Hi everyone, my latest 'rescue' is 2 budgies that were in a tiny cage http://newton.unh.edu/~tjg62/project/birdcages.html (similar to the small blue one, middle of the bottom row). They're now in one of my spare flight cages before they go into the aviary.

 

Before purchase, I asked whether they'd been allowed out. Apparently they had been, but because they try to 'fly away' the owners clipped the wings to 'unbalance' them. On looking for myself, it appears that the feathers on one wing on each bird have been cut, and I'm not sure how well although I couldn't see traces of blood, and it does look like the right feathers have been cut... I'm not an expert though.

 

My question - should these grow back properly? They're about 6 months old apparently, do I just have to wait for the next moult? The male seems to be recovering; he can at least fly a little better than the female. The girl could barely get off the ground

 

Thanks! I appreciate the help

Hi so long as there is no damage to the follicles there shouldn't be a problem with them growing back. You can wait until their next moult or you could pull out a couple of the feathers to regrow quicker but this hurts the bird. Once quarantine is over you might be able to make it so they can get around the aviary until their flights regrow. Cheers Jenny

oh, that's too bad; poor birds Could you put up pictures so it'd be easier for us to see what you're talking about?

 

thanks

With such a small cage previously there may also be a wing muscle wastage issue to contend with

Thanks everyone. I'll try to take a couple of photos and stick them up tomorrow. I'm hoping there's no damage (muscle wastage etc) since they're quite young... have to see, I guess. I'm considering writing letters to the powers that be to try and get cage sizes regulated... situations like this are unacceptable.

A friend of my daughters keeps her budgie's wings clipped and yes, they do regrow providing it has been done correctly.

 

I also have a budgie in my aviary who can't fly well so I have wired up a series of branch 'ladders' so that he can get around by climbing and he manages these really well. He's able to get to the seed water and all the other perches that the other budgies can fly to. Once your 2 birds are out of quarantine you could try this whilst waiting for their flight feathers to regrow and strengthening of their muscles.

That's a great idea, Flip, thanks