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Bird Q&A: Real Answers from Vet Experts | Boop by Petco

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1612 Questions

I don't know if my budgie has bumblefoot. Does he? If so, how do I treat it?

The feet look relatively normal from what I can see, however if you are noticing any major swelling, open visible wounds, or Coqui doesn't seem to want to stand on one or both feet, then it could indicate an infection. Soaking the feet in epsom salts and keeping them clean and dry with a clean washcloth can help resolve minor issues, however if the swelling worsens, the wound worsens, or Coqui seems very painful and isn't able to get around, vet care is needed. Your vet can help clean the affected area and provide antibiotics or other medication as needed.

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It has been 5 days since my budgie laid her third egg, I know she isn't egg-bound. She has been acting normal but hasn't laid any more eggs. They are meant to lay 4 to 6, sometimes more but I have never had a budgie lay less than 4 eggs in a clutch. Should I be concerned? She is probably only 9 or 10 months old. She has laid 2 or 3 clutches since November last year and I couldn't stop her from breeding because she laid her first egg when her last baby was leaving the box.

Thanks for reaching out abut Kylea. Even though most birds can lay between 4-6 eggs, that is only an average/ Some lay more, some less. She might be done this time. Be careful on how often you allow her to lay and raise young, as the energy expenditure is immense. Assessment of diet to ensure good nutritional intake to counterbalance energy loss. Seed is not enough. If concerned, a veterinary visit is recommended. Good luck.

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Both of my birds seem to destroy everything made of wood in their cage whether it be a ladder or their perches, what is somethjng I could do about it, I don't want to switch to plastic perches.

Destroying wooden toys and ladders is actually natural behavior in birds and is good enrichment. Some things you can do is offer a variety of other toys and things that they can destroy. Use newspaper or cardboard rolls to wrap and hold treats to give them something to destroy and forage at the same time. You can consider getting slightly thicker woofer toys that may last longer or combining some plastic perches and ladders with wood. A variety of shape sizes and textures is healthier than one size and style only. Concrete type perches help to file thier nails. Wood such as Manzanita is extremely hard and much more durable than the plain wood perches. Below are some toy ideas. There are also resources available on the web to see what tree branches you may have in your yard that are safe for perches. https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/top-toys-for-parakeets/ https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/bird-owners-can-find-new-uses-for-these-recyclables/

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8 months ago, I bought a budgie that had french molt, but i didn't realise till i fiind out that she lost a lot of feathers in her belly. I kept her with two budgies, in a tall Cage, and she falls all the time. I have some questions: - can the two budgies be infected with the virus as well? -i want to put her in a separate cage, but what kind of cage has it to be, and what does it need inside of it? -how long is she going to live? How can i make her live longer and have good conditions?

Thank you for your questions, and I am sorry to hear about your bird. Yes, the other two birds could have contracted the virus already, so there isn’t necessarily a need to separate them as they have already been exposed. For caging if your bird is falling - the most important part will be to keep everything low so she doesn’t injure herself. Otherwise it can be made of anything (many people will even use Tupperware containers) and can still have toys. Just keep the perches low and make good and water easy to reach. How long she will live varies - some birds still have a relatively long lifespan, while others succumb at a young age. You can help to support her by providing her with a clean environment, good ventilation, and a good diet. This will help to support her immune system as much as possible. I hope that helps, and thanks for using Boop by Petco.

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My budgie laid 6 eggs the nesting box was hit while moving things the eggs are okay but nest box has to be changed because I do not think it is safe enough for the eggs can I replace the nesting box and move the eggs while wearing gloves in hopes she won't abandon her eggs.

You can try to move the eggs if the nest is beyond repair, however do note that the eggs are EXTREMELY fragile, and are likely to break or crack even with gentle handling. If the nest is still viable enough that she is able to properly lay on the eggs without her or the eggs/hatchling being harmed, then not disturbing it, or disturbing it as little as possible is best.

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My african grey parrot has grown pink feathers on her body. I attach photos. Is this normal ?

This problem is quite rare indeed. There are two different causes. Genetic: there could be a genetic base for it, so no need to be worried about it as it is completely normal. Such birds are often referred to as " Kings "or "King Greys". This type of Greys are quite rare indeed. Feather disease: it could be indication of damaged feather follicles and medication ( antibiotics at the time a bird is molting) can sometimes re-establish normal color. The third cause could be general sickness, malnutrition or over-supplementation, or liver disease or kidney problems. As you can see there are many different causes possible. So the approach should start from a physical examination at your local vet and feather testing to determine any abnormality. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

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My female budgies are pecking holes in each other's eggs (or they are pecking holes in their own eggs). One of my budgies had been sitting on her eggs for about a week and a half and I think the latest female that I bought removed her eggs and took over the box, the eggs are broken and we only see orange yolk in them. The breeding boxes are all screwed into the aviary at the same height, there's enough for every female too. I can't see why they would do this to their/each other's eggs.

