My budgie is lethargic with ruffled feathers. What can I do at home?

Thanks for reaching out about Sunshine and including a photo. If after the 13 hours of posting, she is still lethargic, a veterinary visit is recommended. If she is cold, providing supplemental heat should improve attitude almost immediately. Birds are often fluffed when ill and conserve energy by being quiet.. Good luck.

Make sure the ambient temperature is appropriate for your bird, not too hot and not too cold. I would also recommend you offer Jerry plenty of fresh food and water to keep him eating and well hydrated. Fluffing up and lethargy are signs of illness so your bird may be getting sick. As long as he is drinking/eating normally and passing normal droppings you should not need to worry. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Kiwi. A damage flight feather should not alter flight significantly, as they can fly when they molt. Lethargy and sleeping during the day (to conserve energy) are clinical signs of being sick, the question is why. Providing heat support in the 80-85 F range can give some support. Monitor fecal production by a total cage clean-out. Sick birds often act like they're eating but aren't. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Multiple possibilities include ingestion of foreign material (metal, fabric, wood, etc.), metabolic concerns (liver, renal), infections (viral, bacterial) and others. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Lemon and including photos. First, try offering some heat support with the goal of the 80-85 F range. A change in routine can be stressful, so trying spending more time with them, for observation and company. If they continue to be lethargic, a veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Good luck.

I'm sorry Lyla isn't feeling well. Lethargy and puffed feathers are very nonspecific signs of illness in birds. But it clumsy be serious as birds don't show signs of illness easily. They try to hide thier illnesses as long as possible. It may be ideal to separate her from the other bird and give her a cage in a warm, quiet, draft free environment. Try to encourage her eating cooked eggs are a high nutrient food that may tempt her. But she probably needs a veterinarian as soon as possible to evaluate what is wrong. It could be anything from a viral infectio, fungal or bacterial cancer or any other illness. Good luck to Lyla.

I'm sorry Gansito isn't feeling well. Lethargy and puffed feathers are very nonspecific signs of illness in birds. But it could be be serious as birds don't show signs of illness easily. They try to hide thier illnesses as long as possible. Make sure his cage is in a warm, quiet, draft free environment. Try to encourage him to keep eating, cooked eggs are a high nutrient food that may tempt him. Millet is better than nothing but not very complete nutritionally. But he probably needs a veterinarian as soon as possible to evaluate what is wrong. It could be anything from a viral infectio, fungal or bacterial cancer or any other illness. Good luck to Gansito

It could be that the stress of an environment change/new people is stressing it out some. I would give it a day or so to settle in, and if it still stays fluffed or has other signs of illness, let your friend know and also bring it into a vet. Keeping it warm and with access to food and water may also help.