Budgies are a popular pet bird, but they can be prone to falling off their perch. This is because budgies have many reasons for why they might fall off their perch.
There are many ways you can prevent your budgie from falling off its perch and some of these include providing it with the right kind of food, making sure that the cage has enough space for them to fly around in, and also ensuring that there’s no drafts or sudden changes in temperature inside the cage.
Of course, a budgie may fall off its perch from time to time without causing any concern. It’s possible that your budgie was killed by a cage mate. It might be clumsy, forgetting to balance correctly, or fluttering over a jump without doing so.
There are many reasons why your budgie might fall off its perch and this article outlines a few of them.
High Ambient Temperature
One main reason a budgie may fall off its perch is that it can’t keep cool enough due to high ambient temperature. Keep the temperature inside the cage at 28 degrees Celsius year-round with a 40-watt basking lamp during daytime, and 10 watts at night.
Budgies tolerate heat very well but prolonged exposure or lack of circulating air can quickly lead to problems such as chronic drooping, impaired balance, lethargy, appetite loss – plus death from liver damage.
This is more likely when there’s not enough foliage in the cage for shade from overhead light during the daytime.
Lack of Exercise
Budgies in the wild spend most of their time in trees, flying in all directions. Lack of exercise or insufficient space in a cage can lead to floppiness and lack of balance when your budgie needs to fly horizontally (e.g., across perches rather than climbing up or down).
This is because they’re not exercising their muscles and tendons enough to be strong and flexible.
Diet
If your budgie’s diet doesn’t contain enough fiber, this can over time lead to overgrowth of the nictitating membrane which can cause impaired vision and inability to fly straight.
This is more likely to happen with a seed-only diet. Similarly, lack of exercise and dietary inadequacies over time may lead to muscle weakness in the wings or legs which can cause a budgie to fall off its perch. The American Budgerigar Society says about this:
“A budgerigar’s diet should comprise 60% green vegetable matter, 30% seed mixture, 10% egg and/or meal and 5% fresh fruit and/or live food.”
Jumps
Many budgies make the mistake of jumping over wide spaces without doing a wingover beforehand.
They may jump horizontally across perches, or vertically from one level to the next in their cage which they consider too far apart to “just” fly across.
Experienced budgerigars land with a full, controlled wingover and so in this case, the level of difficulty in the jump is probably too high for a beginner.
Do Budgies Get Pale?
Brought indoors, many birds suffer from hypothermia and can faint. Budgerigars are no exception. Fainting is caused by a lack of oxygen in the brain. Disorders that affect these organs can cause:
- Nervous system
- Cardiovascular system
- Respiratory system
In medical terms, the word “ataxia” is used to describe the lack of muscle coordination that can be caused by an illness or disease.
Budgies suffering from ataxia become dizzy and lose their balance, flying in unpredictable directions with stiff wings. The bird may seem weak, have a head tilt, or collapse on the floor of your cage.
Related Post : Do Budgies Need Sunlight?
Ataxia is usually caused by a disorder affecting the head, neck, beak, or eyes.
Why Is My Budgie Always Falling Off Its Perch?
Budgies Suffering From a Heat Stroke
Heatstroke can be a worry if you live in a hot, humid, or mild climate. Budgies are sensitive to heat, so never place your bird’s cage in direct sunlight or next to a radiator.
Apart from this, the most common cause of falling off the perch is the result of a stroke – either due to high ambient temperature or neurological disease.
Neurological Disease
In this case, the main symptom is impaired balance and motor function that may cause a budgie to fall off its perch.
This can be caused by an infection, e.g., from a virus such as Inclusion Body Disease (IBD), Polyomavirus, or Reovirus.
The bird may also have trouble walking, flying, or standing upright.
If your budgie is weakened by an infection, the issue could be a result of loss of muscle coordination in the legs and wings due to hypocalcemia (low calcium levels). It’s unlikely that this occurs with healthy budgies, but it may come from a lack of calcium in your bird’s diet.
In rare cases, the neurological disease can be caused by nutritional deficiencies or poisons such as Avitrol/Avitron or organophosphate pesticides.
Find out which subspecies your bird belongs to.
Respiratory Problems
An aspergillosis infection may obstruct the trachea and lungs, causing respiratory problems.
It’s hard to diagnose this condition without an examination and diagnostic tests such as radiographs (X-rays), bronchoscopy (mild endoscopy of the respiratory tract), or laboratory analyses of cells and other tissue samples.
Aspergillus is a fungal mold that loves humid environments, so it’s important to store food in containers with lids to prevent the spores from contaminating your bird’s environment.
Immune System Weakness can make Budgies Prone to Aspergillosis. It’s possible that the same way some humans have weak immune systems, so do budgies.
Anatomical Difficulties
Budgie’s Anatomy Problems include a short leg, a broken or deformed beak, slipped vertebrae, and scoliosis.
Scoliosis can limit the use of one wing and affect balance in the same way that humans with bad backs have trouble standing upright.
Night Fright
Many budgies fall off their perches at night for a variety of reasons. The most common cause is that the bird is frightened by something, such as sudden noise or unfamiliar smell.
Birds have limited color perception and take longer to adapt to darkness than humans do. In certain situations, they can become disoriented when in an unfamiliar place in the dark.
Perch Isn’t Suitable for Budgies
The size of your bird’s perches is also important. In general, the diameter should be twice the width of your budgie’s feet, and there should be a little space between each toe to prevent foot deformities.
If you notice any changes in your bird’s foot condition, be sure to contact an avian veterinarian to have it checked out.
What Should You Do If Your Budgie Keeps Falling Off Its Perch?
If your budgie is repeatedly falling off its perch, you should take the bird to a vet as soon as possible for a physical examination and diagnostic tests. In the meanwhile, follow these simple tips to make your budgie more comfortable.
- Move the cages to the floor.
- Remove, or lower, perches.
- Wipe off any droppings with a towel.
- Place a towel on the cage’s bottom
Falling over isn’t always the result of a deadly disease, but it is nevertheless something to be concerned about.
In Summary
Make sure the place you place budgie’s cages is safe and secure for them, also it’s important to find out why your budgie keeps falling off its perch.
If you keep noticing that your bird has fallen off its roosting bar or mounting bracket, or any other symptoms such as drooping wings, lethargy, or decreased appetite then this could be a sign of an illness and you should contact your vet immediately.
