What are the best tips to keep my budgie healthy and disease-free?

Parakeets, also called Budgerigars, are small members of the parrot family and they can become good mimics. The average adult size is 7 inches long, head to end of tail. The average life span is between 10 to 20 years with proper care. A well-balanced Parakeet diet consists of: Specialized pellets should make up 60-70% of diet, fresh vegetables and fruits and small amounts of fortified seeds Clean, fresh, filtered, chlorine-free water, changed daily. Do not feed birds: avocado, fruit seeds, chocolate, caffeine or alcohol; it can cause serious medical conditions. Avoid sugar and high fat treats. Things to remember when feeding your Parakeet: Fresh food and water should always be available. Vegetables and fruits not eaten within a few hours should be discarded. Remember, treats should not exceed 10% of total food intake. Housing Parakeets acclimate well to average household temperatures, not to exceed 80°F; be cautious of extreme temperature changes. The habitat should area that is well-lit and away from drafts. A habitat approximately 18"W x 18"D x 18"H, with metal bars spaced no greater than 1-2" apart, makes a good home for one Parakeet. A flight habitat is strongly recommended. It is best to provide the largest habitat possible. Perches should be at least 4" long and 3-8" in diameter; a variety of perch sizes to exercise feet and help prevent arthritis is recommended. Perches should be at least 4" long and 3-8" in diameter; a variety of perch sizes to exercise feet and help prevent arthritis is recommended. A metal grate over the droppings tray will keep the bird away from droppings; line the droppings tray with habitat paper or appropriate substrate for easier cleaning. To avoid contamination, do not place food or water containers under perches. Parakeets can be kept alone to bond with pet parent or in pairs to bond with each other. Different birds she not be housed together. Normal Behavior Parakeets are talkers, but their little voices are sometimes hard to hear. Active and need daily time out of their habitats to interact with family. Keep in pairs if unable to devote daily interaction time. Provide foraging toys, which provide important mental stimulation. Housing Maintenance Clean and disinfect the habitat and perches regularly; replace substrate or habitat liner weekly or more often as needed. Replace perches, dishes, and toys when worn or damaged; rotate new toys into the habitat regularly. Ensure that there are no habitat parts or toys with lead, zinc or lead-based paints or galvanized parts as these can cause serious medical issues if ingested by your bird. Do not use a lot of cleaning agents around your bird a natural cleaner. Grooming & Hygiene Provide filtered, chlorine-free, lukewarm water regularly for bathing; remove the water when done. As an alternative, mist the bird with water. Clipping flight feathers is not necessary, but when done correctly it can help prevent injury or escape; consult an avian veterinarian on what is best for your bird. Nails should be trimmed by a qualified person to prevent injury to the bird. Signs of a Healthy Animal: Active, alert, and sociable Eats and drinks throughout the day Dry nares and bright, dry eyes Beak, legs and feet normal in appearance Clean, dry vent Smooth, well-groomed feathers Common Health Issues Chlamydiosis: Appetite loss, fluffed feathers, nasal discharge, green stool. Seek immediate avian veterinary attention. Diarrhea: Fecal portion of stool is not formed. Multiple causes from diet change to internal parasites. Consult with an avian veterinarian and ensure proper diet. Feather plucking: Bird plucks own feathers; may be due to boredom, poor diet or other illness. Consult your veterinarian and relieve boredom with attention, new toys or new space. Mites (scaly face and leg disease): White deposits on eyes, beak, legs, and feet. Consult your veterinarian. Red Flags Beak swelling or accumulations Fluffed, plucked, or soiled feathers Sitting on floor

You are correct in that the images appear to show an apparently healthy budgie. An exam with your veterinarian or an experienced avian veterinarian would be recommended to diagnose any illness or injury. At the very least, Penny will get a clean bill of health. Clean and sanitize the cage, bowls, perches and toys. Discard anything that cannot be sanitized. Use paper towels on the cage bottom and change them daily. Offer a commercial pelleted diet supplemented with a small amount of a fortified seed mix and fresh greens and vegetables. Cooked foods, such as rice, beans and plain pastas, can also be offered in small amounts.

He can survive but an all seed diet is not good for them. They get fatty liver and some other nutritional problems. Just keep trying to give him other foods. If you offer him less seeds he may start to get more interested in other foods. Try fruits like melon, kiwi, apples, pears, oranges, and grapes. Leafy greens like kale, spinach, parsley and cabbage. Other vegetables he might enjoy include carrots and celery.

Thanks for reaching out. The most common problem is probably nutritional deficiencies. None of these parrot can eat a high percentage of seed. Seeds are typically high in fat, low in vitamins and minerals. Parrots should be feed a wide variety of vegetables, beans and other foods. Good luck.

Unfortunately, these symptoms point to illness. A visit to your veterinarian or an experienced avian vet would be recommended. Birds are quite adept at concealing illness, so by the time they are showing symptoms, they are already quite ill. For now, clean and sanitize the cage, bowls, toys and perches. Discard anything that cannot be sanitized. Use paper towels on the bottom and change daily. Keep the cage away from strong drafts and keep your budgie warm and as stress free as possible until she sees the doctor.

If you think she is losing weight and malnourished then you should re-evaluate her diet. Birds do not do well on an all seed diet so, if seeds are the majority of her diet you need to change that. I suggest using Lafeber's foods. Pellets, Nutriberries, Avicakes. https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=lafeber+parakeet&crid=25UA8PCK2FUTD&sprefix=lafeber%2Caps%2C171&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_6_7 Lafeber also has excellent articles on their website regarding health, nutrition, training, how to switch diets properly, etc. https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/ Lafeber diets are perfectly balanced for birds but since she is under the weather now I would add in this multivitamin and a probiotic. https://www.amazon.ca/Nekton-201150-Nekton-S-Multi-Vitamin-Birds/dp/B0002DILTM/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=nekton+bird&qid=1588519306&sr=8-1 https://www.amazon.ca/Nekton-208050-Nekton-Biotic-Bird-Probiotic-Birds/dp/B01CZUO7VK/ref=sr_1_9?keywords=nekton+bird&qid=1588519306&sr=8-9 Hope this helps. Best wishes.

In the second image, she definitely looks unthrifty and ill. Without a physical exam though, it is difficult to say for sure what is going on with her. If you can, transition from an all seed diet to a pelleted diet which is more balanced. Brands include Harrison's, Lafeber, Pretty Bird or KayTee Exact. You can still offer a small amount of a fortified seed mix as well as fresh fruits and vegetables to round out the diet.