Why is the parrot trembling: how to help your feathered pet

Parrots are very cheerful and playful pets. They spend all their waking hours in motion. They chirp near the mirror, fly, and have fun with toys.

The activity and curiosity of the bird develops into affection for humans. In most cases, the person responds to the bird in kind, getting a lot of pleasure from spending time together. Beautiful cages, unusual toys, various islands of entertainment - all this makes it possible to observe her playful behavior.

But one day the owner notices a sharp drop in his pet’s playful mood. The bird loses its usual activity; it can sit for a long time on a perch or the bottom of the cage, ruffled. If we exclude diseases, then the state when the parrot is ruffled is a feature of its pastime.

During sleep, the parrot deliberately increases the volume of its plumage to better retain body heat. During the rest period, all physiological processes slow down, and the body loses precious heat. After awakening, the bird returns to active life again.

The parrot is trembling or ruffled: what does this mean?

Do you notice that the bird is shaking and clucking, but you don’t know why? A parrot's body trembling may mean that your pet is sick, scared, or in discomfort. Everything can be simple or very complicated, but this fact certainly cannot be ignored. If you get yourself a parrot, you must take care of it and protect it from various dangers.

Experienced bird owners have probably more than once encountered the problem when the bird trembles, puffs itself, and often closes its eyes. Behavior that is uncharacteristic for a pet is the first warning signal for the owner that urgent action needs to be taken. Sometimes it’s enough just to warm up the bird, and sometimes you need to quickly go to the doctor. First, you should take a close look at the bird to understand why it is ruffled, and only then draw conclusions regarding its condition.

Other manifestations of ill health

Usually, the feathering is accompanied by other signs of the bird’s painful condition: trembling, difficulty breathing, eyes closed as if in pain, and there may be vomiting and diarrhea. The parrot sleeps almost all the time and sits at the bottom of the cage, and not on the perch - he simply does not have the strength to do this.

The ruffled appearance of a parrot makes it clear to the owners that the pet either has a cold, has poisoning, or is in pain for some reason. The reasons for this behavior can be various diseases that develop in birds and can affect any organs: eyes, ears, beak, paws, wings, etc. Various infections and diseases of internal organs are also possible.

Of course, only an ornithologist can determine the specific cause, who, if necessary, will do the necessary tests and examinations to clarify the situation.

Causes of trembling

The main reasons for this behavior:

1. Hypothermia. Perhaps you placed the cage in a draft or simply forgot to close the window? If the room is cool, and the parrot’s wings are trembling, then he is simply cold. Why don't his wings protect him from freezing? Although plumage is a protective barrier from the environment, it cannot completely protect the bird’s skin from all adverse effects.
2. Fear or stress. Any animal that lives in your home can scare the bird with a sudden movement or sound. Do you have children? Why don't you ask if they scared the parrot? If the pet is very frightened, it will tremble and cackle. The same thing happens with stress. Changing your place of residence or introducing a new bird can be a shock for your pet.
3. Disease. If your budgerigar is trembling and ruffled, and besides, you notice other symptoms, then most likely the bird is sick. The bird may sneeze, close its eyes, its droppings will be liquid, and its crop will be filled with vomit. Signs of the disease can occur in a complex or individually. Any of them is a reason to see a doctor.
4. Avitaminosis. If there is a lack of vitamins, any parrot will crest, tremble and bristle its tail. This happens when the bird’s diet is too monotonous and poor in useful components.

If your parrot is ruffled, trembles a little, appears drowsy (closes his eyes more often and sleeps), cannot poop, but has a good appetite. In this case, you should show the bird to a doctor, since these symptoms may indicate various pathologies.

In the video, the parrot's wings are shaking.

When to see a doctor

There are certain symptoms that you should immediately contact your veterinarian for:

• fracture of limbs, tail or wing;
• the appearance of a bleeding wound on the body;
• signs of poisoning and digestive disorders;
• apathy, drowsiness;
• itching of the skin, excessive loss of feathers;
• partial or complete refusal to eat;
• convulsions in a budgie;
• uncharacteristic cry, wheezing.

