Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 11/10/2007

Question
I have a young budgie (7 mo old) He recently 3 days ago, got puffy and very quiet.  He is eating and pooping ok, I thought he might have gotten a draft, so I put him in a quiet room and a warm one, keeping him close to a light. I put in his cage a soft triangular room and he stepped right in to it.  I think he looks and acts a little more better.  I am giving him vita parakeet seed and liquid vitamins in his water and a little on his seed.  I can't afford to take him to a vet, so is there anything else I can give him to try and make him feel better at this point.  He does sing a little during the day and he turns his head from his house when my husband and I go to check on him.  I give him new seed and water since it seems he is eating some seed and throwing a lot around his cage and on the floor.

Thanks for any help you can give me.

Joanne

Answer
Hi, Joanne,

Stop the liquid stuff in the water.  Putting anything in the water results in bacterial growth, dilutes the item too much for it to be effective.  I'm not sure vitamins will help a bird that is sick.  This is the time of year when birds are very susceptible to respiratory problems due to temps falling.  Birds can become cold and then get sick.  You don't say if your bird is showing other signs of illness....how are the droppings, does the bird fluff up all the time or only when sleeping, any wheezing or stuff coming out of the nostrils, etc., etc.  Birds will mask signs of illness until they can't mask them any longer, so your bird will try to act like s/he isn't sick for as long as s/he can.  When the bird can't hide the symptoms any longer, this is when we notice the bird is sick.  Often times, it's too late by the time we notice because the bird has already been sick for some time.  I recommend you get your bird to a certified avian vet ASAP for a medical evaluation.  

Your bird is probably throwing its seed around because you are adding the vitamins to the seed.  You've done good by keeping the bird warm and quiet, but go the next step and seek medical assistance from a bird vet.  This is especially true of a young bird because young birds haven't built up enough immunities to help fight off some illnesses.  In addition, if you are feeding an all-seed diet, your bird is not receiving the nourishment it needs to remain healthy.

Chrys