Always Sleeping

[italysa]

Hi everyone, I'm new here and I hope you can answer a question for me.

Is it possible to have a perfectly healthy budgie that just enjoys sleeping?

My newest little guy (or girl) Chicklet, is about 9 months old and is very quiet. I have had him for about 4 months. My other guy (Widget) sings and plays all day. He's about 5 years old.

I took them both to the vet for a check up a few weeks ago. They both checked out fine. Weight was good, poops look good. I told the vet that Chicklet seemed a little sluggish, quiet, and sleeping a lot; so she started him on Baytril for 10 days, just in case he was coming down with something. He has been off the Baytril now for 4 days. His appetite is great, it always was; eats seed mixed with pellets (mostly seed) I haven't gotten him converted over yet. He loves green vegetables, though..... But he eats like there is no tomorrow then goes back to his perch and sleeps.

Any thoughts? I really don't want to stress him out by taking him back to the vets and putting him through all sorts of tests. Just that one trip to the vet really put him over the edge. He's still giving me dirty looks;)

Thanks in advance,

Lisa

[clifff123]

Usually sleeping allot mean something is wrong, but since your vet gave her the ok, I would still keep an close eye on her. Does she get out of the cage for exercise and are the two budgies bonded with each other?

[italysa]

He seems to perk up a bit more late afternoon, usually when his seeds run out; then he will come out of the cage and hang out on top of it. The cage door is open all day. I work from home, so they stay in my office with me.

They have not really bonded. Widget had a buddy that passed away about 2 months before I bought Chicklet. Chicklet was the bully when they were first introduced. He wanted whatever Widget had. He actually looks much bigger too, but weighs less. They don't preen each other. Once in a while, actually just last night, I saw them doing that "kissy" thing they do. But he doesn't sing, only a chirp every once and a while. Basically, just eats, drinks and sleeps.

He'll also perk right up when I put some type of green veggie in the cage! Then right back to sleep. Tail seems to be bobbing a bit more than Widget's, too.

[chibudge]

I think my budgie must sleep a lot during the afternoon when I'm gone. He seems to have plenty of energy, and I know he isn't sleeping 10-12 hours straight at night. He is something of a night-owl as he is the most active in the evening, well after sunset. If I try and dim the lights and cover the cage too early makes noise until I uncover him. As long as I go to sleep immediately after covering him he thinks it is ok to go to bed too.

[Sweety&Tweety]

I have a budgie that seems to sleep much more than the others, but she does come out and play on top of the cage. I would definitely take the good advice given above of just keeping an eye out for any ailments that may come up. *fingers crossed* you just have a lazy type bird.

[SusanBudgies]

I've read that budgies need 10-12 hours of sleep per night. How is he sleeping? Do you have a night light in the room to make him feel a little more comfortable? Do you cover 1/2 to 3/4 of his cage at night? Is the room protected from sudden loud noises and flashes of light?

Would you mind posting a picture of him and his friend in their cage so we can evaluate the set up? (Plus we always like to see cute budgie pictures. ;) )

[italysa]

They go to bed anywhere between 8 and 8:30 p.m. They sleep upstairs in my office. I don't totally cover the cage; maybe 1/4 of it is open on one side for light. I have a nightlight on in the hall area so they aren't in total darkness. It's pretty quiet. Our TV is downstairs.

They get uncovered around 8 a.m. I'll try to get a picture later today.

[SusanBudgies]

The sleeping arrangement sounds good, but I don't think it's normal for him to sleep all day. (I'm not a budgie expert, though; I'm just basing my opinion on my several years' observations of my own pet budgies.) Did you take him to an all-animal vet, or an avian vet? Did the vet take a blood sample to get his white and red blood cell counts? If I were you, I'd continue to monitor him for a couple weeks, and if he still sleeps a lot, take him to a different avian vet http://www.aav.org/vet-lookup/ for a second opinion.

I have a small travel cage. During the car ride, some of my budgies feel calmer when I cover the cage with a towel, and some feel calmer when the cage is uncovered so they can see the interior of the car.

Please keep us updated about your feathered child!

[italysa]

They go to an avian vet. No blood work was taken. I'll keep an eye on him, and thanks!

[SusanBudgies]

Since the vet didn't take a blood sample, I'd take him to another avian vet pretty soon. (My avian vet always does a blood test during each New Bird Checkup; he checks blood cell counts and fat content.) But I would like to hear others' opinions on this matter.