Why is my parakeet trembling with his head hanging super low?

Reader Question on Unusual Parakeet Behavior Followed by Suggestion From Our Vet

Our little bird is hanging his head very very low. He is breathing hard and trembling. We do not have a bird vet close to us and our local vet said to just watch him. He did hit a wall about a week ago. Also, we moved his cage from in front of the window so we could put our Christmas tree up. I'm not sure if he is hurt, sick, or just sad. These symptoms started two days ago.

Suggestion From Our Veterinarian on Unusual Parakeet Behavior

Hello,

The list of problems that might be causing the symptoms you describe in your parakeet is quite long and includes dietary issues, environmental concerns, parasitism, infectious diseases, tumors, obesity, and trauma (which is particularly concerning given his history of hitting a wall). Some of these conditions are potentially life threatening if they aren’t addressed quickly, so I recommend that you see a veterinarian who has experience with birds as quickly as possible.

In the meantime, thoroughly sanitize everything in your birds’ cage and keep it impeccably clean. Provide fresh water every day. Replace his food with a new batch of his favorite type (pellets are better than seeds but don’t make a diet change if he resists it). Make sure the cage is in a draft-free location and warmed to around 83 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you need help finding a doctor who specializes in birds, the Association of Avian Veterinarian’s website is a good place to start.

Best of luck,
Jennifer Coates, DVM

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