Budgerigars by Barrie Shutt

Some common ailments and conditions that affect budgerigars………………

………………and some suggestions about how to treat them

Disclaimer

PLEASE TAKE NOTE;

Although I have the experience of many decades of breeding budgerigars, and during the course of that time I have successfully helped birds that have lost condition or become afflicted or unwell,

I AM NOT A VETERINARIAN

AND I HAVE NEVER EXAMINED YOUR BIRDS

and you should be aware that any recommendations offered are not intended to take the place or supersede the advice of dedicated avian veterinary professionals.

If you choose to use any suggestions and recommendations I offer, and your bird does not respond or becomes sicker, you MUST seek the advice of a veterinarian.

Your birds are YOUR responsibility. 

When we are at work we pay a sickness contribution weekly to our own health service,we are not ill so is the principle of prevention being better than the cure a sound one.i think so.In ancient china you paid the doctor only while you were well if you took ill the payments stopped.In spite of our best efforts accidents happens and illness strikes at anytime and it is always a good thing to be able to recognize an ailment for what it is.We do worry about all sorts of odd things that appear to be wrong but you are only seeing normal behaviors most of the time.

I will be including information provided by Australian company, “Vetafarm”

All references to “Vetafarm” and Vetafarm products are made with the prior knowledge and consent of Vetafarm.

Millions of show cages are scattered about the UK and due to a new specification the old models can be picked up under £10.these make ideal hospital or isolation cages and if you have a little DIY knowledge these are easily converted to incorporate a little heat bulb in the bottom corner,enclosed in a little metal gauze to prevent the bird burning.this is often all the bird needs for a couple of days,


Do you know a budgerigar sleeps on one leg,sleeping on two legs with a head under the wing is the first sign something is wrong.

Before you can tell if your bird is ill you must be familiar with the characteristics of a healthy bird,and then any adverse symptons will hit you right in the eye when it occurs.The healthy bird will abound with energy,will sparkle with arrogant cheekiness,the eyes are wide open ,shining with intelligence,standing up of the perch like a guardsman on duty,the tail held rigid and the entire body contour is almost a straight line. The plumage will show the bloom of good health reflecting the light evenly from all directions.

The earliest symptom of something wrong is unmistakable ,the birds tail droops,it may just be unhappy or it may be sick,but you have seen the first sign,a sign that appears at the start of any threatening ailment ,spot this early and we can treat the bird before it becomes critical.Second symptom is loss of energy,walking and climbing instead of jumping and flying,then the eyes become dull and lifeless ,the upper eye lid begins to drop.Now the birds temperature shoots up and the feathers open out and are held away from the body so that the air can get in ,our bird now has a sorry appearance nothing at all like our healthy bird.

The head and face can then become wet confirming we now have a very sick bird and treatment is required fast.Heat is required fast so cover the cage on three sides and point the open side at the radiator,some people have infra red lamps or hospital cages, not me i have a propagator and  with the top vents open keeps the bird at 82 F

My model runs of the mains.

Now whe have the bird warm on the outside it is time we get out the whisky,five drops with warm water equal to half a teaspoon will warm our bird on the inside,i use a small syringe,three times a day for forty eight hours and our bird should be up and about again.

View this link for a flowchart approach to the sick bird - http://www.vetafarm.com.au/manage/documents/Flowchart.pdf

Feeding during treatment for Megabacteria.

Polyoma Virus / French Moult - view this link - http://www.vetafarm.com.au/manage/documents/POLYOMA-FRENCHMOULT.pdf                                          

I have only had three outbreaks of french moult in all my years of breeding budgerigars and if i did breed a bird of quality i would be tempted to use it in my breeding programme.I believe the clean conditions i keep my birds in helps reduce the chance of french moult occuring.  All my nest boxes are soaked in Vanodine or Virkon s at least twice a year,any affected birds would be bathed in the same broad spectrum diinfected,all feed utensils are soaked in Milton and then rinsed,this is done every week.

