My new parakeet is shivering. What does it mean and how can I help?

Congratulations on your new pet, and thanks for your question! I would recommend ensuring that the area where Oliver is located in does not have any drafts. This includes any air from vents that are in the house. Birds can be very sensitive to temperature changes, so this will be something to evaluate closely in your house. Other things that can make Oliver tremor would be if he is nervous, as you suggested, or if he doesn't feel well. Things you can do to make him feel comfortable include providing him with a quiet area for his cage, and if he is alone, a mirror. I would recommend having him evaluated by a veterinarian as well. This is important for any new pet, and birds are no exception. Your veterinarian can perform a thorough examination and can also provide further recommendations for husbandry and diet for Oliver. I hope that gives you a place to start, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

If your baby bird doesn't have all his feathers in yet, he could still be having a hard time regulating temperature. Feeding food that is chilled or too cold may cause his temperature to decrease some, causing the shivering. Making sure the food is room temperature and that your baby bird is in a warm enough environment can help. However, if the shivering continues or if you see any other signs of illness it is best to have it checked out by a vet.

Thanks for reaching out about Peach. Shaking can be from many reasons. Being too cold is one, most parrots are comfortable in 80-85 degree weather. They shiver to create heat. Covering the cage will not generate any additional heat, so a heat lamp should be provided. Shaking can also result from being sick. A veterinary visit is needed to arrive at a diagnosis and treatment plan. Good luck.

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.

If you just got Amondae today she could be a bit nervous and that is why she is trembling. If she is in an area that is too cold she may also shake or tremble. Making sure she is warm enough and giving her a day or two to settle in may help. However, if the trembling continues, you see other signs of illness, or it doesn't improve at all, a vet visit is best to rule out any health problems.

It could be stress or excitement from the new environment, handling or a combination. If she is bobbing her tail excessively while breathing, this can indicate potential illness. Monitor for lethargy, decreased appetite or loose droppings. Give her a few days to acclimate and if the behavior persists, have her examined by your veterinarian. Have her examined sooner if she develops any of the above symptoms.

Shivering is unfortunately a general sign and not an indication of anything specific. It could be that your bird is cold or nervous, and moving her to a warmer, quieter location may help reduce stress and help her regulate her temperature. If she has other symptoms in addition to shivering, such as not wanting to eat or drink, changes in stool, sleeping all the time, etc, then this can indicate illness and should be checked out by a vet in person if she doesn't improve after a day or so.