male budgie sleeping during the day

[twister457]

Hi, I am a little worried about my budgie. It is 1.30 pm and the past few days I have noticed him spending most of his time sleeping or resting on the perch. He has currently got his head tucked in his wing and sleeping. Could this be a sign that he is ill. He is a brand new budgie to me so I am a little worried. He was quite active the first two weeks but now this is new. Could it be because of boredom as well? I haven't managed to tame them yet. He is also standing on just one leg.

My female one is closed eyes too but not like him. Please help. This is worrying me.

[jujubiiird]

How many hours of sleep do they get at night? Should be between 10 and 12 hours.
Mine get sleepy and cranky if they get any less than that!

Sometimes my bud has a nap in the day, or tries to.

Is it cold or hot where you live right now? Do they have toys to play with to keep them from being bored? And have you noticed any other symptoms such as changes in his poop, sagging tail (meaning that it is not in line with his wings and is drooping)? Is he eating and drinking normally?

Maybe he is just tired, it is ok for them to want to nap, especially if he is playing and climbing while you aren't in the room to see him. You havent had them terribly long so they could still be getting used to the place. My budgie was pretty inactive for the first 2 or 3 weeks after we brought him home.

If you are really worried maybe call an avian vet to make an appointment, do what feels right for you. Maybe they will even just ask you over the phone how he is behaving and can reassure you...but I'd just keep an eye out for any changes. (Like suddenly sitting in the bottom of the cage for a long period of time, that wouldnt be good at all.)


Hope that helps.

[jujubiiird]

Mine stand on one leg quite often, puffy feathers and grind their little beaks...this can be taken as a sign of contentment..

I forgot to ask before, how long does he nap? A few minutes-hours?

Maybe someone more experienced can help you...all I can offer is what I have experienced with my buds.

[twister457]

I read that sitting on a perch with one leg is normal. It is possible they are not getting enough sleep at night. He has eaten once or twice today. His behavior has changed slightly, however. They would normally wake up early in the morning. He would climb about, acrobatics, eat, drink in a regular routine. She would normally go on the swing and hang out there. I recently bought a new mirror with perch. Currently they are huddled together sleeping there now. As you can see in the previous picture. I will be observing.

Also, is anyone here from the UK? all this time I have been taking advice that seems to be suited to US conditions. The bird seed in the UK has a variety including some dried bark and stems of plants. I found out that bird seed in the US is just of one seed, which is why pellets are recommended. I will be working towards fruit and vegetables. But is the seeds I am giving really that bad? Will I still need to give the pellets?

Would anyone know of any vets that are in Hertfordshire? Avian vets that are suitable.

Sorry for asking so many questions in one post. I cannot seem to find these answers anywhere else.

[twister457]

This is the first time I am seeing him nap like this. I do see them both yawn quite often and try to make the least amount of noise as possible. They are still afraid of me. So being so comfortable to even sleep in my presence is slightly odd. It is going to be 3 weeks this Wednesday. Normally he would just sit with two legs face forward, fluffled with eyes closed.

I am not sure if it is that he is comfortable, or if there really is something wrong . I am hoping for the best. He was chirping this morning. But now if cars go by he doesn't chirp anymore.

[Deleted]

Hi @twister547, I would definitely consult a vet for your bird as he's sleeping a lot and looks fluffed up in the picture. I am not sure about avian vets in your area, but I found this surgery that says its avian specialist. Give them a call and see what they say. Keep us updated. Good luck.

www.vetclick.com/referral-practices/avian-and-exotic/herts/the-bishops-veterinary-surgery-p106.php

[Christy]

He doesn't look like super fluffed up, so I won't worry too much yet. Since you said you haven't tame them yet, you probably won't be able to separate them into different cages either. So just keep a close eye on their poop, and see if there is anything very unusual. If it looks kind of normal except a bit more watery, my bird usually can sleep that off, and return normal again. I don't really know what caused that. I just think like your stomach ache days, budgies have theirs too.
If he stops eating too, don't worry too much either. Mine woke up mid night, and ate a lot of seeds...

One of my budgies does that sometime (and only that one too). Well from my experience, it might just be that the budgie wasn't feeling well on that day. I let mine sleep like that for a day or two, then he got a lot better again. Just keep the birds warm, and cover half of the cage.
Do worry if he gets super fluffed up, and can no longer stand on perch.
Though the best would be asking a vet, they will be able to tell you the specific thing to watch out for.