Polyoma virus in budgies manifests itself as "budgie fledgeling disease." This does not affect the adults but kills the newborns. In a polyoma affected aviary about 20% of infants will be lost. Carriers do not shed the virus at all times so testing is difficult. Probably most budgies do carry it and probably most are immune to the effects due to exposure. However, it will manifest itself in situations of poor nutrition, overbreeding and bad sanitation. Also mixing a large number of budges together that come from different sources seems to activate the virus. Many beginners and novices go all around buying birds and then find themselves with a problem when they start breeding. The most common expression of polyomavirus in budgies is French Moult. This is a disease that affects the feather growth of the chicks. Some recover and are perfectly normal and do not produce French Moult. Others never recover. I do not think that budgies affect other birds with it. I have never heard of it. I think the virus must become species specific.  Almost all budgie breeders encounter French moult at some time.

Bleeding.

• I tend to advise using flour/ cornflour in an emergency to stop bleeding. Damaged blood feathers are best pulled out if flour doesn't stop them bleeding but best to see a vet within 24hrs as it is a common trigger for feather-plucking. They usually need a painkiller. Obviously, blood feathers shouldn't be pulled out willy-nilly as this can damage re-growth.
  

Dehydration kills birds- view this link-http://www.vetafarm.com.au/manage/documents/Dehydration.pdf

I lost a super cinnamon light green cock this year who was suffering from a mild enterities,i gave him plenty of care and heat but neglected to check his intake of water,he became dehydrated and went blind.

Egg binding complications-view this link-http://www.vetafarm.com.au/manage/documents/Complications%20After%20Egg%20Binding.pdf

This problem seems to be the result of breeding with young or obese hens,do not breed with fat hens and take care when using hens below twelve months old.

Egg binding occurs when a hen who is forming an egg in her uterus does not have enough calcium to finish forming the egg shell.The shell does not become hard enough to push out,which causes the hen extreme stress and risk.
To prevent egg binding it is very important to have a cuttlebone and mineral block available in the breeding cage.It is important to regulary check if the cuttlefish bone and mineral block have been used up,if so they need to be replaced immediately.Always have oyster shell grit available,this is also a good calcium source and if necessary you may need to supply a calcium supplement like calcivite.

Canker ( trichomoniasis) a major cause of death in budgerigars - view this link- http://www.vetafarm.com.au/manage/documents/Canker.pdf

I dose my stud every four months with ronivet (S) and i can confirm this drug keeps my stud healthy and with no side effects. 

Why do birds feather pluck? - view this link - http://www.vetafarm.com.au/manage/documents/Allergies,%20Vitamins%20and%20Viruses.pdf

We all meet the hen that feather plucks her young and i will discuss this - scroll down.

Insect control - view this link- http://www.vetafarm.com.au/manage/documents/Avian%20Insect%20Pests.pdf

A treatment for undesirable insects

E coli misunderstandings - view this link - http://www.vetafarm.com.au/manage/documents/E.coli%20Myths%20and%20Misunderstandings.pdf

I purchased Triple c antibiotics from Vetafarm and consider them a major part of my first aid box.

TRIPLE C (FOR ORNAMENTAL BIRDS AND FISH)
Water Soluble Antibiotic for fish and ornamental birds. Suitable for first line treatment of a range of disease in fish and birds. Chlortetracycline is an antibiotic that is effective against organisms commonly causing diarrhoea and respiratory diseases.

Using a crop needle - view this link - http://www.vetafarm.com.au/manage/documents/Crop%20Needling.pdf

My next order from Vetafarm will include a crop needle - view this link for crop needle sizes-http://www.vetafarm.com.au/manage/documents/Crop%20Needle%20Chart.pdf

Health examination for your birds - view this link - http://www.vetafarm.com.au/manage/documents/Health%20Examinations%20for%20your%20Bird.pdf

Print this off and keep it in a safe place,i hope you never need it.

Megabacteria - view this link -http://www.vetafarm.com.au/manage/documents/Megabacteriosis%20by%20Tom%20Pennycott.pdf

I have just purchased Megabac s from vetafarm as a addition to my first aid box.

