1. Home
Close
My budgie started burying his head in between his wings he never used to what does this mean? | Boop by Petco

My budgie started burying his head in between his wings he never used to what does this mean?

Updated On March 16th, 2015

This question includes photos that may contain sensitive content. Click to view.

View more to consider that the photos may include sensitive content.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By Laura E. McRae

Veterinary Technician

Many birds, including budgies, will sleep with their heads nestled down over their backs and between their wings, especially at night. This is perfectly normal behavior. However, a bird that isn't feeling well will spend more time with its heads nestled down into its feathers and less time engaging in preening, eating, playing, and other normal activities. A sick bird may also stop vocalizing, sit puffed or fluffed up, sneeze or have discharge from their nares, have loose stools, have stools caked around the vent, and/or pick at its food or not eat at all. So, if your bird seems listless or is exhibiting any of the above symptoms, seek veterinary attention right away.

Vote icon

161Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Other Answers

See More Answers

Related Questions

left image

Can I use little honey to make my budgie's food more visible to him? To make it look like a treat but it'll be a stick of his gourmet food held together by honey.

Hello there! A little bit of honey isn't harmful for budgies, however I don't recommend using it as an everyday trick for getting him to eat his regular food. Honey is high in sugars (fructose and glucose), which is not good for birds in large amounts. If your budgie isn't interested in his regular food, there are many different brands that make all sorts of shapes, colors, and flavors to entice Zachary to eat (I recommend higher-quality brands like Zupreem, Harrison's, and Lafeber's). I would, of course, involved an avian vet if he doesn't seem hungry at all, as this could indicate an underlying medical issue. Making sure Zachary has access to fresh fruits and veggies is also a good idea. Good luck, and I hope that Zachary decides that pellets are yummy!

Read More

Hello. My door was open with a screen net and a raccoon came right up to the door making contact with my cat. Face to face. Is there a way for her to catch anything like that like rabies? Or does a cat have to get bitten for that? I immediately ran up and closed the door. The raccoon was coming to eat the bird seeds. Is there anything to worry about here?

Thanks for visiting Boop by Petco. Rabies is commonly spread through a bite wound. So there is very low risk of rabies transmission based on what you have described as making ocntact through a screen net. It isn't impossible because rabies is found in the saliva, just very unlikely in this scenario. Just keep an eye on your pet Kate for the next 7 days for any abnormal behavior (i.e. excessive vocalization, irrational behaivor, aggressive behavior, and if she is not up to date on her rabies vaccination, I would highly recommend getting her vaccinated asap. I hope that things work out well for your pet Kate moving forward. Best wishes and take care.

Read More

I have a cockatoo Moluccan 10 years old, she has a wound under her wing. She is having a plucking issue and she keeps scratching under her wing. Please help me

Hello, thank you for using Boop by Petco. I'm sorry that Luca is having this issue. Feather picking in birds is EXTREMELY difficult to determine the underlying cause in many cases. The first thing you have to do is rule out any underlying medical causes so you need to take her to an avian veterinarian for an exam and some testing. Your vet will also discuss the diet (improper diet can cause bad feather quality causing them to pick them out). If you can rule out an underlying medical condition then the issue is likely behavioral and your vet can help you with treatment which typically includes a combination of environmental enrichment and behavior modification medications. If you try to just keep "putting a band-aid" on the issue by avoiding the vet you are not going to get anywhere. If the problem is an underlying medical condition and that is not addressed, no matter what you do at home to "treat" her she will not get better. There is no quick fix for this problem. I have linked below a good article for you to read about this problem in birds. I have also linked a topical mediation you can apply to the wound until you can get her to a vet. It is a spray hydrogel. If she doesn't like the spray sound you can apply the gel with your fingers or a cotton ball. ( https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk491/files/inline-files/Feather-picking_in_Birds.pdf ) ( https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/vetericyn-plus-antimicrobial-wound-and-skin-hydrogel-for-pets ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Read More

My amazon parrot just swallowed a metal snap. All emergency vets are unable to respond, no avian vet on call. I read metal snaps can cause metal poisoning, can they?

Hello, thank you for using Boop by Petco. I'm sorry that Mango is having this issue. Yes, many different metals can cause toxicity in birds if ingested but the main ones of concern are lead and zinc. You will need to take Mango to an avian vet when they are open. The metal snap will need to be removed even if it is made of a non harmless metal like stainless steel. I suggest you go to a speciality center as they are more likely to have an endoscope which will be better than doing an open surgery for removal. Sometimes, depending on where the metal piece is located in the GI tract and the size of the snap, they can try removal via bulking agents fed orally instead of doing any invasive procedures. ( https://www.buffalobirdnerd.com ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Read More

My cockatiel has recently been diagnosed with a respiratory infection and is being treated twice daily with 0.05 mg of Enrofoxacin for 10 days twice now he's aspirated on his medicine, I've taken him to the vet after the first time and he was fine, should I take him again? The fluid amount is very low but it makes me nervous, he's scheduled for another appointment tommorow at 10am and they want to perform and xray and the sedation is scaring me. What should I know?

Hello, thank you for using Boop by Petco. It sounds like X-rays are warranted for Prince to see what is going on. It is not normal for him to aspirate on the medication - possibly there is some type of obstruction in his throat? If he is eating well then you may want to consider putting the medication in a drop of yogurt or applesauce or something with that consistency that he likes; I'm guessing you are syringing the medication directly into his mouth? Sedation is always risky in birds especially if there is a respiratory issue already underlying. You will need to speak to your vet about this more about the risks vs benefits of performing the X-rays. Maybe they can give him just a very light sedative and do the X-rays standing instead of laying down. It depends on what type of X-ray machine your vet has. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Read More

What are the best type of perches for my two year old male black capped conure?

It is best to provide Ava with a few different types of perches. They should range in diameter. Natural perches are best, as they provide varying shapes which is best for your bird’s feet. A pedicure perch is also recommended (ie: "sweet feet" perch) which is a textured perch that helps keep toenails trimmed and smooth, as well as the bird’s beak. You can find a plethora of perches on Amazon. ( https://www.amazon.com/natural-perches-Parakeets/s?k=natural+perches+for+Parakeets )

Read More

right image
image
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Sponsored