Figuring out whether or not your beloved pet parakeet feels under the weather is not always the easiest thing. Birds are pretty tough and stoic creatures, and often attempt to conceal signs of discomfort and pain from others. However, that isn't always possible. Shivering is sometimes an indication of illness in parakeets.
Chilling
A shivering parakeet may be cold and feeling a chill, according to veterinarian James Harris of the Parrot Chronicles website. By shivering, a pet bird may be trying to get warmer by encouraging the muscles to move more rapidly. If the temperatures are low in your parakeet's environment, shivering is a message to you that you need to turn the heat up -- stat.
Anxiety
Parakeets, like other pet birdies, are susceptible to anxiety. If you just brought home a new young parakeet and he hasn't yet adapted to his new surroundings, his shivering may be a sign of intense uncertainty and nerves. Once you put the time into socializing and developing a strong rapport with your parakeet, however, this type of anxious behavior should subside, although some birds are just more naturally "on edge" than others.
Psittacosis
One disease that causes conspicuous shivering in parakeets is called Psittacosis. The zoonotic condition can lead to life-threatening circumstances in both parrots and human beings alike, according to the website BirdChannel.com. The contagious bacterial disease is transmitted via accidental consumption or inhalation of bird droppings that are infected. Apart from shivering, other common signs of this "parrot fever" include labored breathing, runny nose, diarrhea, lack of appetite and exhaustion. Due to the immensely hazardous nature of this condition, it is vital to seek immediate avian veterinary care for any bird or parakeet that you suspect may have it.
General Sign of Illness
Shivering is often an indication that a bird is either wounded or ill, advises the website for the Humane Society of the United States. Since shivering often points a wide range of different ailments in pet birds, it may be beneficial to take your parakeet to an avian veterinarian for a thorough checkup before making the assumption that he is just shy and nerve-wracked, for example. Along with shivering, other very common symptoms of an unwell parakeet are loud wheezing during breathing, puffed out weathers, inactivity, swelling of the eyes, watery stools, lack of preening, overall weakness, crouching over, constant circling, abnormal fecal matter odor, sagging of the wings and glazed over eyes. Any and all of these signs signify a parakeet that needs veterinary care, so don't wait around. Whether your parakeet has a neurological disorder or anything else under the sun, his health is a very pressing issue.
