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Birds--General/parakeet's health

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Expert: - 6/7/2006


Question
I have a 7year old male parakeet.  Recently the weather (CA) has changed and it has been hot.  We sometimes open the windows for fresh air and the house gets warm during the day.  During this time I have noticed that my bird has been less active and very needy (always wants to be with me).  Also he has been pruning  his back in one location a lot.  I do not know if it is the change in the weather or if he is sick.  Because he is an older bird I worry and I would like some advise.  Thank you for all your help.

Answer
Hi, Patricia.  Thanks for posting.

Nothing you've stated in your post leads me to believe your keet is ill.  Less activeness makes sense with the heat.  I don't think the heat has anything to do with him being "needy" for you, unless this is his way of asking you to find him a cooler spot!  If your keet is too hot, he will pant and spread his wings away from his body to dissipate heat.  Parrots can tolerate colder temps, but they can't tolerate too much heat if they are caged (parrots in the wild have ways to cool themselves down).  The pruning could be a number of things, but not sure it has to do with the bird being too hot.  To keep your keet cooler during higher daytime temps, close the blinds in his room if there are any, turn off his overhead light if he has any, keep windows open for sufficient air circulation (sufficient air circulation is important to helping keep him cooled down), and provide a dish of water your keet can bathe in if he needs to.

Come back if you need to.

Chrys  

Birds--General

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Chrys Meatyard

Expertise

I`ve been raising/breeding/handfeeding/selling parrots for over 20 years (parakeets/budgies, cockatiels, 6 subspecies of conures, parrotlets, amazons, lovebirds, etc.). I've been published in "Budgies" and "Cockatiels" offered by Bow Tie Productions, and have written avian articles for publication in England. I can provide advice in raising healthy birds, handfeeding/weaning babies, some health problems (although I'm NOT an avian veterinarian), nail/beak/wing clipping, general husbandry, etc. I also have experience with racing/showing homing pigeons. I cannot diagnose specific illness over this website. If you suspect your bird is ill or if you have an emergency, contact an avian veterinarian or emergency pet clinic ASAP.

Experience

Experience: Over 20 years raising parrots and over 13 years raising pigeons. Organizations: Currently, American Racing Pigeon Union and American Federation of Aviculture. Prior member Miami Valley Bird Club, Southern Ohio Pigeon Association, National Cockatiel Society, Miami Valley Sportsman's Club, others. Publications: Monthly newsletters of bird clubs.

Publications
I've been published in "Budgies" and "Cockatiels" offered by Bow Tie Productions, and have written avian articles for publication in England.

Education/Credentials
American Federation of Aviculture, completed Level I course, Fundamentals of Aviculture. Keeping/breeding parrots and other birds for over 20 years.

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