Metal poisoning in birds - view this link -http://www.vetafarm.com/manage/documents/Metal%20Poisoning%20in%20Birds.pdf

In forty eight years of breeding i have never had a bird diagnosed with metal poisoning i have been near deafened though with my sons heavy metal music .

Nursery management - rearing that baby - view this thread - http://www.vetafarm.com/manage/documents/Nursery%20Management%20-%20Basic%20Rules.pdf

I was the eldest child of twelve and i helped rear the younger ones,that was hard work so budgies must be easier to rear.

Recognise if your bird is ill - view this thread - http://www.vetafarm.com/manage/documents/Recognising%20Signs%20of%20Illness%20in%20Your%20Bird.pdf

I remember my first car and how i could tell so much about it by looking at the condition of the points,the same applies with budgerigar droppings.

The moult - view this thread - http://www.vetafarm.com/manage/documents/The%20Moult%20-%20A%20delicate%20process.pdf

How can so few birds in my birdroom discard so many feathers and why do i leave a trail of them through my house? How many times am i asked what is wrong with my budgie,his tail has dropped out,i can see pink on his head,he can't fly,he's got a feather disease all of these are just a natural moult.As the old feathers fall out new ones are pushing through the skin in a pointed sheath which then splits and falls off as the feather expands and grows,the bird then preens to remove the sheath dust to avoid irritation.I believe the small feathers moult lightly in the spring when the temperatures begin to rise and moult heavily in the autumn in preparation for the cold weather ahead. Now is the time to offer a tonic seed and a few vitamins.

Birds in the moult? - view this thread - http://www.vetafarm.com/manage/documents/Tracemin%20Soluble.pdf

IVERMECTIN AND WATER

We see many people diluting Ivermectin sheep, cattle, and horse products with water and this is not recommended by the developer of Ivermectin, Merial. The following note is self explanatory.

IVOMEC sheep liquid is formulated as an emulsion with the Ivermectin dissolved in a solvent and this solution then held emulsified in water by a delicate balancing act with various additives including surfactants. Once you add more water to the mix you then change the balance and at some stage the emulsion will collapse and the Ivermectin will crash out. How much dilution causes this... don't know but it will happen. We have a concentrate product called Jetamec which is formulated to take more significant dilution but it is registered only as a jetting fluid for sheep.As far as pour ons and injections are concerned - they are all solvent with no water - any dilution with water is ill-advised.

Which products can be mixed in the SAME water - view this link - http://www.vetafarm.com/manage/documents/product_matrix.pdf

 what's the chicken doing on this page?

I remember it's about protein and my management,i must move that chicken later.

SALMONELLA

The disease normally is restricted to young birds who will look miserable,listless and weak,they huddle together,some are stunted and die quickly.If some recover they can be carriers for up to one year, their droppings if ingested can contaminate other birds.A vet must be available for advice to confirm the disease which responds well to  FURAZOLIDONE .

Feather plucking

This is a habit which is often the hen removing the down from young chicks from the heads and bodies,the degrees of severity can be from a few down feathers to stripping the wings and head of feathers and flesh,not to be confused with attacked to get grown chicks out of the nest.The guilty bird should be removed and younger chicks fostered,older chicks from about twenty five days old can be placed in a gazunder on the cage floor where the remaining adult will feed them.

I remember,just,many years ago a product painted onto childrens nails to stop them biting them,this was called bitter aloes and we painted it onto any plucked areas of the birds and because of the bitter taste it stopped the adults plucking.I will add this to my first aid box.

Bumblefoot:

 

This is a common chronic infection in the feet of birds, most commonly found in waterfowl and birds of prey. It usually follows persistent injury from unsuitable perching or flooring, coupled with secondary infection. The severity of infection and damage is graded: mild cases may be treated with antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and improvements to hygiene and housing; while advanced cases may need extensive and repeated surgery, or even euthanasia.

 

 Iodine deficiency.

