I was in the aviary the other day and I thought I spotted something on the foot of one of my birds. I went for a closer look and they all scattered. I knew it was a green opaline, and I have 3 or 4, so that made it easier to search.

 

I caught 2 birds, and they were fine. I then caught the 3rd bird and I saw what the issue was. Her leg was heavily swollen, with the ring cutting into her leg. There was a big swollen puss ball where her leg meets her foot, and I realised I had to fix her now.

 

I went and got the budgie ring cutters and some ivermectin. I set up a hospital cage and got some betadine.

 

Here is my hospital cage

 

I went back into the aviary and caught the bird again. Looking at her perching, there were no visible signs of illness. Since this hen has very good feather, the infection and swelling were hidden under her ample feather. She sat normally so there was no evidence that she was not well.

 

I cut the ring off, but that was an issue in itself. Releasing the ring meant some bleeding. She ended up with some blood on her lower chest area.

 

This is her yesterday placed in the hospital cage.

 

 

I sat her on the perch for a minute. She was obviously a little traumatised as i caught her again by hand. Taking her inside, I ran some warm water and gently washed her leg, foot and body, trying to remove the blood. I put some betadine on her foot and leg, and a drop of ivermectin on the back of her head.

 

She is in a hospital cage insdie with a warm lamp.

 

Come last night, she was chatting away to some other birds in another room. This morning she looked a whole lot better. She was never fluffed up or sick, just that the leg looked terrible and she may have lost it unless treated. The red around her beak is from beetroot, not blood. Do not fear something bad has happened there.

 

This is her this morning, looking and feeling better.

 

Note the feathers in the picture below, this is what makes it hard to see the leg/foot on some show birds.

 

 

She will get her leg and foot washed and dried again tonight, some more betadine. Maybe another drop of ivermectin tomorrow or Wednesday, but come the end of the week, I think she will be back in the aviary, or maybe she will be in the new breeding shed for a rest.

 

So what causes it? A little bit of dirt or grit caught between the leg ring can do it. Nothing you can really do to prevent it. Try to keep things clean, but it happens.

 

This is why it pays to be prepared and have all the resources you need in an emergency.

 

I will keep you updated on her progress.

Good job Dave.

 

Why the second drop of ivermectin though ?

Just if this ever happens to me how do u cut the ring off?

Just if this ever happens to me how do u cut the ring off?

You need proper budgie legring cutters...nothing else. You cut one side and then the other and let the ring fall away.

Good job Dave.

 

Why the second drop of ivermectin though ?

 

It looks like scaley face mites might have been the reason. I will do the second drop if she does not appear to be healing up as fast as I initially thought. One more drop will help her overcome this - that is what I have found in the past.

I took some new photos to show her progress. The infection has been ovecome and it is now scabbing up. The puss is gone and the foot is healing up well. She is eating, drinking and chewing the paper on the botom of the cage as she looks for a way out. She will be fine. I am pleased as she is a very nice bird.

 

Although Ivermectin is a relatively safe treatment, I personally would have allowed the hen some time to recover from the whole foot infection thing before treating her with Ivermectin. That will have put some stress on her already unhappy health position.

Although Ivermectin is a relatively safe treatment, I personally would have allowed the hen some time to recover from the whole foot infection thing before treating her with Ivermectin. That will have put some stress on her already unhappy health position.

 

 

What is Ivermectin and where do you buy it?

sigh

 

Many topics on this forum discuss Ivermectin. How about doing a search or looking here: http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/index....showtopic=26852

Edited August 10, 201014 yr by nubbly5

Although Ivermectin is a relatively safe treatment, I personally would have allowed the hen some time to recover from the whole foot infection thing before treating her with Ivermectin. That will have put some stress on her already unhappy health position.

 

 

What is Ivermectin and where do you buy it?

This is well covered on this forum so no need to hijack a topic and go off topic talking about it here.

I have found that the infection occurs in direct correlation with the mites, so there is a need to kill the mites or the infection will never cease.

 

That is what i have found in the past, and if the recovery of this bird is anything to go by, I would do the very same thing in the future.

 

If, as suspected, the mites have caused the swelling of the leg, and thus the infection, how do you propose to stop the swelling without killing the mites?

 

I have given her one drop of ivermectin and all appears to be going well.

Dave I am so so glad this hen has recovered the way she is doing. So many of them dont when its a bad as she was. Says a lot for your good care and diligence is picking it up quickly and treating her as you have.

