Respiratory problem/ tail bobbing

[JennyB]

Hi.

How often does the tail have to bob for it to be a problem? Pippin is fine during the day and always on the go either chatting or playing. It's only once he's fluffed up at bedtime and finally still and quiet(!) that I spotted his tail lifting up and down with each breath. He was also making a slight clicking noise which is what made me check his tail. I know it can be a sign of a respiratory problem but wondered if it'd be all the time for it to be a worry. It's not every night either. Being my first birds I have no gauge for if it's me being over anxious or not. 

I should add add I took them to the avain vet last week because they were both head bobbing and trying to regurgitate but nothing came up. One vet said it was atypical of megabacteria. I wasn't too keen on him so went for a second opinion. The next guy said it was simple bonding behaviour and not to worry. Two very different views which has left me confused. I'm leaning towards the latter. 

Any thoughts or advice? How have you treated the above symtoms yourselves? 

Both boys are now over three months and been with me for 5 weeks. 

[budgiefriend]

These little guys can make us worry so. You are very good mom taking them to 2 vets to find out if anything is wrong. My advice is to keep an eye on them to see if anything changes, I am inclined to agree with the second vet that it is bonding behavior. Let us know about your adventures with Merry and Pippin. We love photos.

[Hezz]

I am with budgiefriend in this one. Budgies bob and look they are trying to regurgitate to each other an awful lot when bonded. If Pippin is happy and energetic I would be satisfied nothing is the problem. The clicking you are hearing ...... this could be him grinding his beak which they do when content. If you are concerned about the tail bobbing, why not send us a short video of this? Is his tail in a straight line out from his body, or is it dipped down, almost tucked in when this happens? A video will help.

[birdguhl]

Luee has a habit of tail-bobbing when he is sitting on certain perches and sometimes in the evening. He has always done this (well, for the 16 months he has been with me). At other times he doesn't do it, and he seems well and happy overall.

That's interesting, Hezz, about the angle issue. Is it that if the tail is tucked down, that is possibly more concerning?

[Hezz]

Definitely, birdguhl. But it is not always in a sickness kind of a way, because Smudge used to do this when she was wet....... under duress. Before she had her op she never, ever liked water of any kind, but now she will have a bath under her own steam. She also tail-bobs slightly ...... I put this down to her weight-for-size ratio.