Is my budgie sick?

Question

Its a baby...and its been pretty quiet...It sits there and sleeps since I've got it. Its chirped a little but it doesn't even move when I go to touch it. It just sits there. Is it just settling in? Maybe I should buy it some toys cos it only has a ladder? It looks bored...keeps closing its eyes..

Also, how many droppings is a normal amount? I cleaned its cage an hour and a half ago and since then its done about 12 droppings...

Answer 1

Firstly budgies need lots of interesting toys as if they become bored it can cause lots of health problems including feather plucking. Ladders are good for exercise also you should buy a mirror as the budgie will not get so lonley because it will think that there is other budgies in the cage, also balls, bells, seedbells anything that you can get from the bird department in supermarkets although i usually buy my toys from cheapie stores such as crazy clarks or the warehouse they are just as good toys at arounf half the price of other stores.
Your budgies may be sick or it might just be settling in although it shouldnt be that quiet and not even move when you put your hand near it. Check if the budgie feathers are plucked up (it looks fatter than it should and usually sits with its eyes shut) this is usually one of the first signs of sickness. Also how the budgie sleeps. If the budgie turns it head around and rests it in its back feahers. This is apparently what a sick bird does whilst sleeping acording to some budgie books say although a few of my birds always sleep like that and do not apear to be sick at all and have lived for over 4 years at the moment. To be on the safe side you can always go down to your local pet shop and buy some mite & lice spray and some worming liquid (which you diolute into the budgies water for a certain period of time). All budgies should be treated with these products every now and then to make sure that they are extremely healthy.
Also you may not be providing the correct green foods for the budgie. It is a no no to feed budgies lettuce, caffene, alcohol and advocado. Budgies are able to eat a lot of different types of vegetables including beans, spinach, silverbeat etc. I usually feed mine silverbeat and spinach as they seem to love both of them a lot. Budgies can also eat a lot of different types of fruit including watermelon, apples, rockmelon although i tend not to feed my budgies any fruit as they are not used to eating it and are extremely scared of it and do not touch it nor go near it. Hope thsi helps you.

Answer 2

It is not normal for a budgie to just sit and sleep. They are normally active birds. The amount of poop is not normal either.
It is often very hard to tell whether birds are sick as they mask the fact for a long time. Its not until they get to the stage that yours has got that it is noticed. If you got this bird from a shop take it back immediately . They sold you a sick bird!
It is difficult to say what is wrong as there are many diseases that result in the symptoms you describe.

I would suggest that he has coccidiosis ( light disease) common in birds that have drunk from infected water bowls or been fed by parents that carry the disease.( faeces in water bowl)

There is little hope ofsaving the bird once it gets to the sleepy point., unless you have antibiotics and the right equipment to instill drug and an incubation box, . If you get another bird do not put it in the cage until the cage has been thoroughly washed with bleach

Dennis
Australian Bird Group

Answer 3

well it definately needs toys, wouldn't u b bored. it may b sick, but it also may b lonely. why don't u get another one but i'd keep it in another cage until u know for sure if it's sick. put it in another cage close by and see if that perks u r baby up. Parakeets r social creatures and like being with others of their kind. good luck.

Answer 4

How old is it?
I think he may be sick. Put a light on him to keep him warm.
Here's a link for budgie care.
http://www.snowflakepets.co.uk/html/budgie.html
Here's one for sick budgies
http://www.budgies.org/info/health/sick.html

I hope this helps