How to Calm a Parakeet

Parakeets experience stress for various reasons, from a quarrel with another bird or pet to overly stimulating environments such as boisterous children. Parakeets experiencing stress or anxiety may develop poor behaviors, such as feather plucking or screaming for attention, especially if the stress continues long-term. It's important for your parakeet to have several direct channels of calming down.

  1. Busy Toys

    • A very quick fix for a stressed out parakeet is to give him a busy toy -- preferably one that he can chew on. Instead of focusing on the stressor, your parakeet will become distracted and channel his aggression or anxiety into playing with and chewing on the toy. Appropriate busy toys include unscented toilet paper or paper towel rolls, a frozen bagel or a chunk of corn on the cob. Hang the busy toys on a hook in his cage when you see he is stressed or if you know a stress trigger will be occurring soon, such as if you need house repairs done that day.

    Music Therapy

    • Sometimes all it takes for your bird to calm down is a little relaxing music. Playing soothing music while your bird is experiencing stress serves as a means of inducing meditation. Prepare for this over time by playing something soft and relaxing whenever your parakeet is at ease or getting ready for bed. When he's stressed out, play the tune and he will be motivated to calm down upon hearing this music. This method is appropriate for events that generate a lot of noise and commotion, such as a birthday party.

    Spoon Feeding

    • Feeding your parakeet a spoonful of warm, soft food should help calm him down when he's under stress. Food can be nurturing for anxious birds, especially if you make a bonding moment out of it. To feed your parakeet warm food, dip a plastic spoon in just-boiled water to warm it up, then scoop up a little warm oatmeal or baby food like squash or sweet potatoes. Use a thermometer to make sure the food is between 108 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Parrot House. Get him used to associating warm food with relaxation by feeding him a small spoonful before bed. This is an especially useful method for anxious younger parakeets.

    Covering His Cage

    • Parakeets cages should be covered on three sides with a breathable sheet while they sleep to block out most lights and sounds. Cage covers also offer your parakeet security, as it prevents him from seeing anything that could be sneaking up on him. At bedtime as you cover his cage, sing quietly to him and go through your normal bedtime routine. He will become used to this routine and find it comforting. When you see him experiencing stress, use this method only after unsuccessfully trying other methods like warm food or chew toys to get him to calm down. Simply pull his bedtime sheet over the cage while singing to him to get him to relax. Once he has calmed down, remove the sheet slowly. If you keep the sheet on too long, he may associate this with bedtime and it will disrupt his sleeping schedule.