Hi. My healthy vigorous birdy has turned into couch potato. Hes been unwell for a number of months. They eat bird pelletts and greens and refuse anything new. Lately he has got some flying back, but seems over weight and developing an over grown bottom beak. I dropped in extra cuttlefish, but he's doesn't even sniff at it. What can i do to improve the under over bite?

Chippy is still going well. So not sure why the very fit bird is declining so badly.

They don't eat seed as Chippy was cherry picking the millet and starving herself

Im a bit sad its been years sincevthe forum was used. I guess i wont get any replies

You need to see a vet. An overgrown beak can be a sign of liver disease, and being overweight can cause liver disease.

If your bird is eating pellets, it doesn't need cuttlebone. The pellets provide all the calcium that is needed.

I put the extra cuttlefish in as i thought he might bite it. And a bell, but being male he doesnt bite stuff

Do bird pellets cause liver problems?

I leave the door open, but they won't come out of the cage. Should i force them to fly? Its been an ongoing issue as Chippy couldnt fly when she starve herself for millet. I successfully transferred them to pellets. Im sure it wouldn't be an issue if they were both good at flying. So im thinking a seed bell, because i know he will bite it. Im in Melbourne. I never found a vet who works with small birds

Pellets are designed to help prevent diet-related problems like liver disease, by providing a well-balanced diet. But many vets feel that a diet of 100% pellets isn't desirable especially for small birds like budgies, because there are so many nutrients that it becomes too much of a good thing. It's not bad to have some seeds in the diet, as long as your birds continue to eat pellets and veggies.

It's VERY desirable for them to have exercise. If they love millet, you can allow them to have some but only when they're out of the cage. That will give them an incentive to come out and play! If they're basically cagebound now, you can start by putting a little bit of millet spray shortly outside the cage, and then move it farther away as the birds get bolder. The goal is to eventually make them fly for it.

Thanks. Took him to vet, who didnt really help. Got the beak fixed, but he died overnight. Poor lil guy.