Why does my parakeet keep opening its mouth like it can't breathe?

Thanks for reaching out about Cheeya. Opening and closing the beak, stretching the tongue would suggest at least two things. First, having difficulty swallowing, as if something is obstructing the esophagus or crop, or she is nauseous and attempting to regurgitate. The second thing that comes to mind, is a respiratory obstruction, something caught int he trachea. Placing Cheeya in the bathroom with warm steam might help lubricate either and help. But if clinical signs get worse or don't improve, a visit to an avian veterinarian is recommended. Good luck.

Buddy may be yawning. Birds will do this close to bedtime or when relaxed. It is normal and no cause for concern. Regurgitation is also normal and is characterized by an up and down motion of the head as whole seed or food is brought up to share with a mate or owner. If the behavior persists, consider an exam with your veterinarian or an experienced avian veterinarian to diagnose illness or injury or to give a clean bill of health and peace of mind.

It would be hard to say without more context. Baby birds can click their beaks together if they're begging mom or dad for food. They may also just open their mouths to yawn and stretch. If the mouth is staying open and they are panting, it can indicate stress or overheating. If the babies are otherwise acting healthy it may just be normal behavior, however if you see any signs of illness such as lethargy, puffed feathers, refusing to eat, etc, then having them looked at by a vet is best.

Shivering and beak opening can sometimes indicate stress in birds. Moving Mario to a quieter location, or in an area away from other pets and people and seeing if he feels better may help determine if this is the case. If he seems in severe distress, however, or his symptoms don't improve or worsen, a vet visit is best to rule out any health issues such as a respiratory problem causing his stress.

Open mouth breathing in a bird can be a sign of respiratory infection. I would recommend taking Jada in to see an avian veterinarian as soon as possible as respiratory infections can be very serious in birds. In the meantime, I would recommend making sure Jada has plenty of fresh, clean water and her favorites foods available so she does not stop eating. You may also want to try placing her in a room with a humidifier (or in the bathroom to breathe in steam from the shower) to help open the airways. Jada will likely need antibiotics and possibly X-rays and blood work. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Yawning or stretching the beak when perching could just be Zara attempting to relax, or even acting a little stressed from the handling. However if he is actively panting, appears in distress, or is acting this way even when not being handled, it may indicate an issue such as pain, illness, respiratory problems, etc which should be examined by a local avian vet.

Respiratory distress can be caused by a number of things including stress, overheating, or even an underlying illness. If something stressed Romeo out, moving him to a quiet room where he can calm down is a good first step. Making sure he isn't too hot or too cold and the room is well-ventilated, along with providing a bath can also help if he is too warm or overheating. If he continues to be in distress with open-mouthed breathing and doesn't settle down, or you see other signs of illness, seeking veterinary care ASAP is best.