Iodine deficiency in the diet may result in thyroid dysplasia in budgies, although this is not as common as it used to be. This occurs in birds that consume an all-seed diet that is deficient in iodine. Birds with thyroid dysplasia present with respiratory signs from the enlarged thyroid glands pressing on the trachea and syrinx. Some develop a characteristic squeak when they breathe. This is treated by prescribing an iodine supplement. Injectable iodine: 20% sodium iodine in saline for injection, 0.01 ml/budgie once, IM. Oral: Make stock solution of 2 ml Lugol’s iodine in 30 ml water. Mix one drop of stock solution in 250 ml drinking water. Use daily for treatment, 2-3 times per week for prevention. 

 

Iodine Deficiency - What to do? -- courtesy of Ales.

As I noticed we have the problems with Iodine Deficiency from time to time. Iodine is used almost exclusively by the thyroid gland. If our budgies do not have iodine in some form then they can start to suffer from Thyroid Hyperplasia or Dysplasia. Clinical signs of Iodine Deficiency such as thyroid disease or goitre is laboured breathing with squeaking noises.

What to do against Iodine Deficiency? It is not so difficult and we can use this preventive method if the diet of our budgies does not contain some another source of iodine:

Apply this method once a week:

refill your budgie drinker with fresh water and let fall one drop of Iodine tincture 0,5% to water. See the pictures below. Then serve this drinker with water and Iodine to your birds.


What we need? - a drinker, Iodine tincture, a syringe


Fill a syringe with a little Iodine tincture


Fill drinker with fresh water and let fall one drop of Iodine tincture into water


Mix it and serve it.

I hope we will never meet Iodine Deficiency any more.

Sleeping habits.

sleeping with one leg tucked up among it's feathers is a good sign that all is well with the bird ,a healthy bird has no need to grasp the perch in order to hold on a relex action curls the toes around the perch automatically as soon as the birds weight comes down on the foot. If your bird sleeps on two legs it is not 100% fit,so look for the cause and treat it.Most budgies sleep with their heads under the wing as some of us do with our blankets.

Eating droppings.

When droppings become totally dry after about ten days in the case of the budgerigar the vitamin B12 becomes active and are a rich supply of the vitamin essential for growth,our birds know this their ancestors have eaten it for thousands of years but he has yet to learn we clean our cages more often than ten days apart

Too many or the wrong kind of medicine as well as insecticides inproperly used ,may cause illness in budgerigars.

Apple cider vinegar is a solution of acidic acid produced by fermentation of apples. Apple Cider Vinegar contains cholesterol-reducing pectin and the perfect balance of 19 minerals, including potassium, phosphorus, chlorine, sodium, magnesium, calcium, sulfur, iron, fluorine and silicon.

The cider is made from apples and then turned into vinegar where acetic bacteria convert the alcohol in the cider to acetic acid.

Sweating.

Caused by draughts.

Sweating around the head is a result of a head cold and moisture is being exuded from the eyes or ears,this if neglected could turn nasty.Now is the time for warmth,isolation and a hot toddy(whisky) which will soon cure your budgerigar.A neglected head cold can result in catarrh and must be treated,the first sympton is a running nose,and then the mucus becomes thicker and begins to clog the nostrils which results in the bird breathing laboriously through the mouth .As the infection develops sinuses become involved and the bird is now in pain.Treat the nostrils with warm camphorated oil,apply over both nostrils twice daily for one week,take care not to block the nostrils up and keep the bird isolated and warm.

Overgrown Beak.

Why some birds have overgrown beaks may be down to an incorrect diet or as i believe it is just a state of unbalance in the glandular system.We must supply plenty of cuttlefish bone,iodine blocks and oyster shell grit and a supply of clean willow twigs would encourage chewing and increase natural wastage of the beak.

Beak Trimming.

I never encourage trimming of the beak unless it is really necessary,two reasons once you start cutting beaks and claws they then grow faster and it can be a danger to the bird if blood vessels are cut.

If you have to trim beaks or claws do follow the guidelines on the dedicated page on my site.