Well, I just got home from school (came home early cause I didnt wanna do sport :bluebudgie: ) and went out to check on the budgies. Well, Fatty had laid an egg! there are no breeding boxes in the avairy, she laid it in the food bowl. I was going to put a box in, but on the advice of some people in this forum, I decided i shouldnt because she is too young. I was actually thinking about putting it in anyway, but every time I was going to I got guilty and kinda pictured myself like one of those parents in 3rd world countries who sells their 13 year old daughter off to a 50 yr old man, so I never ended up doin it, (Laughing out loud). anyhoo, I checked Fatty over and she looks a bit swollen around her vent and its kinda a purplish colour as if its bruised, and she also has pin feathers and stuff, I heard that budgies were meant to be in peak condition to breed? But yeah, just wondering if the swelling and discolouration around her vent is normal? and if not, should i take her to the vet, or just some TLC will do?

Also I went out and the father (Rover) isn't looking too crash hot, he's hunched over and looks as if he's falling asleep. Plus someone in the cage has thrown up, or at least I think its vomit... its kinda a browny colour with seeds in it...? Im thinking it Rover as he's the one not looking very happy. He's also not as chirpy as normal, Im gonna take him to the vet (not an avian one as she is an hour away, but just the one up the road, he's still a fair good vet though) in an hour or so when they open. But in the meantime what should I do? and does anyone know what it could be? Im kinda worried, cause Rovers never been sick before... thanks

-Shann-

xoxoxoxoxox

Well, I was going to take Rover and Fatty to the vet but now mums in a shitty mood and she's all like "We cant keep spending all this money on a bird that cost $25!" so now Im very angry at her. Im still trying to convince her to take them but I dont know whether itll happen... :bluebudgie: she said that she'll go and get some antibiotics from the pet produce place tomoro, but Im still not happy with her. Im really worried. Is there anything I can do for Rover in the meantime? Like will greens help? or vitamins or something? Ive brought him inside and have noticed that he has diarrhea (sp?) I dont know what to do. Any advice (apart from take him to the vet, cause thats what Im trying to do) would be appreciated.

-Shann-

xoxoxoxox

*stops rant before it starts*

 

I know your trying to do the right thing and get him to a vet. And it's great that you have brought him inside. Make sure you keep him as warm as you can, if you have a bet light or something like that shine it down on his cage (even a bare bulb) so he can sit under it and get warm. Make sure your quiet around him and don't fuss or handle him, let him rest. If he has some diarrhoea already don't offer more greens (they are mostly water already) but if he like millet give him a bit of that to temp him to eat a bit.

 

And keep trying with your ma. You might be able to call the vet and get info over the phone. I didn't think you could get antibiotics from a pet store !!

 

Fingers are cross for you.

 

As for the hen I wouldn't worry laying an egg is like giving birth for a human so it's sure to be hard on the muscles and such. When my hen was laying she became swollen and plucked her feathers out in that area.

Can you walk to the vets with your bird? He/she may help you anyway. It's worth a try. When my parents said no.. I was 13 and I just walked up the road to the vets with my bird in my hand..The vet helped me out with no coast..

Good luck with yours..

Well, I could have.... but it would have taken me a few hours, with lots and lots of hills and trees... This morning I checked on Rover and he's fine. His droppings are back to normal and he's alert and happy now, not fluffed up at all! Is it possible he could have had a 24 hr bug like humans get? but anyway, on closer inspection I found that Fatty has quite a tail bob, she's got her psittacosis (sp?) back, same simptoms as last time, so I'll have to put her back on the antibiotics. Ive decided not to breed her, ever, to save stressing her. Its sooooo frustrating when they get sick! Ive decided not to breed them at all and not to buy any new birds, because I cant in my right mind first, bring babies into this world knowing theyll probably end up with psittacosis, or expose other budgies to the disease, even if it is accidental... that stress on top of exams and stuff, I just cant cope, so thats what Ive resolved to do unfortunately... I'll let let you know if anything else eventuates...