Hello All,

 

Its a very long time since I posted here but I need to some help and advice. Warning, this may be long!

 

One of my budgies, Theo, is ill with what appears to be a respiratory infection. He is sitting fluffed-up and hunched for long periods and each time he breathes his tail is bobbing.

 

Two days ago I took him to the avian vets who, after a long time, managed to catch him, listen to his chest and told me that his breathing is laboured but that he doesn't seem to bad. Nevertheless he has a prescription of Baytril.

 

Here lies the problem. Theo has never been tame. I have tried everything under the sun for hours and hours on end and whilst my other budgie Cyril will happily jump on my hand and fly to me Theo remains absolutely petrified (actually if anyone has any experience of taming an extremely untameable budgie I would be interested to hear). He is such a nervy budgie that if someone goes to his cage just to talk to him he will start breathing hard and fast (he has always done this). Also, he has always appeared more 'fluffy' and hunched in apprearance whether ill or not (he is 2 years old).

 

Last night I was truly scared that I was going to kill him with shock when I tried to give him his antibiotics. It took about 15 mins to catch him and he was terrified to the point of panting hard and lifting his wings because he got too hot from all the flying around. I managed in the end but don't know how I am going to subject him to this for 10 days. Does anyone have any tips for me?

 

On the plus side, he is eating like a little pig, drinking fine, bullying Cyril just as much as ever and resting on one leg quite happily. Plus, he is looking much less fluffed up than he did two days ago after 2 lots of antibiotics (one by the vet and one by me).

 

Any thoughts on this would be truly appreciated.

 

NatalieZ

Did your vet tell you to treat both birds? Any illness will be easily transferred.

 

Being that untame I would put him in a smaller cage. That way you are not chasing him for ages trying to catch him to medicate. It won't hurt for the period of the medication for him to be in a small cage. Good luck

Just wondering are you trying to catch him by hand or a net? Cause a net is a *** of a lot easier in a big area, sometimes mine are too fast for me to catch going into the net so i get them a little tired then come up behind with the net as they fly by. Hope this helps.

Did your vet tell you to treat both birds? Any illness will be easily transferred.

 

Being that untame I would put him in a smaller cage. That way you are not chasing him for ages trying to catch him to medicate. It won't hurt for the period of the medication for him to be in a small cage. Good luck

 

 

Just wondering are you trying to catch him by hand or a net? Cause a net is a *** of a lot easier in a big area, sometimes mine are too fast for me to catch going into the net so i get them a little tired then come up behind with the net as they fly by. Hope this helps.

 

Sorry, having problems with the reply function!

 

Thanks so much for you replies.

 

As for separating the birds the vet didn't think it was necessary as they have been together so long that Cyril would have shown signs of illness by now. He also said that treating a healthy bird with antibiotics wouldn't be beneficial to him. I know, I was sceptical too so I called up my previous avian vet who treated Theo when he was ill as a baby and he said the same thing. They both seem to think that Theo is a weaker bird by nature. Cyril is three and has never has so much as a sniffle. Either way, I am not totally happy with them both in the same cage whilst Theo is sick so will get a smaller cage at the weekend.

 

I am trying to catch him with a teatowel in hand! I admit that they have a VERY big cage (even the vet was amazed). I also thought he would get tired out (especially with a respiratory infection) but no!

Hi Natalie, I am (and have several times over the years) giving my budgie antibiotics and although he is tame to the extent of coming on me and playing around when he's on my hand, he will NOT let you catch him or stroke him etc. So I have had to work out how to give him medication as he has been on and off unwell for 4 yrs now. Best thing to do is leave the budgie in a closed cage in a darkened room - I try to do this evenings or early morning before it gets light. Put your hand in and pick him up because with it being dark they can't see very well.. this is the only way I can get hold of "Percy". Otherwise, like you it's chasing him round the room and him panting and almost collapsing which stresses us both out. To hold him I use a square of kitchen towel or you could use a napkin etc. Wrap this round him and lay him almost flat on his back in your hand. Try to open his beak a little and put the syringe to the left side of his beak (this is supposed to be the best side to give them liquid) and squeeze the syringe gently. I find this works okay even if it takes several minutes. Just be careful not to get the liquid into his cere holes or eyes. I do hope you will find this useful.. good luck with it as I know just how near impossible this task is. Let us know how you get on please. xx