In the situations described above, it is better to consult a specialist for a diagnosis. You may certainly not know what causes this or that symptom, but the doctor will quickly determine the cause of this condition and alleviate it as soon as possible.

Is there anything I need to do?

A good owner always notices any changes in the behavior of the wavy. If the bird starts to feather its feathers and behaves very quietly, you can’t just pretend that nothing is happening. This behavior can signal serious health problems, so without treatment and surgical intervention the bird may die.

If the parrot has just been purchased, it will behave warily. After a period of adaptation and getting used to a person, his unique character is revealed. If the parrot suddenly begins to crest, then other symptoms that may signal the presence of a serious disease are initially assessed.

Next, it is recommended to do the following:

• the parrot and the cage, as well as other equipment, are inspected to make sure that the bird has not swallowed a foreign object;
• it is advisable to remember what exactly happened before the bird ruffled its feathers, for example, if there was loud screaming in the house, then such behavior may be associated with stress;
• if two parrots live in one cage, then it is advisable to remove the individual that is behaving suspiciously;
• ensures silence in the room;
• the heat lamp is turned on to warm the bird;
• sorbent or a small amount of chamomile infusion is poured into the beak through a syringe without a needle;
• if during the inspection of the bird wounds or fractures are found, they are treated with an antiseptic and also fixed with a cloth;
• To support your pet's strength, you can give 2 drops of glucose.

Using different actions, you can understand why the parrot changed its behavior. If a bird is frightened and exhausted, it ruffles its feathers. If there are no additional symptoms that indicate the presence of the disease, then you can cope with this situation on your own.

But if the bird does not react, and also develops a cough or diarrhea, then it is recommended that all manipulations be performed only after consultation with a veterinarian.

Adaptation of a bird to a new home

When changing a cage or moving to a new home, a parrot may feel not just discomfort, but even severe stress. You will notice that he is cackling and shaking, but you will not understand why. If you have recently moved or bought a new cage, then you will just need to wait until the bird gets used to it, carefully examining its home with its eyes.

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Talk to him, monitor his behavior and do not let him out for several days. Let the baby get used to the new home, look around, notice all the toys. It happens that the bird gets ruffled and looks irritated and constantly angrily rushes at some object. To calm your pet, simply remove the irritant from the cage.

Poisoning

The causes of poisoning can be various factors:

1. Poor quality food and water with possible bacterial and fungal infections;
2. Foods prohibited for consumption by parrots;
3. Accidental consumption of poisonous indoor plants by a bird;
4. Chemical poisoning: aerosol substances used by humans in enclosed spaces;
5. Intoxication resulting from direct contact with low-quality feeders, drinkers and toys made using toxic materials;

If the parrot gets ruffled and vomits, this is obvious poisoning.

Symptoms of poisoning include vomiting, seizures, and changes in the concentration and color of droppings. With severe intoxication, loss of coordination may occur. In some cases, trembling and paralysis. It is very important to notice this problem at an early stage and begin treatment immediately.

First aid for illness and injury

If you notice symptoms of illness in your parrot or see that the bird has been injured, give your pet first aid before visiting a doctor. You shouldn’t treat your bird yourself if you don’t know for sure how to do it! Just provide your pet with care and minimal pain.

In case of hypothermia, cover the cage with a thick cloth, leaving a gap in front. You can also direct the light from the lamp onto the pallet. If you experience shortness of breath, the lamp should be removed.

If the parrot is shaking, tufting, spreading its legs, limping, or protruding its wing or tail unnaturally, then the bird may have a fracture. Carefully pick up the bird and transport it to the hospital as soon as possible.

The wound can be treated with hydrogen peroxide, but under no circumstances should you use alcohol, brilliant green and iodine, as these compounds can cause a burn to the bird. In some cases, wrapping the bird or placing it in a box with soft flooring helps (especially effective for convulsions).

