Is this Budgie a hen or a cock ???

[govecomm]

I have two budgies, the white one in this photo was rescued from crows and is doing very well. I purchased a female to keep it company then thinking this white bird was a male I installed a nest box and the blue female has since laid an egg. Now I am unsure if the budgie in this photo is a male?

Can you please let me know if it is a male.

Many Thanks

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[Laraine]

I would say it is a female.

[avinet]

It is a female, but looking at the enlarged photo there are clear indications it has scaly mite. If you look closely at the beak and Cere (fleshy part around the nostrils) you can see tiny holes, and part of the beak has an area of rough, scaly appearance.

Scaly mite is a tiny microscopic mite that burrows down into the beak area to suck blood. Those holes are the breathing tube for the mite, and the rough growth on the beak is the bird's attempt to fight the parasite. Birds catch it from other birds, and most likely it got the mite infection while in the wild.

If left untreated it can spread and eventually kill the bird. I have posted photos elsewhere on the forum of bad cases - see aussiebirds.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=medicine&action=display&thread=5258

Best treatment is with Ivermectin, but that can be difficult to source without a vet trip. Where do you live? Might know someone close by that can help. Alternatively pet shops sell a treatment that is painted on the affected area with a cotton bud and block the breathing holes of the mist hence killing it. That works pretty well with a mild case such as this, but when it spreads around the eye, feet and vent it isn't very effective. Ivermectin works by putting a few drops on the skin on the back of the neck and is absorbed into the blood and kills the mite when it sucks that blood.

It can be spread to the other budgie quite easily, so if you can use Ivermectin treat it also, if you use the paint on treatment, just keep a close eye on the blue budgie for any signs of it starting.

cheers,

Mike

[lyrebird]

I think its a female

[Karen]

Spot on Mike.
I have used baby oil with 100% effective rate on mild to moderate cases of scaley mite so it is easy to treat if you are unable to get to the vet for proper treatment.