Budgie Health Problems UK 2025: Signs of Illness & Common Diseases

⚠️ Critical Warning: Budgies Hide Illness

By the time you notice your budgie is unwell, they may have been sick for days or weeks. Birds instinctively hide weakness to avoid predators. If your budgie shows ANY symptoms listed below, see an avian vet within 24 hours. "Wait and see" can be fatal. Find an avian vet now →

Budgies are the UK's most popular pet bird, with over 1 million kept in homes according to the RSPCA. But their popularity doesn't mean they're easy to keep healthy. Budgies are prone to specific health problems, and their small size means illness progresses rapidly.

This guide covers how to recognise illness in budgies, the most common diseases affecting UK budgies, treatment costs, and when you need emergency veterinary care. For information on finding a specialist vet, see our complete guide to avian vets in the UK.

🚨 Emergency Signs: When to Rush to the Vet

These symptoms require immediate veterinary attention - within hours, not days. A budgie showing these signs is critically ill.

Respiratory Emergencies

• Tail bobbing: The tail moves up and down with each breath - this indicates severe breathing difficulty

• Open-mouth breathing: Budgies should breathe with their beaks closed. Open-mouth breathing = respiratory distress

• Clicking or wheezing sounds: Audible breathing noises indicate infection or obstruction

• Stretched neck: Extending the neck to breathe indicates severe respiratory compromise

Other Emergencies

• Sitting at cage bottom: Healthy budgies perch. A bird on the floor is too weak to grip

• Bleeding: From any location - birds have small blood volumes and can bleed out quickly

• Seizures or collapse: Neurological emergencies require immediate care

• Egg binding (females): Straining, swelling near vent, fluffed appearance - can be fatal within 24-48 hours

• Vomiting repeatedly: Not regurgitation (normal courtship) - actual vomiting with wet head feathers

Find an emergency avian vet near you →

⚠️ Warning Signs: Early Illness Detection

These signs indicate your budgie needs a vet appointment within 24-48 hours. Early intervention saves lives.

Behavioural Changes

• Sleeping during the day: Budgies are diurnal - daytime sleeping indicates illness

• Fluffed feathers (prolonged): Brief fluffing is normal; constant fluffing means they're trying to conserve heat

• Decreased activity: A normally active budgie becoming quiet and still

• Loss of appetite: Not eating for 12+ hours is serious - budgies have fast metabolisms

• Sitting alone: In a pair/group, a sick bird often isolates itself

• Change in vocalisation: Quiet when usually chatty, or voice sounds different

Physical Signs

• Discharge from eyes or nostrils: Clear or coloured - indicates infection

• Crusty or overgrown beak: May indicate scaly face mites or nutritional deficiency

• Swelling anywhere: Around eyes, abdomen, feet, or vent

• Feather problems: Bald patches, broken feathers, feather plucking

• Weight loss: Feel the keel bone (breastbone) - it should have muscle on either side, not be sharp/prominent

• Dirty vent: Droppings stuck to feathers around the vent indicate diarrhoea

• Limping or favouring one leg: Could indicate bumblefoot, injury, or tumour pressing on nerves

💩 Budgie Droppings: What Colours Mean

Budgie droppings are one of the best indicators of health. Learn to check them daily.

Healthy Droppings

Normal budgie droppings have three parts:

• Faeces (centre): Dark green to brown, formed but soft

• Urates (white cap): Creamy white, paste-like

• Urine (liquid): Clear liquid around the edges

Warning Colours

Note: Diet affects colour - beetroot causes red droppings, spinach causes green. Consider what your budgie has eaten before panicking.

🦠 12 Common Budgie Diseases UK

1. Respiratory Infections

Symptoms: Sneezing, nasal discharge, tail bobbing, wheezing, voice changes

Causes: Bacterial, viral, or fungal infections. Often triggered by drafts, poor ventilation, or stress

Treatment: Antibiotics or antifungals from avian vet. May need nebulisation therapy

UK cost: £80-£200 including diagnostics and medication

2. Psittacosis (Parrot Fever)

Symptoms: Swollen eyelids, eye discharge, respiratory problems, lime-green droppings, lethargy

Important: This is zoonotic - transmissible to humans. Causes flu-like illness in people

Treatment: Extended antibiotic course (45 days). Isolation required

UK cost: £150-£400 for full treatment course

3. Megabacteriosis (Avian Gastric Yeast/AGY)

Symptoms: Weight loss despite eating, undigested seeds in droppings, vomiting, lethargy

Why dangerous: Often diagnosed late because budgies appear to eat normally

Treatment: Antifungal medication (amphotericin B), dietary changes

UK cost: £100-£250 including follow-up tests

4. Tumours

Fact: Budgies are extremely prone to tumours due to generations of inbreeding. The PDSA notes this is one of the most common budgie health issues.

