Hi everyone,

Today after work, mum told me that my female budgie had been acting weird all day (puffed up and not sitting on the perches, clinging to the side of the cage instead).

 

She is still puffed up and not on a perch and she is also sitting on my hand voluntarily (she isn't tame... at all). She isn't moving around but her wings are trembling.

She tried flying away (not getting far with her wings clipped) and when she landed her wings went into a vertical position like she was stretching but they stayed like that without going down. Her bum is perfectly clean, too. ALSO,her cere is usually a whitish colour but at the moment is a purple-blue colour. She is about a year old.

 

Hope that is the right sort of information and thanks for any help.

Hi LisaMariie

 

I suggest you locate a good AVIAN vet ( not normal vet ) and get there as fast as you can. The bird is showing signs of weakness that seems to be serious.

Make the appointment and if you have to wait half a day then put some form of warmth near the cage as sick birds cannot regulate their body temperature very well.

Edited March 23, 201114 yr by **KAZ**

Agree with Kaz... Good luck and I hope your girl get some help soon. Please keep us updated.

Thanks guys.

The nearest avian vet I can find near me (Mildura) is 5 hours away in Moama.

I don't know what to do.

If you can't get to an avian, I'd go to a normal one... hopefully they'll be able to help you!

Hi there,

I kept this info from an avian vet in case I ever need it. Some of it might be helpful for you. Like the others said, I'd get to a vet as soon as poss. She doesn't sound well at all.

 

 

BIRD EMERGENCIES – HOME ADVICE

 

1. Is the bird an emergency case?

 

The problem is that birds hide or "mask" the signs of disease until they are very sick. So the key is that any bird which shows any obvious signs of change from their normal behaviour may be an emergency. Do not just wait and see how the bird is over a few days as, by the time a decision to take the bird to a veterinarian is made, it may be too late. Preferably take the bird straight to the veterinarian.

 

 

2. What are the most common signs of an emergency?

 

Sleeping all the time, laboured breathing, vomiting, diarrhoea, poor ability to stand or walk, and seizures (fits). Other obvious emergency signs are wounds on your bird or blood in the cage. Your bird needs veterinary care as soon as possible.

 

 

3. How should the bird be handled in an emergency?

 

It is important to handle the bird as little as possible. It is best to pick up a very ill bird in a towel to avoid any problems during handling.

 

 

4. Is the bird hypothermic (too cold and in shock)?

 

Most Australian parrots can tolerate the cold quite well. If a bird is "fluffed up" it is probably cold and ill. Being "fluffed up" is the most common noticeable sign of a bird emergency.

 

 

 

5. Treatment of hypothermia

 

• 
   
  
• Use a heat lamp. Simply get a normal desk lamp and put a 40 watt pearl light bulb in it. Then place the lamp outside the cage right next to where your bird is sitting "fluffed up" to allow it to keep warm. The light can be left on all night and day for up to 48 hours. Cover the other three sides and roof of the cage with a towel or blanket to keep the heat in.
   
  

• 
   
  
• Alternatively use a heater, preferably with a thermostat. Electric oil heaters are ideal as they give off a slow heat and have a thermostat. Fan heaters can be used but move dry heated air which many birds cannot tolerate.
   
  

• 
   
  
• Placing the bird near a window in the sun is not useful because if the actual outside air temperature is low, the bird may actually still become cooler.
   
  

 

6. What fluids and nutrition can be given to a bird in an emergency?

 

A "fluffed up" bird that is cold and in shock will also usually be low in blood glucose and, even if drinking and still eating a lot, will be dehydrated. At home give some warm sweet weak black tea or some warmed up non-fizzy electrolyte drink such as Gatorade or Powerade. Replace the bird's water with this and drop a little into its mouth every 1-2 hours. (To make up the tea use half a cup of warm water, add the corner of a tea bag till the water has turned light brown and then add a tablespoon of sugar.)

 

There are several commercially available electrolyte supplements for birds such as Polyaid or Spark from Vetafarm. Some of these supplements may need to be given by crop tube.

 

The ideal way to give fluids to a bird is by injection or by crop tube.

 

 

Thanks everyone.

 

After I called the vet and blubbered on the phone I went downstairs to find her sitting on the perch and not so puffed up so I left the vet to this morning. I set up a lamp for her too.

She was perfectly fine when I woke up this morning. The vet didn't find anything wrong either.

 

I'm keeping an eye on her but it seems as though she just had an upset stomach?

 

I appreciate everyone's help and I'm glad my girl's back to her chirpy, unfriendly self!

Great news!!! Just keep a close eye on her, as they hide illness very well... but I hope she has no further issues. YAH!!!