Hi all, I'd really like to get your opinion on my 18 month old budgie Peanut, and whether you think he's just going through a particularly difficult moult or if you think there may be something else going on. He looks so scraggly! He's rubbing his head and face a lot, and resting/sleeping more than usual, but apart from that, he's mostly his usual self. He's eating and pooping normally and still singing his little heart out. I don't remember his last moult being this bad. He certainly didn't have bare patches like he does this time. All 3 of my budgies have an appointment at the vet for a routine checkup in 10 days, but I'm wondering if I need to try to make it sooner. If Peanut is unwell, I want him seen ASAP of course, but if he's just going through a rough moult I'd rather hold off on the vet until he's feeling more his old self as I don't want to put him under anymore stress. I've attached some photos. I apologise they're not the best but Peanut was not in the mood to cooperate. Any advice (or reassurance) would be greatly appreciated.
Poor little Peanut!
It does look to me as if he is suffering through a particularly miserable molt right now.
Since he's eating, drinking, pooping and singing normally, I think waiting for the appointment in 10 days time will be fine.
Thank you for the reassurance. He’s starting to look a bit better and is becoming more active again. He’s currently outside the cage, for the first time in a few days and it’s lovely to see him wanting to come out for a fly around and a play. He hasn’t been interested in his bath at all, but is loving splashing around under the fountain. JoJo is starting to moult now, but I’m crossing my fingers she doesn’t end up as bad as poor Peanut.
I am not a Ver but a Budgie of mine had that problem and the Avian Vet said it was fue to lack of protein during the process of molting. Feathers require/ are made mostly with/ of protein. I had to give him soy protein, egg white and a bird meant supplement... In a month he was already looking MUCH better.
I am not a Ver but a Budgie of mine had that problem and the Avian Vet said it was fue to lack of protein during the process of molting. Feathers require/ are made mostly with/ of protein. I had to give him soy protein, egg white and a bird meant supplement... In a month he was already looking MUCH better.
I was worried Peanut could be lacking some protein too, but he has a great diet, with a bit of seed, 2 types of pellets, herb salad, fresh veggies, sprouted seeds and fresh (safe) leaves from the garden. He occasionally has hard boiled egg but I could probably give it more often. We saw the vet this afternoon and she was pleased with Peanuts weight and his overall condition. I showed her the photos of his rough moult and she feels it was just a difficult moult, especially as he’s looking a lot better now and he remained happy in himself. If I feel like anything isn’t quite right going forward, I’m to take him back and she’ll take blood. We don’t want to put him through the trauma of having blood taken if there’s no need so we decided against doing it today.
I am not a Ver but a Budgie of mine had that problem and the Avian Vet said it was fue to lack of protein during the process of molting. Feathers require/ are made mostly with/ of protein. I had to give him soy protein, egg white and a bird meant supplement... In a month he was already looking MUCH better.
I was worried Peanut could be lacking some protein too, but he has a great diet, with a bit of seed, 2 types of pellets, herb salad, fresh veggies, sprouted seeds and fresh (safe) leaves from the garden. He occasionally has hard boiled egg but I could probably give it more often. We saw the vet this afternoon and she was pleased with Peanuts weight and his overall condition. I showed her the photos of his rough moult and she feels it was just a difficult moult, especially as he’s looking a lot better now and he remained happy in himself. If I feel like anything isn’t quite right going forward, I’m to take him back and she’ll take blood. We don’t want to put him through the trauma of having blood taken if there’s no need so we decided against doing it today.
State: 
Rough moult or something worse?
State: 
