Hi there.
I have a male budgie about 4 years old. My mum noticed that he had a bald patch under his wing but we are not sure why. He is eatting and drinking normal. Is he just molting?
Thanks if anyone can help
sorry, i dont know much about birds, but could he maybe be plucking his own feathers? i know they can when bored/stressed. guess he could just be moulting.
sorry, i dont know much about birds, but could he maybe be plucking his own feathers? i know they can when bored/stressed. guess he could just be moulting.
If he was molting wouldn't he be losing more of his feathers than just under his wing?
It could be a mite infection or it just might be stressed or board. I had a budgie a few years back and it got mites from millet spray we lost it aged 13yrs as well
think mites may be a possibility and if left untreated will cause problems for the poor wee thing. Do you have a vet you can call for advise. They can give medicine through its water bottle.
It is a one spot treatment you put on the back of the neck between the shoulder blades once a week for 3 weeks. I keep mine in the fridge. BEFORE doing that, clean cage, perches, toys etc with budgie-safe cleaning product.
It is what the vet will give (or suggest you give).
Could just be boredom/stress that is developing into a habit. No chance of a cage pal for him? A boy pal would be good (girl pal no problem - just don't give them a nestbox or anything she could perceive as a nest and she won't tend to lay).
If you get a pal for him, do the Ivermectin procedure on the new arrival too.
(All my life I have had one budgie at a time - this time round I got a twosome and I can't believe how much I enjoy watching them being so happy interacting (and squabbling) with each other. Going back in time, I really wish I had given my lone budgies a pal - it is great seeing them being proper budgies with each other.)
Info - regardless of whether you have 2 boys, boy + girl (or 2 girls) they will play at courting/mating - it's what budgies do.
It is a one spot treatment you put on the back of the neck between the shoulder blades once a week for 3 weeks. I keep mine in the fridge. BEFORE doing that, clean cage, perches, toys etc with budgie-safe cleaning product.
It is what the vet will give (or suggest you give).
Could just be boredom/stress that is developing into a habit. No chance of a cage pal for him? A boy pal would be good (girl pal no problem - just don't give them a nestbox or anything she could perceive as a nest and she won't tend to lay).
If you get a pal for him, do the Ivermectin procedure on the new arrival too.
(All my life I have had one budgie at a time - this time round I got a twosome and I can't believe how much I enjoy watching them being so happy interacting (and squabbling) with each other. Going back in time, I really wish I had given my lone budgies a pal - it is great seeing them being proper budgies with each other.)
Info - regardless of whether you have 2 boys, boy + girl (or 2 girls) they will play at courting/mating - it's what budgies do.
I thought about getting him a little pal but wasn't too sure so i got one of them plastic ones that sit on the perch and he seems to fight with it, would he do the same to another budgie? I don't wanna wake up to find one of them dead!
I thought about getting him a little pal but wasn't too sure so i got one of them plastic ones that sit on the perch and he seems to fight with it, would he do the same to another budgie? I don't wanna wake up to find one of them dead!
Hi there. I have kept budgies all my life and fortunately not had any bald patches, so can't help you there, although great advice from fellow DSers.
I can help on the solitary budgie though. I always kept one, and whilst we were on holiday he boarded with a friend of mine who also had one budgie and they spent the whole two weeks plastered to their respective bars chatting to each other!! After that I have always had two or three together. I have had many combinations and the one that is working fine for me at the moment is two males and one female. I would probably go with another male for yours. My two males adore each other and will preen each other, and the hen also adores the younger male and they get on fine. It is such a happy cage and I really love it when they are all chatting away, so I definitely would never have just one on their own again. They really do like company of the bird variety!!!
Hi there. I have kept budgies all my life and fortunately not had any bald patches, so can't help you there, although great advice from fellow DSers.
I can help on the solitary budgie though. I always kept one, and whilst we were on holiday he boarded with a friend of mine who also had one budgie and they spent the whole two weeks plastered to their respective bars chatting to each other!! After that I have always had two or three together. I have had many combinations and the one that is working fine for me at the moment is two males and one female. I would probably go with another male for yours. My two males adore each other and will preen each other, and the hen also adores the younger male and they get on fine. It is such a happy cage and I really love it when they are all chatting away, so I definitely would never have just one on their own again. They really do like company of the bird variety!!!
That does sound like a good idea - getting him a little pal, would i be better off getting a budgie the same age? or younger? He's about 4 now.
I have got a mixture of ages! The hen is about 6, one male is also quite old (he came from my mum and dads aviary) and the last male is only a baby, about 6 months old. He also came from my mum and dads aviary. I would suggest just going to the local pet shop and having a look. I would say one about the same age or younger would be fine.
I have actually chopped and changed quite regularily! My hen has seen quite a few birds come and go. I had Ed, who was a real bully and has ended up being a top bird in the mums aviary. I then had a baby who I named Lewis, but turned out to be a hen, which I gathered after she was a real menace and bully to Samantha, she is now in the aviary called Lou! I then brought back Bert (the baby boy) this August and then later on I brought back Blue Boy, who is the old male. Hence I have 3 very happy budgies.
You could keep them in separate cages for a few weeks (perhaps borrow one for a while) and let them out together daily to socialise and get used to each other.
After a while, when they are out playing, completely change round the inside of the cage you want them to stay in together. Change the layout of perches, feed dishes toys etc etc. Then when you put them both back in, they will be busy checking out the altered cage and getting used to it. That way the previous occupant of the cage won't have time to think about bullying the other budgie for touching 'his' things.
