat in. Also be sure not to let her get to cold (under air con etc....) as she can a chill from this.

 

Feel her keel (breast/chest) bone. Is it sticking out? What does her bottom look like? Is there poo stuck to it?

 

You also mention she may want a male. Has she ever had a male or even friend for that matter? If not, after 4 years it mostly like wouldn't cause her symtoms now.

Hi,

 

Thanks for all the replies, I have no idea why the link was deleted :S I only posted it up today :-(

 

Would this link work instead?

 

 

 

I move her cage into various locations during the day to make sure she doesn't get too hot, the window she does sit near is shielded by a patio so no heat gets in, but the heat outside is stiffling this week. She's not in direct cool air either so I dont think she could have caught it from the air con if you know what I mean?

 

She's never had a mate to share her home with, so I dont think she would want a mate, but a lot of people say they need to have one? Her breast bone doesn't appear to be sticking out further than usual, she doesn't let anyone near her unfortunately

 

Her tail is pointing inwards a fair bit I have noticed too, that doesn't look normal to what she usually has. It does bob in and out a fair bit too :-(

Edited January 21, 201015 yr by BudgieMum

Now that I can see the photo, it looks like she's just hot. The drooped wings and tail are usual signs of heat stressed budgies.

okay, since I posted last time, she's now taken to doing what she was doing this morning, sitting on the perch, but at the same time, hanging onto her swing with her beak and hanging there, she's been doing it for the past hour and hasn't moved!

 

Please excuse the birdy poo, Im yet to clean her cage out tomorrow, I didn't want to frighten or upset her too much today given she's been acting strangely.

 

Edited January 21, 201015 yr by BudgieMum

Please try to check her keel bone for sharpness ( the bone that runs vertically down the front of her chest ) and the poop...........please check it for colour and type and also check her butt and report back to us.

Her breast bone doesn't appear to be sticking out further than usual, she doesn't let anyone near her unfortunately

 

Her tail is pointing inwards a fair bit I have noticed too, that doesn't look normal to what she usually has. It does bob in and out a fair bit too :-(

 

I already asked about that Kaz... and answered above. However... you need to feel her keel bone. Just looking won't tell you much. You need to catch her and feel it, and while you're at it... check her all out.

 

I don't think she just looks hot. By the look of her she doesn't look well. I'd be off to the vet.

Her breast bone doesn't appear to be sticking out further than usual, she doesn't let anyone near her unfortunately

 

Her tail is pointing inwards a fair bit I have noticed too, that doesn't look normal to what she usually has. It does bob in and out a fair bit too :-(

 

I already asked about that Kaz... and answered above. However... you need to feel her keel bone. Just looking won't tell you much. You need to catch her and feel it, and while you're at it... check her all out.

 

I don't think she just looks hot. By the look of her she doesn't look well. I'd be off to the vet.

I know you asked Maesie and that why I added to that request.................as it seemed the bird was just looked at not felt.

 

Impressing now the importance of asking for a physical feel and check of the bird and report back, please....no matter if she strips the very skin off your fingers...............its really really important .

Edited January 21, 201015 yr by KAZ

okay, she's managed to let me feel her breast bone -but wouldn't let me catch her and it feels soft and normal to me, but then again, Im not a vet.

 

The colour of her poop has a green tinge to it and her bottom looks normal, my husband also had a look and he thinks it looks normal

 

We cannot afford to take her to a vet either :-( Please dont tear strips off me either, we have a huge medical bill after my hysterectomy 3 months ago and feeding ourselves is hard enough currently :-(

Edited January 21, 201015 yr by BudgieMum

okay, she's managed to let me feel her breast bone -but wouldn't let me catch her and it feels soft and normal to me, but then again, Im not a vet.

 

The colour of her poop has a green tinge to it and her bottom looks normal, my husband also had a look and he thinks it looks normal

 

We cannot afford to take her to a vet either :-( Please dont tear strips off me either, we have a huge medical bill after my hysterectomy 3 months ago and feeding ourselves is hard enough currently :-(

 

 

Dont expect to have strips torn off you.......... :grouphug: ...........not everyone can race off to the vet,.... especially if financial reasons are in play. If she was huddled on the bottom of the cage then there would be a need.

