Can you get leashes for budgies? Also budgie losing weight fast. Why?
I want to be able to take my budgies outside but there are only leash sizes for the smallest being 75 grams. Mine weigh 40-50 grams. If I find one, will they get too tired outside and need water and food whenever I fly them? Also my bird eats all the time but seems to be losing weight. She is old, looks healthy, sleeps a lot, acts normal and her feces are normal color, size and shape. She is eating budgie crumbles but she preferred pellets and is eating a lot more. What is happening?
She used to weigh 46 g but now weighs 39g. She lost 7g in a week. But that weight is now consistent. I wouldn’t clip her wings because then she wouldn’t be able to fly inside. I like the idea of a flight suit because then they can go outside and see what its like while still having the ability to fly. Taking away that ability is more cruel than letting them have it even for a short time! I know how to take care of her I just wanted a second opinion but if everyone is just going to criticize me for trying to give my birds (rescue birds at that) a little taste of a normal natural life without letting them free and therefore killing them, than why not just not answer. I don’t want derisive answers. I know what my birds want and I am trying my hardest to give it to them. Would you deny a child the ability to run? Think about that, why don’t you!
- Noops
My budgies are eating their own feces! I provide fresh food and water, anybody know why they’re doing this?
We’ve had the budgies for a week, they haven’t displayed any odd behavior up until now.
- cancerian581
Is my parakeet pregnant or sick? Revised?
I had posted a question about a cople of hours ago… But I have recently checked up on her and she has this constant routine. She is on the top corner of the cage and every so often she would climb down to her perch and either clean mainly her bottom area or eat a little. When she is on the top corner of her cage her legs are really spread apart and her tail is sort of bent towards her. A couple of days ago this was not common but today she is at a constant routine. Other things that I have noticed included that her appetite has been decreasing, and her feces are normal sized but are generally more watery. SHe has difficulty standing on one leg when she is on a perch, but has gradually improved over time (less than four days). Is it possible that she can be ready to have her eggs? or is this something parakeets do when they are ill?
Thanks for your help. Your advice is greatly appreciated.
I do put a heat lamp next to her. I’ve had her for 5 years now and nothing like this had happened in the past. Should I put a nesting box inside the cage? and see what happens next whether she goes inside? I have the nesting box for her. But I’m not sure whether she is sick or ready to lay. Oh yeah and she kinda vomits her seeds sometimes but she tries her best to keep it in. And I have definitely seen her mate a while back. But I have been out of the house so it could have been more recently than I thought.
- js_biggum
Help! My little parakeet is sick! He seems to be having diarheea and a little disorigentaed! What should i do?
Like I said above he seems to be having dihareea but also his feces seems to be clustered together and stuck to his tail feathers. He tries to balance on one foot but he looks like he’ll lose his balance so he doesn’t. he can’t even lift his foot up to scratch his head. He tips forward whenever he moves he tips forward. Now he’s just up on a high perch and won’t move or say anything please help!
- Brianna (W.W.J.D)
Can My Pet Bird Make Me Or My Kids Sick?
Yes, your pet bird can potentially get you or your child sick. Infectious diseases that can be transmitted between humans and animals are called zoonotic. Unfortunately, birds can carry at lease five different serious illnesses. Not all birds carry disease but the potential is there so you must be cautious, especially with very young children, very old people and immune system compromised people. Immune compromised people would include organ transplant recipients, people in chemotherapy and HIV infected people.
If you think that you or your child has been exposed to or is suffering from any bird disease, your smart move is to consult your physician who can help pinpoint the cause and prescribe proper treatment. This article is for your additional information only. I feel that it is always smart to do your homework before you consult your physician. The more help you can offer your physician on his diagnosis of a problem the better.
First, to help avoid exposure to potential disease, cleanliness counts. To best protect yourself from getting sick, thoroughly wash your hands with running water and soap after contact with birds or their droppings.
Some people use rubber gloves and a mask when cleaning birdcages and habitats. Disinfect the sink after you wash bird toys, perches and food bowls. Do not share bites of food with your pet bird, if you might be swapping saliva. Common sense goes a long way in helping to avoid exposure.
The five diseases that can be carried by birds are Salmonella, Chlamydia psittaci , Avian Tuberculosis, HistoPlasmosis and Cryptoccus. I will explain each disease.
*Salmonella is a bacterial disease associated with many birds, especially chickens, baby chicks, and ducklings. Salmonella live in the intestinal tracts of some birds, humans and other animals. Salmonella can be found in the feces of some pets, and people can become infected if they do not wash their hands after contact with these feces. There are approximately 40,000 human cases of salmonellosis per year in the United States (not all contracted from birds) and about 600 of those infected die. Salmonella causes vomiting and diarrhea and sometimes fever. Salmonella infections usually resolve in 5-7 days and often do not require treatment unless the patient becomes severely dehydrated or the infection spreads from the intestines. Persons with severe diarrhea may require rehydration, often with intravenous fluids. Antibiotics are not usually necessary unless the infection spreads from the intestines, then it can be treated with ampicillin, gentamicin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, or ciprofloxacin. *Chlamydia psittaci, often referred to as parrot fever or avian chlamydiosis (AC), is an important cause of systemic illness in birds kept as pets and in poultry. This disease has been isolated in 129 bird species, and parakeets, parrots, macaws, cockatiels, pigeons, doves, and mynah birds are the most likely carriers. Birds may carry this disease for years without showing signs of it. Birds that show the disease may have a respiratory infection, eye discharge, lethargy and diarrhea. Human infection with C. psittaci usually occurs through the inhalation of aerosolized contaminated bird urine, respiratory secretions, or dried feces of infected birds. Other sources of exposure can include bird bites, mouth-to-beak contact, and handling the plumage and tissues of infected birds. Treatment includes Tetracyclines are the drugs of choice for treating psittacosis in humans *Avian Tuberculosis can affect all species of birds. The signs of Avian TB in birds are diarrhea, dull plumage, lethargy and gradual wasting away, even if the birds appetite is good. Avian TB can be transmitted to humans via ingestion or inhalation of contaminated feces. The contaminated feces can persist in the environment for many years. When cleaning a potentially sick bird, it is best to wear rubber gloves, goggles and a face mask. Always wash arms up to elbows with antiseptic soap even after wearing gloves. People are generally very resistant to these infections. *HistoPlasmosis is a fungus that can be found in earth rich with bird droppings. Transmission to human can occur when they breathe in dust loaded with the fungus. This disease can cause a short term lung infection. This infection generally clears up by itself as long as the infected person has normal immune responses. Fungus killing medicines may be used if the infection is stubborn. * Cryptococcus is found in the droppings of wild birds (such as pigeons). When dried bird droppings are stirred up, this can make dust containing Cryptococcus go into the air and be breathed by people. Pets, such as dogs and cats, can also get sick with cryptococcosis from this dust, but people do not get cryptococcosis from dogs and cats. Most people do not get sick with cryptococcosis, but some people, especially those immune compromised with HIV infection are at danger. For these people, cryptococcosis can cause serious symptoms of brain and spinal cord disease, such as headaches, dizziness, sleepiness, and confusion.
- Mitch Endick
