BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Birds puffed budgie

Hi, my budgie which ive had for 3 days now, sometimes puffes up then kind of shakes and then gets back to normal (she doesnt stay puffed up for more than a second). it's done this many times, and im wondering if this is normal. thanks!

Quite normal I would say - my lot do this too. I think it is getting all the feathers settled into a comfy position and also shakes out any dust or old feathers they have. Only staty worrying if they are constantly huddled up and puffed out as this can indicate that they aren't very well or possibly cold.

Great, thanks.

in other words... its like they're just grooming thereselves... right?

Yeah! Like you sometimes can feel that your hair is out of place and you shake you head to sort it out or run you hands through it.

The feathers on birds - I know it is the case with cockatiels, not 100% about others though - also sort of disintegrate and turn into powder. They probably shake to get rid of that as well, letting it go all over our rooms for us to clean up!!LOL

well as all i know about that is that it traps air to keep them warm.

They stay puffed up if they are cold and have trapped the air to warm them up. This is why it is a good sign that your bird might not be feelin 100% if it stays puffed up for a long time.

The more you get used to you bird and it behaviours the more you'll know if there might be a problem. Sadly though they are very good at hiding the signs of illness especially if you have other birds. I've learnt this to my cost!

your bird can sick too if he stay his feathers pluffed... try to read some articles about it... some illness that cause their feathers to be pluffed...