Now the budgerigar is the most common bird for keeping in an apartment. This animal is very sociable and friendly, so it gets along well with its owners. It is quite simple to care for him, but even ideal conditions of detention do not guarantee protection against various diseases.
Some facts about budgies
Budgerigar is a small bird. In length, it reaches about twenty centimeters, and weighs only forty-five grams. Adults have a long tail with a specific stepped shape. In a young animal, it is somewhat shorter.
These birds most often have green or yellow feathers. Relatively recently, selection has bred animals with egg-yellow, white and blue plumage.
On the back and wings, parrots of this species have dark wavy stripes. Thanks to them, the bird received such a name. There are also lines on the head, but they are thin and frequent.
The eyes of budgies are dark blue, sometimes with a white or yellowish iris. Their beak is powerful and curved; in young birds it is dark, and in adults it is yellow.
The color of the wax helps to determine the sex of the animal. In adult females it is brown, in young females blue. As for males, it is purple in young animals, and blue in parrots of "venerable age".
Budgerigar diseases
Among the non-communicable diseases of budgerigars, self-plucking is quite common. The reason for this is most often stress, as well as fear, infection with parasites, dry air or banal boredom. If the disease lasts a very long time, the bird can completely lose its feathers, and in a neglected state it is almost impossible to cure the animal.
Constipation and obesity are also common in birds of this species. Overweight appears when the animal is abundantly fed with oil seeds and food of animal origin.
Problems with bowel movements are a consequence of obesity. Infection with parasites can also cause constipation. To save the budgerigar from this problem, you should introduce a couple of drops of vegetable oil into his anus (using a pipette), and also force him to take four drops of castor oil.
The most common infectious disease among parrots is salmonellosis (paratyphoid fever). It causes a violation of the conditions of hygiene of feeding and maintenance, due to which the resistance of the animal's body becomes less. For treatment, as a rule, a powder is prescribed, which is called sulfapyridazine.
Also among budgerigars, there are often those who are sick with tuberculosis. Infection occurs through infected food or the respiratory tract. The animal loses weight, weakens, coughs and yawns. Sadly, but this disease in this species is not treated. A sick bird must be destroyed.
In addition, budgies can become infected with worms. Dirty cage and food often contribute to this. If you have the slightest suspicion that your pet suffers from helminthiasis, you need to show it to your veterinarian. Only a specialist will be able to prescribe those medicines that are suitable for your animal and will not harm him.
Poofer-eaters are another attack among birds. These are parasites that feed on the down, blood and skin scales of parrots. The animal becomes disheveled, sleeps and eats poorly. For treatment, peretrum made from chamomile is used, and the cage is treated with special preparations and boiling water.
