lbechtle@uceng.UC.EDU (laurie bechtler) (06/19/89)
I have a question about the cere (is that the right word for the
"nose"?). My 5-yr-old male parakeet always had a bright blue
cere, then some 6 months ago it started turning dull, brownish,
and flaky. But he was as alert and active as ever, and I could
not find much mention of this in books from the library, plus I
couldn't afford vet bills unless absolutely necessary, so I
decided to let it go. I thought it might be related to aging.
Now the brown stuff is almost completely gone all of a sudden,
and it's bright blue again. Was Mickey sick and I didn't realize
it? Or is the cere color not significant?
Also, he seems to scratch his head a lot. I have two different
mite sprays that I use on him and the cage every six weeks or so.
It seems to help but then he starts scratching again. Do most
people spray their birds regularly?
Thanks...Laurie Bechtlermm@cloud9.Stratus.COM (Mike Mahler) (06/19/89)
Laurie, It isn't normal. However, it appears it wasn't serious either which leads me to believe that your bird may have had a small cold that (lucky for you and him) didn't last long or take deep roots in the birds sinuses or your bird might have an allergy that the spring pollen brought on. Either way, scaly flakes on a birds cere are extremely serious since they are an indication that the birds nose is running which is a sympton of a more serious underlying disease. Other than that, mites CAN cause these scales and scratching, but so can the scratching be caused by moult. Glad the birds ok, but be careful next time to make sure he's kept warm and fed (remember those veggies and fruits with vitamin added)! Regards, Michael e
mary@dinorah.wustl.edu (Mary E. Leibach) (06/20/89)
lbechtle@uceng.UC.EDU (laurie bechtler) writes: >I have a question about the cere (is that the right word for the >"nose"?). Yep, don't ask me to pronounce it though. :-) >My 5-yr-old male parakeet always had a bright blue >cere, then some 6 months ago it started turning dull, brownish, >and flaky. But he was as alert and active as ever, and I could >not find much mention of this in books from the library, plus I >couldn't afford vet bills unless absolutely necessary, so I >decided to let it go. You can call the vet (or you should be able to) and he will tell you if it is absolutely necessary to bring the bird in, or tell you what else to do for free. I have talked to Cally's vets lots of times, at any hour of the night. I have only had to take her in twice so far, with a bill of $19 each time. It was well worth the money both times. You are very lucky you still have your bird. >I thought it might be related to aging. >Now the brown stuff is almost completely gone all of a sudden, >and it's bright blue again. Was Mickey sick and I didn't realize >it? Or is the cere color not significant? I don't know much about parakeets, having had one for less than three weeks now. But flakey brown stuff doesn't sound too good. Try calling your vet and asking him about it. The only color a normal male budgie's cere should change to is a more intense blue, and that when he is, shall we say, hot to trot! > Also, he seems to scratch his head a lot. I have two different >mite sprays that I use on him and the cage every six weeks or so. >It seems to help but then he starts scratching again. Do most >people spray their birds regularly? You don't say what part of his head. If it is his beak, it is pretty normal, most of my birds wipe their beaks off on their perches. Equivalent to humans brushing their teeth. If it is on the feathers, and he is moulting, it is to get rid of the sheaths his new feathers come in. If it is his brown flakey cere, it probably is driving the poor thing nuts. A close examination of the perches would reveal if he truly has mites. If he does, talk to your vet. I NEVER spray my birdies with mite spray or anything else but water. I don't use those silly mite protectors either. And my birds have never had mites. Spraying something toxic like mite spray (particularly two kinds) is likely to stress the bird, to say the least. Keeping his cage clean, disinfecting it (with something like Clorox water) weekly (with the bird far away from the fumes), and keeping him away from new birds that might carry mites should be enough to keep them away. Treating a bird for diseases he doesn't have isn't good for the bird, and most over-the-counter bird medicine is useless or worse. After all, do you spray yourself once every six weeks for mites? If your nose turned brown and flakey would you avoid the doctor? I sure wouldn't. No, I do not work for a vet, or am employed in advertising for vets. But I have benefited from using them, more often than I have paid for office visits. The benefits of a vet knowing how you care for a bird so he can suggest improvements, having someone to tell you your bird will be okay when she is apparently bleeding to death, knowing that a new bird is in the best of health and will not infect the others with some dreaded disease, etc, is well worth the $64.50 I have paid for office visits for three birds over the course of 3/4 of a year. I have three healthy, happy birdies to show for it. I now know that birds should have huge cages, that they need veggies, how to deal with broken blood feathers, etc. >Thanks...Laurie Bechtler You're welcome Laurie. I hope you can get to talking with your vet, and get everything with Mickey straightened out. As little Blakey has been teaching me, just because Budgies aren't big, doesn't mean they aren't wonderful! -Mary, and Cally the Precocious Cockatiel(tm), and Vila the Cudly Conure(tm) And introducing Blake, the Beautiful Budgie(tm)! Better known as Blake's Birds(tm)! Dedicated to the memory of the British SF show Blake's 7, and the liberty and rights of pet birds!
john@nmtsun.nmt.edu (John Shipman) (06/20/89)
Laurie Bechtler (lbechtle@uceng.UC.EDU) writes: >>I have a question about the cere (is that the right word for the >>"nose"?). Mary E. Leibach (mary@dinorah.wustl.edu) replies: >Yep, don't ask me to pronounce it though. :-) Like ``seer.'' -- John Shipman/Zoological Data Processing/Socorro, New Mexico USENET: ucbvax!unmvax!nmtsun!john CSNET: john@nmtsun.nmt.edu ``A lesson from past over-machined societies...the devices themselves condition the users to employ each other the way they employ machines.'' --Frank Herbert