Treatment of a feathered friend

Unless you are a veterinarian, it is best not to treat your bird yourself. In case of simple hypothermia, colds, poisoning, stress or even inflammation of the eyes, you can correct the situation at home. But in case of animal bites, fractures of the tail, wing, paw, dislocations, inflammations of various types, or the presence of infections, you need to contact a specialist as soon as possible, otherwise the outcome may be fatal.

Are there preventive measures?

Despite the fact that parrots are quite unpretentious to their living conditions, they still need comfort and coziness. The homeland of these birds is in countries with hot climatic conditions, for this reason they need the same conditions in captivity. Hypothermia can be fatal for this species of bird; in particular, they can develop kidney disease, which is difficult to treat.

As a preventive measure against the occurrence of any disease, it is to avoid drafts and sudden temperature changes, since they are delicate and sensitive creatures and are so easily susceptible to colds.

They can easily catch an infectious disease from their owners, so if you are sick, do not go near them under any circumstances, most likely they will get infected from you, and it will not be so easy to cure them.

And most importantly, you should not take on the treatment of a parrot on your own, because you will still not be able to provide highly qualified assistance, and you will miss out on valuable time. Due to the fact that the metabolism of parrots is carried out at a high speed, all diseases in them develop extremely quickly. So, don’t be late and save your pet!

Prevention of diseases and stress

In order for your parrot to feel comfortable and not get sick, it is necessary to provide it with appropriate conditions in the cage. Arrange the bird's house so that it feels comfortable there. The cage itself and the perches must be made of natural and high-quality materials.

An important component of good care is proper nutrition of the bird. Feed only proven ingredients, not forgetting about vitamins. Avoid obesity or exhaustion of the body. If your pet closes its eyes, tucks its tail, cackles, and is exhausted, then you should think about force-feeding with a syringe or pipette.

It should also be remembered that parrots are susceptible to airborne viral diseases. If you have a cold, then temporarily limit your communication with birds. Well, if you basically don’t know what to do, but notice strange symptoms in your pet, then just seek help from a doctor.

Diseases are the cause of the ruffled appearance

Unfortunately, very often the ruffled condition is accompanied by additional symptoms of the disease. At this moment, it becomes clear that changes are occurring in the pet’s body, the consequence of which is a decrease in body temperature. If the parrot is ruffled and sleeping, there is only one conclusion - the pet is sick.

Having discovered alarming signs, in order to avoid the neglect of the disease, you will need to identify the cause and begin treatment of the parrot. Studying symptoms and laboratory tests will provide a complete picture of the disease. If it is not possible to go to a specialized clinic, then treatment falls on the shoulders of the owner.

Video “Diseases of parrots. Symptoms and treatment"

This video talks about why parrots get sick, how to diagnose the disease and cure it.

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Colds

The homeland of parrots, in most cases, is hot countries (Africa, Australia, South America). Any, even seemingly short-term, ventilation of the room can cause colds in birds. The temperature regime must always be observed, depending on the type of parrot.

• ruffled appearance;
• lethargy and apathy;
• lack of playful and active mood;
• the appearance of heavy breathing or shortness of breath;
• sneezing;
• mucous discharge from the nostrils;
• sagging of the bird's tail to an almost vertical position.

If the parrot is ruffled and trembling, this is a clear sign of a cold. In this case, the bird may refuse to eat food and water.

How to help

What can be done if the parrot is ruffled and unwell? A bird that is not feeling well should not be left unattended. In small parrots, all processes in the body occur at lightning speed, and the bird fades away within a few days. First of all, if you notice something is wrong, watch your pet. You may see other signs of illness. Understand the situation in more detail, examine the room, the cage and the bird itself. Remember what happened before the wavy fluffed up.

