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Sick or chill budgie? - Very confused owner

Tweetybudg

Checking out the neighborhood
Joined
12/21/20
Messages
2
Tweety is 3-4 years old. She has always been VERY relaxed and chill often sleeping most of the day and playing more around night time. She'll sing sometimes and loves being scratched. She also molts very often, maybe every 3 months? I should have kept a log but never did.

My concern is that last week (Tuesday) she threw up whole seeds. She has not done it again but it made me pay attention to how she's acting. I think she just overate or ate too fast. For about two weeks she has been a bit stationary. Now I see more that she has been fluffed up all day even while eating and playing (which she does for a few minutes and then freezes as if she's catching her breath). She also seems weak and lethargic. She spends a lot of her nap time on both feet (which concerns me) but then, later on, picks up one foot and grinds her beak which she does when very comfortable. She has been more vocal now than she was a few days ago. Her droppings have also been very watery and strange, with very little feces (dark green) and lots of urine. She's eating and drinking for real (not pretending) and enjoying her calcium. I feed her an all-seed diet (Dr. Harvey's Parakeet blend) with added greens and vitamins in her water. For the past few days, she is finally voluntarily leaving her cage to play a little which to me is an improvement. I keep room temp between 21-24C (70-74F).

I don't know if this is sickness or a very bad molt that she's still recovering from. She started molting about 5-6 weeks ago and she lost a lot of feathers. Or if she just doesn't want to be bothered. Almost all her pin feathers are gone. Her eyes and cere have no discharge and her feathers look vibrant enough to me.

I will not take her to a vet because it's freezing outside and the closest avian vet is about an hour in public transit. I know Tweety and she will get worse if I take her. The vet doesn't do house calls in my area. I have my own personal position on vets and fragile animals so I will not take her to a vet, I am considering a televisit but am not sure what they could even do through that. I just hope she's not in pain.

Do you think she's sick? This is my first post so I'm sorry if I posted in the wrong place. Thanks.
 

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kayosa

Walking the driveway
Joined
11/30/20
Messages
188
Real Name
Katy
That looks like a sick bird. You need to take her, but can do so with some precautions: Stuff a sock with rice, tie it, and heat it in the microwave until warm/hot but not hot enough to hurt, wrap her travel cage in a blanket, when about to leave the vet ask them to microwave the rice sock again.
she looks like she needs help, take the chance, because it’s better then watching her suffer.(in my opinion, watching an animal suffer and die is the worst part of ownership)
 

Skyandkiwi

Sprinting down the street
Joined
7/20/20
Messages
593
Real Name
Misk
There’s nothing else I can tell you but to take tweety to the vet. I know it’s not an option, but that is your responsibility. She is clearly sick to me. I understand that you are in a tough situation right now, but that one hour drive is worth it. Make sure you cover her with a blanket if it’s cold in the area before taking her to the vet.
 

CGrillo

Walking the driveway
Joined
10/7/20
Messages
298
Real Name
Claudia Grillo
She looks very puffed up and the poops look bad. She seems really sick. I hate bringing my birds to the vet and only try to do it only when necessary but I could tell this is a situation that needs to be addressed by one.
 

camelotshadow

Joyriding the Neighborhood
Avenue Veteran
Celebirdy of the Month
Joined
11/9/11
Messages
21,494
Location
S California
Real Name
Christine
A bird that sleeps so much does not sound like a healthy bird. The poops are not normal.
I know you've had her a while but there might be some health problems.
I hope she will be OK.
 

Kassiani

Biking along the boulevard
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
9/12/20
Messages
6,832
Location
Southeastern U.S.
I'm sorry that it is so complicated for you to take her to the vet. Some on here have to take public transportation as well, but many drive. Some have to travel more than an hour to get to their vet. If I had to take my birds for an after-hours emergency visit, it would be almost 2 hours driving.

Keeping her cage warm could be as easy as putting hot water in an empty bottle, sealing it, wrapping it in a towel, and placing it in the bottom of the cage. You could re-fill it when ready to leave the vet's office. I'm taking my own two in the morning because one of them is displaying symptoms of a respiratory infection.

I'm sorry your little baby isn't feeling well!
 
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