Types: Lipomas (fatty tumours), lymphomas, kidney tumours, testicular tumours

Symptoms: Visible lumps, leg lameness (tumour pressing on nerves), abdominal swelling, cere colour changes in males (brown = testicular tumour)

Treatment: Surgery if operable, palliative care if not

UK cost: £300-£800 for surgical removal

5. Scaly Face/Leg Mites (Cnemidocoptes)

Symptoms: Crusty, honeycomb-like growths on beak, cere, eyelids, and feet. Beak may become deformed

Cause: Burrowing mites - highly contagious between birds

Treatment: Ivermectin drops from vet. Multiple treatments needed

UK cost: £50-£100 for treatment course

6. Egg Binding (Females)

Symptoms: Straining, swelling near vent, sitting on cage floor, fluffed feathers, not eating

Causes: Calcium deficiency, obesity, lack of exercise, chronic egg laying

Emergency: Can be fatal within 24-48 hours. Requires immediate vet care

Treatment: Calcium injection, hormone therapy, manual extraction, or surgery

UK cost: £150-£500 depending on intervention needed

7. Fatty Liver Disease (Hepatic Lipidosis)

Symptoms: Obesity, overgrown beak, yellow/green droppings, lethargy

Cause: All-seed diet (very common in UK budgies). Seeds are high in fat and low in nutrients

Prevention: Proper diet - see our exotic bird diet guide

Treatment: Dietary overhaul, liver support supplements, long-term management

UK cost: £100-£200 for diagnosis and initial treatment

8. Bumblefoot (Pododermatitis)

Symptoms: Swollen, red feet, sores on foot pads, limping, reluctance to perch

Causes: Inappropriate perches (all same diameter, sandpaper covers), obesity, vitamin A deficiency

Treatment: Antibiotics, bandaging, perch changes, weight management

UK cost: £80-£200

9. Giardia (Parasitic Infection)

Symptoms: Itching, feather plucking, diarrhoea with mucus, weight loss, screaming

Cause: Waterborne parasite - often from contaminated water sources

Treatment: Antiparasitic medication, thorough cage disinfection

UK cost: £60-£150

10. French Moult / PBFD (Viral)

Symptoms: Abnormal feather growth, feather loss, beak abnormalities

Cause: Viral infection - no cure exists

Management: Supportive care, immune system support

Note: Affected birds should not be bred

11. Gout

Symptoms: Swollen joints (articular gout), lethargy, kidney problems (visceral gout)

Cause: Kidney dysfunction, often from high-protein diets or dehydration

Treatment: Dietary management, allopurinol, fluid therapy

UK cost: £100-£300 for ongoing management

12. Polyoma Virus (Budgerigar Fledgling Disease)

Symptoms: In chicks - sudden death, abnormal feathers. In adults - often carriers without symptoms

Transmission: Highly contagious between birds

Prevention: Vaccination available (costly), quarantine new birds

💷 UK Avian Vet Costs 2025

Treating budgies requires specialist avian vets. Standard cat/dog vets may not have the expertise. For guidance on finding qualified avian vets, see our complete guide to finding avian vets in the UK.

Prices based on UK avian specialist practices, December 2025. Costs vary by location and complexity.

🛒 Hospital/Recovery Cages for Sick Birds (£30-£80) - Essential for isolating and warming sick budgies

🛡️ Prevention: Keeping Your Budgie Healthy

Prevention is far cheaper than treatment. Most budgie health problems are preventable with proper care.