Great job !!!

It looked worse than it was I think.

 

Health wise, she is good, apart from the leg. Eating well, definitely not under weight.

 

I think she looked worse when she went into the hospital cage because of the blood, but I never thought she was a "goner"

Good save Dave! I'm sure she'll repay you for you good work in now time, nice looking hen she is...

I hope so, she is definitely in my plans for the breeding season.

I have found that the infection occurs in direct correlation with the mites, so there is a need to kill the mites or the infection will never cease.

 

That is what i have found in the past, and if the recovery of this bird is anything to go by, I would do the very same thing in the future.

 

If, as suspected, the mites have caused the swelling of the leg, and thus the infection, how do you propose to stop the swelling without killing the mites?

 

I have given her one drop of ivermectin and all appears to be going well.

 

Mites cause scale, scale builds up under the ring causing circulation to be restricted, causing swelling, causing ring to cut into the leg, causing infection. Cutting off the ring allows the circulation to restore itself (unless it's been left too long), allowing the swelling and infection to reduce and be treated.

 

I am really glad that you have saved her, don't get me wrong just as I said, personally I would have left the ivermectin treatment until after I was sure the hen was in a stable condition as it will not boost her ability to recover from the infection/swelling. Once she is stronger and looking perky, THEN I would administer the treatment to deal with the less urgent matter of the scale mites. Just a precaution in my mind, as stressing an already ill bird is probably not something I'd want to do.

 

But as I said, I'm very glad you were able to save her and glad that she handled it well.

I believe baby oil or some type of oil maybe olive with a drop of detol also kills scaly mite.

Just if this ever happens to me how do u cut the ring off?

You need proper budgie legring cutters...nothing else. You cut one side and then the other and let the ring fall away.

 

 

Where do you get them??

Just if this ever happens to me how do u cut the ring off?

You need proper budgie legring cutters...nothing else. You cut one side and then the other and let the ring fall away.

 

 

Where do you get them??

Any good bird supply store. Most budgie clubs products tables.

I have found that the infection occurs in direct correlation with the mites, so there is a need to kill the mites or the infection will never cease.

 

That is what i have found in the past, and if the recovery of this bird is anything to go by, I would do the very same thing in the future.

 

If, as suspected, the mites have caused the swelling of the leg, and thus the infection, how do you propose to stop the swelling without killing the mites?

 

I have given her one drop of ivermectin and all appears to be going well.

 

Mites cause scale, scale builds up under the ring causing circulation to be restricted, causing swelling, causing ring to cut into the leg, causing infection. Cutting off the ring allows the circulation to restore itself (unless it's been left too long), allowing the swelling and infection to reduce and be treated.

 

I am really glad that you have saved her, don't get me wrong just as I said, personally I would have left the ivermectin treatment until after I was sure the hen was in a stable condition as it will not boost her ability to recover from the infection/swelling. Once she is stronger and looking perky, THEN I would administer the treatment to deal with the less urgent matter of the scale mites. Just a precaution in my mind, as stressing an already ill bird is probably not something I'd want to do.

 

But as I said, I'm very glad you were able to save her and glad that she handled it well.

 

This is my point, she was in a stable condition. I did not notice the infection on her leg, or the swelling, or anything was really wrong because she sat there fluffed up or did not move, or anything like that. She was tough to catch. She was not thin. She is jumping back and forth in the hospital cage, ready to get out. She calls out to the other birds and is looking to rejoin them, chewing up the paper and running around the front of the cage, looking for the exit. If I did not know what her leg first looked like, I would not think there was anything wrong with this bird.

 

I think that more stress comes from being caught and seperated from others than by putting a spot of ivermectin on her head. She was in a stable condition. She had been eating and flying well. No issues there.

 

I know you are a more experienced breeder than me, and I do appreciate your thoughts on this. I suppose we will all have different thoughts. What is important is that she is well ont he way to recovery.

Daily update - the infection is clearing up well. Only problem is that little miss decided that she would chew at the scab on her leg, so she peeled it off, before it was ready, so there was blood all over the place. She is no rocket scientist this one.

Saturday update:

 

Her leg is healed up well, and she is eating and flying well.

 

Today she is outside int eh sunshine and she will go back into the aviary either today or tomorrow

Good news Dave

:yes: Great news!!

She is back in the aviary and all looks well