Budgies are sensitive to thunderstorms, gunshots, and fireworks. Therefore, you must prepare your delicate bird for such events. New Year is exciting to experience for most individuals. New Year celebrations usually involve increased fireworks use, accompanied by extremely loud noises and sudden appearances of bright lights. While it may be fun for many people and some pets, these celebrations may have negative effects on your beloved budgie, making it stressed, anxious, and scared. Are you a budgie owner, and you’re determined to help your pet during fireworks? Thousands of owners of feathered friends have the same goal as you.
If you want to help your budgie stop shaking, hiding, or worse yet, thrashing anytime there are fireworks; we’ll help you. Here are ways to prepare your scared budgie for fireworks.
Is it normal for your budgie to fear fireworks?
Birds are not alike. Some may not mind sudden loud noises like fireworks. So, if your budgie is among the frightening type of budgie, it’s normal. Some birds naturally shy away from extremely loud sounds. Therefore, it’s not surprising when your budgie starts to behave differently when fireworks are used in your area.
How do you know your budgie is scared of fireworks?
You have to be observant to know what scares your bird. It may especially be difficult to know what triggers stress, anxiety, and fear in your budgie if you’re a new pet budgie owner. Birds are great communicators, and they’ll openly express how they’re feeling through their behaviors.
Ways you can know your budgie fear fireworks
Plucking their feathers
One of the main ways a budgie will react to extreme stress and fear is plucking its feathers. Birds’ feathers fall off naturally when they’re ready to molt. However, if your budgie is under anxiety, it may pick its feathers, even those not ready to shed. So, sudden feather plucking should alarm you something is not right.
Behavior changes
A budgie under stress will not act like itself. You’ll notice your friendly and active bird is suddenly quiet and sad. Also, if your budgie is usually calm but out of nowhere becomes loud and very active than normal, something may be wrong.
Destructive movements
Anxiousness may make your birds show self-destructive behaviors. Your budgie will use destructive actions to try to control internal stress and discomfort. Fast and sudden movements with aggressive acts should inform you that your bird is uncomfortable with the surrounding.
Stress bars on feathers
Small lines running across our budgie’s feathers can be a sign of stress. Sometimes these thinning bars indicate poor diets, but in some cases, it shows panic. If you notice stress bars appear when fireworks occur, high chances are that event triggered them.
Body language
Body language can tell a lot in budgies. Often, a frightened bird will hold its feathers very closely into its body. It may also squeeze itself in a corner or any small space to try to hide and feel comforted. Also, it can stick out its neck and hiss. In rare cases, it may become predatory. You should not ignore such signs because they’ll help you understand when your bird is scared or uncomfortable.
How to prepare your scared budgie for fireworks
Unfortunately, fireworks celebrations may affect your budgie negatively. As a result, nights that are supposed to have good memories will cause sleepless nights for your budgie. Tips that can help you maintain calmness in your budgie and reduce stress during fireworks events include;
Introduce your bird to fireworks in advance
Budgies are naturally smart creatures, so it’s possible to prepare them and warn them early enough about fireworks. Start by knowing when there’ll be fireworks days in your neighborhood. Once you know when they’re coming, start familiarizing your budgie with loud noises and sudden bright lights. It doesn’t mean you create fireworks and take your budgie near them. No. By familiarizing, we mean you begin with simple actions like playing youtube videos that display fireworks celebrations. After playing the videos add other reactions like shouting, clapping, whistling, or any other response that reflects excitement. Doing so will help your bird get familiar with the loud noises.
Create a calm signature
Budgies are easily affected by new or unexpected events. Introduce a calm behavior in your bird. Your calm signature can be words like’ I got you’ or ‘you’re not in danger. Anytime you notice your bird is anxious, say to it those words several times until it cools down. Frequent reassurances will train your bird to get calm anytime a sudden situation occurs. Eventually, you’ll realize your bird relaxes when you reinforce calming behavior, even if the fireworks are extremely loud and scary.
Pay attention to your budgie’s wellbeing
Proper sleep, diet, and good social experiences lead to better reactions during stress or uncomfortable situations. Ensure your bird eats well, gets enough rest, and its cage is clean. Such small acts will reduce harm in case your budgie’s mental health is negatively affected by fireworks events.
Your presence means everything
It’s always important for you to be present and near your bird during fearful moments. Ensure you’re in the same room with your budgie to make it stay calm and feel protected. Do things that’ll make it relax, such as talking to it softly, reading aloud to it, watching movies or listening to music, or having fun playing together.
Provide it a friendlier celebration
Each individual has personal preferences regarding celebrations, and so does your budgie. If you’ve tried all possible ways to control its fear and anxiety with failure, change the approach and substitute with a celebration it loves. Instead of sticking in a fireworks environment, why don’t you take your budgie to birds’ festivals? If no birds’ celebration is available on that day, take it for a treat, go for a walk with it, or do anything fun far away from where fireworks events occur.
Keep in mind budgies are different.
Try approaches mentioned in this article. Keep in mind budgies are different. You may have to be observant to know what will work best for your bird. You got this, friend. All the best as you prepare your scared budgie for fireworks!
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