Is it ok for a budgie to lay on their back?

[ct92404]

Chipper and I are very closely bonded. I pet her all the time, and she's starting to let me hold her in different ways now. I used to just have her perch on my hand or finger, but now she lets me cup her in my hands and pet her head, etc. (She still doesn't like being touched on the back though!)

I'm always watching to be sure she's not getting stressed out and look for any signs of that, like eye pinning or agitated squawking, etc. She seems very comfortable with me holding her different ways and comes right back to my hand, so apparently she's not getting mad at me.

I've seen pictures where people have been able to get a parrot to lay on their back. Once in a while, I've tried to do that with Chipper, get her to let me put her on her back so I could pet her chest. And I thought it would be funny if I could actually get her to lay down on a bed. But my question is, is it safe to put her on her back like that? I know you're not supposed to put any pressure on a bird's chest. But I've heard different things about them laying on their back. I know that birds usually don't like it, but if I were to get Chipper comfortable with it, would it be safe to do that sometimes? Does it affect their breathing or anything?

 

[kimn818]

I can only speak on my experience with loco, my yellow sided conure.. he loves being on his back and his breathing isn't affected. He let's me know when he's had enough because he will roll over...just don't force it!

 

[RavensGryf]

Physically it would be fine, but that's not a very natural position for Budgies at all, so I doubt Chipper would be a good candidate to be honest. It is a more natural position for some species such as Caiques, lories, macaws, Poicephalus to name a few, but I think budgies and parakeets (even tame ones) would feel their natural instinct would tell them they're in a compromised position regarding predators.

 

[MikeyTN]

When I used to raise parakeets many years ago, I lay the babies on their back rubbing their belly. It is fine as long as they allow you to. When they're young as babies, the parent birds will have the babies lay on their backs while feeding them.

 

[RavensGryf]

When I used to raise parakeets many years ago, I lay the babies on their back rubbing their belly. It is fine as long as they allow you to. When they're young as babies, the parent birds will have the babies lay on their backs while feeding them.

Interesting, so starting them really young might help!

 

[MikeyTN]

Starting them young does help! Lots of handling!!! Parakeets go wild very quickly if they're around other keets. Best to keep them solitary and constant interaction to keep them tamed. Unless you work with them all daily if there's multiple. I used to have them fly to me on command. I rehomed my last parakeet not long ago when his buddy passed away. He's with other parakeets right next door, so I do go visit him.