HorseyTee
Well-Known Member
I have a slight issue with 1 of my birds and looking for opinions from those more experienced with keeping budgies.
Any budgie experts here?
- Thread starter HorseyTee
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Equi
Well-Known Member
Think there are quite a few here who keep or have kept budgies including myself. Happy to try and assist ?
HorseyTee
Well-Known Member
Oh lovely thanks.
I have a female and 2 males.
All live together in a large cage and get free flying time, plenty of toys, mirrors, i cut fruit and willow branches which they love.
They get seed plus bits of fruit and veggies.
So essentially I'd not expect them to be bored and haven't noticed them behaving stressed.
Now my female has suddenly, while i was at work, somehow ended up with a bald patch, it is at the base of her neck/breast, about the size of a 50p.
The skin appears fine, no apparent trauma, no scaleyness to her cere or legs or feather loss to her face so I didn't think mites.
I took some pics to show my boss (experienced veterinary surgeon) and his opinion is that it is self inflicted, i.e she's plucked herself.
Just wondering if people agree that this seems to be a self harm type thing?
I've noticed no aggression between the birds, all have lived happily together for over a year, all under 2 years old, 3 food bowls so no fighting over seed, no box or ledge for nesting and not noticed any signs of that either.
I have a female and 2 males.
All live together in a large cage and get free flying time, plenty of toys, mirrors, i cut fruit and willow branches which they love.
They get seed plus bits of fruit and veggies.
So essentially I'd not expect them to be bored and haven't noticed them behaving stressed.
Now my female has suddenly, while i was at work, somehow ended up with a bald patch, it is at the base of her neck/breast, about the size of a 50p.
The skin appears fine, no apparent trauma, no scaleyness to her cere or legs or feather loss to her face so I didn't think mites.
I took some pics to show my boss (experienced veterinary surgeon) and his opinion is that it is self inflicted, i.e she's plucked herself.
Just wondering if people agree that this seems to be a self harm type thing?
I've noticed no aggression between the birds, all have lived happily together for over a year, all under 2 years old, 3 food bowls so no fighting over seed, no box or ledge for nesting and not noticed any signs of that either.
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HorseyTee
Well-Known Member
Also to note, I have noticed no change in her behaviour at all.
Her feathers look in good condition, she is flying around, eating etc all as usual.
I have cats and dogs but none have access to the room the birds live in.
Her feathers look in good condition, she is flying around, eating etc all as usual.
I have cats and dogs but none have access to the room the birds live in.
Equi
Well-Known Member
Are the two males quite close? Even if they all get along she could be lonely. I never had uneven numbers of birds cause I liked them to have a pair for mutual grooming etc.
HorseyTee
Well-Known Member
Hmm I haven't noticed really, I see them all interacting with each other.
I saw 1 of the males yesterday grooming her head and they were 'kissing' with their little beaks and tongues.
She came as a pair with 1 of the males from a breeder (seperate clutch so unrelated) to keep my lone rescue boy company.
I saw 1 of the males yesterday grooming her head and they were 'kissing' with their little beaks and tongues.
She came as a pair with 1 of the males from a breeder (seperate clutch so unrelated) to keep my lone rescue boy company.
SatansLittleHelper
Well-Known Member
She could be hormonal. Alot of birds will pluck the chest feathers to line their nest etc.
HorseyTee
Well-Known Member
Hmm that's interesting you say that.
The situation is no better but no worse, I've separated 1 of the maled into his own cage but up against theirs.
The male she is left with I chose to leave as they seem to be sharing tender moments, a little grooming and I am sure he is feeding her as well. Even though there is seed and veggies available that she eats herself, I've spotted him doing what looks like transferring food to her.
Hard to see for sure as they stop whatever they are doing when I go in to watch them lol.