My blue budgie went from looking like a "normal" budgie to looking very overweight...Is he bloated? I've only had him about 8 days so I don't think he could have gained so much weight so fast, or could he? Here is the before picture. This was last wednesday.

And here is the after picture..taken today.

 

Hi Gennahill,

 

Well his crop looks very full, on your other post you said they were 3-4 mths old. In this picture they could be even younger than that.

They still have the baby bars which usually moult out about 3 mths. Maybe he's just getting used to feeding himself and "stuffed" himself a bit.

 

I'd say if he's active and well I'd keep an eye on him, check his droppings are normal, and see if he settles down in a couple of days until he knows the food is there all the time.

Could be like puppies, " I gotta get it before the other fellow". See what others think.

Hi Jennahill try to catch up your other budgie to feel what it is like in your hands, then catch the blue fellow and see if he feels any different.

If he feels puffy or spongy like he may have ruptured an airsack somehow and may need to see a vet.

It is hard to see if there is a problem from the photos.

Cheers Jenny

Your bird is not fat. It's feathers are fluffed up because it is either cold or sick. He is very young so it is probably caused by the stress of being taken away from his parents and moving to a new home. Keep him warm and make sure that he is eating and drinking. He will probably recover in a few days

He has been eating and drinking plenty..neither one of the birds are very active yet. i think they are still adjusting to their new home, but when the green bird moves around the blue one follows him. He does puff his feathers up a lot, but even when they aren't puffed he still looks a lot bigger than when I got him last week. They could be younger than 3-4 months. I really don't know their exact age. I just know they were referred to as "babies". I was just guessing from what I read online. Thanks for the info guys!

Edited March 8, 201213 yr by jennahill

Hi I agree with Neville That bird looks very young.

Yours B.J.

The budgies are very young and not 3-4 months either..I would say 7 wks and possibly taken away from parents too soon for parents to show them how to eat properly.

Could you please put their food in flatter dishes on the floor of the cage not where they currently are. Make it easier to forage for food.

Whats in those dishes ? Looks like seed treat sticks which is junk food for budgies, give them a simple good quality seed blend, and try feeding them some grated carrot, corn, dark leafy greens ( sprinkle it with budgie seed to get them interested.

 

But for now the blue one is sick...most likely not eating well enough. Pick it up and check its butt. Is it poopy or stained feathers around its butt ? Feel the keel bone...the bone running vertically down the birds chest....does it feel sharpish ? .....if so serious weight loss. Now if the budgie has a poopy butt and loss of body weight .........its sick. A sick budgie cannot regulate its own body temp so they fluff up and look "bigger" .

No his bottom is clean....I am feeding him a seed/pellet mix as well as offering fruits/veggies in a different bowl...I've offered berries, romaine lettuce, broccoli, carrots, apples, and bananas...so far they haven't tried any of it...they pick the seeds out of the mix and eat them, but refuse anything else...I had the treats in the bowl on top of the veggies/fruits trying to get them to give it a try, but they won't even eat the treats, just seeds. I'm afraid to try and catch them, if he's stressed won't it stress him more? They let me pet them a bit, and the green will stand on my finger, but I don't want to scare them...Right now they are chirping and seem to be doing/acting well...it's just the fluffed up feathers...everything else seems normal. Both are eating and drinking plenty.

Also, do you guys recommend the vitamins that go in the food or water? I bought some, but wanted some opinions before I used them.

I'm afraid to try and catch them, if he's stressed won't it stress him more?

 

If you dont catch him and examine him as I suggested and he keels over dead because you didnt check and didnt act....wouldnt you later wish you had ??

I'm afraid to try and catch them, if he's stressed won't it stress him more?

 

If you dont catch him and examine him as I suggested and he keels over dead because you didnt check and didnt act....wouldnt you later wish you had ??

 

Well I guess it was just stress and getting use to his new home...today he hasn't been fluffing his feathers...still looks a little bigger than the green bird, but back to "normal".

Good news, when you think of it because, they seems so young, it's only normal they will continue to grow and fill out. It's probably just like a new baby putting on weight.

 

Keep an eye on them for any other problems and let us know how they go. Complete with more pics l.o.l

Good news, when you think of it because, they seems so young, it's only normal they will continue to grow and fill out. It's probably just like a new baby putting on weight.

 

Keep an eye on them for any other problems and let us know how they go. Complete with more pics l.o.l

 

Will do !