How to Know if You Have a Happy Budgie or a Sad Budgie?

Do you have a happy budgie or a sad budgie? Taking care of a budgie is not just about providing him with food and water.

You might not know this, but just like human beings, birds also experience different feelings. They get mood swings, depression, happiness, and several other feelings at different times repeatedly. Budgie or parakeets are probably the most underrated yet sweet and docile birds as pets. Imagine you budgie is depressed, and you are not even aware of it?

How tragic! Therefore, one must keep an eye on changing behavioral patterns of his budgie. These little loyal pets have an average lifespan of 5-10 years, and they deserve a healthy and happy life. Here are a few signs and symptoms that might help you detect whether your budgie is happy or sad.

Noise Pattern of Budgies

The barking of a dog is okay and often neglected. But when your budgie makes some noises of different patterns, it is something worrying. Budgies do not make noises the same way every time. For specific feelings, they have specified sounds. For that reason, you need to notice their changing pattern of making noise. You budgie might be trying to tell you how he is feeling.

Human Whistles

If you hear your little birdie making a human-like whistle, it is time to cuddle him a bit. Budgies show an indication that they need love and attention by making human whistles. Get your budgie out of the cage and have some father-son time with him. If you’re unable to do so or stuck at work, then no worries. Budgies are supportive and understanding creatures. Just whistle him back to show that you’re with him. Budgie gets happy with your presence.

Clicking

Often budgies click their beaks and create a clicking sound. They click their tongues against their beaks. Most of the pet caretakers get concerned that there might b a problem with budgies. However, this act is perfectly normal and is an indication of good. Budgies rub their bottom and top beaks when they feel safe and very gratified with the surroundings.

Singing Budgie

Usually, a group of budgies synchronize their sounds and sing pleasantly. A single budgie might sing as well if you give your budgie proper time and attention. Your bond with your budgie must be strong to make him happy. The singing of budgie is a way of showing a state of contentment.

Pleasant Chirrups

If your budgie is producing a sound of high and low notes with a mix of chirrups and whistling, it means that your budgie is super happy. A budgie might start chirping when he is comfortable with his surroundings.

Usually, they tend to speak the works you taught them. They might utter words that they caught on television or heard you talking to someone else. However, their talks are not vividly understandable.

Whistling

Whistling is a way of telling that your budgie is happy and fully fed. When a budgie feels happy and healthy, he sings and whistles.

Growling

If your bird is making a growling sound, it is because of anger. Such budgie should be avoided until he is cooled down. Otherwise, he will bite you very severely.

Screaming Budgie

Budgies are often loud when it comes to making noise. There is a noticeable difference when your budgie is making random loud noises and when it is screaming.

Screaming or screeching may indicate the feeling of sadness and depression. It might denote that your bird is in pain. When your parakeet is shrieking, you should get it checked by a veterinary doctor for any underlying health issue.

Loss of Appetite

Budgies are super social and interactive species of parrot. But getting used to a new environment is still an effort for them. If you have just bought a couple of beautiful budgies from a pet store, there is a 100% chance that they might hesitate to eat food.

If your old feathered friends suddenly stop eating, probably, it is because they are stressed or need attention. Give them some time and make sure that the cage and food are clean and hygienic.

Fluffed up Feathers

Every living creature with feathers on this earth shows sadness by fluffing up its feather. Whether it’s a hen, sparrow, and even an ostrich, they all do it. If your budgie seems down, and he is fluffing up feathers, then there might be some reasons behind that.

Look for the weather. If it is too hot, your budgie is probably, demanding to provide a bit of coolness. Another possible reason might be that your birdie is sick or feeling sad. Get it checked to a vet and spend some loving moments to make your budgie feel better.

Wing drooping

Wing drooping usually indicates illness or the upcoming death of your budgie. It is an indication of a severe health disorder. Take your budgie to an avian vet immediately. However, there is a possibility that your bird is bored or depressed.

If your bird just got wet or bathed, then it may be drooping its wings to dry them out. However, it is not worrisome in young birds as they are still in the learning phase of tucking in wings.

A Quiet Budgie

Budgies are never quiet. They are always chattering, chirping, growling, singing, and making chirrups. They like to fly from one end of the cage to the other. If your budgie is quiet and sitting in the corner, then it a quite an alarming situation.

Budgies often stop making noises when they are sad or going to die. Get your parakeet checked by an avian vet immediately and try to provide him with a better environment.

Sudden Aggression

Budgies are loving birds. When they get aggressed, there is a particular reason behind that. Aggression in budgies is not that dangerous or daunting. It is an indication that your parakeet is suffering from anxiety or depression. Hormonal or seasonal changes may also trigger aggression.

