Why does my budgie not chirp?

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Budgie Not Chirping

A concern of many budgie owners is that their bird is too quiet and doesn’t make chirping noises. This is usually first seen in baby budgies. A newborn bird may give the impression that it is a quiet bird at the onset. It is not until the bird starts to mature that it will become more vocal. Almost all baby budgies have an instinct to be more quiet and usually only make noise when being fed by a parent or a hand feeder. Some will make an occasional cry but it’s nothing compared to a mature budgie.

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This more quiet behavior is important as not to attract predators like small mammals or reptiles. It is important the owner know this stage will not last forever. Eventually, most baby birds will begin making contact calls once they become more mature. These contact calls will usually occur in the early morning, at noon, and probably just before sunset.

Another time when a budgie may display quiet behavior is when it has just been purchased. The bird is not familiar with its new surroundings and is observing the new environment and trying to adjust. Newly purchased budgies will sit quietly inside their cage before chirping because they are not yet comfortable or they may feel threatened or scared. This is typical nervous behavior and the budgie needs time to become familiar with its surroundings. Once the bird has had enough time to adjust, it will begin to get more vocal and the chirping will return.

If, however, the bird stops chirping altogether and there is no explanation as to why this may have occurred, it’s probably important for the bird to be seen by a veterinarian to help determine if a medical condition exists. If a veterinarian has been notified and the budgie cannot be seen immediately, the bird should be placed into a brooder, an incubator, or be put close to a heating lamp. These items help the bird to stay warm before being seen. Note: Some symptoms of an ill budgie are ruffled feathers, sluggishness, infected eyes, runny nose, diarrhea, wheezing, or a bobbing tail.