Im concerned with the health of my 7-year-old parakeet. Here are some odd signs i've noticed in his behavior:
aggressiveness (used to be very tame and friendly, now he bites my finger when i bring it close to him)
fatigue... looks lethargic to me, refuses to leave cage, last time he flew he could only circle the room twice... when he landed, he started panting and shaking... couldnt even climb back into the cage for about 10 minutes.
most of the time, he just sits in the cage with ruffled feathers.
he is still eating fine though, and there are no signs of a fracture, tumor, loss of feathers, or anything like that.
Do any of these symptoms sound familiar? Do you think he has some kind of a vitamin deficiency? or is it just old age?
What should i do? I hope someone knowledgeable can help me figure out the problem.
2006-12-18 09:29:08 · 8 answers · asked by Anna 2 in Pets ➔ Birds
I hate to say it, but just may be old age. Seven is getting up there for a parakeet. The normal life span is 5 to 10 years, so your guy is right in the middle. Be patient with him. I would suggest a check up at the veternarians if at all possible. Keep things quiet. Dont put him through any changes in routine.
2006-12-18 10:09:49 · answer #1 · answered by sngcanary 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
There are a variety of things that can be wrong with your bird, the panting could be a sign of a respitory situation, he could have an intestinal infection there are too many things that could be wrong so the best bet and what I would do if it was my bird is get it to a vet as soon as you can. When you call describe exactly what is going on as you did in this request I'm sure they will get you in ASAP. Good luck and in the mean time keep your bird warm and I wouldn't remove him as any thing you do that makes him upset or causes the panting is wearing him down and he needs his energy!!!
2006-12-22 04:25:53 · answer #2 · answered by prettybird 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The "someone knowledgeable" who can help you figure out your problem is an avian vet.
You can find one near you at http://aav.org/vet-lookup
And the person who told you an average livespan is 5 - 10 years was a bit off. Budgies can live to be up to 20 years old. The average is so low because so many are taken care of inadequately and do not see the vet.
Now get to the vet!
2006-12-18 10:38:45 · answer #3 · answered by CrazyBirdMom 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Any time a bird's feathers are puffed up like that it means they're scared or sick. I'd take him to a vet for a routine check up. They're so tiny that something internal may be going on and if you don't catch it soon enough your bird could die. I weigh my birds once a week to make sure they don't lose or gain 10% if they do they're into the vet ASAP! I know of budgies who've lived way past 10 years old.
2006-12-18 10:20:41 · answer #4 · answered by onecutebyrd 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like your bird may be getting pneumonia. You need to get him imto a Certified Avian Vet ASAP or you will lose him.
Usually with birds, when you notice that thy are sick, it is too late. Birds will hide their sickness until it's too late to avoid becoming prey to preditory animals.
If he is 7 years old, he is not old.
Also, make sure that you do not use Teflon coated pans around him. The fumes are toxic to a bird, ans so is any kind of perfume, hair spray, room fresheners, furniture polish, and household cleaners.
I hope this helps.
2006-12-18 18:35:01 · answer #5 · answered by karmor_22 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like stress, try new toys, relocating the cage (not in a draft), and showing it more attention. Ruffled feathers mean its cold or happy usually, in some birds it means theyre afraid but usually it means they're happy.
2006-12-20 04:23:13 · answer #6 · answered by gms9810 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your parakeet is stressed, try getting him some new toys and he might perk up some. He might be depressed with something that is bothering him in the room, if he looks at one place all of the time take the thing that is bothering him out of the room and he might feel better.
For more information, e-mail me!
all_dogs_go_to_heaven33@yahoo.com
2006-12-18 09:40:37 · answer #7 · answered by Typhlosion 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
he would no longer have preferred the bathe. If you are taking him in once more placed him at the bathe curtain, that is what my chicken preferred, she did not wish to be within the bathe simply looking me. He would simply be going by way of a uprising degree, I could simply maintain coaching him with constructive reinforcement. You did maintain him hot at the same time he dried did not you, he would be in poor health
2016-09-03 13:47:53 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