I hope he gets well soon!

[milliej]

There are quite a few of us in the UK twister but the seed you're using, where do you buy it? I'm wondering if the quality may be lacking? I (and some others) changed over from Trill some time ago because they changed their seed 'recipe' and it wasn't half as good as previously, I now buy on -line from Haiths www.haiths.com/cage-and-aviary-bird-seed/budgie-seed/

Or Johnson & Jeffs is good, some breeders use that. Apart from that I can't think of anything that may help but hope you find a solution soon.

P.S. Do they have cuttlefish, iodine block, fresh water, occasional millet treat! Mine hardly eat any fruit or veg, never have but a good quality seed is essential.

[jujubiiird]

I am in Chile, the type of bird seed I use is Hagen budgerigar seed. It is a mixed seed, has many seeds in it actually...i think more than 5 or 6 kinds...there is 1 kind my boy cant seem to crack in there.

I also feed my boy Mazuri small bird food. Seeds dont even make up half the food he gets daily..he also gets walnut once a week!

Like I said before it would be good to call around, even an avian vet that wasnt in your area to describe his condition...

We can give advice, but you are there and notice how he is behaving and a professional will give you better information.

I hope your boy is just fine, and we are worried for nothing.

[twister457]

After I posted, he started eating and drinking but is back again sitting on his perch with my other budgie. I am thinking of getting cuttlefish bone. Their beaks are growing. I can see that they are molting as well. Do you think if I call the vets up they can give me advice? There is no nearby specialist so unless if I am absolutely certain there is something wrong I cannot book an appointment. I know this sounds odd, but we are all budgie owners here. Their poop has decreased in amount but increased in size, if you get what I mean lol. They are drinking water because it is a hot season now, does that explain why sometimes I see liquid on the newspaper with their poop? Just checking to make sure . The consistency of everything else is fine

If I see this continue, I will consult a Doctor. He is looking at me now while I write this post. Very curious budgie

This is a updated picture of him. Just before he is going to eat. Lemon is going too (my yellow budgie) they eat together . This behavior is normal it's when they sit down they become fluffed up. And the first picture of him hiding his head in his wing is new. Honestly, this is not just training for them but it is training for me too lol

[twister457]

This is the type of seed I use. But since I bought the pellets I mix some of them in. The pellets are so tiny I was thinking they would think it is seed and eat it as well. Because of their colour, you cannot actually tell the difference. Cannot really say if they are eating the pellets or not but I am hoping they are. I was thinking since the seeds have such variety, they should have the necessary nutrients.

I bought these seeds from the same pet store from which they were bought. Not from a packet. The pet store guy had barrels of difference seeds for different birds. He said that this was sufficient to be given to the budgies. After doing some research I found that pellets are a good source of nutrition since just a bird seed diet is bad. I am a little confused here.

[Hezz]

I cannot view the photos you have put up, so can't comment on them, but a budgie resting on one leg, with his head in his wing is a very normal posture for him to take. If they are sick, they will be on both feet, fluffed, rarely with their beak in their wing, so I really doubt you have need for concern.

Also, most of the members on this forum are from the UK, not US, so you have no need to worry about that side of things. Most of us have put our location under our avatar so that people know where we are located.

If he is not getting the amount of sleep he is used to, it is possible that the lack of sleep has caught up with him. Also initially he was probably too frightened to relax and sleep; the stress of being moved to another environment can cause them to feel run down, even become ill, which is why quarantine is so very important when bringing in a new bird.

A seed-only diet is not the best to give, but mix it up with fresh veggies, seeding grass, eggfood or hard boiled egg, and your bird will have all the necessary requirements for a healthy diet. You can add a multi-vitamin to their water once a week, if you wished. Pellets have actually been found to be rather high in calcium, something budgies do not tolerate too well.

Your birds need a cuttlebone, regardless. They should have access to that and a mineral block all the time.

[twister457]

I have already bought the pellets. They are harrison's high pontency super fine. I give only a little amount though mixed in with the seed. Would that be a huge problem?

[Hezz]

No, not at all. Mixing it up is good, but do try to get him/them eating fresh greens/veggies as well.

[twister457]

My budgies get scared every time I put something new in the cage. That includes unknown vegetables.