Macrorhabdus in Budgerigars What Breeders Need to Know Macrorhabdus ornithogaster, often historically called “avian gastric yeast” or “megabacteria”, is one of the most significant gastrointestinal pathogens affecting budgerigars in Australia. It is a yeast that colonises the narrow junction between…

Understanding “Lethal Genes” in Budgerigars In budgerigar breeding, the term “lethal gene” is often used loosely, and sometimes incorrectly, to describe genetic combinations that result in embryo death, chick mortality, or severe non-viable deformities. From a biological perspective, a lethal…

Tail Feather Cutting in Budgerigars: Myth, Mechanism and Best Practice Dr Hamish Baron – The Unusual Pet Vets Question: Some fanciers are promoting the practice of cutting tail feathers and then leaving them for a few weeks before pulling them,…

Feeding Natural Forage to Address Vitamin A Deficiency in Seed Diets Dr Hamish Baron, PhD The Unusual Pet Vets Australia Introduction Budgerigars are physiologically adapted to a highly varied, opportunistic diet in the wild. Although grass seeds form a substantial…

Bacterial diseases in budgerigars: what breeders should know Bacterial disease in budgerigars is rarely “bad luck” alone. More often, it’s the end result of a few familiar pressures stacking up at once: overcrowding, hygiene slipping under workload, nutritional gaps, and…