 

Suggestion you watch her closely then, keep her away from any possible draughts, keep her temperature even whereever she is. Warm lamp helps in most cases of it isnt hot where you are right now.

Watch her diet ( any changes to diet ? What is she being fed ? ).

Observation is key to any changes that may make a difference.

Thank you for understanding, Ive have had people have a go at me in the past with not being able to afford a vet for a pet before :-(

 

Ive brought her inside for the day again as it's 35 degrees here with no breeze at the window in the shade, no direct sunlight but a nice gentle fan in the room, but not directly on her as well.

 

Ive also left a big container of water for her (not too deep) for her to cool off in, making sure her water is always clean and topping it up when needed. Haven't changed her diet, she's been on the same seed since we got her (a budgie mix from the supermarket Trix??)

 

Ive also added a worming treatment to her water that we have, it says to do so every three months and three months is almost up so she might have worms?

 

Will keep you posted on her, my 5 yr old is so worried about her, hopefully she will be okay.

hello im just seeing and reading your post now

im thinking your moving her around alot for a unwell bird

so....could it be she is stressed and as clearwing stated just heat stressed also creating her abnormal green poo as if her butts clean and shes hanging on to perch swing she cant be that bad

also feeling the keel bone is different to the crop which it sounds like is what you felt as with out holding her you would not really be able to identify if shes thin or not as you need to clasp your hand around her

she can not bit you if you grasp her correctly

to do this you must firstly (for your security of not being bitten as it hurts like *** ) put on a glove of any kind

that she can not bite through

secondly , place her down onto a table top and keep her firmly on her stomic not pressing just holding her with you un gloved hand put your two fingers in a v

the ones next to your thumb

like your doing a peace sign to someone

then whilest holding her against table with the gloved hand get your fingers and come over top of your gloved hand and put her head in a restraint with the two fingers that are ungloved and gently up and under her lower beak lifting her head as so it can not turn be careful as birds necks are delicate with your knuckles firmly press them together gripping her but not so tight as to strangler her or cut breathing off move your gloved hand away and clasp the rest of her body in the ungloved hand

you should now have her in a nice safe hold you can then proceed to check weight

wings ect....

that laying a crossed perch is a sign of heat stress

and moving around is a cause of environment stress if she is bitting hard and hard to grab then she is most probbly to hot

i would think about a light room temp mist spray not at or on her directly but if she wants to she can move into it

do not spray direct on to her as she knows what she wants and will go to it if she wants

 

other than that if she is eating well and drinking id say just keep eye on her and find a permanent indoor spot for summer

hope all goes well

Edited January 22, 201015 yr by GenericBlue

Hi,

 

Im new to this forum and Im worried about my son's pet budgie. We've had Cheeky for 4 years now and just this week (From Monday this week) she's been acting strangely and has been perched on her perch like this, shoved up against the "fake" bird that she has in her cage. She hasn't been tweeting this week at all until this afternoon, she tweeted once.

 

This is Cheeky as of 15 mins ago:

 

http://i842.photobucket.com/albums/zz346/Bepibarina/th_P1210066.jpg[/img]

 

As far as I can see, she's been eating okay. It's been extremely hot this week in QLD and I have been keeping her cool inside and leaving her cage at the window so she has light and can see outside etc.

 

I thinking that either Cheeky is sick or could be lonely and wanting a mate?

 

Im worried she's sick, we simply cannot afford to take Cheeky to an Avian either

 

I was wondering if anyone has had any similar experiences?

 

Hi BudgieMum. Can you tell from her seed that she is really eating? Like seed husks left behind, maybe try her with a bit of greens, silver beet e.g. see if she takes any of that as a pick-me-up? A few down day's is a bit of a worry. If she's been inside away from excessive heat for a while and has'nt picked up? Keep us posted to see how she goes.