When I left for school this morning everything was fine, but now I've realised that Skye is underweight and is slightly fluffed up. Please help. I can't remove him because he is a lifeline to the chicks and if I don't I'm worried about the chicks catching it. I put a source of heat in the cage and he is still active and eating and drinking. Other than that there are no other symptoms. It is sudden. He is preening and looking better now. At this time I think the vet is closed. I'm keeping an eye on him and at the moment he is preening himself. He isn't on the bottom of the cage and is perching normally. Maybe he is feeling over-worked looking after four chicks and a wife? Please respond to this!

Remove him immediately !!!!!

Treat him ,like any sick budgie with seperation and warmth and good food.

Your female will manage with her chicks...make sure she has good and easy to access food.

He is more important right now...do not take chances with his health.

Put white paper under his perch in the seperate cage and check his droppings.

Edited March 1, 201015 yr by KAZ

I was bringing him inside when dad caught me in the act.

"Nat, what are you doing?"

"I'm bringing the bird inside because he is acting sick."

"No he's not. He's fine. If you take him out Marigold will stress."

"Marigold will be fine without him."

"Just put him back in."

"But dad..."

"Just put this sheet around the cage and he'll be fine."

"Look, dad he's puffed up. Once they get sick they go down quickly."

"Come inside."

"Grrrrrrr. If he get ANY worse he's coming inside."

 

Of course, as soon as he's back in the cage and dad is looking he acts as though everything is all right. I'm keeping an extremely close eye on him.

 

PS: Thanks for the advice, Kaz. I'll still take it if he starts getting worse.

Edited March 1, 201015 yr by Ratzy

Then its waste of time asking for help if you cant make decisions for yourself based on what you know and what we advise. Your dad needs to read this forum.

Edited March 1, 201015 yr by KAZ

I seriously had no choice, Kaz.

I seriously had no choice, Kaz.

 

I understand mate...I really do.........you are stuck between a rock and a hard place.

 

BUT.......you need to get your Dad to understand you are making INFORMED decisions based on sound knowledge and good advice.

Edited March 1, 201015 yr by KAZ

Thanks. I brought him in. He is in a hospital cage with food, water, and a heat source. He looks better.

It might be good to see if your Dad can spend 5 minutes and show him this Forum.

 

When he understands that most of us will and have paid more than a weeks wage for a single bird, that we may know something of what we do.

My largest bid was over $1100 for a bird... missed it. Dam But I have paid $1000 for a pair, the Cock cost me $150 and the hen $850.

 

No one likes to throw that sort of money away doing something that we don't undertand.

 

We do care and we do give out quality advice where we can.

I hope he's okay Ratzy.

Great Ratzy. Dont be too quick to put him back. the mum will be okay.

Thanks, guys. He is asleep now, sleeping on the perch.

I got back from school just now to find Skye had escaped out of the hospital cage and was sitting on top of the fan. After a few minutes I finally caught him and was told to put him back in the breeding cage. He isn't fluffed up at all and has put on a bit of weight. I doubled, no tripled the amount of food. His poops are normal and he is chirping. I'm sure he was just being a devoted daddy by puting the family needs first and not getting enough to eat himself. All the same I'm keeping an extremely close eye on him. I know I should keep him in the hospital cage but again I had no choice in the matter.

Edited March 2, 201015 yr by KAZ
removed double post

i think your last conclushion was most probbly the case some times a hen or cock die from feeding everyone bar themselfs this in its self is very bad as he will keep feeding chicks and hen and not take in enough for himself

ratzy why dont you put him in a cage outside not near your hen but somewhere he can get his weaight back up and rest himself

at night just place a tarp or towel over his cage your hen can feed chicks alone and may just well do a better job alone as she will stuff them full to be sure their feed

dad really sounds like he needs rest hes been over good and you may just lose him if you do not take advice and let mum feed chicks alone

dont need to bring him inside just out of hens ear and cover him at night from chill of crisp air

im sure your dad knows stuf also but mate like your bird men try look after family and not themselves

your dad may not realize birds can run themselves down as can humans trying to raise a family

your bird needs time out seperate him first thing and keep it that way till chicks are fully out nest i would not go a second round for a while or he will lose condition straight up again