Get your budgie checked by an avian vet to ensure medical fitness. If medical reports are clear, then you should be concerned about the environment you’re providing. There must be something to do with the environment that might be provoking aggression in your budgie.

Biting

Most pet owners misinterpret biting as normal behavior. However, there might be specific reasons that your bird starts biting you. It is a sign of fear and terror. Give your budgie some space and make him feel safe and secure. There might be a specific underlying medical issue as well. Make sure to get it checked by a veterinary practitioner.

Feather Picking

Feather picking in budgies progresses from destructive behavior. Often budgies do so when they are stressed or bored. Feather picking may lead to some severe disorders like infections and the inability to fight a cold environment.

Get your budgie some toys to get away with boredom and stress. Play with your parakeet regularly as he might be craving your attention.

Panting

When you see your parakeet breathing heavily with its beak slightly open, it is an indication that your birdie is afraid. It often happens when your parakeet is in your hand. Put your budgie back in the cage and let it feel safe.

Picking up food after eating

What do you think that why a budgie eats? Because they are hungry, right? You often have observed that your budgie, right after eating, starts eating again or just picking food. It shows that a budgie is happy and satisfied with the environment.

Budgies, when, relaxed pick their favorites seed out of the food tray while making pleasant chirrups are a sign of healthy birds.

Playing with toys

Get your parakeet some budgie friendly toys. If it plays with them, it means your budgie is happy. Becoming a parent of a budgie is just like becoming a parent of a human baby. Just like a human baby needs toys to play and have pleasure, parakeets also love toys and play with them.

Stretching

Just like humans and other animals, budgies also release their muscle stress by stretching. They stretch their one leg and wing on one side and then do the same to the other as well. It is a way of showing that budgie is relaxing. Relaxation only comes with happiness. So, technically your budgie is also happy.

Flipping and flapping all around the cage

You might see your budgie flying around the cage swiftly when you put your hand in it. It also happens when you get close to your budgie or when it is alone. It is a way of showing that your budgie is scared. When you put your hand in the cage, budgie sees your hand as a predator.

They fly around the cage, fluttering and flapping their wings in an attempt to save their lives. It might take some time to adjust. For the time being, you should be patient and try to make it happy and feel loved. A better way is to keep showing them your hand out of the cage. Let them bite or examine your finger. They don’t bite that bad. Let them know that this hand is not a predator.

Grinding of beak

Have you ever heard the sound of grinding coming out of your budgie’s cage? Well, it is a healthy practice done by parakeets before sleeping. They crush their beak from left to right when they feel happy. It is an indication that your parakeet is relaxed and contented.

Extreme head bobbing

Baby budgies bob their head up and down, showing that they are hungry. Bobbing of the head in adults is usually a part of the parakeet’s behavior and is normal. It indicates that they are hungry or happy.

Often male budgie dances, bobbing its head up and down to impress the female budgie. If female budgie enjoys and dances back, then, eventually, they end up matting.

Cuddling

If you pick up your budgie and it starts cuddling and caressing around your hand, finger, or shoulder, it means that your budgie is extremely happy and healthy. Budgie wants to play and have some pleasure time with you.

Upside down hanging of parakeet

You’d be scared the first time you see your budgie hanging upside down. But it is nothing fretting. It is just a part of the parakeet’s normal body behavior. It a common practice for healthy parakeets when they feel safe and happy around your presence. It’s a good sign of telling that your little feathered friend likes you.

Flashing and Pinning of eyes

Dilating and constricting of the pupil is a part of the parakeet’s body language. It might indicate that your little fellow is either angry or scared. Never touch him, as the bird may bite you out of anger.

It might also show that your budgie is excited or happy to see something. It might include a new toy you bought for it and its favorite food.

Never buy a single budgie

Budgies are a super social creature. They are likely to make a sweet loving bond with their owners or other fellow budgies. If you’ve bought only one budgie, he is more prone to death. Your only budgie will not eat anything and stay silent. This social creature will eventually die of loneliness and sadness. Therefore, you must provide your budgie with a fellow budgie.

Ways to make your budgie happy

Here are few things you can do to make your budgie happy and healthy.

• Replenish his food.
• Keep the cage clean and tidy.
• Have a pleasant time with him.
• Keep them full attention.
• Get him some toys.
• Get him a swing inside his birdcage.
• If he is alone, get him a partner.

So do you have a happy budgie or a sad budgie?

Keeping a budgie is not just a hobby. It is a responsibility that you must fulfill. Budgies are small birds, but they have the nervous system too. They also experience different states of being sad and happy.

Taking care of a budgie is not just about providing him with food and water. It is more about taking care of his changing behavioral patterns. You buy pets for your happiness, and you have to make your happiness (pets ) happy.