Hi Natalie, I am (and have several times over the years) giving my budgie antibiotics and although he is tame to the extent of coming on me and playing around when he's on my hand, he will NOT let you catch him or stroke him etc. So I have had to work out how to give him medication as he has been on and off unwell for 4 yrs now. Best thing to do is leave the budgie in a closed cage in a darkened room - I try to do this evenings or early morning before it gets light. Put your hand in and pick him up because with it being dark they can't see very well.. this is the only way I can get hold of "Percy". Otherwise, like you it's chasing him round the room and him panting and almost collapsing which stresses us both out. To hold him I use a square of kitchen towel or you could use a napkin etc. Wrap this round him and lay him almost flat on his back in your hand. Try to open his beak a little and put the syringe to the left side of his beak (this is supposed to be the best side to give them liquid) and squeeze the syringe gently. I find this works okay even if it takes several minutes. Just be careful not to get the liquid into his cere holes or eyes. I do hope you will find this useful.. good luck with it as I know just how near impossible this task is. Let us know how you get on please. xx

 

Thanks so much for your advice. I had forgotten how the darkness catched them unawares and will try that tonight. My boyfriend will also be around tonight so it will be easier for me to keep a hold of him whilst he puts the syringe in his mouth. By the way, do you mean the budgie's left side as I am looking at him or from his perspective?!

 

With your budgie, has he been unwell with the same thing for those 4 years? Also, any tips on getting my Theo tamer - everything has failed although he will at least take a bath when I am holding it for him!

Hi Natalie, glad I could be of some help, good luck with trying the little darling tonight in the dark (budgie not the boyfriend - ahem!). Yes the budgies left side not your left side apparently. Yes my budgie has had a gut problem from 6 wks of age since we had him. He has an enlarged liver too, finally found that out from an xray the vet did so he doesn't get as much air into his air sacs as normal budgies as the liver encroaches on them which results in tail bobbing which is respiratory related. The antibiotics I'm giving him, the vet thinks Percy might have Giardia which is difficult to eradicate and this probably explains his trouble all this time. Not that the a/biotics are making much difference at the moment so I expect it's back to the vet very soon.

 

As for taming your budgie it should be done with them as young as possible. I tamed Percy from early age to come on my hand/finger, head and shoulder but he will NOT let me touch him only scratch his beak. This is the sign I use for him to say all is well. When he gets stressed out at the vets he will say, "scratch your beak", I feel so sad cos he's asking to be left alone (sob). I tamed him by calling him over from his cage and not touching him at all. Had him on a cushion on my lap and played with a tissue dragging it around the cushion for him to run after. A few weeks of that and he would come on my hand. It takes a long time and from what I've read, not all budgies will be tamed. Just keep trying and keep him as calm as possible.. you could also try and just scratch his beak when he's in his cage, just to show you aren't going to hurt him. It's a matter of him trusting yo, so it can be a long process. At least Theo will take a bath, Percy only paddles and that's a struggle to get him to do that.. hmm. I do hope you succeed as they are all worth the trouble.. I don't know what I'd do without my "little baby"... he's wonderful and a brilliant talker too. Good luck Natalie x

Hi Natalie, glad I could be of some help, good luck with trying the little darling tonight in the dark (budgie not the boyfriend - ahem!). Yes the budgies left side not your left side apparently. Yes my budgie has had a gut problem from 6 wks of age since we had him. He has an enlarged liver too, finally found that out from an xray the vet did so he doesn't get as much air into his air sacs as normal budgies as the liver encroaches on them which results in tail bobbing which is respiratory related. The antibiotics I'm giving him, the vet thinks Percy might have Giardia which is difficult to eradicate and this probably explains his trouble all this time. Not that the a/biotics are making much difference at the moment so I expect it's back to the vet very soon.

