Anyone Ever Had This ?

[**KAZ** 0]

Just wondering if anyone has ever had a budgie or other bird that acts "dead" when caught in a net ?? Ken caught one of my hens in a net yesterday to transfer her to another cage....she went absolutely stock still dead in appearance in the net ??!! she went stiff and wasn't moving....to all appearances she was dead. Ken was shocked ....he thought he had killed her. He picked her up out of the net and gave her a little shake, she woke up and was okay. Good as gold now and no problems. I had an experience exactly the same with a finch I had to catch in the net. Same story, it stiffened and acted dead....eyes open and staring, stiff body. Dead. I shook it a little ....it woke up and flew away. Very weird. Any ideas ????

[Shawna 0]

That would scare me. I haven't experienced but would guess it is some type of defence mechanism??????

Edited April 26, 2006 by daz

[Elly 0]

: my goodness

[Guest Phoebe]

BrokenDreamz has a budgie, Birdie, that will play dead upon command (have seen it). Budgiebird, is your new signature men's underwear, sorry, I am at a loss

[Riebie 0]

I was thinking self defence as well... Scary

[*Nerwen* 0]

Not like that but I think Homer had one that sleep like he was dead and so she someone else I think. I would freak if that happened.

[**KAZ** 0]

BrokenDreamz has a budgie, Birdie, that will play dead upon command (have seen it). Budgiebird, is your new signature men's underwear, sorry, I am at a loss

Signature............There is a term of aussie slang used over here called "budgie smugglers" ....it describes a small pair of mens underwear or swimming gear (speedos). We joke about smuggling budgies to Nerwen and Lovey and others this way....just an aussie kinda joke.

 

Not like that but I think Homer had one that sleep like he was dead and so she someone else I think. I would freak if that happened.

Believe me.....you DO freak when that happens

[Guest Phoebe]

Wonderful, loverly gluteus maximus displayed. :

[Daz 0]

Karen I asked you not to use my photo

[**KAZ** 0]

Karen I asked you not to use my photo

Sorry Daz. I just couldn't help myself Is your other friend available

[Guest Bec]

Daz... Shock maybe??? Although they usually don't just fly away after being in shock especiaaly not from shaking them, that i think would kill them. Who knows, how weird!

[**KAZ** 0]

Daz... Shock maybe??? Although they usually don't just fly away after being in shock especiaaly not from shaking them, that i think would kill them. Who knows, how weird!

By shaking them I mean gently as you would if you thought something was a actually dead and you couldn't quite believe it. Maybe some birds have epilepsy ?

[Guest Phoebe]

Bad Boys!!! :(Laughing out loud):

[Guest eterri]

The fight or flight response in budgies is just that: they either fight (bite and squirm and kick up a fuss) or take flight (obviously, running/flying away from danger if it's possible). They shouldn't go dead still like that. I'm guessing she may have been so stressed she went into shock which is really scary.

 

Even a completely untame budgie shouldn't react in this way. I'd be worried that she may be ill or generally not all that healthy in some way.

 

It might be that she was just *that* afraid though. I've personally never seen a bird being caught with a net, I can imagine it would be very stressful though. Toweling them is quick and blocks their view of what's going on so that they don't get quite so freaked out. Maybe with this particular budgie, toweling is a better option when you have to catch her?

[**KAZ** 0]

The fight or flight response in budgies is just that: they either fight (bite and squirm and kick up a fuss) or take flight (obviously, running/flying away from danger if it's possible). They shouldn't go dead still like that. I'm guessing she may have been so stressed she went into shock which is really scary.

 

Even a completely untame budgie shouldn't react in this way. I'd be worried that she may be ill or generally not all that healthy in some way.

 

It might be that she was just *that* afraid though. I've personally never seen a bird being caught with a net, I can imagine it would be very stressful though. Toweling them is quick and blocks their view of what's going on so that they don't get quite so freaked out. Maybe with this particular budgie, toweling is a better option when you have to catch her?

Thanks Terri for your good advice. Towelling unfortunately would be very hard as the aviary she was caught in was 25 feet by 10 feet by 8. However she is now in a seoparate smaller cage and is being watched. So far she is fine. Maybe Ken's swing of the net (he is fast) winded her and she needed to catch her breath. Bit scary when it happens though.

[Guest eterri]

That could be it. Good to hear she's doing okay now!

[Cheeky 0]

maybe a defence mechanism?? i know that gerbils go rock solid when they are frightened!

[**KAZ** 0]

Could be....I have now experienced two birds that do it then...a budgie and a finch.

[Misty 0]

Petrie used to play dead. Always after her bath she would lay on her back and just stay there still as can be. The only way you could get her to stop was by putting your finger on the botom of her feet like perch then she would get up and act fine. Scared me the firs few times it happened. I know that is not what your talkking about but I thought I would share that story.