So your budgie keeps opening and closing its beak and you’re worried as to whether something is wrong with it or this is perfectly normal behavior? If yes, this guide is for you. Your budgie may be opening and closing its beak due to various reasons explained below:
Budgie opening and closing beak could mean it’s panting due to too much heat or it has a seed stuck in its mouth. It could also be a sign that your budgie is hungry or thirsty. In a worst-case scenario, it could be a sign of respiratory infection.
In this guide, we’ll discuss more comprehensive details about why your pet budgie keeps opening and closing its beak, and what you can do about it. Plus, we’ll discuss other helpful info you need to know regarding this unusual parakeet behavior.
Why your budgie is opening and closing beak
Your budgie opening and closing its beak could be nothing serious but your little friend yawning due to tiredness or boredom.
It also does this as a way of regulating its body temperature or just to catch your attention.
But in some cases, it could also be a sign of illness and you’ll need to visit your avian vet a visit as quick as possible.
Here are the most common reasons for opening and closing beak:
Thermoregulation
Your budgie could be opening and closing its mouth because it’s trying to cool or warm its body due to too much heat or cold in the surrounding.
Unlike other animals, birds don’t sweat, so they have to pant as a way to regulate their body temperature. And this involves opening and closing their beaks.
Try observing your budgie’s breathing more closely to determine if this is indeed the case.
Something is stuck in its mouth
Your budgie may also open and close its beak if something is stuck in its mouth or throat. It could therefore be opening its mouth in an attempt to vomit the object. Or it’s simply trying to gasp for some air. Here, a trip to the vet will help save your pet bird.
Your budgie is hungry
A hungry bird may also open and close its beak to try to get your attention or to beg you for food and water. In this case, you should try providing it with food and water.
Generally, budgies love to eat throughout the day and shouldn’t go for more than 24 hours without food or water, or else they can become sick.
A sign of illness
A sick budgie will also open and close its beak. It could be having an infection in its mouth or throat. It could be having a respiratory infection, thus opening its mouth to get some oxygen.
Budgies are good at hiding their sickness so they don’t appear weak to their predators. So, if you suspect your budgie is unwell, you should consult your vet immediately.
Respiratory infections in budgies can turn fatal if not treated on time, so we advise you to act immediately and take your pet to the vet if you suspect it’s sick.
What should you do if your budgie opens and closes its beak?
If your budgie closes and opens its beak, you should observe him more closely to help you decide on the best course of action to take.
If your budgie remains relaxed when closing/opening its beak, then it’s possibly just practicing talking silently and you shouldn’t be worried.
Check your budgie’s mouth to see if anything is irritating it, such as a piece of grit, a seed, or a seed husk. If you find any object, gently remove it and see if your budgie will stop this behavior.
Does your pet bird breathe rapidly when opening and closing its mouth? If yes, then it’s probably panting due to high temperatures or it could be due to a respiratory infection. In this case, you’d want to visit your vet asap so that your little friend can be examined properly.
Give your budgie fresh food and clean water if you suspect the reason he opens his beak is due to hunger.
If there’s food in its feeding dish already, consider replacing it with the bird’s favorite food to see if it’ll eat it. Also, remove any food and clean the feeding dish before serving your budgie with fresh food.
Does your budgie seem distressed at the same time? If yes, then he’s probably scared of something. Check its surrounding for potential stressors and eliminate them.
If you try all these fixes and your bird’s opening and closing beak don’t stop, it’s time to visit an avian vet. This is important to help rule out any potential illnesses.
Why is your budgie opening and closing beak and stretching neck?
If your budgie is opening and closing beak and at the same time stretching its neck, it’s probably unwell. Your pet might be doing so due to pain and discomfort caused by the illness.
Budgies often make this move when they want to regurgitate due to food issues or sickness.
Budgies are known to feed their chicks by first digesting the food partially and then regurgitating it and giving it to their babies.
If there are hungry baby budgies to be fed, then you shouldn’t be worried about your pet bird stretching its neck.
Otherwise, if there are no chicks, and your budgies show other signs of illness, then you’ll need to take him or her to a vet.
However, your parakeet opening and closing beak and stretching neck could also mean it’s adjusting its crop.
This is usually nothing to be concerned about as your bird is basically moving the food inside its crop so that it feels more comfortable.
So, what should you do if your budgie does this? According to this avian/exotic veterinarian, you can try feeling your budgie’s crop. If it feels full, your budgie may just want to regurgitate.
However, if the crop feels full and never empties, then you should take your pet to a vet immediately.
And in case your budgie is making this move and seems to feed and do everything else well, then you may want to continue monitoring its behavior.
What it means when a budgie opens its beak wide
Your budgie opening its beak wide means he’s probably yawning. However, if this seems to be more consistent, it could be a sign that your bird is trying to gasp for air, probably because it has something stuck in its throat or it’s suffering from respiratory-related issues. In this case, it’s advisable to take your pet to an experienced avian vet for a checkup.
Why your budgie is opening and closing its mouth no sound
Your budgie moving beak but no sound could be just the natural yawning and nothing to worry about.
However, it could be a sign of an obstruction in its throat, hunger, or thirst. The bird could also be panting if it’s scared or stressed.
Your budgie may also open and close its mouth without making any sound if it’s eating any food particles that got stuck inside its mouth.
The only time you should be concerned is if this behavior becomes too consistent. You should visit your avian vet to have your pet bird examined for any underlying health issues.
FAQs:
Your budgie may be mimicking you if it opens and closes its beak when you’re talking to him. Budgies are smart birds and can mimic their owners’ voices.
If your budgie is opening and closing its beak rapidly, then it could be simply trying to regulate its body temperature, probably due to its surrounding environment being too hot or cold. By opening its mouth, the bird will cool or warm its body depending on the surrounding temperatures.
If you notice your budgie opening its beak like it’s yawning, you should check if it has something stuck in its mouth or at the back of its throat. The yawning is your pet bird’s way of trying to dislodge the stuck object and it may consistently open and close its beak in the process.
Final Verdict
Budgie opening and closing beak is something many budgie owners have experienced and there are many reasons behind it. Your budgie could be regulating its body temperature, may have something stuck in its mouth or throat, or is trying to mimic you. Hunger could also cause it to do this. But it could also mean your pet bird is sick and needs immediate avian vet attention.
If your parakeet is opening and closing its beak, follow the guidelines we’ve discussed in this guide to help fix this problem. However, if none of these tips seem to work and the behavior is consistent, take your bird to a vet to be properly examined. This will help rule out possible underlying medical conditions and give you some peace of mind.
