Budgie Body Language (8)

Why is my budgie constantly yawning?

Photo © Heidi DS on Flickr

Frodo got me scared for a moment tonight. I noticed he was yawning, not once, not twice, but he just kept on yawning!

When a budgie yawns, you'll see his little beak open up wide, his neck stretch and his eyes close. Budgies usually yawn when they get sleepy, right before their nap or bed time. When your budgie yawns repeatedly, it could indicate one of the following things:

• lack of oxygen
• they need to get something loose, like when you are popping your ears
• they need to adjust their crop, because some of the seeds didn't go down properly
• there could be something stuck in their throat, like a seed shell or a small feather (nothing dangerous)

By the time I finished reading this online, Frodo had stopped yawning. We always ventilate our appartment well, so it couldn't have been a lack of oxygen in the room. I was so scared Frodo was choking on something, even though he looked very relaxed. So my guess is that he was doing one of the other things.



In extreme cases (if your budgie really doesn't stop yawning, or if he seems to be choking), don't hesitate to call the vet immediately, or just take the car and drive there! Budgies are in many ways like little children, they can't tell you what's wrong. That's why you always have to keep an extra pair of eyes on them.

Previous posts in this series:
Body Language of a sleeping budgie
Body Language of a preening budgie (Budgie Body Language 1)
Budgie Body Language (2)
Budgie Body Language (3)
Budgie Body Language (4)  
Budgie Body Language (5) 
Budgie Body Language (6)
Budgie Body Language (7)

Budgie Body Language (7)

Does my budgie like to be petted on the head?

Image © pets.webshots.com

Some budgies really like to be touched on their head by humans. But all budgies are different. Some budgies will only let their partner preen them. Some budgies do it to remove dust particles, or stimulate the blood flow in the area of the head, but most budgies do it out of tenderness. If you see a budgie preening another budgie, it means "I love you". If they "preen" your hair, it has the same meaning. You can return the good feeling by rubbing your budgie's head very lightly, sometimes up and down to the neck. You can also rub their belly a little bit, although some budgies don't like that at all. All budgies are different and it also depends on how close the bond with their owner is.

Previous posts in this series:
Body Language of a sleeping budgie
Body Language of a preening budgie (Budgie Body Language 1)
Budgie Body Language (2)
Budgie Body Language (3)
Budgie Body Language (4)  
Budgie Body Language (5) 
Budgie Body Language (6)

Budgie Body Language (6)

Are my budgies fighting?

Image ©​ budgerigars.co.uk

Budgies rarely fight. What you see here, is a clear signal from the male budgie on the right, that he is ready to mate. The female budgie on the other hand, is not ready yet. She doesn't lower her head. Instead, she objects and pulls her head away from him. The male budgie will have to be a little more patient.

Note: if you wish to have baby budgies, you have to get a good nest box. Budgies are among the few birds in Australia that lay their eggs in cavities and hollow tree trunks.

Previous posts in this series:
Body Language of a sleeping budgie
Body Language of a preening budgie (Budgie Body Language 1)
Budgie Body Language (2)
Budgie Body Language (3)
Budgie Body Language (4)  
Budgie Body Language (5)

Budgie Body Language (5)

What is that crunching noise that my budgie is making?

Image © upatsix.com

When your budgie is making a soft crunching noise with its beak, it means that he is feeling happy and relaxed. Try for yourself and pay them a visit in the evening, talk to them and give them compliments. Don't speak loudly, but lower your voice so they don't feel intimidated. The budgies will return your care by twittering back at you and close their eyes every now and again. It won't be long before the crunching noise follows ;-) Which proves once more that your budgies need you around to be happy and to feel at home!



Previous posts in this series:
Body Language of a sleeping budgie
Body Language of a preening budgie (Budgie Body Language 1)
Budgie Body Language (2)
Budgie Body Language (3)
Budgie Body Language (4)

Budgie Body Language (4)

Image (c) youschi.se

What does it mean when my budgie shakes its feathers?

This is a very efficient way for your budgie to get rid of the dust in its feathers, little dirt particles and small pieces that come loose while grooming, or small bits of skin. Also they shake because they maybe have a feather that is set wrong and that feels uncomfortable.

