Unusual Budgie Behaviour

[higgindazs]

Hi all,



I'm a new poster here, just wanted to get some advice/opinions about my budgie, who has been acting a little strange.


We have two male budgies, Pesto and Ricotta (Rico), and have had them for just over a year. Lately, Rico has been exhibiting some unusual behaviour. He will fly out of the cage and just sit on top of it, slightly hunched over, and stay there for a long time, only occasially going to get some pellets to eat, then returning to his hunching spot. While he does this, he tends to gently tap or nibble the bars of the cage, and it looks like he is grinding his beak. He is still eating and drinking, and his droppings are normal, and a recent trip to vet turned out with no issues at all, but this is still somewhat unusual behaviour for him, as he is much quieter and more docile that he used to be.


Has anyone else experienced anything like this with their budgies? We are not worried about his health, but just slightly confused about this change in behaviour. I have attached a picture of Rico to illustrate the "hunching". Thank you

[Marianne Marlow]

Welcome

Do you have any other photos of him? (standing normally)

Was it an avian vet you saw?

What is his diet like?

Sometimes they do like to rest like this, but if he's doing it all the time and not flying about much, there may be a deeper reason.

[higgindazs]

I don't have any recent photos of him standing up, but I can take one after work. Yes, it was the avian/exotic vet at the practice near to us.

We have him on a diet of Harrisons Pellets, and we try to give him fresh vegetables (cabbage and butternut squash) as much as he will tolerate, and some fruits now and then as well.

He still does like to fly around with his brother, but not as much as he used to.

[Loz]

There are so many things it could be. He may be carrying a minor injury, for instance.

How long has his behaviour been different?

[criswell]

Does he sit very still when he's up there or is he watching watching what he's buddy is doing in the cage? My boy Dexter does this when he's watching the others in the cage. He has his face very close to the bars but doesn't tend to do it for long and he's usually moving his head about so he can see what's going on.

[Hezz]

I know you said that you’ve had them for just over a year, but how old are they? I would also increase the variety of veg intake if you can and try to incorporate some seeding grasses into their diet. A bit of a long shot in Aberdeen, possibly, but worth a try. Since you have recently had him seen by a vet, I think you would need to revisit for any helpful possibilities. Unusual behaviour should be taken note of as you know your bird best.

[higgindazs]

Thanks for all the responses. He is about a year and a half old I believe.

He has been doing this "chewing this air" behaviour and sitting quietly on the top of the cage for about 2-3 weeks now. He is still eating and drinking, and his droppings are the same as ever, and he doesn't appear to be in any distress, but obviously the behaviour is different from what we are used to...

He seems very focused when he sits like that, and doesn't pay as much attention to his surroundings.

[jellybean]

Hi, welcome to you and your boys.

Do they have toys, mirrors, stuff to keep them occupied?

Could you maybe put some of these ON TOP of the cage and see if it gets him interested, and maybe distract his attention.

[higgindazs]

Update on Rico:

Took him to the vet who checked him for any issues, including any impaction of his crop; she said that his behaviour may be him trying to adjust it/regurgitate, but that he is healthy with no issues, but advised us to try using a nebuliser with an antiseptic solution, H10 I believe it is called. We have been using it for the past 2 days, and while the boys don't like being caught and put into the box for the treatment, they seem to be taking well to it, and it is not bothering them, other than breathing a little heavily afterwards (from the stress/excited of being caught and placed into a box it seems). I know it is for their own good and health, but I always feel awful for them when I have to catch them and scare them like that

[Hezz]

I hope it is not H10 you are using as it is a strong cleaner containing bleach. I really hope that what you are using is a Vet grade disinfectant called F10 which has a multitude of uses around our pet birds, including be safe to use in a nebuliser.

[Marianne Marlow]

Hoping that H10 was just a typo!

Feb 27, 2022 0:53:15 GMT Hezz said:

I hope it is not H10 you are using as it is a strong cleaner containing bleach. I really hope that what you are using is a Vet grade disinfectant called F10 which has a multitude of uses around our pet birds, including be safe to use in a nebuliser.

[higgindazs]

Yes, it is F10, I did not have the bottle to hand when typing!

[jellybean]

Phew!!! 👍