I too would suggest another boy bird for good friendship - age doesn't really matter. Hens can be very hormonal if there is only one other boy around - our hen bullies our boy something rotten sometimes - she upends him on a perch and stands on his feet so he is hanging upside down and calling for help :-) Little madam!
Good luck there - I too would love to hear how you get on :-)
By the way, with my two I buy 2 of some things, just 'cos the hen regards everything as being hers - she certainly rules the roost!
If you have 1 budgie or more, do try hanging an empty toilet roll inner (or kitchen roll inner) longways inside the cage against the side spars. Bestest, cheapest toy a budgie can have :-) My boy loves to have a nap inside one :-)
Hi, I have a budgie and belong to a website called Adorable Budgies, there are people using the website who breed budgies and are very experienced with ailments etc, there may be someone who can advise and also I think the advise you have received on here is good
My budgie had a growth at the side of his beak and I was advised a mite may be burrowing into my budgie and I purchased Spot On and administered the pipettes and thank goodness the growth has gone. I had to wash all perches, cage and his playstations and throw away all cuttle fish and iodine block in case there were any mites still present anywhere
Ivermectin is the best treatment but at the time I could not buy it locally without a prescription - Spot On does contain Ivermectin but I dont think it is as affective as Ivermectin 0.1%
I only have 1 budgie and previously only 1 budgie - apparently you become the budgie's flock, but I feel he should have a friend - if you have 1 budgie, they become very tame and my budgie is tame now and talking, maybe I shall get another 1 but I will have to get a larger cage
Hope you have done the necessary to help the budgie and good luck
Comments
If he was molting wouldn't he be losing more of his feathers than just under his wing?
http://www.medicines4yourpet.com/ivermectin-drops-01-10ml-1809-p.asp
It is a one spot treatment you put on the back of the neck between the shoulder blades once a week for 3 weeks. I keep mine in the fridge. BEFORE doing that, clean cage, perches, toys etc with budgie-safe cleaning product.
It is what the vet will give (or suggest you give).
Could just be boredom/stress that is developing into a habit. No chance of a cage pal for him? A boy pal would be good (girl pal no problem - just don't give them a nestbox or anything she could perceive as a nest and she won't tend to lay).
If you get a pal for him, do the Ivermectin procedure on the new arrival too.
(All my life I have had one budgie at a time - this time round I got a twosome and I can't believe how much I enjoy watching them being so happy interacting (and squabbling) with each other. Going back in time, I really wish I had given my lone budgies a pal - it is great seeing them being proper budgies with each other.)
Info - regardless of whether you have 2 boys, boy + girl (or 2 girls) they will play at courting/mating - it's what budgies do.
I thought about getting him a little pal but wasn't too sure so i got one of them plastic ones that sit on the perch and he seems to fight with it, would he do the same to another budgie? I don't wanna wake up to find one of them dead!
Hi there. I have kept budgies all my life and fortunately not had any bald patches, so can't help you there, although great advice from fellow DSers.
I can help on the solitary budgie though. I always kept one, and whilst we were on holiday he boarded with a friend of mine who also had one budgie and they spent the whole two weeks plastered to their respective bars chatting to each other!! After that I have always had two or three together. I have had many combinations and the one that is working fine for me at the moment is two males and one female. I would probably go with another male for yours. My two males adore each other and will preen each other, and the hen also adores the younger male and they get on fine. It is such a happy cage and I really love it when they are all chatting away, so I definitely would never have just one on their own again. They really do like company of the bird variety!!!
That does sound like a good idea - getting him a little pal, would i be better off getting a budgie the same age? or younger? He's about 4 now.
I have actually chopped and changed quite regularily! My hen has seen quite a few birds come and go. I had Ed, who was a real bully and has ended up being a top bird in the mums aviary. I then had a baby who I named Lewis, but turned out to be a hen, which I gathered after she was a real menace and bully to Samantha, she is now in the aviary called Lou! I then brought back Bert (the baby boy) this August and then later on I brought back Blue Boy, who is the old male. Hence I have 3 very happy budgies.
Good luck and let us know how you get on.
After a while, when they are out playing, completely change round the inside of the cage you want them to stay in together. Change the layout of perches, feed dishes toys etc etc. Then when you put them both back in, they will be busy checking out the altered cage and getting used to it. That way the previous occupant of the cage won't have time to think about bullying the other budgie for touching 'his' things.
I too would suggest another boy bird for good friendship - age doesn't really matter. Hens can be very hormonal if there is only one other boy around - our hen bullies our boy something rotten sometimes - she upends him on a perch and stands on his feet so he is hanging upside down and calling for help :-) Little madam!
Good luck there - I too would love to hear how you get on :-)
By the way, with my two I buy 2 of some things, just 'cos the hen regards everything as being hers - she certainly rules the roost!
If you have 1 budgie or more, do try hanging an empty toilet roll inner (or kitchen roll inner) longways inside the cage against the side spars. Bestest, cheapest toy a budgie can have :-) My boy loves to have a nap inside one :-)
Have fun :-)
My budgie had a growth at the side of his beak and I was advised a mite may be burrowing into my budgie and I purchased Spot On and administered the pipettes and thank goodness the growth has gone. I had to wash all perches, cage and his playstations and throw away all cuttle fish and iodine block in case there were any mites still present anywhere
Ivermectin is the best treatment but at the time I could not buy it locally without a prescription - Spot On does contain Ivermectin but I dont think it is as affective as Ivermectin 0.1%
I only have 1 budgie and previously only 1 budgie - apparently you become the budgie's flock, but I feel he should have a friend - if you have 1 budgie, they become very tame and my budgie is tame now and talking, maybe I shall get another 1 but I will have to get a larger cage
Hope you have done the necessary to help the budgie and good luck