You should only take measures that will not harm your pet:

1. put the bird away from its neighbors in a separate cage;
2. ventilate the room by first covering the cage or moving it to another room;
3. ensure silence and cleanliness in the room;
4. warm the bird in your palms or under a lamp;
5. pour sorbent into the beak from a syringe without a needle;
6. drink with warm chamomile decoction;
7. Having discovered a wound or fracture, treat and secure with a bandage;
8. To maintain strength, give 2–3 drops of glucose.

A domestic parrot is ruffled not only from the cold. When a bird is exhausted, frightened, weak or sick, its feathers become ruffled. If there are no additional symptoms of ill health, then the owner can eliminate the problem himself. But in severe cases, you should immediately contact a veterinarian.

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Improper feeding

The budgerigar is an active bird that is constantly on the move. A healthy parrot jumps from branch to branch, walks along the bottom and pecks grains, tears paper, but will not sit on the floor of the cage. So it’s not entirely clear why the parrot suddenly spends a lot of time downstairs. Probably his paws get tired of sticking to the perch and it’s more convenient for him to sit on the tray. The reason for this condition is poor nutrition: too much fatty food or lack of nutrients.

Obesity in a parrot

You should feed your pet not on demand, but on time, observing portion sizes. If you do not follow a diet, your parrot will become accustomed to overeating due to excess weight. A heavy body puts stress on the legs and wings. An obese bird has difficulty moving and is simply uncomfortable.

Monotonous food

A word of warning! It should also be noted that fasting is one of the causes of weakness in birds. The food may be of poor quality, and the parrot may not get enough of it. In some cases, malnutrition may be caused by switching to another food that the bird does not like.

What to do, how to help your pet

There are several tips that you can use if your bird’s condition does not cause concern, and the reason for his trembling and pouting is not due to illness:

1. wrap a frozen pet in a warm, soft towel and gently hold it close to you, turn on a heating lamp for it - after a while it will warm up and stop shaking;
2. if the parrot is trembling due to stress or fear, eliminate the cause of this condition and give the bird time to calm down, talk to it gently, and give it a treat.

All other conditions require medical supervision.

Disease Prevention

It is important to provide your pet with the right living conditions. Everything he has the opportunity to come into contact with must be safe for his health and life.

• For breeds as delicate and small as the budgerigar, it is important that food is always available. Make sure that the products are always of high quality and fresh, and that the diet is varied.
• Monitor air temperature and humidity. The microclimate in your room with birds should be optimal for life (22-25°C).
• Protect your pet from stress.
• Adjust daylight hours, clearly delineating the time of wakefulness and sleep. Lighting lamps and thick fabric will help you with this, with which you can cover the cage with the parrot when it is time for him to rest.
• Remove poisonous plants from the room that the bird can taste, do not place it in the kitchen, do not smoke in the same room as it, and make sure that it does not have access to toxic substances.
• Take care of the hygiene of your pet’s home and himself: regularly clean the tray of the cage, wash and disinfect all equipment.
• Both overeating, which can cause obesity, and undernutrition, which leads to exhaustion, are unacceptable. In the latter case, you need to force-feed the pet with nutritional masses from a syringe without a needle.
• A pet can get an infection from a sick person, so they should limit contact with each other until they have fully recovered.

A shaking and ruffled parrot needs your care and immediate response. By noticing the disease in time and starting to treat it, you give your pet every chance to live a long and happy life with you. Don't deprive him of this opportunity.

Treatment

During treatment, the room temperature should not fall below a minimum of +22 degrees Celsius. Artificial heat sources are used for additional heating. Thermal procedures are carried out for an hour, with an interval of three hours, 3 – 4 times a day. Overheating of the bird is avoided.

The water in the drinking bowl is replaced with a chamomile solution with periodic replacement up to 3 times a day. You can add 3 drops of honey and lemon juice to the solution per 50 ml. If you have a runny nose, you will need to take inhalations. When the disease is severe, antibiotics are used. All dosages and treatment times are prescribed by an experienced specialist.

