Bird anxiety?

Oli · Mar 18, 2017

As some of you may know, I'm a parent of one female pineapple green cheek, Juliet. We're the best of friends- very close.

Onto the concern: Juliet is almost always trembling slightly. She never really displays any other nervous behaviors, and even when the weather is quite warm, she still trembles!

I've seen THREE different avian vets over this, as this has been happening ever since I adopted her. All three of them did tests and labs, which were very expensive lol, and all three of them said that it's only "anxiety". Like that Juliet has chronic anxiety.

I try very hard to trust these vets, but sometimes I see her sit there trembling and I get so nervous it's hard not to worry.

Does anyone else hve a bird that does this? Are there any ideas of something else it might be?

SilverSage · Mar 18, 2017

I have actually dealt with this in my own flock before. If you have done all the labs etc, then it very likely could be anxiety. The good thing is that there are things you can do to help. Her anxiety is likely caused by the way she was raised BEFORE you got her; most likely by early clipping and force weaning, two extremely common but very cruel and damaging practices in bird breeding today. Both of these things lead to insecurity in birds due to no fault of their own. But there are several things we can try to help ease it somewhat.

1) let her wings grow out. I'm serious; in birds it can be a constant terror to them to feel like they have no ability to escape if something attacks. In the wild birds are rarely scared; if something unknown or unexpected shows up, they fly to a safe distance to decide if that thing is a threat. A bird who is clipped before being allowed to become an expert flier never is allowed to develop the confidence and feelings of safety that flying produces.

2) start trick training. It doesn't really matter what tricks as long as you start simple and be patient. The reason I suggest this is because it gives her a way to interact with, predict, and to some extent, CONTROL her surroundings. It can be a real confidence booster. I highly suggest recall training as a priority to make both your lives easier and safer as her wings grow out.

3) low energy diet. This is from my own personal experience with both my phobic conure as well as my own severe anxiety disorder. If she is on seed, get her off of it ASAP (this will help with the training, too) and onto a fresh, live, and pelleted (NOT high potency) diet. The fresh should be all or mostly veggies, little or no fruit. The excess energy bouncing around in her system can translate really easily into anxiety symptoms, particularly when that energy comes from carbs/sugar.

4) is she getting enough sleep? 8-12 hours?

5) consider using AviCalm supplement. I usually don't recommend supplements but I've had some really significant success when using Avicalm as directed (or in lower doses) as PART of therapy.

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GaleriaGila · Mar 18, 2017

The Rb trembles now and then, but not non-stop.
It's usually when he wants something or is agitated by a situation.
Gee... is she EVER still?
What do you suppose might be worrying her?

Oli · Mar 18, 2017

SilverSage said:
I have actually dealt with this in my own flock before. If you have done all the labs etc, then it very likely could be anxiety. The good thing is that there are things you can do to help. Her anxiety is likely caused by the way she was raised BEFORE you got her; most likely by early clipping and force weaning, two extremely common but very cruel and damaging practices in bird breeding today. Both of these things lead to insecurity in birds due to no fault of their own. But there are several things we can try to help ease it somewhat.

1) let her wings grow out. I'm serious; in birds it can be a constant terror to them to feel like they have no ability to escape if something attacks. In the wild birds are rarely scared; if something unknown or unexpected shows up, they fly to a safe distance to decide if that thing is a threat. A bird who is clipped before being allowed to become an expert flier never is allowed to develop the confidence and feelings of safety that flying produces.

2) start trick training. It doesn't really matter what tricks as long as you start simple and be patient. The reason I suggest this is because it gives her a way to interact with, predict, and to some extent, CONTROL her surroundings. It can be a real confidence booster. I highly suggest recall training as a priority to make both your lives easier and safer as her wings grow out.

3) low energy diet. This is from my own personal experience with both my phobic conure as well as my own severe anxiety disorder. If she is on seed, get her off of it ASAP (this will help with the training, too) and onto a fresh, live, and pelleted (NOT high potency) diet. The fresh should be all or mostly veggies, little or no fruit. The excess energy bouncing around in her system can translate really easily into anxiety symptoms, particularly when that energy comes from carbs/sugar.

4) is she getting enough sleep? 8-12 hours?

5) consider using AviCalm supplement. I usually don't recommend supplements but I've had some really significant success when using Avicalm as directed (or in lower doses) as PART of therapy.

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I have her on high potency pellets and a veggie + fruit diet, but I'll try switching to lifetime now. She sleeps about 10 hours a night as well.

Alright I'm going to let her wings grow out. I'll also try the supplement.

Thanks so much for the advice. If I sound less than ecstatic it's because I feel guilty for continuing to clip her if that is the source of her anxiety... my poor baby.

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GaleriaGila · Mar 18, 2017

Hang in there, you!
You love your bird... love finds a way.

