Balding Budgie

[kuroiruy]

Hi! I have 6 budgies, two which are blue males that are weirdly growing bald. They are both in separate cages and have no influence on one another. One of them though is older like 8+ the other about 4+. The thing is both these guys just started loosing feathers, they are both active and they do go out of the cage about 3-4 days a week (sometimes more if I am home to watch them). The younger has some feathers growing so I am not that worried, but the older is actually loosing them further. I was wondering if it could be a parasite of some sort. Thanks if anyone has an insight into a similar situation. I do not think they pluck themselves out of boredom though. Feather region loss is under wings, a bit on the back and now some parts of the tail. The old guy has lost his feathers on his legs, so they are totally bald.

[birdlover912]

It sounds like it might be plucking. Have you had them checked out by a vet recently? Plucking isn't always caused by boredom--I've heard it can sometimes be a health issue.

[kuroiruy]

No, there is no plucking I am sure.

[usamma]

It totally sounds like plucking to me. There might be a medical reason for it if they are both doing it. Maybe a vet can examine them and find out what's going on. Might be mites or something.

[RXK]

please have them seen by an avian vet ASAP!!!!!!!!! this can be very serious! and, i'm speaking from having done a lot of research on avian illnesses... please let us know what the vet says. and, to confirm that they are not plucking, watch them very closely over the next couple of days. also, if you don't want to have them seen by a vet because of finances, just tell the vet this and they would be happy to help in some way. but, for whatever reason, you can't provide them with the medical attention they need and deserve, please give them to an animal shelter or humane society so that they can get them treated. good luck and please keep us posted.

[kuroiruy]

RXK how can you even mention the possibility of me disowning my birds that I had for nearly 10 years to a shelter. I agree on seeing a vet for the matter, but saying that I can't properly take care of my animals is extremely hurtful. In the years that I had my guys they were sound, but a little small feather loss is something new and not to get worked up I asked through this board if anyone has something similar. I can provide for my animals and have been doing it so far. If asking for an advice on this board leads to such conclusion that I am a horrid owner I shouldn't have probably even went on here.

[Jan in MD]

Originally Posted by kuroiruy

RXK how can you even mention the possibility of me disowning my birds that I had for nearly 10 years to a shelter. I agree on seeing a vet for the matter, but saying that I can't properly take care of my animals is extremely hurtful. In the years that I had my guys they were sound, but a little small feather loss is something new and not to get worked up I asked through this board if anyone has something similar. I can provide for my animals and have been doing it so far. If asking for an advice on this board leads to such conclusion that I am a horrid owner I shouldn't have probably even went on here.

You are severely overreacting to someone that simply offered advice- which you asked for- with a kind intent. Why are you being so touchy?

A "little small feather loss" is "not something to get worked up" over? You're right. And neither is someone offering help to you with a simple suggestion. But, this "little small feather loss" is something to act on. TAKE YOUR BIRDS TO A VET. It is not *normal* for your budgies to be losing feathers and getting bald spots. There is obviously something wrong with them. My first concern would be either mites or parasites such as Giardia. Plucking from Giardia is generally under the wings, on the lower belly, and upper legs.

And rather than getting testy with someone that cared enough to respond, do the right thing for these birds that you claim to love so much and get them medical attention.

[RXK]

Originally Posted by kuroiruy

RXK how can you even mention the possibility of me disowning my birds that I had for nearly 10 years to a shelter. I agree on seeing a vet for the matter, but saying that I can't properly take care of my animals is extremely hurtful. In the years that I had my guys they were sound, but a little small feather loss is something new and not to get worked up I asked through this board if anyone has something similar. I can provide for my animals and have been doing it so far. If asking for an advice on this board leads to such conclusion that I am a horrid owner I shouldn't have probably even went on here.

i did not mean to offend you. i was simply offering you my advice. thus, i don't believe i need to apologize.

also, the only reason i mentioned the issue of vet fees and possibility of surrendering them to a shelter is because too many people will not provide medical attention because of the cost, and so i was just reminding you that if you are in such a situation, there are other options in order to have them treated. and, although you didn't mention anything about finances, i wanted to bring it up in case you were hiding this fact as many people do and consequently threaten the life of their birds.

and, to correct you, you did not describe some "little small feather loss" in your original post: you said that they were BALDING, and that the older one is COMPLETELY BALD on its legs. thus, in response to you description, i suggested that you take them to the vet asap because of the described urgency.

lastly, if you feel that my comments prevent you from ever posting on this forum again, then you will be at a disadvantage because this forum is very resourceful. and, if other people are going to overreact as you did to my suggestions, then should i stop posting? well, if i did, that would be very silly, wouldn't it be?!


Jan in MD: thank you for your comment. and, like as you said, my intentions when responding to this person were in the kindest.