Diet

• Not just seeds: All-seed diets cause fatty liver disease, vitamin deficiencies, and obesity

• Pellets + vegetables: 50-60% pellets, 30% vegetables, 10-20% seeds

• Fresh water daily: Change water twice daily to prevent bacterial growth

• See our complete exotic bird diet guide for detailed nutrition advice

🛒 Harrison's Bird Pellets (£15-£25) - Vet-recommended complete nutrition

Environment

• No drafts: Keep cage away from windows and doors

• Temperature: 18-24°C is ideal for budgies

• No kitchen: Teflon fumes from overheated pans are instantly fatal to birds

• Natural perches: Varying diameters prevent bumblefoot

• Cleanliness: Clean cage weekly, change paper daily

🛒 Natural Wood Perches (£8-£20) - Various diameters for foot health

Annual Vet Checks

The Royal Veterinary College recommends annual health checks for budgies. By the time symptoms appear, disease is often advanced. Annual checks catch problems early.

• What's included: Physical exam, weight check, beak/nail assessment, faecal screen

• Cost: £45-£75 annually

• When: Ideally same time each year to track weight trends

🛒 Digital Scales (0.1g accuracy) (£10-£20) - Weigh your budgie weekly at home

Quarantine New Birds

New budgies should be quarantined for 30-45 days before introducing to existing birds. Many diseases have incubation periods. Psittacosis can be carried without symptoms and spread to your healthy birds.

🏥 Is Budgie Insurance Worth It UK?

Given that budgies are prone to tumours and a single surgery can cost £400-£800, insurance is worth considering.

Typical UK Budgie Insurance

• Monthly cost: £9-£15/month

• Annual vet cover: £1,500-£2,000

• Excess: £50-£100 per claim

• Providers: ExoticDirect, Exotic Pets

What Insurance Typically Covers

• ✅ Illness and disease treatment

• ✅ Accident and injury

• ✅ Surgery including tumour removal

• ✅ Hospitalisation

• ✅ Diagnostic tests (X-rays, blood work)

• ❌ Pre-existing conditions

• ❌ Routine check-ups (usually)

Cost-Benefit Analysis

Verdict: If you would struggle to pay £400-£800 for emergency treatment, insurance provides peace of mind for £9-£15/month.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my budgie is sick UK?

Key signs: fluffed feathers for extended periods, sitting at cage bottom, tail bobbing (laboured breathing), sleeping during day, discharge from eyes/nostrils, changes in droppings colour, loss of appetite for 12+ hours. Budgies hide illness - by the time you notice, they're often critically ill. See an avian vet immediately.

How much does a budgie vet visit cost UK?

Standard avian vet consultation: £45-£75. Specialist referral (CertZooMed): £85-£150. Emergency out-of-hours: £150-£300. Treatments like egg binding surgery: £200-£500. X-rays: £80-£150. Blood tests: £50-£100. Budget £100-£300 for illness diagnosis and initial treatment.

What are common budgie diseases UK?

Most common: respiratory infections (sneezing, tail bobbing), psittacosis/parrot fever (zoonotic), megabacteriosis/AGY (weight loss despite eating), tumours (very common in budgies), scaly face mites (crusty beak), egg binding (females), fatty liver disease (seed-only diets), and bumblefoot (foot infections).

Why is my budgie puffed up and sleeping?

A budgie that's puffed up AND sleeping during the day is showing classic illness signs. Puffing conserves heat when they're unwell. Combined with daytime sleeping, this indicates they're too weak to stay alert. This is an emergency - see an avian vet within 24 hours.

What colour should budgie droppings be UK?

Healthy droppings: dark green/brown centre (faeces), white cap (urates), clear liquid (urine). Warning colours: bright yellow/lime green (liver disease), red/black (internal bleeding), all white (kidney issues), undigested seeds (digestive problems).

Is budgie insurance worth it UK?

Yes. Small bird insurance costs £9-£15/month and covers up to £1,500 in vet fees. A single egg binding surgery can cost £300-£500. Tumour removal: £400-£800. ExoticDirect offers budgie-specific policies.

Official Sources

Information verified from official UK sources (December 2025):

• RSPCA - Pet Bird Care

• PDSA - Keeping Your Budgie Healthy

• Omlet UK - Budgie Health Problems

Need help now? Find an avian vet in our UK directory or check our 24/7 emergency vet finder. For diet advice, see our exotic bird nutrition guide. To find a qualified avian specialist, read our complete guide to finding avian vets in the UK.