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  • This forum is for advice about initial treatment given to your injured/sick bird until a qualified avian veterinarian is available.
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Urgent Budgie fluffed up feathers & lethargic after trip to vet

Ripshod

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Every budgie I've had has loved egg, but not always on the first try. Easy to eat and digest, and loaded with goodness and energy (everything needed to build a chick) . It's the first meal I give to any rescue bird. After 3hrs throw it all out, even if the birds haven't tried it (you can always boil another in this case) . Remove any seed/vegs while they have the egg.
Humidity, hmm. Do you have access to a mobile Humidifier? I think even I'd find 30% very dry. You really don't need to humidify the whole house/apartment. Maybe boil an electric kettle in the room a few times an hour?
We have radiators over here in the UK so the old bowl of water on the radiator could raise it some. Maybe you could adapt that. The problem there though is the lack of control - so easy to overdo things.
 
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tka

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If you boil the egg, chop it up finely so they're eating both the yolk and the white. They have different nutritional content (especially in terms of fat - which a sick bird needs). You can also scramble the egg in a non-teflon pan or the microwave.

Please don't be put off by this one vet. There are many excellent vets out there who have saved our birds' lives. If you give us a rough idea of where you are, someone may be able to recommend a good avian vet from their experience.
 

Sylvester

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Here’s a picture of him all fluffed. He seems to be breathing more heavily now. View attachment 292790

I would be thrilled to find one that does House calls, but I’m not going to hold my breath trying to find one. I’m completely against regular care for small birds. I know everyone on here feels they have to say it or thinks it’s good, but after having her only stress my birds and the cold car ride stress them, and she did no culture and was not able to make any determination as to whether or not they really needed treatment, I can conclude that this is a total waste and did more harm than good.

I’m trying to find out if there is anything I can do outside of heat, electrolytes and probiotics...

No good vets are available till after the new year... I’ve got to do something now and on my own.

Is there a good parrot store around that you trust? I got some great advice from the one I get my cockatoo food from.
 

Sylvester

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Sorry to hear about your bird! That’s so sad. Was it the stress of administering antibiotics that made her worse?

Thank you.

Oh yes. She was sick, but the stress of me having to catch her, hold her, and then administer the antibiotics, made things a whole lot worse.
 

meheartbirds

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Instead of saying you cannot go to a vet because the one you saw did not help you ...it would be better (and I am not trying to be a know it all, I am concerned for the birds like I was my own) if you could start asking around ...go to a bird store and ask if they know a good avian vet, look online at the nearest avian rescue and they will definitely know of the vets that are closest to you. You may have to travel more than you want but you are going to have to bite the bullet to find a good one that you can use both now and in the future. People travel to my vet from another state just to get good care. Again I am only concerned for your birds because I have spent the last two months saving mine from death, and except for the one bird, all the others recovered after weeks of meds and treatments. You appear to want to help your birds. Do not be overcome by what you cannot do, there are still options to save them. Good luck and I hope you and your birds get the help you need.
 

Polly101

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Instead of saying you cannot go to a vet because the one you saw did not help you ...it would be better (and I am not trying to be a know it all, I am concerned for the birds like I was my own) if you could start asking around ...go to a bird store and ask if they know a good avian vet, look online at the nearest avian rescue and they will definitely know of the vets that are closest to you. You may have to travel more than you want but you are going to have to bite the bullet to find a good one th
 

Polly101

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Instead of saying you cannot go to a vet because the one you saw did not help you ...it would be better (and I am not trying to be a know it all, I am concerned for the birds like I was my own) if you could start asking around ...go to a bird store and ask if they know a good avian vet, look online at the nearest avian rescue and they will definitely know of the vets that are closest to you. You may have to travel more than you want but you are going to have to bite the bullet to find a good one that you can use both now and in the future. People travel to my vet from another state just to get good care. Again I am only concerned for your birds because I have spent the last two months saving mine from death, and except for the one bird, all the others recovered after weeks of meds and treatments. You appear to want to help your birds. Do not be overcome by what you cannot do, there are still options to save them. Good luck and I hope you and your birds get the help you need.
It’s not that I don’t want to take them to the vet, but I deeply regret making that first visit, which was definitely unnecessary and caused more harm than good. The people at the store gave assured me that it is just stress. I asked them if they had any other birds in that group get sick or face puffed up feathers and they have assured me that none are sick. My gut instinct is that this is all stress but it’s possible that a weakened immunity from stress did cause the green bird to get sick.

I did find a better vet that will run tests at least, but they are not available till Monday. I hate to run to an emergency vet and have them not be equipped with the necessary tests for birds.

I’m just going to hold out till Monday.

For everyone’s reference, you have to weigh out consequences of bringing a tiny bird to the vet when it’s not sick or has mild symptoms. It’s not like a cat or dog.

I put egg in the room. Temp is 70 now and I’m going to set up a brand new humidifier in the room. I put reptisafe in the water, which is the same as avian safe. It has electrolytes, which are good for the one with mild diarrhea and for the one with the puffed feathers as well.

They have been playing when I’m not in the room, as they shredded a toy to bits. Maybe I should set up a phone on record to see exactly how they behave when I’m not around?!?
 

Sylvester

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Parakeets are already a nervous little bird to begin with, so I agree with being sure they really need a vet, before taking them to one. I have yet to see a 'chilled' parakeet.

