Hi there

 

I've had my budgie for a few weeks now and recently i've noticed he (or she) seems to be moving his bottom beak up and down repeatedly quite a lot and quite often when i am training and talking to him. Is this normal? I can see his tongue when he is doing this. I think he is about 11 weeks old at the moment (all the lines in the forehead are still visible right up to the nose)

 

I am concerned he might have a respiratory problem but then again everything else is normal and he does not move his tail up and down while doing it. So i don't feel he is struggling with the breathing.

 

Can anybody enlighten me what's happening with him???

 

Thanks.

ek

grinding is normal a sign of happy if he is opening and closing that is like a budgie yawn. If you hear clicking in his breathing or labored then that would be a sign of possible respiratory infection.

He's doing this because he's terrified. It's a bit like a dog panting and they do it after they've flown a lot and are winded or when they are extremely scared. I'd suggest cutting the training session a lot shorter and doing more to make him feel safe. Make sure all is peaceful and quiet while you're training him and that you're talking softly. Some budgies are afraid of whispers so try different things with your voice to see what calms him more.

see now I read in a book the opposite, learn something new everyday (I stand to be corrected)

mm... There is no grinding noise and he is not terrified. He steps up quite readily when my finger is close to him and he eats the millets off my hand so i am confused!!

 

Any other possilibity??

does he do the same thing when he is settling down to relax or take a nap?

 

Because Pretty will do the beak noises when he is content, 1 of his legs are curled in and he is chattering softly to himself. Is this what you are describing because there may be a mixed communication what is actually happening. This is what I though you were describing above that is why I said "happy" or content.

 

He's doing this because he's terrified. It's a bit like a dog panting and they do it after they've flown a lot and are winded or when they are extremely scared. I'd suggest cutting the training session a lot shorter and doing more to make him feel safe. Make sure all is peaceful and quiet while you're training him and that you're talking softly. Some budgies are afraid of whispers so try different things with your voice to see what calms him more.

 

And reading through Terri's explanation (I had a kid in 1 ear before so I didn't read it like I should have), this is absolutely correct if he is panting like a dog her description is on. Not that I need to confirm that because she knows her budgies, but so you know that I misunderstood before and that is why I put stand to be corrected.

 

see now I read in a book the opposite, learn something new everyday (I stand to be corrected)

 

See my response - I corrected myself. I can see this is going to be a looooonnnng day

Edited May 19, 200618 yr by lovey

He is scared thats what it means. All my budgies do this when something out of the ordinary is happening. My birds are all wimps though.

 

Im sure it will stop when he gets used to you.

He may still step up when scared. But if you really feel that he is calm when doing this, it is time to get him to an avian vet as it may be a respiratory issue.

I've been reducing the training time and i think he is getting used to me a bit better now. I've been leaving him out in the living room during the weekend as i am home and I have not seen him moving the beak. I think he's very happy when he is out and about. I don't push the training anymore. I could do a few short training while he is out but I always stop before he gets bored now.

 

By the way, do all budgies chirp when you turn a hoover on? Mine does it every time and i wonder if he likes it or if he is scared.. Well, i don't really have any other option with all those seeds on the carpet!

Edited May 21, 200618 yr by glasgowguy

glad things are working better

I think the noise gets them excited, when our radio, vaacum or TV is on high they tend to be noiser, remember in the wild if it is still or very quiet there is danger in the air.

Mine go wild when the hoover starts every single one of them.

Mine LOVE the hoover too. They look mad at me when I stop! :

My budgies chirp to the radio and rustling plastic. He probably likes it.

By the way, do all budgies chirp when you turn a hoover on? Mine does it every time and i wonder if he likes it or if he is scared.. Well, i don't really have any other option with all those seeds on the carpet!

 

my conure will take a bath as soon as it starts up!