If the aviary is too small to handle multiple breeding pairs it may be that they are competing for nesting space, even if there are multiple nests. One nest may be seen as "ideal" and thus everyone is fighting over it. Usually, birds are separated into individual breeding groups per cage to avoid competition and ruining of eggs, as well as reduce overall stress for the breeding pair.

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I am concerned about my budgie who is around 2 years old. He has been quite lethargic and is constantly sleeping with puffed up feathers. He is eating and drinking as normal. However, he has been unable to fly due to a slightly damaged flight feather that has been been by another budgie.

Thanks for reaching out about Kiwi. A damage flight feather should not alter flight significantly, as they can fly when they molt. Lethargy and sleeping during the day (to conserve energy) are clinical signs of being sick, the question is why. Providing heat support in the 80-85 F range can give some support. Monitor fecal production by a total cage clean-out. Sick birds often act like they're eating but aren't. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Multiple possibilities include ingestion of foreign material (metal, fabric, wood, etc.), metabolic concerns (liver, renal), infections (viral, bacterial) and others. Good luck.

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my budgie appears healthy, happy and active but is losing ALOT of feathers (he is not pulling them out much they just come out when he flys or flaps around... is he ok what could it be

Harry could be molting, which is a normal thing that occurs about once or twice a year. This is when your bird loses their feathers and then replaces them with new ones. You can check if this is the case by looking for "pin" feathers, or what looks like little pins growing out of the skin (these are the new feathers coming in). Other things to look for include making sure Harry is on a balanced diet, and checking for mites or other skin issues that can also cause feather loss.

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My zebra finch is puffed up and eating normally is a sign of what kind of illness

Thanks for reaching out about Mr. T. Being fluffed is not a specific sign for any illness, and could be just cold. Provide heat support in the 80-85 F range. Intestinal parasites or infections, metabolic (liver, kidney) disorders, nutritional deficiencies, inhaled or ingested toxins are just a few of the possible causes. A veterinary visit can help rule in/rule out causes. Good luck.

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my budgie laid 6 eggs and they haven't hatched it's been 26 days and I candled them I am sure they are not fertilized. Do I just throw them away and remove the nest box.

Incubation in budgies is about 18 days from the day the hen begins sitting on The eggs. You are probably correct in saying the eggs are infertile. If there is no male present, they are definitely infertile. Wait until Coco loses interest, then remove and discard the eggs. This will prevent her from laying "replacement" eggs. Remove the nest box afterwards.

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Hello what do i do when my budgie is lying low with his eyes closed and weak body?

Hi and thank you for your question, This is not normal and may be serious. I recommend that you take Green to the vet ASAP. At home all you can do is keep her in a warm place, offer a bit of sugar-water to the beak and hope she gets better. Regards

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What can I give to my parrot when he is suffering from diarrhea for instant energy.

Offer half a grape. It will provide quick energy and a bit of hydration. Follow with some unflavored PediaLyte to maintain hydration. To get him to eat, offer soft foods, warm foods, treats, etc. Scrambled egg, pasta or cooked rice are popular choices. It is critical to diagnose and treat the cause of the diarrhea. This may require an exam with your veterinarian or an experienced avian vet. Submit a stool sample to diagnose intestinal parasites or bacterial overgrowth.

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Why has my budgie suddenly started breathing with his mouth open and bobbing his tail and making creaky sounds when breathing?

Respiratory distress can be caused by a number of things including stress, overheating, or even an underlying illness. If something stressed Romeo out, moving him to a quiet room where he can calm down is a good first step. Making sure he isn't too hot or too cold and the room is well-ventilated, along with providing a bath can also help if he is too warm or overheating. If he continues to be in distress with open-mouthed breathing and doesn't settle down, or you see other signs of illness, seeking veterinary care ASAP is best.

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Hello so my two parakeets (budgies) are sitting at the corner of the cage huddled together with their head tucked into their backs and whenever they are active they just climb up the sides of the cage or try to fly on a perch but drop to the bottom.

Thanks for reaching out about your parakeets. It appears as if they are either weak or scared and hiding. With both being ill at the same time, any possibility of inhaled toxins, smoke, perfumes, near the kitchen? If scared, can they be moved to a quieter area, removed from other pets (dogs, cats). If ill, a veterinary visit is recommended. Good luck.

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