Budgerigars are the most common pets among feathered pets. In addition to the fervent appearance, the birds have a convivial character, intelligence and great confidence in others. Cheerful pet twitter is a great way to cheer you up. The bird is almost always energetic and in excellent spirits. And if suddenly the appearance of the pet undergoes ugly changes (for example, there is a growth on the beak of a budgie), then trouble happened with the pet.
Description of budgies
The bird, which has become the most frequent feathered guest in a person’s house, is small in size. The body length of the parrot ranges from 17-19 cm. The size of the wings reaches 9 cm, the tail - from 8 to 11. The body weight of the pet is 10 grams. Among the representatives of this breed, larger individuals are also found.
The bird has a fairly massive beak, which allows it to carry out all kinds of vital actions. At the base of this organ is a wax with nostrils. It is this area that is most prone to the formation of growths in the budgerigar around the beak.
The name of the feathered breed (Melopsittacus undulatus) received from the Greek concepts melos - "singing", psittacos - "parrot" and the Latin undulatus - "wavy". Today, as this amazing bird is called, even many children know. The Russian equivalent of the term is a singing budgie.
Homeland of budgies
Smart and energetic bird native to Australia. It is in the eucalyptus forests of the southeastern and southwestern parts of the continent that whole flocks of sociable parrots live. Despite the huge number of fellow tribesmen, there is a clear hierarchy in the bird community.
For many pet lovers, birds live at home and feel great. Budgerigars are full-fledged family members along with dogs and cats. A cheerful tweet of pets pleases their owners, and the ability to reproduce human speech can save the owner from a feeling of loneliness. However, how long the life of a merry parrot will be, will depend on the conditions of its maintenance.
For greater convenience, the bottom of the cell should extend and not contain a lattice. In the home, the birds do not recommend placing filler. It is best to put a bath of sand, where the parrot will be happy to swim.
Feathered diseases
Budgerigars are susceptible to numerous diseases. The best prevention of the occurrence of many ailments is the observance of sanitary and hygienic standards and proper nutrition of feathered pets.
Among the diseases of parrots, the most common are:
- Salmonellosis caused by bacteria and E. coli in the body of a bird.
- Roundworms are roundworms in the small intestine.
- Knemidocoptosis - causes a skin disease scabies. It is due to this disease that there are growths on the beak of budgies.
- Gout - inflammation of the joints of a bird.
- Goiter disease.
- Fractures of wings and limbs.
Budgerigar Beak Diseases
A special organ susceptible to disease is the nose of a bird. Unfortunately, there are a number of ailments of the beak, as a result of which the pet undergoes changes in appearance. In addition to these troubles, the bird feels much worse.
Common beak diseases include:
- Nasal deformity due to a congenital malformation or fracture. Unfortunately, such a defect is incorrigible.
- The rapid growth of the beak. It is eliminated by cutting in the conditions of a zoo.
- Softening the nose. The cause of ailments is often the wrong diet without vitamins and minerals.
- Scabies of the facial area. The cause of the disease are parasites and ticks.
Beak growths in budgies: causes
The disease can occur under the influence of the following factors:
- hormonal disorders due to improper diet;
- ticks;
- herpes virus;
- mechanical damage.
As for the last factor, the growth near the beak of the budgerigar can form after the bird has set up a family nest from improvised materials (seeds, blades of grass, slivers).
The causative agent of the disease is a tick
There are situations when a feathered pet violently combes greenish and whitish spots on its beak and legs. Such a nuisance can happen due to a disease caused by a tick. Also, growths of green and white shade can be not only on the waxen, but in the areas around the eyes, cesspools and feet.
Scabies mites, which are sick with budgies, are absolutely harmless to humans. However, an infected bird may die if the disease is started.
The parasitic tick is transmitted through infected feed, birds and animals suffering from the disease. An owner having scabies can also become a source of illness. Also, an infectious disease is easy to pick up, using a wooden cage or accessories that were previously used by other birds suffering from a tick.
To defeat the disease, you need to contact a veterinarian ornithologist. Having found out the real cause of the disease, he will prescribe a treatment, which consists in the use of ointments and balms. So, effective medications are drugs such as Neostomozan, Front Line Spray, aversectin ointment. Cosmetic Vaseline is also recommended. It is advisable to apply to areas affected by the tick, thus softening the growths and blocking the flow of oxygen to parasites.
Improper nutrition as a cause of growths on the beak
The hormonal background may even out due to the correction of the diet of the bird. Food containing proteins of animal origin can cause the formation of growths on the beak of a budgerigar.
It is most useful to give feathered vegetables and fruits that match the season, lettuce, parsley and dill. You can offer your pet also young twigs of fruit trees and birch. All products should be carefully processed by washing with warm water and a special brush.
If a thickening has formed on the beak, this may be due to malnutrition of the bird. Such a disease is called hyperkeratosis. Such formations are treated primarily through the selection of proper nutrition. To soften this kind of growth, the beak of a budgie is recommended to be treated with petroleum jelly.
To prevent the disease, it is strictly forbidden to treat your pet food from the owner’s table. Best of all, his diet should consist of foods that budgies can eat at home. Sprouted grain served in large quantities can also become a provocateur of the formation of growths on the beak.
Papilloma as a result of herpes and the cause of the growth on the beak
Reduced immunity of birds, as a rule, leads to viral diseases and colds. As a result of the illness, herpes can develop, which leads to the formation of growths near the beak in the budgerigar. Untreated papilloma can develop into a serious tumor, as a result of which a feathered pet can die.
At first, growths look like small warts. They are similar to thickenings caused by ticks or hormonal failure. The growth can be resilient or solid. It practically does not cause pain to the feathered. The only inconvenience - thickening prevents the use of the beak in full. A tumor due to papilloma is benign. But if the bird is not referred to an ornithologist, her health may gradually worsen. The budgerigar becomes lethargic, inactive and prefers to sit, with a frizz.
To the traditional treatment prescribed by the veterinarian, you can add folk remedies that will help alleviate the suffering of the bird. It is recommended to treat the affected area with freshly squeezed juice of celandine or garlic, a decoction of potato peelings. Due to the regular lubrication of the beak with these substances, the growth will disappear with time.
Veterinarian advice. How to deal with the growth on the beak of a budgie
The photo captures a rather unsightly picture. In addition to a spoiled appearance, the disease causes physical suffering to the feathered pet.
Having determined why the budgerigar has growths near the beak, for the purpose of prevention, ornithologists recommend the following steps:
- In the case of collective maintenance of parrots, identify and resettle the sick pet in a separate cage or cardboard box.
- To process the main housing of birds for the purpose of disinfection with one of the sanitary means: Neostomozan, Virkon, potassium permanganate, Virocid, Ecocide C.
- Throw out all the crossbars and decorations (decorative stones, rockers, etc.) from the main cage.
- In the apartment, especially in places where the sick chick was, thorough cleaning should be carried out.
Treatment of the growth on the beak of a budgie is as follows:
- It is recommended to treat the affected areas with a thin ball of aversectin ointment (once every three days).
- Treatment should be carried out until the growth completely disappears. At the same time, it is recommended to adjust the diet of the bird.
- During the illness, the parrot should receive vitamins to support immunity.
Treatment is recommended under the supervision of an ornithologist.