Of course, it is better to entrust the taking of measures for the recovery of your pet to an experienced veterinarian. Qualified assistance in case of illness is necessary. If for some reason it is not possible to bring your pet to the clinic or there is no clinic itself, you will have to provide your friend with independent help. You can use Internet resources by providing the forum with information about the general symptoms of the disease with photographs of the sick bird. An absolute attempt at self-medication, without professional advice, can lead to irreparable consequences.

Why does a parrot cock its feathers?

If a restless budgie has stopped jumping and twittering and sits more and more, with its ruffles and head hidden, this behavior is an alarming signal. This is not always a symptom of illness, but it is obvious that the parrot is cresting due to severe discomfort. In addition to the disheveled appearance, the bird develops a slight chill. She rolls her eyes and opens her beak, breathing heavily. The reasons for such poor health are hidden in the increase in body temperature, which indicates inflammatory processes in the body.

Cold

Delicate ornamental birds are afraid of drafts; even a light summer breeze is harmful to them. A cold is manifested by sneezing, runny nose, and later a cough. The parrot refuses food and sits for a long time, huddled in a ball and with its feathers spread out. Thus, he tries to conserve energy and keep warm. How to help, how to treat if a parrot has been cresting for several days?

First aid:

1. Humidify the air. Increased dryness harms the respiratory system, the condition of the bird worsens;
2. Let's drink a warm infusion of chamomile with a drop of lemon juice. This drink relieves inflammation and strengthens the immune system;
3. Use steam inhalation. Pour crushed chamomile flowers with hot water and place the container near the cage. By inhaling healing air, the bird will stop coughing faster.

If the above methods do not help within one to two days, contact your veterinarian. After a medical examination, it will be clear why the ruffled parrot looks so sick. Perhaps his illness has a more serious origin than a cold.

Internal parasites

Consider this situation: a parrot hides its head under its wing and sleepily ruffles its feathers, although it is still light. He reacts irritably to touch and does not respond to the owner’s voice; he descends onto the tray of the cage, unable to stay on the perch. Most likely, the pet has helminths inside, which take away energy. Intestinal parasites are not uncommon in pets. Helminthiasis greatly complicates the life of birds, and they become infected by eating dirty food. Poor sanitary conditions, lack of disinfection of equipment - and roundworms are right there.

Parasites annoy the bird so much that it has no desire to preen itself. Feathers are constantly ruffled; now tasty food is not a pleasure for the budgerigar. An apathetic attitude, silence and weakness make the pet unrecognizable. Treatment will help restore the joy of life to a parrot that has become ruffled. It is quite difficult to detect helminths on your own, so you need to get tested at a veterinary clinic. There are drugs available that quickly get rid of parasites.

On a note! To prevent re-infection, a thorough cleaning is carried out, and the cage and accessories are disinfected.

Poisoning

It's no secret that parrots love to taste everything around them. Flying around the room, a bird can bite off a leaf of a plant, swallow a piece of newspaper, or steal a pill forgotten on the table. The outcome of such incidents is not always successful. After a free walk, the parrot sits quietly at the bottom of the cage, exhausted, indifferent to everything. Look around, perhaps you will notice some clue as to why the parrot is ruffled.

What can poison a domestic wavy?

• medicines;
• poisonous paint or flowers;
• toxic aerosol;
• resin;
• food from the common table;
• low quality plastic.

Attention! Having found out the cause, you need to act immediately, otherwise the pet’s condition will quickly worsen, even to the point of death. You should give the parrot an enterosorbent to drink, and then take it to the doctor.

Exhausted, lethargic and chilly, why does a parrot become like this? If the pet also suffers from vomiting and diarrhea, we can talk about poisoning with spoiled food. Damp grain left in the feeder quickly becomes moldy. Unripe or rotten fruits cause fermentation in the stomach. Mild intestinal upset usually resolves within a few days.