Budgie Illnesses:Full List

Symptoms:
Sneezing, nasal discharge, green diarrhea, weight loss, lethargy, fluffed-up feathers

Causes:
Bacterial infection (Chlamydia psittaci); spread through droppings and dust

Notes:
Contagious to humans (zoonotic), must be treated by an avian vet with antibiotics

Symptoms:
Crusty growths on cere, beak, feet, and legs; scratching; deforming of beak over time

Causes:
Microscopic mites; can spread through contact

Notes:
Treatable with ivermectin or mite spray; contagious to other birds

Symptoms:
Sneezing, nasal discharge, tail bobbing when breathing, open-mouth breathing, wheezing

Causes:
Bacteria, poor air quality, drafts, dusty cage, or vitamin A deficiency

Notes:
Needs vet care; untreated infections can become serious quickly

Symptoms:
Swollen crop, bad breath, vomiting, refusal to eat, lethargy

Causes:
Yeast or bacterial infection, food sitting too long in the crop (especially in chicks)

Notes:
Needs immediate treatment — serious in babies

Symptoms:
Female puffed up, straining, swollen abdomen, sitting on cage floor, not eating

Causes:
Lack of calcium, obesity, young or old hen, laying too often

Notes:
Emergency — may need vet or heat/humidity and calcium support

Symptoms:
Watery droppings, dirty vent, weight loss, lethargy

Causes:
Poor diet, bacterial/viral infection, stress, spoiled food

Notes:
Needs vet care if lasting more than a day

Symptoms:
Straining to poop, vent swelling, no droppings for long time

Causes:
Dehydration, low fiber, egg binding

Notes:
Increase hydration; monitor for other signs like egg binding

Symptoms:
Lumps, swelling in abdomen, unbalanced movement, weight loss

Causes:
Genetic (common in older budgies), sometimes diet-related

Notes:
Vet exam needed; sometimes not treatable

Symptoms:
Fat deposits around belly or chest, tiredness, reduced flying

Causes:
Seed-only diet, no exercise, overfeeding

Notes:
Adjust diet, offer more out-of-cage time

Symptoms:
Dull feathers, lethargy, weak immune system, beak or nail issues

Causes:
Unbalanced diet (especially all-seed diet), lack of supplements

Notes:
Switch to pellet-based diet with veggies & calcium

Symptoms:
Vomiting, weight loss, undigested seeds in droppings, fluffed appearance

Causes:
Fungal infection (not bacteria despite the name)

Notes:
Chronic and hard to cure — needs antifungal treatment

Symptoms:
Missing feathers, damaged skin, repetitive picking

Causes:
Boredom, stress, mites, nutritional deficiency, illness

Notes:
Identify the cause — may be behavioral or medical

Symptoms:
Missing flight/tail feathers, stunted growth

Causes:
Believed to be viral (polyomavirus); can spread in breeding aviaries

Notes:
Affected chicks may never fly

Symptoms:
Bleeding from wing or tail, red feather shaft

Causes:
Feather breaks while growing; hits cage or rough landing

Notes:
Apply pressure or pull feather if bleeding won’t stop — call a vet

Symptoms:
Panting, wings held away from body, unsteady, collapsed

Causes:
Overheating in hot weather or sun

Notes:
Move to cool area immediately, offer water — emergency!

Symptoms:
Fluffed up, cold feet, lethargy, unresponsive

Causes:
Drafts, cold weather, wet feathers

Notes:
Gradually warm up, avoid sudden heat — dangerous if extrem

Symptoms:
Overgrown or curled beak/nails, trouble eating or perching

Causes:
Lack of natural wear (no toys, cuttlebone, rough perches)

Notes:
Vet can trim safely

Symptoms:
Sudden panic at night, flapping, injury in cage

Causes:
Loud noise, darkness, cage movement

Notes:
Use a soft night light to reduce risk

Symptoms:
Tissue protruding from vent, bleeding, straining

Causes:
Egg binding, constipation, infection

Notes:
Emergency vet visit needed

Symptoms:
Vomiting, lethargy, seizures, green poop

Causes:
Chewing on metal cage parts, toys with unsafe paint/coatings

Notes:
Life-threatening — remove source & go to vet ASAP