Budgie Scaly Face Mites

Scaly face is caused by the tiny skin-burrowing mite Knemidokoptes pilae. It mainly affects the bird’s cere and beak, but can also cause problems in the legs and the vent area. The first sign of the problem will be persistent scratching – the budgie will rub itself on whatever object it can find. A crusty growth will then start to appear on the cere, and the beak will become misshapen as the mites burrow inside. Some facial feathers may be lost. If untreated, the affected body parts will actually drop off, leading to severe handicap.
You need to intervene long before the problem reaches this extreme stage. A visit to the vet is necessary, where the bird will be prescribed a suitable swab for treating the infestation.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Feeding Baby Budgies Tips

Image
Rearing chicks by hand is a time-consuming, fiddly process, not to be entered into without full appreciation of what’s involved. Always seek expert advice for any aspect of chick-feeding, and take time to watch some instructional videos. This will boost your confidence, and minimise the chance of mishaps. You may have healthy, attentive parent birds prepared to put in all the hard work, but you still need to know what to do if things don’t go to plan. Mishaps could be anything from a sick male (meaning he will be unable to feed the nesting hen bird) to an abandoned nest. Baby budgies are very delicate creatures, and if the mishap occurs early in the rearing process – within the first two weeks – your chances of weaning the bird are slim. Rearing a freshly-hatched bird is something none but the most expert breeder should attempt. Five-week-old budgies in a nestbox Feeding Budgie Chicks There are several budgie chick feeds and additives available commercially. These should offer the corr
Read more

Budgie Show

Image
There are no waiting lists or endless rungs of elitist bureaucracy for newcomers to budgie shows (although there is usually a bit of paperwork). As a beginner you will be able to enter your birds in the Novice sections, against other novices. With five or less birds to show, you’ll get away with minimal paperwork; more than that, and you’ll be up to your ears in it. On the day of the show you’ll be able to pick up show tags from the event secretary. You will be told how to fill them in. The cage will only display a number, to ensure owner anonymity and eliminate any unconscious bias in the judges. At your first show it’s best to stand quietly and watch. There is an etiquette to be learned – the silence as the judges prowl between the dozens of cages, and the general politeness that masks the competitiveness. There will be various levels, from novice upwards, with judges looking for the top three birds in each class (i.e. sections of the show at each level, focusing on a specific budgie
Read more

Budgie Aviary

Image
If you want to keep several budgies, or a mixed flock of birds, an outdoor aviary is ideal. You will be able to give the birds lots of space, and they will enjoy the benefits of fresh air and sunlight. An aviary can be a custom-made structure, free-standing or lean-to, or a converted outbuilding such as a shed. An aviary for budgies, cockatiels and finches Most aviaries are permanent homes for their owner’s birds, but some function as outdoor exercise areas or summerhouses only, with birds confined indoors in the colder months. If this is the arrangement you have in mind, you will need to get the birds in and out of their temporary lodgings, and will probably have to use a net to catch and transfer them back indoors.
Read more