Strange parakeet

[Comoriri]

Could anyone offer some good advice for how I can help my Parakeet, Gizmo? I've got him relatively recently (about a month ago), while he has improved, his behaviors seem strange. He rarely makes any noise at all, never bites when handled, and seems to stay relatively still.

While he has started to move around, he still seems to act off for a parakeet, as I've had a few in the past who have differed quite strangely from him. He's an albino budgie, we haven't been able to sex him quite yet due to us having difficulty getting him a vet appointment, but from the people we purchased him from, their best guess was male.

He receives fresh water daily, a mix of seeds and fresh fruit/veggies, and a small bit of millet for a snack (and more millet when taming). He gets spray bottle showers, and his cage gets a full clean down once or twice a week, he has an assortment of different toys in his cage, two perches, and a hammock made of an old cloth where he can rest. (His cage isn't that large, as we're looking into buying a much bigger one, we want to provide him with the best we possibly can).

Does anyone have any suggestions of what I can do for him, or to check if he's doing okay? Another thing I've noticed is how thin he looks compared to other budgerigars I've seen, his plumage isn't as puffy as I've seen in healthier ones, and looks different from the kinds I've looked up. (English, American, and Australian budgies).

Any tips would be appreciated, and if needed, I can provide pictures!

 

[YUMgrinder]

unless there's an underlining issue that a vet can diagnose I'd say that's just his personality. Doesn't sounds like anything is wrong to me. Sounds like a good little birdie. a month is short, it could take a long time for him to get comfortable. I've had my tiel almost a year now and she still is coming out of her shell progressively.

 

[YUMgrinder]

oh, pics please! sounds like a pretty parrot!

 

[LordTriggs]

sounds like he may just be a little more reserved in personality, also a couple nerves about the new place.

I also remember hearing that Albino animals have slightly poorer eyesight than their counterparts though how true this is I question, but if true then that could be part of it

 

[clark_conure]

Some birds are naturally calm, and maybe your just very loving and good with him. I'd still get an initial checkup with CAV if anything to get a baseline.

Also I wanna see pics too!

 

[Teddscau]

Like Triggs said, albinos tend to have bad eyesight. Light sensitivity too. Not to mention weak and deformed organs. Malformed musculoskeletal systems. Deafness. Poor nervous systems. Imunnicological problems. Food sensitivities. Oh, and neurological problems (seizures, unprovoked aggression, high anxiety, etc.). Geez it sounds like I'm being a jerk! I actually know a fair bit about albinos, brain anatomy, information processing, animal behaviour, melanin and its role in the brain, etc., so I'm not just making baseless claims. Pretty much every albino has something wrong with them, but it can be anywhere from mild eyesight problems, to individuals who are blind, on a special diet, seizure medication, has to be kept out of direct sunlight, and has to have at least two handlers present while being cared for in case they snap (this is the absolute worse case scenario, so unless this budgie's the result of 6 generations of inbreeding, he should be fine-ish).

In my opinion, and the opinion of many others, breeding for albinism is unethical and inhumane. You're basically breeding for animals who are prone to cancer, seizures, anxiety, poor eyesight, deafness, organ failure, proneness to illness, weak bones, etc. Look at Kenny the tiger. Well, look at ALL white tigers. And look at the problems with Dalmatians (they're almost albino, therefore they have many physical and neurological issues). Or white kittens with blue eyes. And before you mention polar bears, their skin is actually black .

I actually really like albino animals, as they tend to be very sensitive, sweet animals. They can be unpredictable and might not live as long, but there's just something endearing about how gimpy they are. It's like adopting a severely inbred dog from a hoarding situation. Or a legless parrot. Or a blind cat.

 

[Comoriri]

Ah, thank you for the information! I had done months of research before picking up Gizmo on budgies, but I had never read anything on albino/lutino ones before meeting him.

I'll be sure to update the thread once he's thoroughly checked out by a veterinarian, I want to do everything I can to keep this bird happy and healthy, would it be wise to keep a small journal about how he's doing? From what I've noticed so far, he doesn't mind touch, he can see (because he can easily locate things around his cage, and watch as people pass), enjoys the sunlight, and isn't deaf. While I am concerned about the underlying health problems (things like the organs and such), I'm glad he seems to be doing okay currently.

For everyone who wanted to see him!:

 

[LordTriggs]

yep that there is an albino. I'm gonna guess in the light the eye is more a dark red colour?

Like said above there can be some health issues with albinos and they should never be aimed for by breeders but they do happen. My sister had an albino rabbit and he lived for quite a long time until he began developing a repetitive cyst (common rabbit problem) and eventually he had to be put down. Though he was well over 10 years old when that happened so definitely not a short life

I'd just treat your budgie like any other, just be aware he has his own little issues

 

[GaleriaGila]

Oh, what a beauty!

Positively angelic-looking!
Thanks for sharing.