Joey the budgie not feeling well

[DonnaBudgie]

My female budgie Joey is 11 months old. I hand raised her last year and we are incredibly bonded. She's also overly hormonal and must be kept away from males- not even visual sight of them. She laid 4 eggs last April after males courted her through the cage bars when she hit puberty at 6 months old.

She's a very high energy budgie. Always wants to fly and be on me. Yesterday she postured to me, arching her back, raising her tail and pinning her eyes. She went i. Her cage and kicked all the food out of a food dish and settled into the bottom of the dish like she was nesting. Last night she wouldn't come out of her cage which is odd but I figured she was tired. This morning she still wouldn't come out and is acting "tired". She's not acting like herself today. She's not flying around like usual. She's eating but looks sluggish. She rarely naps and she's tucking her head back.

I'm worried that she's going to lay eggs again but I'm more worried she is in early stages of getting egg bound. Should I bring her to the vet right away?

 

[Corkscr.ew]

I would definitely take her to a vet. That sounds like a very drastic behavioral change.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I got a 2pm appt. Excellent avian vets with full hospital facilities.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Let's all pray for Joey to be okay. She's my baby.

 

[onamom]

I'm glad you got an appointment for today. I hope it goes well!

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I just left the vet with Joey. Xray showed no egg! She's fine. Just very hormonal. He said being this hormonal can make them tired. She's in excellent condition. Flies well and a very sweet budgie. I'm so relieved!

 

[onamom]

I just left the vet with Joey. Xray showed no egg! She's fine. Just very hormonal. He said being this hormonal can make them tired. She's in excellent condition. Flies well and a very sweet budgie. I'm so relieved!

That's so great to hear! I wonder if you've ever considered the monthly hormone injection for her - Lupron?

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I didn't ask him about it. Last time I asked a different vet years ago somewhere else he said it would cost about $600 per shot and he didn't do it. I would have to go to Boston. If she lays eggs again I will ask this vet. What's funny is that this vet's name is Joey!

 

[rheashard2]

Glad to hear Joey is ok. Did vet comment on same name?

 

[kme3388]

I’m glad to hear Joey is okay. We the parrot community need to find some resolution to parrot hormones. I myself have never dealt with egg binding issues. I just get crabby parrots who are possessed temporarily.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Oh yes! I told him Joey was named for riding around in my bathrobe pouch when she was a baby so I called her my Joey. He told me his name was Joe and went by Joey! He thought Joey was a super sweet budgie. Very calm and human friendly. And easy to examine because she does not bite.

This vet office has three avian vets and this one was tye newest addition. The other two are father and son. I feel very fortunate to have access to good avian vets here in Southern Maine. So many people don't. They just opened a new state of the art facility that rivsls any human medical building. The bulk of their business is dogs and cats of course.

 

[onamom]

I didn't ask him about it. Last time I asked a different vet years ago somewhere else he said it would cost about $600 per shot and he didn't do it. I would have to go to Boston. If she lays eggs again I will ask this vet. What's funny is that this vet's name is Joey!

I paid around $60!