Sour smell in budgie breath

[Jenny]

can't give any insight on whether or not his masturbating has any relation to the smell you've noticed, but I can tell you that if he's rubbing his vent on a toy, that isn't unusual adult behaviour. You don't want to watch while he does it though - not to avoid being labeled a perv , but in order to avoid encouraging the behaviour. So don't watch, don't make eye contact, & don't talk to him while he's doing it. You also want to be sure he's getting enough dark time/sleep, as prolonged (day)light triggers hormones for procreation. Also, be sure you're not feeding him an all seed diet, as an abundance of high-calorie foods can also trigger hormonal surges.

[entrancedbymyGCC]

Oh dear, no he's not just a stinker, he's a nasty little stinker!

I have no idea if his behavior is at all relevant, but it can't hurt to add it to his medicalrecords... and I suspect it means he can't be feeling too bad!

[Red Moppet]

:lol: sorry just had a good chuckle at that. hope he stops stinking. lol

can't give any insight on whether or not his masturbating has any relation to the smell you've noticed, but I can tell you that if he's rubbing his vent on a toy, that isn't unusual adult behaviour. You don't want to watch while he does it though - not to avoid being labeled a perv , but in order to avoid encouraging the behaviour. So don't watch, don't make eye contact, & don't talk to him while he's doing it. You also want to be sure he's getting enough dark time/sleep, as prolonged (day)light triggers hormones for procreation. Also, be sure you're not feeding him an all seed diet, as an abundance of high-calorie foods can also trigger hormonal surges.

Oh dear, no he's not just a stinker, he's a nasty little stinker!

I have no idea if his behavior is at all relevant, but it can't hurt to add it to his medicalrecords... and I suspect it means he can't be feeling too bad!

Oh my goodness, you all made me laugh so hard! Thank you!
Jenny, after I read your response I heard Sputnik singing so happily so I looked in his cage to see why he was so happy... egad. We both stopped and were still and I quickly looked away! Too funny! It's like he didn't want to be watched either.
And yes, entranced, it seems as though he might be feeling better!
Thanks again everyone!

[Jenny]

Oh my goodness, you all made me laugh so hard! Thank you!
Jenny, after I read your response I heard Sputnik singing so happily so I looked in his cage to see why he was so happy... egad. We both stopped and were still and I quickly looked away! Too funny! It's like he didn't want to be watched either.
And yes, entranced, it seems as though he might be feeling better!
Thanks again everyone!

yeah, the last few emails in this string had me giggling too. At least Sputnik has some level of decency; my cockatiel Aaron doesn't care who's around when he's feeling the urge!

Do let us know how the sour breath plays itself out. It's info I know I will learn from.

[birdvet]

At least Sputnik has some level of decency; my cockatiel Aaron doesn't care who's around when he's feeling the urge!

Sounds like Johnny, my Nanday

And what a hilarious string of comments...made my day while slogginh away at that blasted thesis...

[Jenny]

that blasted thesis...

If you've said in another string, my apologies for missing it, but I'm curious to know what your thesis is. Wanna share, or are you sick of thinking/talking about it??

[birdvet]

I don't mind talking about it...well, mostly, by friday afternoon I was at the end of my tether

I'm doing a Masters degree in Veterinary Science (MVSc). My research is on Yellow-eyed penguins in New Zealand, they're the second most endangered species of penguin after Galapagos penguins. I''m investigating avian malaria (which is a recent discovery in this species) and how it affects the population as well as causes of mortality in general including climate change, competition with fisheries, other disease, predators etc etc...

I get to do awesome fieldwork to collect my data, including living for 7 weeks on a subantarctic island with only 4 other people and a bunch of penguins, sealions, albatrosses etc etc...super cool!! However, the fieldwork is done and I am now writing all my results into my thesis to try and submit by February which is when my Residency in Avian, Zoo Animal and Wildlife Health finishes up...

[Red Moppet]

Birdvet, congrats! That's very exciting - you are almost done!

Sputnik is still stinky, but I haven't called the vet to clarify anything yet because he does seem to be fine except for the smell. He plays and sings and eats all really well, his weight is stable and his poops are looking good.

And I'm an idiot - the cider vinegar directions read that I should add .05cc to 30cc of water for the first 3 days and then up it to .1cc for 4 days and then up it again. Well, I assumed (and we all know what assuming does!) that 30cc was about the size of the water dish. Turns out 30cc is equivalent to 30ml. So, I was underdosing him by far. I've rectified the situation but may have to start again because the taste might be too strong at this point for him.

Also, I've stopped letting him have people food (with the exception of his vegetables) just to see if that helps. I've smelled all his toys and it's not his ingestion of anything in the cage thats causing the smell either. And Jenny, I have started putting him to bed earlier as typically he was getting 9 hours of solid night time. Where I live, in the Canadian Rockies, the sun sets at 5pm and rises at 8am right now so we get minimal light as it is, but I think that just being awake for birds for longer hours makes a difference so now Sputnik gets at least 10 dark, quiet hours. More on weekends when I sleep in!

[zazanomore]

I hope that everything is fine!

[Jenny]

My research is on Yellow-eyed penguins in New Zealand, they're the second most endangered species of penguin after Galapagos penguins. I''m investigating avian malaria (which is a recent discovery in this species) and how it affects the population as well as causes of mortality in general including climate change, competition with fisheries, other disease, predators etc etc...

I get to do awesome fieldwork to collect my data, including living for 7 weeks on a subantarctic island with only 4 other people and a bunch of penguins, sealions, albatrosses etc etc...super cool!!

very super cool! I'm envious of your fieldwork. A few years ago, when I was still making enough money to even consider vacations, I seriously looked into an arctic trip. I felt like if I didn't make a point to see some of it (the scenery, the animals) soon, it would be gone, & too late. I struggled though w/the idea of tourism infringing on that environment. Anyway, that's a whole other complicated topic. I've also always wanted to explore Patagonia... ah, if only I were ridiculously wealthy. Suffice to say that I wish I could hear all your tales associated w/the time spent in the cold, & I'm sure your thesis will be extremely interesting! Just keep your nose to the grindstone a bit longer!!