Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uunet!atexnet!cvbnet!acadia.prime.com!dmusican
From: dmusican@acadia.prime.com (Diane S. Musicant)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Help - budgie can't fly
Message-ID: <200@cvbnet.Prime.COM>
Date: 17 Nov 89 14:34:51 GMT
Sender: postnews@cvbnet.Prime.COM
Reply-To: dmusican@acadia.prime.com (Diane S. Musicant)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Prime Computervision, Bedford MA
Lines: 23


I have two budgies (age ?), sex (both female?) which I purchased 
about three months ago. About a month ago, they began moulting. This 
included some of the tail and wing feathers which I assume is normal.
About a week ago, I noticed that one of them had lost so many, that
she cannot fly. The right wing is noticeably shorter than the left
(it looks as if it has been clipped) and what used to be a 2-3 inch 
tail is now a 1 inch stub. I cannot imagine that this is a normal 
condition of moulting, but I am no expert.

She looks healthy (clear eyes, droppings look ok) and acts perfectly
normal other than not being able to fly. I give them daily vitamins 
in their food and water.The cage is away from cold drafts, but is near 
the heater vent (forced hot air). The  house is usually kept at about 
62 degrees F at night (With the cage usually covered). As far as I can 
tell, the two birds do not fight, but if they do, the other one
(healthy one) is definitely the dominant one and would win.

Does this ring a bell to any of you long time bird owners? What can I do,
what did I do wrong, etc.

Thanks in advance,
Diane Musicant