Budgie Tail Down

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When birds fall sick, they have an uncanny way of hiding it in the wild.

It’s a necessary trick that birds of prey learn as any sign of weakness that their predators may witness serves as an open invitation to a meal.

You should be aware that if your bird cannot hide signs of being sick, then your bird might be seriously ill.

Now, there are many occasions when your budgie’s tail might be down; it could be symptoms of an illness such as a respiratory tract disease or abdominal discomfort. 

It isn’t easy for many first-time pet parents to tell when their winged baby isn’t feeling well.

But, if your budgie’s tail is down, it signifies that something isn’t right.

The upside to tail drooping is that it is in most cases an obvious sign that your budgie is unwell, and it is often associated with other symptoms like unsteadiness on the perch, wobbliness, restlessness, or favoring of one leg. 

Let’s delve deep into the subject of when and why your budgie’s tail might droop and what you should do in such a scenario.

Why Is My Budgie’s Tail Drooping?

As mentioned earlier, if your bird shows signs of weakness or illness, it can usually mean that your bird is suffering from an ailment.

A budgie, particularly hale and hearty, will not have its tail down.

If your birdie exhibits other indications like a nasal discharge, open-mouthed breathing, shallow breathing, drooping wings, and holding their head low, then you should try and get a consultation from an avian vet immediately. 

Now, respiratory diseases have gone down in birds in recent years.

But, you need to understand that many birds don’t just fall ill due to a poor diet.

Upper respiratory tract infections are common in birds, especially if you have a huge flock of birds in one aviary.

Bacterial respiratory infections such as Klebsiella, chlamydophila, Pasteurella are often seen in pet birds today.

Moreover, bird owners who live in humid and hot areas tend to have birds that often fall ill.

Large indoor flocks are more susceptible to airborne toxins from household cleaners, incense and air fresheners, second-hand cigarette smoking, kerosene heaters, and overheated cookware. 

But, you should know that not all birds that suffer from respiratory distress have a respiratory infection.

Respiratory distress can include fungal infections of the airways, choking on inhaled food particles, or a space-occupying mass in the abdomen that prevents the air sacs from full expansion.

While it is true that your budgie will try to hide its sickness from you, one of the first signs of it being sick is that its tail will start to droop. 

Why Is My Budgie’s Tail Pointing Down?

There are times when the clipped wings of your budgie will cause it to feel unbalanced. In such situations, your birdie might point its tail down to counterbalance the wing clip by pushing its tail downward. 

There is also the possibility that your bird might point its tail downwards due to genetics.

It’s called a hinged tail, and it seems that some budgie or parrots just have the natural inclination to keep their tails slightly bent.

For most common avian domestic pets, a hinged tail is no big deal.

Many first-time budgie owners don’t even notice such a trait. B

If you have a show bird or plan to breed your bird, then you should look into the matter a little further to deflect a flaw.

Can Budgies Drop Their Tails?

Budgies don’t drop their tails like a reptilian lizard.

Lizards can and do drop their tails voluntarily when in extreme danger, and the only means of escape necessitates tail dropping.

You have to understand that these amazing creatures can do so naturally.

But budgies don’t drop their tails in precisely that way.

They do and can lose their tail feathers when they are molting.

But, once again, molting is a natural process that all parrots experience.

It isn’t an escape tactic or a predator deflection tool.

Molting is a yearly process that doesn’t cause your budgie any physical pain.

It is a gradual replacement of all of a budgie’s feathers.

In most cases, a molting budgie becomes more passive than usual.

Yes, molting will occur around the tail feathers too, and so it is that it might seem like your budgie is dropping its tail.

What Should You Do When Your Budgie’s Tail Is Down?

The first thing to do is monitor your bird’s daily habits.

If your bird is losing weight, is off its food, seems lazy, is not its usual chirpy self, and has its tail down, then you have cause for concern. 

Now, budgies are fairly sturdy creatures, but if your bird is sick and down, you should not waste time trying to figure out what might be the cause of it.

You see, according to Sam Vaughan, DVM, Dipl.ABVP, in Louisville, Ky,

Final Thoughts

Budgies make lovely pets and are genuinely one of the friendliest birds and budgies are relatively low-maintenance birds.

But, if you find your bird with its tail down and also see other symptoms of illnesses, then you should be wise enough not to wait too long before going for a proper consultation from an avian vet.