 

Hm well last night wasn't a huge success and ended up with him escaping and falling down behind my bed and chest of drawers. This would have been comical except he was clearly terrified. We got him in the end though I can't be sure of how much antibiotic he actually got. I also noticed that he seemed to be losing his voice. However, although still fluffed up this morning he is eating, drinking, bullying Cyril, hopping around and even singing a bit. I hope I will fare better tonight.

 

Re the training, I have had him 2 years and I tried everything, I guess he is just not a budgie that will tame. The second you put a finger anywhere near him he is off.

 

Thanks for your advice. Will keep you posted.

As for taming your budgie it should be done with them as young as possible. I tamed Percy from early age to come on my hand/finger, head and shoulder but he will NOT let me touch him only scratch his beak. This is the sign I use for him to say all is well. When he gets stressed out at the vets he will say, "scratch your beak", I feel so sad cos he's asking to be left alone (sob). I tamed him by calling him over from his cage and not touching him at all. Had him on a cushion on my lap and played with a tissue dragging it around the cushion for him to run after. A few weeks of that and he would come on my hand. It takes a long time and from what I've read, not all budgies will be tamed. Just keep trying and keep him as calm as possible.. you could also try and just scratch his beak when he's in his cage, just to show you aren't going to hurt him. It's a matter of him trusting yo, so it can be a long process. At least Theo will take a bath, Percy only paddles and that's a struggle to get him to do that.. hmm. I do hope you succeed as they are all worth the trouble.. I don't know what I'd do without my "little baby"... he's wonderful and a brilliant talker too. Good luck Natalie x

 

 

Hi Natalie, glad I could be of some help, good luck with trying the little darling tonight in the dark (budgie not the boyfriend - ahem!). Yes the budgies left side not your left side apparently. Yes my budgie has had a gut problem from 6 wks of age since we had him. He has an enlarged liver too, finally found that out from an xray the vet did so he doesn't get as much air into his air sacs as normal budgies as the liver encroaches on them which results in tail bobbing which is respiratory related. The antibiotics I'm giving him, the vet thinks Percy might have Giardia which is difficult to eradicate and this probably explains his trouble all this time. Not that the a/biotics are making much difference at the moment so I expect it's back to the vet very soon.

 

As for taming your budgie it should be done with them as young as possible. I tamed Percy from early age to come on my hand/finger, head and shoulder but he will NOT let me touch him only scratch his beak. This is the sign I use for him to say all is well. When he gets stressed out at the vets he will say, "scratch your beak", I feel so sad cos he's asking to be left alone (sob). I tamed him by calling him over from his cage and not touching him at all. Had him on a cushion on my lap and played with a tissue dragging it around the cushion for him to run after. A few weeks of that and he would come on my hand. It takes a long time and from what I've read, not all budgies will be tamed. Just keep trying and keep him as calm as possible.. you could also try and just scratch his beak when he's in his cage, just to show you aren't going to hurt him. It's a matter of him trusting yo, so it can be a long process. At least Theo will take a bath, Percy only paddles and that's a struggle to get him to do that.. hmm. I do hope you succeed as they are all worth the trouble.. I don't know what I'd do without my "little baby"... he's wonderful and a brilliant talker too. Good luck Natalie x

 

 

Hm well last night wasn't a huge success and ended up with him escaping and falling down behind my bed and chest of drawers. This would have been comical except he was clearly terrified. We got him in the end though I can't be sure of how much antibiotic he actually got. I also noticed that he seemed to be losing his voice. However, although still fluffed up this morning he is eating, drinking, bullying Cyril, hopping around and even singing a bit. I hope I will fare better tonight.

 

Re the training, I have had him 2 years and I tried everything, I guess he is just not a budgie that will tame. The second you put a finger anywhere near him he is off.

 

Thanks for your advice. Will keep you posted.