My Bird Is Fluffed Up:
When Should You See a Vet?
Here is how urgent it usually is, what may be causing it, and what to do next.
Your bird is sitting fluffed up and sleepy?
Birds hide illness well, so a bird that stays fluffed up and sleepy during the day may be unwell. Please contact us today, and straight away if your bird is on the cage floor.
- Your bird is sitting on the floor of the cage
- Your bird is breathing with its tail bobbing or its mouth open
- Your bird is not eating or drinking
- Your bird is bleeding or has been injured
- Your bird's droppings have changed colour or have blood in them
Closed on Tuesday
ExoCare is not a 24-hour hospital. Outside these hours, please contact the nearest 24-hour veterinary hospital.
What to do in an emergencyBird Fluffed Up
Why it matters
In the wild, birds hide signs of illness to avoid predators. By the time a bird looks fluffed up and sleepy, it may have been unwell for a while.
Common causes
- Infection
- Feeling cold, which is often a sign the bird is unwell
- Egg-related problems in females
- Nutrition problems, such as a seed-only diet
- Fumes, such as from overheated non-stick pans
Signs that often come with it
- Sitting still with feathers puffed out
- Eyes half-closed, or sleeping more in the day
- Eating less
- Changes in droppings
- The tail bobbing with each breath
What to do now
- Keep your bird warm and the room quiet
- Handle it as little as possible, as handling stresses a sick bird
- Contact us today and note any changes in droppings
Please keep your bird away from fumes, including overheated non-stick pans and aerosol sprays, which can be very harmful to birds.
Weigh your bird if you can. Weight loss is often the first sign of illness in birds, and a kitchen-scale reading helps us a lot.
What to Bring to Your Visit?
A covered travel cageA small cage, partly covered to keep your bird calm.
A droppings photoA photo of today's droppings on a clean cage liner.
Usual foodA sample or photo of what your bird usually eats.
Your bird's weightA kitchen-scale weight, if you have one.
Cage set-up photosPhotos of the cage, perches and where it sits in the home.
Medicines givenAny medicines or supplements your bird has had.
Dr. Asma Fariha
Veterinary Surgeon · MVC Reg. No. 3362
Dr. Asma monitors valve disease over time, because staging is what determines when treatment should begin.
What People Say
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, birds are very good at hiding illness. Small changes in behaviour, appetite or droppings are worth checking early.
Birds fluff up briefly when resting or preening. Staying fluffed up for long periods, especially during the day, is not normal.
Keep the room warm and free of draughts, and partly cover the cage. Please contact us before using heat lamps or heat pads, as they can overheat a bird.
Bring your bird in a small, covered travel cage, a photo of today’s droppings, its usual food and its weight if you have it.
It can be a sign of illness, as birds puff up to stay warm when they are unwell. Please contact us today for advice.
A bird that sits on the cage floor is usually very unwell. Please contact us straight away.