That's good that Pogo seems perkier already in just a few days - was he noticeably less active lately?

How are they taking to the new diet of more pellets?

Thanks for that info. When I was doing research on the web about iodine, I came across the "Bird Builder" supplements and they look good too. the Nekron-S I got is also supposed to be good, and was recommended by the Vet. I think the Bird Builder is more of a iodine supplement than the Nektron-S which has more vitamins and minerals than just "track amounts". The Bird Builder also said if your birds are on a pellet diet, that Bird Builder is not recommended because apparently it could cause an iodine overdoes because most pellets diets have calcium iodiate in them, which is a source of pure iodine.

So, what I've done is 1/2 the dosage of the Nekron-S since I'm also trying to get Pogo & Ziggy to eat primarily Zupreem pellets (has iodine also), and of course some fruits & veggies.

Yes, both Pogo and Ziggy have had Zupreem pellets before. I think as time went on I started using more and more basic Budgie seed mix and less pellets. Also, I'm guilty of feeding Pogo too much human foods that weren't that good for him. Hard not to spoil him. Ziggy never really went for human food like Pogo. But yes, they both are eating the pellets. I'm still mixing 1/3 basic seed mix with the pellets at this time, and have limited millet a small chunk once every 3 or 4 days. It's funny to watch them scrounge on the floor of the cage and the room's floor looking for un-husked seeds that might have been left behind. What's surprising is that Ziggy thinks the pellets are a treat ... I have in the past put 100% pellets in a small treat dish, and Ziggy (and sometimes Pogo) would instantly go eat pellets out of the small dish like it was a treat.

Yes, Pogo was getting pretty bad. He was very inactive and sometimes could hardly balance on his perch or barely fly from the floor to the cage. His breathing was fast and shallow and he slept a lot. That's when I took him to the Vet, as I thought he was going to die shortly (maybe cancerous tumors since they seemed to be growing so big) and didn't want him to suffer. Even the Vet was surprised how big his lumps were, and said they were too big to operate on. Apparently, the lumps could not be removed without also removing the skin attached to them, and there wouldn't be enough excess skin to cover the wounds. Plus, these fatty lumps have blood vessels at the surface, so surgery would cause a lot of blood loss, and Budgies don't have that much blood to start with.

Pogo is a great bird & you are doing a great job - there is no certainty to your causing this to happen. It is admirable that you are trying to help him and improve his quality of life.
You have been a great owner of Pogo - sure you spoiled him with some bad things. From what I've seen, you always offered a variety of foods and of course a wonderful home and a pal.

I have read a lot about pellets & all seed diets being 'bad' for parrots. I learned this just as Bow discovered the forage for pellets game, on table tops and on the bed, Rio has joined in too. My birds fly to the pellets when I shake the jar. I mix the Zupreem Veggie Pellet with Harrison's fine High Potency Pellet. The Zupreem are more aerated so they are easier to chew. But they do get the hang of the Harrison's after a bit. They are offered Pellets once a day around the time we give them the soaked seeds.

When we bought this bag of Organic seeds they had a note on the bag saying to soak the seed for 8 to 10 hours before feeding. At 1st we just gave them a 1- 2 tsp each of seed as usual. Then we saw that many seeds were not being eaten, especially the oats & millet! They loved the Canary seed best. I tried soaking the seeds [1level tsp of dry for 2 birds] and it only took a day or so before they were hooked. I soak the seed before I go to bed. After rinsing the seeds in the morning and putting them in those cute hamster bowls, I start another batch for the afternoon feast, when they get their Pellets too.

Iodine Block - Until recently I didn't have one. I did have the mineral block that had Iodine in the ingredients. I have used the mineral powders recommended by the Vet and they will drink them. I use the Apple Cider Vinegar in their water every day so I often forget to give them the minerals too. A few months ago I purchased an Iodine block. It is beside the mineral block. It is 1/2 gone already. I think they both must be at it - there is no waste.
Maybe you have to offer it as an option & they will get what they need???

Well, it's been about 12 days since I started Pogo (and Ziggy is along for the ride) on the vitamin/iodine supplements and have changed their diet quite a bit (more pellets / fruits & veggies and less human foods).

I can see a definite difference in Pogo's behavior and strength. His heavy breathing is almost gone, and his energy level is much higher and his flight efforts have become near normal again ... it's amazing IMO that he's reacted this fast.

His lumps are still pretty big, but I do think they might have gone down some, or else it's just his weight loss ... not sure yet.

They both sure don't like the changes that have happened ... but I'm sure they will get use to it with time. Ziggy doesn't like the taste of the water now, and will try to get water from the sink sometimes when I'm running water. He's only done this a couple times, so obviously he must be drinking the new "brew".

One thing I've noticed is they now fight each other sometimes for food. I'm still mixing about 1/3 of the old regular "Budgie seeds" in with the pellets, so naturally they pick through all those first ... typical Budgie thing. I don't give them more until they eat some of the pellets too. Then when I give them a fresh reload they go nuts and scrambling for as much as they can find until it's only pellets again.

And you should see them when I put a couple marble sized pieces of millet in their cage ... it's like a couple piranhas that haven't ate for a week gnawing on someone who just fell into the Amazon river!

Anyway, I feel kind of bad for them that they have to make these changes ... because I'm the one who got them into this bad eating scenario. I wished I could have not gone down that path in the first place. If I wouldn't have taken Pogo to the Vet when he was looking bad, he would have died from his lack of iodine and bad eating with not much more time I think. He seems to be doing a lot better now ... and hopefully those lumps will disappear with more time.

From what I've learned here, Budgies really need iodine to stay healthy. I'd recommend all Budgies get some level of a vitamin/iodine supplement ... unless they are eating 100% pellets which supposedly do have all the vitamin and iodine they would need ... and of course along with fruits/veggies, etc.

Kisses on those sweet beaks from me and Ruby!!!