budgie fluffed up

Question
Ok will seek a avairian vet. Whilst watching him today he spends about 10 mins sleeping then 5-10 mins eat/drink/looking in mirror etc (vain little bird). tail bobbing may have been a bit extreme as he hasnt done it since and there's no weird noises or breathing looking problems but he is still quiet, very fluffed up and shivering looking so will get him checked out. Never taken a budgie to the vets but if he has got a problem what are the medicine recovery rates like.Thanks for your help.
James
-------------------------------------------
The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Hi there had a budgie for about 4 years he's always been bright chirppy and fiesty if you tried to touch him. Lately he's been fluffed up, shivering and sleeps with head round in his wing most of time but then comes round for a time . Room is nice and warm though. He eats well,drinks well no signs of discharge,eyes are good and bright,droopings normal but he slightly bobs his tail whilst on his perch now and has colourless tail feathers! Dont know if relevant but wondering if its moulting season and just bit off colour! any thing to hepl him that i can et in UK pet shops.
-----Answer-----
Hi, James.  Thanks for posting.

Well, it sounds like your budgie could be having respiratory problems with the tail bobbing.  The fluffing up of the feathers, etc., confirms this could be the problem or your bird could be ill with something else.  What you've described sounds like a sick bird to me.  Sick birds will still eat, drink, etc., because birds hide symptoms of illness until they can't hide them any more.  At this point, it's usually an emergency situation.  The colorless tail feathers could indicate a health problem, particularly if the bird at this age has always had tail feathers with color, but sometimes as bird's age, some coloration on their bodies changes with molts.  

If your bird has a respiratory problem or some other illness, you need prescription medication from an avian veterinarian ASAP.  There is nothing sold in a pet shop that will do your bird any good so save your money.  You might want to try giving your bird a probiotic (look up on the internet) or some type of herbal immune system booster until you can get s/he to the vet.  The latter wouldn't be a cure, just something to try and help the bird over a rough spot until medication can be provided.  I recommend you make an appointment with an avian veterinarian, or a veterinarian trained/educated in treating aves, without delay.  Your bird will most likely not get any better if you don't.

Chrys

Answer
Hi again, James.

I don't know for sure that your budgie is sick.  However, s/he is showing some typical signs of illness.  Recovery rate would depend on how ill the bird is, how soon you get the bird to the bird vet, what the bird has, the quality of the bird's immune system, etc.  Not something I can predict.

Chrys