Why is my bird at the bottom of the cage with something on its head?

If she only sat there for a few minutes and does not constantly sit on the bottom of the cage, appears happy, healthy and not puffed up, then I would not worry about this. Sometimes birds want to explore the floor, or there was a draft they tried to get away from, or it was too hot on the perch and cooler on the bottom.

Anytime a bird is sick enough to go to the bottom of the cage and sit there looking tired, it’s an emergency. Birds are very good at hiding their illnesses, so when they actually appear sick, they are likely to be seriously ill, or injured. I recommend having Jaco evaluated by an avian veterinarian as soon as possible. In the meantime, make sure he has access to water and food. I hope that helps and Jaco gets better soon.

It would be best to bring your bird to a local avian veterinarian, especially if he has been ill for a few weeks. it's possible that an underlying illness, neurologic issue, muscular disease, stroke or other problem has occurred that needs to be examined and treated as needed. In some cases birds may not recover fully, and you may need to adjust your bird's environment to help him get around a little easier, such as adding in flat platform perches or changing access to food and water.

If your bird is sitting on the bottom of the cage, this is often a sign that your bird is too week to perch. Shaking the head might be a sign of nausea or regurgitation, or a sinus infection. A veterinary visit is recommended. But, providing heat support at home might help provide some strength to your bird. Most veterinarians will attempt to keep sick birds in incubators at 85-90 F. Take the perches out of the cage and provide a towel on the bottom of the cage for comfort. Place food and water bowls on the bottom within easy reach of your bird. Using a small syringe for administration of water could help with some dehydration. Good luck.

Those are general symptoms that Bibbie is not feeling well and may have an underlying illness. It would be best to seek veterinary care ASAP as this is a symptom of many possible issues and an exam is needed to help narrow down the cause. Until you can get to the vet, moving her to a warm hospital cage with easy access to food and water may help, however if she is completely listless seeking care is needed ASAP.

I am so sorry to hear about Birdy. Any time that a bird is on the bottom of the cage it is concerning, and especially if she is not moving and having trouble breathing. Birdy needs to go to a veterinarian as soon as possible. They will provide her with oxygen, heat support, and may administer medications to her. Birds that are as sick as Birdy sounds are in critical condition, and unfortunately may not do well with handling. This can cause them to pass away suddenly with very minimal stress - I am not saying that this will happen to Birdy, but it is a potential, so I want to try to prepare you for that. I am so sorry that this is happening, and I hope that you are able to get her into a veterinarian very soon.

Thanks for reaching out about Tilly. If on the bottom of the cage, needs to see a veterinarian as soon as possible, or contact the seller. Providing heat support in the 80-85 F range might give some aid. Lethargy could be an infection, metabolic disorder (liver, kidney), parasites (internal or external), and other causes. A veterinary visit is needed to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. The flicking of the head could be possible regurgitation or a sinus infection. Good luck.