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I have a question for you experts out there. I have a male w/f pink bourke that all of a sudden has this problem, his head is always turned as if he was looking out of one eye twards the ground, and he dont fly in a straight line either. What would be the cause of this, anything I can do for him? Go figure it would be my nicest cock too!

Thanks for your help.

Danaw

Hey Dan,

Sounds like he had night fright and flew into something, maybe? I have a bourke that flew into a window, he has a few weird moments but he is ok.

Cathy

Oh my , kill him? Is there anyway to be sure? He has been fine all his time, and he has a mate and one baby, I hate to get rid of him that way. How would he get this virus?

Dan

This might be a long shot, but could it be stargazing? Also known as Twirling Disease?

http://www.ladygouldianfinch.com/features_twirling.mgi
http://finchfiles.com/FinchFiles/Health ... gazing.htm
http://www.finchniche.com/f-twirling.mgi

It's either that, trauma, an ear infection, or a nutritional imbalance. I suggest a vet checkup.

That is exactly what he started doing, I have had him now since last fall, with no problems. He gets nexton s on veggies, has a mineral block, cuttle bone, and feed a well balanced parakeet/cockatiel mix. If it would be a virus, wouldnt if had showed up by now? None of the rest of the birds are showing these signs.

No, diseases and illnesses can stay dormant for months without any signs, which is why a lot of people are starting to say that 60-90 day quarantine is more efficient than 30 days. Sometimes, it doesn't affect the bird until some sort of environmental change, such as stress or egg laying/breeding.

This is why it may be a good idea to see an avian vet to try and diagnose this... and to talk about stargazing if it has anything to do with it.

Hmmmm, I will def be talking to a vet tommorow, for now, I put him by himself. He is Yelling at me, telling me he has a wife and kids to take care of! LOL

I have had him in house now since Sept of last year. And he has been set up for breedding since then. I am thinking (hoping) its an inner ear thing. He is otherwise very healthy, fertile, not thin at all.

I have to say I really haven't had much luck with bourkes (let alone budgies), but I hope you find out what's wrong with him!

Please keep us updated!

Have you considered it may be an ear infection. An ear infection will cause them to do this and also cause problem with the equilibrium being off.

I have, and Doc McDonald said it could be that, or some sort of virus that is irreversable. I will let him as he is, and see how he does. Hope he gets better.

He can be treated with an antibiotic for that for 7-10 days. I would try that, it won't hurt and if he gets better you know that's what it was. Left untreated can compromise his immune system and cause other problems as well.