My new parakeet is sick: fluffed, sleepy, losing balance. What to do?

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

He should be examined by your veterinarian or by a veterinarian experienced in treating birds. Lethargy, chronic regurgitation and loss of balance would be serious symptoms in a young bird. Given Tweety's age, he should be seen as soon as you can get an appointment. Birds are very good at hiding illness or injury until it is quite serious. In the meantime, keep him warm and as stress free as possible until he sees the vet. Do not allow him to fly and remove or lower perches to prevent injury from falls. Consider feeding a commercial handfeeding formula temporarily or soaked commercial pellets to get some food into him.

Hi! Tiki is adorable! Congratulations on your new pet. Birds are often fluffed when they don’t feel well but they can also be fluffed if they’re cold or tired. If he’s eating and acting fine, evaluate the temperature in the room and presence of any drafts. If he is quieter, or has any change in appetite, defecation or activity, see a veterinarian without delay as birds can become seriously ill quickly. Regardless, I would recommend taki Tiki to a veterinarian for a new pet exam. This will establish a relationship with a local vet, create a baseline of health data for Tiki, and give you the opportunity to ask any ther questions you may have about Tiki and his care. Good luck!

Thanks for reaching out about Sunshine and including photos. Providing heat support in the 80-85 F range can give some aid but a veterinary visit is highly recommended, as soon as possible, to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Remove perches and place a soft towel on the bottom of the cage for comfort. Ensure that food and water are within reach. Veterinary care sooner than later, could improve prognosis. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out. This birds should be isolated from others and placed in a warm incubator like environment (80-85 F). A veterinary visit is recommended as soon as possible as it appears very ill. Remove perches and allow to sit on a soft towel. Ensure food and water are within reach. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Tango. He could be sick but a visit to the veterinarian is needed to determine this. If you just acquired him 1-2 days ago, could be stress and not sleeping well at night. Provide supplemental heat support in the 80-85 F range to give support. A new purchase veterinary visit is recommended anyways, to discuss husbandry and diet. Good luck.

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.