FINCHforum

My parakeet has weird splotches around it's eyes, I am not sure if its feathers are falling out, or
if it is just irritated and swollen. The bird is also repeatedly bobbing up and down awkwardly, and looks like its retching or trying to throw up or swallow? I don't know what it could be. I believe the bird is a female, but I definitely don't think she is egg bound. And that wouldn't explain the patchy eyes anyway. I have a mite protector on the cage so I don't think its mites. I tried to look things up online and the only thing I found was psittacosis but I am not sure if it could be something else. I don't see any other issues with the feathers, the vent seems clean, haven't observed droppings yet. There are no other growths, cere looks clean and not dry or flaky, it's just the weird spots around the eyes where the feathers look either messed up or missing, and the way she is acting.

She is housed with 3 other birds who seem fine at the moment and I haven't had any problems since I got them several months ago.

I don't know about parakeets, so I have no advice. But if you could post a picture, it would help those who do have the expertise to help.

The mite protectors can in some cases be toxic to your bird...you need to remove the mite protector. It can cause breathing, eye irritation. They are virtually useless and can have a negative health effect on your birds.

http://www.finchinfo.com/general/toxic_ ... angers.php

mite protectors contain Para-chlormetazymol.

If you have them in your finch cage also and they have young you need to remove the mite protector ASAP

http://www.ivis.org/advances/harrison_2/chap37.pdf

this is a chapter on toxins...please see page 1051

Cindy is correct! Remove the mite protector as they do not really protect at all. Watch the parakeet and hopefully you'll see improvement.

Ok.. I do not have one by my finches.. and the parakeets are being kept by a relative so I will have them remove it. I was wondering if it is safe to administer something just in case? I know nothing about sick birds so I don't know if it would help or hinder. And so far it is just the one out of four.

Removing it will help, the bopping up and down is it more with the head or is there tail pumping...tail pumping in budgies can indicate difficulty breathing and they will do this if stressed either by illness or environmental.

They often when ill with a upper respiratory look like they are trying to bring up food....if this gets worse and if you can here wheezing you need baytril...a vet visit may be recommended.

If you can't get to an avian vet, you can order Baytril or Baycox online. Follow instructions for treatment. I'd try to take it to the vet, since they can go downhill quickly. Keep us posted.

My parakeet has weird splotches around it's eyes, I am not sure if its feathers are falling out, or
if it is just irritated and swollen. The bird is also repeatedly bobbing up and down awkwardly, and looks like its retching or trying to throw up or swallow?

Can you get a picture of the blotches? From what your saying about the retching and/or trying to swallow or throw up, can you get a look inside it's mouth and see if it is clean and doesn't have yellowish bumps in it?

It is not just the head it is full body and looks like dry heaving. I have seen her bob her head MANY times and she has a "mate", she is the alpha in a cage with 2 boys and one other female. I instantly noticed her actions were not normal but at the moment I have no money to bring her to a vet I will see what I can do. I have to work 11-7 so I will have to go by later on to see if I can get some pictures... and if possible I will get a video of her. Poor baby