Why is my new canary at cage bottom, head flicking and twitching?

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.

I am sorry birdie is not feeling well. I usually get concerned when birds are sitting at the bottom of the cage or having changes in behavior. I would recommend taking him to a veterinarian just to be on the safe side he is healthy and not becoming sick. A range of issues can cause birdie to become ill so a vet visit is best.

Thanks for reaching out about Tilly and including a photo. Shaking and twitching is not normal and should be investigated by a veterinarian, and the sooner the better. Decreased appetite and shaking are not normal signs. Ingestion of toxic foreign bodies or other toxins, liver or kidney disease, calcium deficiencies, neurologic problems, are all possibilities. Providing supplemental heat in the 80-85 F range can give some comfort but is not a treatment. Good luck.

These concerning signs could be compatible with an upper respiratory tract inflammation/infection (inflammatory, allergic, infective). A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm this clinical suspicion and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Thanks for reaching out about Bato. He needs to see a veterinarian as soon as possible, so this probably means as an emergency. On the bottom of the cage and ataxic (unable to stand) can be due to ingested/inhaled toxins, metabolic disorders (liver, kidney), heart problems, malnutrition, infectious diseases (viral, bacterial) and other causes. A diagnosis is needed to properly treat. Providing heat support can give some aid but is not a treatment. Offering water through a syringe might determine if strong enough to swallow. Good luck.

Thanks for your question about Hazlet, and thank you for the photos - they are very helpful. You are correct in that Hazlet is more fluffed than a normal canary should be. You are also correct that this can be a sign of illness (it is part of what we call the "sick bird posture" - this also includes sitting low on the perches or sitting on the ground, closing the eyes, tucking the head, faster breathing). It can also be a sign of stress, or being cold as well. I would recommend that you evaluate where the cage is located - is it near a window, near an outside wall, or near a door? Is the temperature in your house 70F or below - if so, I would recommend increasing the temperature. Now that it has been two days since you posted (I apologize for the delay, by the way), if this has continued and the temperatures and cage location are appropriate, it may be time for a veterinary visit. Often it can take a few days for a bird to get comfortable in their new environment, but if it is still going on now, I would recommend taking him in to see a veterinarian. They can perform a physical examination, and depending on the findings, may have treatment recommendations for you. They can also evaluate the husbandry/care/diet for Hazlet and may make recommendations that are tailored to you and to him. I hope that gives you a place to start, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for reaching out about Tweety. Providing heat support can give some aid but is not a treatment in itself. A veterinary visit is highly recommended, as Tweety appears to be ill. Check and correct diet, as an all seed diet is not sufficient for proper health. Vitamins, mineral and proteins are also needed. A vet visit should be scheduled for today, as we are entering the weekend and small birds do not have much energy reserves. Good luck