Question

what if my bird doesn't want to eat anymore? I have a female Bourke bird and she starting to not eat her food since probably for 2 days now. shes not alone shes with a male budgie but it think he's picking on her well I don't know because he doesn't like her being too close to him but idk they respect their own space, or might be because I kinda grab her a lot like not every day but when I want to kiss her peak. shes been standing still for a long time and doesn't move at all unless we scare her. can you please find a solution for her to eat because we give them clean bird food every day and water.

Answer 1

I’m sorry you’re dealing with this — when a bird stops eating it can get serious quickly. Two days without eating is enough to be worried. Here’s a short, practical plan you can follow right now and what to watch for.

Immediate things to do (today)
1. Take her out of the main cage and put her in a small, quiet, warm room or smaller travel cage by herself. Stress from another bird can stop eating.
2. Keep her warm — a slightly higher ambient temperature helps sick birds (around 80–85°F / 26–29°C). You can drape a light towel over part of the cage to reduce drafts and visual stress.
3. Offer tempting, easy-to-eat foods right next to her head or on your finger:
- Millet spray (many Bourkes love this).
- Soft fruits: small pieces of banana, mango, or pear.
- Cooked sweet potato, cooked plain rice, cooked peas, or corn — mashed or soft.
- Soaked pellets or sprouted/soaked seeds (gentler than dry seeds).
Place them where she usually eats and on a finger to encourage eating.
4. Fresh water and clean bowl within easy reach. Change water daily. Add a shallow dish she can drink from easily.

Check for red flags (seek emergency vet immediately if any present)
- No food or water intake for 24–48 hours total.
- Fluffed, hunched posture, extreme lethargy, sitting at the bottom of the cage.
- Labored breathing, open-mouth breathing, tail-bobbing.
- Vomiting, regurgitation, or a distended/firm crop (near the throat).
- Droppings very watery, very dark, or absent.
- Straining as if trying to pass an egg (egg binding).
If you see any of these, get to an avian vet or emergency clinic now.

Observe and record
- Weigh her daily if you can (small kitchen scale). Note any drop.
- Record whether she’s drinking, how many droppings and their color/consistency, any vocalization changes. This info helps a vet.

Reduce stress and handling
- Don’t grab or kiss her repeatedly right now — frequent handling can increase stress and suppress appetite. Offer food from a finger but keep interactions calm and brief.
- Keep the male budgie separate for now if he’s aggressive or just causing stress. Even if they “respect space,” being in the same cage can still be stressful.

Do NOT force-feed unless trained
- Syringe/needle feeding or trying to force food has a high risk of aspiration and can make things worse. If she refuses to eat and a vet recommends assisted feeding, they can teach you or do it safely.

When to see a vet
- If she still hasn’t eaten anything in 24–48 hours, or if any red-flag signs above occur, contact an avian veterinarian immediately. Describe species (Bourke’s), age/sex, how long she’s not eaten, behavior changes, and any possible trauma (pecking, grabbing).

Possible causes (so you know what the vet may consider)
- Stress (other bird, handling, environment changes) — common.
- Illness: bacterial/viral infections, crop problems, parasites, egg-binding, metabolic disease.
- Injury from the other bird or trauma from handling.
- Diet upset or food spoilage.

If you want, tell me:
- How old she is, her weight if you know it, any other symptoms (coughing, sneezing, droppings), what you offered so far, and the male’s behavior — I can give more specific suggestions and a short script for calling a vet.

Main takeaway: isolate and warm her, offer soft/tempting foods, reduce stress, monitor closely, and get to an avian vet urgently if she won’t eat in the next 24–48 hours or shows any worrying signs.