Ask Lafeber

Runner budgies

I’ve just gotten a runner budgie, is there any special way to treat her?

 

Hi,

A budgie is referred to a runner when something causes it to lose or not have the long flight feathers, so it tends to run around the bottom of the cage since it can’t fly. Since these little guys seem very cute because of the way they move around, they were given cute names like runners, crawlers or creepers. Unfortunately, the reason they end up this way was not known, so they were considered harmless. The most common causes are two viruses – Polyoma, formerly called French Molt in Budgies and a Circovirus that causes Psittacine Beak & Feather Disease. Both of these can be transmitted to other birds. While an injury, genetics or a birth defect might cause feather abnormalities, you must assume the bird has one or both of these highly contagious viruses.

As for special treatment, if you have other birds, you really shouldn’t have this bird. You can minimize the risk of spreading the virus by having the bird in another room, far from the other birds. You can use a virucide in a foot bath and keep everything disinfected with one. But both viruses can be spread by particles in the air from infected dander or feces. A highly rated HEPA filter, such as those made by Austin Air, would be good to have in the room where the budgie lives. And ideally the cage and area around the cage should be cleaned daily to avoid loose dander or dried feces. If you use any type of vacuum, a HEPA vacuum is recommended, and should only be used in the room where that bird lives.

If you do not have other birds, then you can focus on giving this little bird a good life. The cage should be low and long. You don’t want the bird to climb too high and then fall. You might look at habitats for small mammals(hamsters, gerbils), but make sure the bar spacing is close enough together. Wire ramps can give the bird more exercise – again check for small mammal accessories. Keep the bird in a stable environment and offer a nutritionally balanced diet like pellets – not a loose seed mix. Our Nutri-Berries would be good for her – they are balanced the same as a pellet but the ingredients are not ground up. You can also offer leafy greens and chopped veggies. Do not get her any type of nest or house – no bird huts, tents, boxes,etc. You do not want to trigger her hormones and have her try to lay eggs. The stress of this can cause the virus to activate and she could die. Likewise don’t keep her environment too warm, as this can be a hormone trigger. She should not have a need for supplemental heat unless her condition gets worse and she loses most of her body feathers. These budgies can live full lives, with the only concern, again, for any healthy birds being exposed to her.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda