We got Bobby at around 6 weeks (the youngest budgie we have had) and not long after started his 'baby' moult, so that seemed to go okay. Then just after we thought that was all over, he seems to be going through a 'hard' moult to the point where the last day or so he's more or less unable to fly........his plumage is looking okay, it's mostly lots of downy feathers, he's preening lots and any other feathers that he dropped came out in the last fornight. He's seems tired and I guess it's not helped by our gas heating which over this winter has been on a fair amount.

 

We've never had a budgie whose 'lost' flight through a moult, so is this normal? and is there anything we can do to lessen the stress?

 

 

Thanks

 

Catherine xxx

It could very well be worth taking him to an avian vet, as there are a few diseases that affect their feathers. If your house is kept warm, that could be a reason for it. They moult in warm weather, and, if you keep the house too warm, they will moult nonstop. Can he be moved to a cooler room? maybe a bedroom, where the heating isn't on for such a long time?

this is a cause for concern. usually budgies dont moult so heavily that they cant fly.

 

there are 2 possibilities that are coming to mind:

 

1. he could be suffering from an underlying infection or is not 100% healthy and the stress of being ill has caused him to moult more slowly.

2. there is the chance of PBFD or polyomavirus. polyomavirus is also known as french moult and is common in budgies that are only a few weeks old. an avian vet will be able to screen your budgie for both diseases. some classic signs are feather discolouration, loss of flight and tail feathers, under-developed feathers falling out prematurely, check the tips of the fallen feathers for blood.

 

in the meantime i would suggest supplementing the diet with an extra protein source. hard boiled mashed egg with the shells is good. of course as lin said - it could be just the heating, but my birds moult quite a lot due to the heating but never so much that they cannot fly. it is definitely worth seeing a vet to be safe.

 

let us know what the vet says x

Edited January 27, 200619 yr by pixie25

Thanks for the replies........

 

I'm seriously considering the 'heating' aspect being the problem......so will reduce this slightly and keep him in a cooler area....

 

As he's now coming up for 6mths I doubt it is French Moult, his feathering is very good, plenty of 'down' and nice long tail and flight feathers....

 

His moult at the moment is mostly 'down', and his lack of flight I have observed is because he's 'tired', because he doesn't make much of an attempt in his flight, even though he has the capacity and plenty of feathers to do so.

 

He's been wanting to come out today, but for safety's sake we're keeping him in a bit longer until he is more energetic! I gave him a light misting of warm water, which he enjoyed and he's happily chattering away......

 

Catherine xxx

that's good news

good news but i would still go for a vets visit. if a bird loses the ability to fly for any length of time it usually has a medical cause. if he is as tired as you say from losing downy feathers i would want to rule out a hidden infection, for my own peace of mind more than anything else.

We got Bobby at around 6 weeks (the youngest budgie we have had) and not long after started his 'baby' moult, so that seemed to go okay. Then just after we thought that was all over, he seems to be going through a 'hard' moult to the point where the last day or so he's more or less unable to fly........his plumage is looking okay, it's mostly lots of downy feathers, he's preening lots and any other feathers that he dropped came out in the last fornight. He's seems tired and I guess it's not helped by our gas heating which over this winter has been on a fair amount.

 

We've never had a budgie whose 'lost' flight through a moult, so is this normal? and is there anything we can do to lessen the stress?

 

 

Thanks

 

Catherine xxx

I don't have any info for you I just wanted to say what a pretty birdie you have. :grbud: :angel1:

yya i agree with pixie just to be on the safe side