Vet Q&A

My african grey parrot has grown pink feathers on her body. I attach photos. Is this normal ?

This problem is quite rare indeed. There are two different causes. Genetic: there could be a genetic base for it, so no need to be worried about it as it is completely normal. Such birds are often referred to as " Kings "or "King Greys". This type of Greys are quite rare indeed. Feather disease: it could be indication of damaged feather follicles and medication ( antibiotics at the time a bird is molting) can sometimes re-establish normal color. The third cause could be general sickness, malnutrition or over-supplementation, or liver disease or kidney problems. As you can see there are many different causes possible. So the approach should start from a physical examination at your local vet and feather testing to determine any abnormality. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

My dog ate a baby bird. 2 days later and she's been vomiting, lethargic, and has diarrhea. Her temp is 99.5. What should I do? Can I wait it out?

It sounds like Nola has gotten ill from eating the baby bird. It could be that baby bird has gotten stuck in her GI tract, or she has picked up a bacterial infection from the baby bird. She doesn't have a fever (normal temperature for a dog is 101.5-102,5), but she does sound quite ill. Given the fact she has been vomiting, having diarrhea, and has been lethargic for two days, I would not wait it out. It sounds like to me from your description that she needs to see a vet immediately. She might need a shot to stop her from vomiting, IV fluids if she is dehydrated, and x-rays to see if the bird has gotten stuck in her GI tract. If it's a bacterial infection, she would benefit from antibiotics. I recommend taking her into your vet now.

My female budgies are pecking holes in each other's eggs (or they are pecking holes in their own eggs). One of my budgies had been sitting on her eggs for about a week and a half and I think the latest female that I bought removed her eggs and took over the box, the eggs are broken and we only see orange yolk in them. The breeding boxes are all screwed into the aviary at the same height, there's enough for every female too. I can't see why they would do this to their/each other's eggs.

If the aviary is too small to handle multiple breeding pairs it may be that they are competing for nesting space, even if there are multiple nests. One nest may be seen as "ideal" and thus everyone is fighting over it. Usually, birds are separated into individual breeding groups per cage to avoid competition and ruining of eggs, as well as reduce overall stress for the breeding pair.

How much time take for hatching eggs of yellow blood parrot fish after laid eggs ? And Anti fungus medicine prevent fungus to eggs if I dropped in tanks Aquadene gill fungus parasite special medicine ?

The fry should emerge within 4 days of egg laying. Any egg that turns white or cloudy is infertile and should be removed (if it isn't eaten first). Methylene blue can be used safely to keep eggs free of fungus.

I am concerned about my budgie who is around 2 years old. He has been quite lethargic and is constantly sleeping with puffed up feathers. He is eating and drinking as normal. However, he has been unable to fly due to a slightly damaged flight feather that has been been by another budgie.

Thanks for reaching out about Kiwi. A damage flight feather should not alter flight significantly, as they can fly when they molt. Lethargy and sleeping during the day (to conserve energy) are clinical signs of being sick, the question is why. Providing heat support in the 80-85 F range can give some support. Monitor fecal production by a total cage clean-out. Sick birds often act like they're eating but aren't. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Multiple possibilities include ingestion of foreign material (metal, fabric, wood, etc.), metabolic concerns (liver, renal), infections (viral, bacterial) and others. Good luck.

my budgie appears healthy, happy and active but is losing ALOT of feathers (he is not pulling them out much they just come out when he flys or flaps around... is he ok what could it be

Harry could be molting, which is a normal thing that occurs about once or twice a year. This is when your bird loses their feathers and then replaces them with new ones. You can check if this is the case by looking for "pin" feathers, or what looks like little pins growing out of the skin (these are the new feathers coming in). Other things to look for include making sure Harry is on a balanced diet, and checking for mites or other skin issues that can also cause feather loss.

My zebra finch is puffed up and eating normally is a sign of what kind of illness

Thanks for reaching out about Mr. T. Being fluffed is not a specific sign for any illness, and could be just cold. Provide heat support in the 80-85 F range. Intestinal parasites or infections, metabolic (liver, kidney) disorders, nutritional deficiencies, inhaled or ingested toxins are just a few of the possible causes. A veterinary visit can help rule in/rule out causes. Good luck.

PLEASE HELP! I found my two baby budgies severely attacked by another bird. I have separated that bird into a smaller cage. The greener baby has its beak loose on one side. I have absolutely no vets near me and I can not travel because of this whole annoying pandemic. The bleeding has stopped but I am scared for the green baby as I do not know what to do with it’s beak and I am not sure what I will feed it in the future because no pet shops near me sell baby formula except for Ebay and Amazon (C

Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do at home if the baby is severely injured or you don't have food for it. Trying to see if a local pet store or big box store that carries pet supplies is open may help you find syringes and baby bird food you need, otherwise. In a pinch, adult bird food can be ground down into a mash and then mixed with water and given via a syringe until you can get actual baby bird food. Keeping the babies warm and keeping any wounds clean and dry can help, however if there are severe wounds or the injuries are bad enough the babies can't function properly, seeking out the care of a vet in person ASAP is best (Many are open still for medical emergencies such as this).

my budgie laid 6 eggs and they haven't hatched it's been 26 days and I candled them I am sure they are not fertilized. Do I just throw them away and remove the nest box.

Incubation in budgies is about 18 days from the day the hen begins sitting on The eggs. You are probably correct in saying the eggs are infertile. If there is no male present, they are definitely infertile. Wait until Coco loses interest, then remove and discard the eggs. This will prevent her from laying "replacement" eggs. Remove the nest box afterwards.