About sixty percent of the veterinarians out there should not be in the field. It sounds like you ran into one from that group.

You got some great advice, and things sound like they are improving.
 

Ripshod

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May not need to use the Humidifier.
They have been playing when I’m not in the room, as they shredded a toy to bits. Maybe I should set up a phone on record to see exactly how they behave when I’m not around?!?
Instantly pointing to one or both birds being scared of you. All they've experienced with you since they came home is stress and fear (not a criticism and not your fault)
But don't worry, it won't be permanent. Keep them in a separate room for now. Keep an eye on them without them seeing you looking at them. Calmly talk to them when you do need to go to their cage to change their food or water. Tell then what you're doing. While at the cage check their poops for any bad signs (like diarrhea). If they eat the egg and the poops come good then all's we'll and good.
Yes, it's a set-back, but not too big to get over. You'll really have to start much slower with these two. Can anyone else sit quietly in the room with them? See if they get scared with maybe your son. If he scares them then you may as well socialise from the other side of the room to start.
Don't be upset, I'm sure it'll all come good.
 
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meheartbirds

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One other thing to lessen their stress and it really works but sounds funny... Budgies will communicate their relaxed state with each other when they close and open their eyes often. They do it when silent and also when they are "talking" to each other. Cats do the same thing..they communicate "all is well" by shutting their eyes and will do this when you shut your eyes. Both cats and birds feel more trusting and relaxed around you when you do this to them both when you are talking and when you are silent. Try it, it works like a charm and they immediately see that you are not a threat and you don't want them for a meal. Predators stare at their prey and they know this. Watch what happens when you close and open your eyes with them..they start doing it back to you.
 
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Polly101

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Update: first, thank you all for your concern and advice!

I went to give Phoenix (sky blue, grey wing baby) and Yoda (light green, grey wing baby) some egg with a bit of millet on top. When I opened the cage, Phoenix flew out. I got him on a perch and lifted him back to the cage. No drama... then Yoda got very active and was hopping around.

I let Pee-Wee (normal green adult) and Dart (White, grey, yellow, blue adult) out to get some exercise. They unrelentingly go to see the new birds. I have the top covered, so they walk around on the blanket and peek over the edge. Yoda and Phoenix were very eager to see the new friends... I spent the whole time trying to distract Pee-Wee and Dart, and ended up putting them away.

Then I offered some millet on the stalk from my hand to Phoenix and Yoda. They ate it eagerly and were acting normal. They still make a peep sound, rather than adult sounds. I don’t know if at this age 13 weeks? If they should chirp like adults... maybe they are even younger?

Yoda seemed much more normal, although when he stops moving, he puffs a bit....

Keep in mind the store insists it’s just stress...
 
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Polly101

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One other thing to lessen their stress and it really works but sounds funny... Budgies will communicate their relaxed state with each other when they close and open their eyes often. They do it when silent and also when they are talking. Cats do the same thing..they communicate "all is well" by shutting their eyes and will do this when you shut your eyes. Both cats and birds feel more trusting and relaxed around you when you do this to them both when you are talking and when you are silent. Try it, it works like a charm and they immediately see that you are not a threat and you don't want them for a meal. Predators stare at their prey and they know this. Watch what happens when you close and open your eyes with them..they start doing it back to you.
Actually I did read this a long time ago and did it with my first two and have been doing it with these guys! We blink back and forth and they seem to like that... totally saying “we’re cool with each other.”
 

meheartbirds

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Actually I did read this a long time ago and did it with my first two and have been doing it with these guys! We blink back and forth and they seem to like that... totally saying “we’re cool with each other.”
It's nice because you are both communicating to each other that you are feeling ok. I love to see them do it.
 

meheartbirds

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Keep in mind the store insists it’s just stress...
The good thing, by Monday you will know if it is stress or illness. Good sign that they are still eating. I would not wait however if the little one is still breathing fast on Monday. My vet told me the quicker you catch it, the better chance that they will survive with treatment.
 

Polly101

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The good thing, by Monday you will know if it is stress or illness. Good sign that they are still eating. I would not wait however if the little one is still breathing fast on Monday. My vet told me the quicker you catch it, the better chance that they will survive with treatment.
Too bad the last vet didn’t do the cultures on saliva and fecal, as this new vet is going to. If she had, then maybe she could have caught something.

So one thing I did notice is that Yoda does drink a lot. I’ve never seen a budgie drink four sips in a row... they usually grab a sip and move on quickly out of instinct.
 

meheartbirds

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None of the cultures ever found anything and neither did the necropsy...but Gaga died anyway! the only thing they found was that her lungs were very inflammed. Some things we dont know how to culture.
 

Polly101

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None of the cultures ever found anything and neither did the necropsy...but Gaga died anyway! the only thing they found was that her lungs were very inflammed. Some things we dont know how to culture.
Sorry to hear. They are so fragile.
 

iamwhoiam

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It's good that Yoda seems to be doing a bit better. It's sad that the first vet did not do any cultures. Hope things will get better.
 

Polly101

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So I took them to a new vet today. They ran the cultures and found that they both have a bacterial infection! Good thing I got them in.

Now I have to give them antibiotics two times a day for 14 days. Then they go back to the vet to retest for bacteria.

I’m so relieved to have definitive answers and to have found a good vet.
 
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