Meet Splash and Smudge

[Ripshod]

Splash is going to the emergency clinic with me tomorrow. He had a bath so I could get him without a chase, and while his feathers were wet I got a good look under his wing. There was a little blood on the cover feather where his 1st primary should be, and that whole area is bruised and swollen. Looks like a crash injury, need to get an xray to make sure everything is okay. Strange there was no blood on his flights.
He's sat calm as anything drying out on my hand, he can stay there as long as he wants.

 

[zoo mom]

Awwwwwwwww poor Splash. But what a cutie .

 

[Zara]

Awwwww Adorable, he looks sad

Hopefully you get on alright at the vet and not too much damage

 

[tka]

Fingers crossed for Splash!

 

[Ripshod]

I've got to get ready but guess who doesn't want to leave me.

To me clinginess like this means a poorly birb, especially as I couldn't get near this time yesterday. Oh well, time to prise him off

 

[Fergus Mom]

Welcome to your two new precious budgies! I so agree, my home would be way too quiet without budgie chatter! Love the photos, and so glad Splash is so content on his perch there in the pics.

 

[Zara]

He´s beautiful! I just love the bright colours.

 

[Ripshod]

Splash had a couple of really bad bites to the wing, bad enough to cause an infection. They were not self inflicted, top beak and bottom beak marks were in the wrong positions. He also has a pretty bad bite to the upper leg, which is not infected and he has been hiding for a while. We weren't sure who or how. Until just now.
I put Splash back in the main cage and watched. Smudge came over to say hello, regurgitated a gift, preened Splashes head, then set to attacking his leg.
It's always a hard thing to think about. Do I get another cage for Tau and split the main cage? It was an easy choice in the end. Smudge will stay the night in the 'hospital' cage and go back to the vet tomorrow for rehoming.
It was an easy choice because of the bond I have now with Splash and besides, I always back the underdog. He's had an injection of compound antibiotics for the infection and I have some metacam to help with pain.
Not the result I expected or wanted. The vet also said he may be missing a couple of flights for the rest of his life through follicle damage, but he'll have enough to fly safely.
So Smudge is gone. If/when Jack comes home we'll have a balanced cage again.

 

[MommyBird]

Through no fault of your own, but you have the most dynamic flock!
You are really on top of problems when they develop too.
yeah, can't have them hurting each other for sure. poor Splash that must have been so ouchie.
I think a budgie can do just fine as a single budgie with lots of human attention and another any kind of bird as company.
Although I do hope Jack will find his way home to you too.

 

[Ripshod]

Although I do hope Jack will find his way home to you too.

Me too. He's the best budgie buddy I've ever known.

 

[Ripshod]

Here's a pic of Splash's wings from on top. Believe it or not the little fella has the strength to maintain level flight.

 

[Farlie]

I love that avatar of yours, Linden. A straight up shot with feathers up. Way too cool.

 

[tka]

Poor little Splash. I hope he heals up quickly.

I'm astonished that he can fly level with an injury and with several missing flight feathers! He's a strong little bird. And it just goes to show that clipping a bird won't necessary prevent it from flying.

 

[Ripshod]

And it just goes to show that clipping a bird won't necessary prevent it from flying.

I like that. It does make a good point/analogy.

 

[Zara]

Would it not be better to clip the other side to make it even?

I always thought birds need the balance. What did the vet say about it?

Incredible that he can still fly!

And it just goes to show that clipping a bird won't necessary prevent it from flying.

Totally!

 

[PoukieBear]

So glad he's doing better !! It's never a lighthearted decision when it comes to re-homing a bird, but most of the time it's the right decision in order to keep all the birds safe and happy.

Love the top down shot of his wings.
I know clipping is a tough subject for most of us no matter what side of the fence we sit on, but I would think about clipping just the first two flight feathers to even him out a bit. This won't be enough to stop him from flying, but should be just enough to even him out so he doesn't learn to fly all wonky and sideways.

 

[Ripshod]

Would it not be better to clip the other side to make it even?

but I would think about clipping just the first two flight feathers to even him out

He only got the chance to fly by trying to get back to the cage quicker than I was carrying him. I think it would be better to just curtail his wing time until we see how they grow back. If there is a few missing I can clip the other wing to match. If they all grow back then I'd regret a clip. It'll only be a few weeks til I know what's happening, and maybe 6-8 weeks til they're grown in. I don't like to clip unnecessarily.

 

[iamwhoiam]

Congrats. They are beautiful.

 

[Lady Jane]

Do both of you have a bird named Splash?

@finchly please update us when you can.

 

[finchly]

Do both of you have a bird named Splash?

@finchly please update us when you can.

Hi there! I promise more photos soon. Mine are named Sugar and Spice.