Messy vent

[KathS]

We have just acquired a new budgie (my first) and broke my rule about clear eyes, clean vent. The Pet Shop told me it was just a baby and it took a lot of effort for the assistant to catch a baby for us, so I accepted him thinking he might have just dirtied himself as he was so young.

We have had him a week now (his ceres has coloured blue a day or so after he came home) but his vent is still messy.

Should I trim his vent with scissors or what is the best action to take?

[fischer]

Hi Kath, just a little warm water on an old face towel and gently wash the area will clean it up, you may have to do this a couple of times.

How is his general condition other than the vent, is he eating, ok etc ??

Tony ;D

[AussieBirds]

Yes I agree with Tony if you wash it at least you can use the dirty vent to see if the bird is sick.It may be just a case of bad feeding on behalf of the pet shop but worth keeping an eye on.

John

[KathS]

Thanks Tony and John

In every other respect he is fit and healthy and the most mischievious bird I have seen. He loves to tease, buzzing everyone who tries to catch him when he is let loose to fly around and buzzing the unnamed surly cockatiel who took off after him this morning sending the whole house into panic mode. I swear I heard him laughing as he flew past me!

He has tried to bend the wires back on his cage and has almost succeeded getting his head and shoulders through the bars. Then he slides upwards where the wires taper and almost hangs himself in the process. Think I may need to buy a square cage rather than the round one I have.

One other question which I could probably look up somewhere, at what age does their ceres usually turn blue. I am assuming 3 months?