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Blueberry...loss of flight

Keetie!

Sprinting down the street
Joined
8/5/20
Messages
344
Real Name
Joanne
Hi All!
My 5.5 year old male budgie Blueberry has lost his ability to fly due to being overweight. His avian vet has him on a special diet and the progress has been slow. He doesn't burn any energy because he is cage bound. He will jump from perch to perch and rarely comes out. He used to be so active, but early last summer he started to gain weight. His breathing became labored and open beaked. After diagnostic X-rays...the avian vet said obesity. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can set up his cage to foster some independence? Attached is an image of his cage set-up. Thanking you all in advance!
 

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aweb

Meeting neighbors
Joined
1/27/20
Messages
45
Can you offer his food at the bottom of the cage rather than within easy reach? It'll make him climb a little harder, both up and down. You could just sit it on the grate in any small-ish bowl you have.

You could take this a step further then by hanging a food bowl to the outside of his cage occasionally, so he has to work extra hard at getting to it several times a day. Even if he burns just a couple more calories that way, it'll add up after some time.
 
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