Ugent Please, Can anyone help with a budgie problem

[elaine]

My son has a budgie, 3 years old. He is fed on seed and vegies. He has an ongoing problem with his droppings sticking to his feathers. He is constantly dirty. Today he doesn't seem well, his droppings are runny and green yet still got clumps stuck to his bottom. He also has mucus round his eyes which is of a yellowy green color. I have started to give him avicyline in his water today. Does anyone know why his poop still is a problem and what could be wrong with his eyes. The eye mucus has happened all of a sudden. We also noticed what looked like vomit on the cage floor. It also appeared to be on his face, round his beak and the front of his little body. He looks a mess. Now on his perch, he is happy, eating seed, playing, talking (yes he does talk!!!!!) yet his tail is quite droopy. Is he really unwell or maybe a little upset still.

[Datsun and Family]

If it were me I would take him to the vet ASAP. The problem with birds is generally by the time they show signs of being unwell they are really crook.

If he has runny poop and may have been vomitting he will be dehydrated and feeling awful, get him to an avian vet as soon as you can, thats the best advice I can give. Good Luck, hun.

[elaine]

Thanks I will find an avian vet. Just thought also, whatever is wrong with the budgie, can my IRN catch it. They are in separate parts of the house and don't come in contact with each other, but what about if I handle the budgie when helping my son with him and then go and handle my baby irn? Can i transfer disease / illness that way?

[Jeremy]

Most diseases are passed on through feather dust and droppings, but to be on the safe side, keep them seperated and wash your hands after touching the budgie.

Sounds like there could be a bacterial problem. Or something wrong with his kidneys. It is best to take him to an avian vet ASAP

[elaine]

Thanks, I can't get him anywhere till tomorrow though. The two birds are always separated as they don't like each other. I was worried about the transferance of germs through handling though. The budgie used to love me, even though he is my son's, however when I got my baby irn the budgie got really jealous, hates my baby and now me!!!!! must think I am a traitor or something, lol.

[elaine]

Thanks for the advice. I now have one happy son and one happier budgie. He did have an upset tummy (the budgie that is lol) He is on some medicine - put in his water, and my son got a lecture from the vet on cage cleaning and leaving old vegies behind. Well, a hard lesson for my son and a sad one for little charlie but at least he's ok and looks much better today.

[natalie]

Elaine ,thank goodnes it all ended well for all 3 of. I have a little budgie, he's really tame and very sweet and all the family would miss him so much if anything happened to him, so i can sleep now i know ur little buddy is ok Does ur vet give lectures on the importance of bedroom cleanliness too natalie xx

[elaine]

Funnily enough Natalie, the budgie is in my son's bedroom so the state of the room came into it as well. Little Charlie is extremely tame and wanders all over my sons room (not when noone is home of course) My son was scared into cleaning up the cage and the room because who knows what poor little charlie ate. It was a little funny though (now its all over of course). While Charlie was not well, when you went to him and asked what was wrong he just replied "shut up". He has quite a good vocabulary for a budgie yet this is all he would say while not well!!!!!