Brian, my older (about 5 years) budgie has lost the three longest primaries on his left wing. I’ve found all of them either in or fairly close to the cage after I spent New Year’s Eve away, though he’s been a bit dodgy on the ‘lift’ aspect of his flight for a week or so.
He can’t gain height except in very short bursts, like an assisted jump. When he tries his usual game of formation circuits of the lounge with Bob, Brian ends up either on a bench or the floor instead of the curtain rails. While it’s comical watching him waddle his way back and ‘salmon jump’ his way back up the furniture to their cage, I am worried.
He doesn’t seem to be in pain and both boys are carpeting the cage with feathers of all sizes, so it could be part of the moult. But he’s never lost so many flight feathers on one wing before.
He’s eating as usual, social and grooming both himself and Bob.
Advise me, Avian Dopers! Please!