Oli · Mar 18, 2017

GaleriaGila said:
The Rb trembles now and then, but not non-stop.
It's usually when he wants something or is agitated by a situation.
Gee... is she EVER still?
What do you suppose might be worrying her?

She is still about 50% of the time. It still worry a lot. I wish she could speak to me. One thing, she can fly decently well, pretty much across the room, but the 3 feather clip limits how much altitude she gets. Do you think that even this could contribute to the anxiety because she's not fully flighted?

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SilverSage · Mar 18, 2017

Yes, switching her off high potency and taking the fruit out of her diet should help significantly.

I want to be clear; you did not cause this problem by keeping her clipped; the breeder caused it by clipping too soon most likely. It isn't about adult clipping, but baby birds need to be allowed to fully fledge, that is to become expert fliers, before their first trims. Most breeders allow no more than "the first few flight" or even worse (and more common) begin trimming long before the babies would take their first flight. They do this because hand feeding flighted babies is a REAL PAIN!

So don't feel guilty; you have and are doing the best you can with the info you have. You are the solution, not the problem.

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SilverSage · Mar 18, 2017

I would still suggest allowing her some god fully flighted time. It doesn't have to be permanent, but the goal is to move her into a state of confidence instead of a state of insecurity.

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Oli · Mar 18, 2017

SilverSage said:
I would still suggest allowing her some god fully flighted time. It doesn't have to be permanent, but the goal is to move her into a state of confidence instead of a state of insecurity.

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Thank you so much...

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SilverSage · Mar 18, 2017

No problem. We dealt with this with my yellow sides GCC Cache. She was the absolute sweetest bird but she was an anxious mess. Not afraid of us, just afraid of life. We were very thankful to see her transform into the confident little bird she was meant to be.

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Scott · Mar 18, 2017

If 3 reasonably competent avian vets come to the same conclusion with normal lab results, I would be comfortable with the diagnosis. Anxiety in birds most certainly exists, and I observe it with one of my Goffins - though it is absent trembling. Abby is very high-strung, something I attribute to anxiety. Almost always in motion and a chronic feather-barberer. He is the middle child of two wild-caught parents, was raised the same way, eats the same food, co-mingles with two of the five; in short absolutely identical history and environment, just the expected variation with the genetic roll of dice. He hasn't been caged for at least 3 years; don't know what else I can do but try to distract and bathe copiously.

I believe you are on the right track with Juliet, see if the subtle changes have effect?

Oli · Mar 18, 2017

Scott said:
If 3 reasonably competent avian vets come to the same conclusion with normal lab results, I would be comfortable with the diagnosis. Anxiety in birds most certainly exists, and I observe it with one of my Goffins - though it is absent trembling. Abby is very high-strung, something I attribute to anxiety. Almost always in motion and a chronic feather-barberer. He is the middle child of two wild-caught parents, was raised the same way, eats the same food, co-mingles with two of the five; in short absolutely identical history and environment, just the expected variation with the genetic roll of dice. He hasn't been caged for at least 3 years; don't know what else I can do but try to distract and bathe copiously.

I believe you are on the right track with Juliet, see if the subtle changes have effect?

Thanks Scott. It means a lot.

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Oli · Mar 20, 2017

This is going to sound wild, and I'm going to continue watching, but since switching her food and not giving her fruit every day (i used to) the trembling is gone... 100%

Again I'm still watching, but I'm amazed if that's all it took.

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SilverSage · Mar 21, 2017

It's actually really normal; I personally control about 80% of my own anxiety symptoms through diet

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itzjbean · Mar 21, 2017

I have a Doberman with high anxiety in the car and recently posted to another forum about how to solve this. I was given advice to give him 'Bach Rescue Remedy stress reliever flower essence'. It's a mix of different flower oils that comes in a dropper that apparently helps people as well as animals relieve stress and anxiety. It can be given in the mouth, mixed in with their water, rubbed in their feet, things like that. I haven't tried it myself but am tempted, it has pretty decent reviews, though I would maybe check with the vet first to see if it would be okay to give to birds. Just my two cents!

Scott · Mar 21, 2017

Oli said:
This is going to sound wild, and I'm going to continue watching, but since switching her food and not giving her fruit every day (i used to) the trembling is gone... 100%

Again I'm still watching, but I'm amazed if that's all it took.

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We are what we eat! Kind of sort of! The body is far less tolerant as we age!

SilverSage · Mar 21, 2017

It may be wise to talk to your vet about the supplement sundered by itzjbean but please DO NOT administer ANY sort of supplement without specifically asking a Qualified Avian Vet about the product first!

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Oli · Mar 21, 2017

SilverSage said:
It may be wise to talk to your vet about the supplement sundered by itzjbean but please DO NOT administer ANY sort of supplement without specifically asking a Qualified Avian Vet about the product first!

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Of course! Thanks so much for the advice all of you. It's really great to be a part of a community that has my back and cares for my bird as a family does.

Bird anxiety?

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