Treatment Of Budgies With Viral Infections
One of my readers has few very ill budgies at the moment and has asked for some advice so I thought rather than just emailing her the answer I would publish it here because the tips involved may be of benefit to all budgie keepers.
My email went as follows:
There are a number of things to do to help the situation.
Firstly make sure that the birds that are separated stay separated….what we think as mean to separate them may save all their lives and when they are well again they can go back together.
1. Make sure that the birds are kept out of drafts and cold places. They should be kept warm.
2. If you are using plastic water feeders/dishes throw them out and buy new ones because plastic is a great carrier of infections and if you have metal water containers then sterilize them in boiling hot water. (don’t use any cleaners or disinfectants—birds are too sensitive) and make sure to change their water and clean the water containers twice a day.
3. Put a red warm light over one side of the cage (but not the middle) so that they can go to the other side if they want a break from the light. Red light has soothing and healing qualities. Put a thermometer on the inside of the cage near the perch to check the temperature of the red lamp…remember too hot and you will cook the poor bird too cold and they won’t benefit from the healing properties. An ideal temperature is between 25 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius. Adjust the height of the red light over the cage as necessary in order to achieve this temperature.
4. Make sure the birds are getting enough vitamins and minerals mix…those little packets in the store with seed and minerals mixed and put them in a separate feeder from their normal seed so that they can take only what they need.
5. Don’t give them any fresh fruit and vegetables when they are ill.
6. Change their ground paper and sand and make sure the cages are always feaces (diarrhea) free as this can infect the other birds.
7. Ask your Vet which medicine he used because there are two types normally used for this illness and sometimes the birds don’t react to one so the other should be used. They are called Tetracyklin and Chloramphenicol.
8. Play some light classical music at a very low volume and talk regularly to the birds.
The tips above are only my opinion as I am not a qualified Vet but have been holding budgies for most of my life and have lost very few birds.
I hope these tips help you and that your budgies return to full health soon.
My email went as follows:
There are a number of things to do to help the situation.
Firstly make sure that the birds that are separated stay separated….what we think as mean to separate them may save all their lives and when they are well again they can go back together.
1. Make sure that the birds are kept out of drafts and cold places. They should be kept warm.
2. If you are using plastic water feeders/dishes throw them out and buy new ones because plastic is a great carrier of infections and if you have metal water containers then sterilize them in boiling hot water. (don’t use any cleaners or disinfectants—birds are too sensitive) and make sure to change their water and clean the water containers twice a day.
3. Put a red warm light over one side of the cage (but not the middle) so that they can go to the other side if they want a break from the light. Red light has soothing and healing qualities. Put a thermometer on the inside of the cage near the perch to check the temperature of the red lamp…remember too hot and you will cook the poor bird too cold and they won’t benefit from the healing properties. An ideal temperature is between 25 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius. Adjust the height of the red light over the cage as necessary in order to achieve this temperature.
4. Make sure the birds are getting enough vitamins and minerals mix…those little packets in the store with seed and minerals mixed and put them in a separate feeder from their normal seed so that they can take only what they need.
5. Don’t give them any fresh fruit and vegetables when they are ill.
6. Change their ground paper and sand and make sure the cages are always feaces (diarrhea) free as this can infect the other birds.
7. Ask your Vet which medicine he used because there are two types normally used for this illness and sometimes the birds don’t react to one so the other should be used. They are called Tetracyklin and Chloramphenicol.
8. Play some light classical music at a very low volume and talk regularly to the birds.
The tips above are only my opinion as I am not a qualified Vet but have been holding budgies for most of my life and have lost very few birds.
I hope these tips help you and that your budgies return to full health soon.
Labels: baby budgie, bird flu, budgie illness, sick budgie, viral infection
posted by liane at
3:21 AM
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