It can also be a sign of mood change. When your budgie shakes its feathers quite loudly as you come close to the cage, it could indicate that he wants some privacy. Shaking their feathers is also a good way for budgies to release tension when they're stressed.

Previous posts in this series:
Body Language of a sleeping budgie
Body Language of a preening budgie (Budgie Body Language 1)
Budgie Body Language (2)
Budgie Body Language (3)

Budgies, just the way we know them!

Budgerigars like all kinds of toys and games. They are the world's best air acrobats and love to swing their way through life, driven by curiosity and courage. If you become their friend, they enjoy sitting on your head or your shoulder and love being carried around in the room. They are true explorers, and even though they haven't discovered America, they have discovered big parts of Australia where you wouldn't even survive for one day. You and your feathered friends can have a lot of fun trying out a new game every day. Budgerigars are able to solve easy mathematics exercises, play water polo with grapes, make music with marbles and are sometimes heard in harmony with the church bells on Sunday.

Here are another few descriptions that are also typical for budgerigars:

• Colourful plumage
• Curious and alert
• Sweet and intelligent
  
• Loyal to "its" human
• Enjoy company
• Love to cuddle with their partner
• Flock-oriented
• Can learn to talk
• Loving, affectionate (budgie mothers)

Feel free to add some to this list ;)

Picture (c) fountainphoto.com

Budgie Body Language (3)

Despite their enthusiastic and lively nature, budgies can be shy too. When you're making a budgie shy, you will notice how he suddenly looks the other way, a little confused. He might start preening his feathers, scratch himself or peck at some random grains. Amazing how much this resembles our human body language!

Other posts in this series:
Body Language of a sleeping budgie
Body Language of a preening budgie (Budgie Body Language 1)
Budgie Body Language (2)
Budgie Body Language (4)

Don't you fall asleep now!

This is something I frequently noticed in budgies behaviour.

When one budgie is ill, he puffs up his feathers and sits on the perch with his eyes closed.
The other budgies around him know what is going on, they can tell that their buddy is not feeling well.
Budgies seem to know what might happen when another budgie starts closing his eyes... and they don't want the budgie to fall asleep forever. Because of that, they poke the sick budgie whenever they catch him dozing off.
It's a friendly but decisive poke with the beak, acting as a safety measure to keep the sick budgie awake... and alive!

Budgie Body Language (2)

Budgies puff up their feathers when they're sleeping, BUT sleeping on two legs is always a bad sign!
photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stacylynn/3506213355/#/

Budgies regulate their body temperature with their feathers. If they're cold, they will puff up their feathers; that way, they create an insulating layer of air that holds some wamth. Budgies are not supposed to be "puffed up" all the time, though, unless they are sleeping - but it could also mean that they're ill.

When they're too warm, they spread their wings a little to get cooled down.

Other posts in this series:
Body Language of a sleeping budgie
Body Language of a preening budgie (Budgie Body Language 1)
Budgie Body Language (3)
Budgie Body Language (4)

Budgie Body Language

Photo: budgieplace.com

If a budgie is preening another budgie's head or preening your hair or eyelashes, it means that he just wants to show you that he loves you :)
Sometimes a budgie will poof up his feathers on his head and cheeks, that means he would love a nice headscratch. He will turn his head a little from side to side and close his eyes as you softly preen him (budgies looove that!)

Other posts in this series:
Body language of a sleeping budgie
Budgie Body Language (2)
Budgie Body Language (3)
Budgie Body Language (4)

Body language of a sleeping budgie

When a budgie sleeps, he usually rests on one leg. The other leg is hidden somewhere in the bellyfeathers and sometimes budgies put their beak in their backfeathers as well. If a budgie sleeps on two legs, it could mean that he is getting ill.

Picture © parkietenfun.nl

If a budgie is resting during the day, he usually rests on one leg with his eyes half closed, making a soft crunching noise with his beak and twittering to himself (maybe some kind of lullaby?). This means that the budgie is completely relaxed and happy. You should not disturb them then :)

Other posts in this series:
Body Language of a preening budgie (Budgie Body Language 1)
Budgie Body Language (2)
Budgie Body Language (3)
Budgie Body Language (4)