As a budgie owner, sometimes, you may get appalled by certain behaviors of them. One of them is – why does my budgie close one eye? While it is common for budgies to sleep with eyes wide open, this type of behavior can leave you puzzled. I have had this experience and I am sorting this issue in this article with real-time reasons and solutions that WORKED.
Why does my budgie close one eye?
A budgie closes one eye due to one of the reasons – cryptophthamia, conjunctivitis, blindness, injury, or sleepy and you may have to take a look at their environmental sanity, health condition, and behaviors before finalizing the exact reason.
If it has happened suddenly, you may have to administer diet and behavior before you come to a conclusion. If they are sleepy, check if they can open both eyes simultaneously. This check is sufficient to confirm that they have been sleepy but hale and healthy.
Do budgies like to be touched? Perhaps, give this article a read and then handle your bird physically to administer the presence of any infection.
In this section, I’d detail every reason so you know to sort the same immediately.
Your budgie has cryptophthamia.
Cryptophthamia (eyelid atresia) is a condition when eyelids are invisible and fluid flows from the eye that is closed. This can happen because of conjunctivitis or sudden injury.
When your budgie has cryptophthamia, you need to rush to a vet where a tonometry exam is carried out. In general, this is treated with cortisone ointments but if it has been existing for long, surgery might be needed.
Your budgie has fungal/bacterial infections like conjunctivitis.
Conjunctivitis is a condition where the membrane lining the inner portion of the eyelid is inflamed leaving behind a discharge. This happens usually due to the environment.
Remember to keep the environment as clean as possible and never let them in contact with their feces. This bacterial infection is also an indicator of any other potential health problem that can occur in your bird.
Whether you have a budgie or a cockatiel or a parakeet, your vet will clear the cloudy discharge and treat it with eye drops. The budgie gets better in 2-5 days based on the severity.
Your budgie is turning blind in one eye.
This is a terrific condition when your budgie can suddenly go blind one fine morning and you can find redness, swelling, discharge, blinking, or complete closure of one eye. Blindness in budgies can happen as a result of vitamin deficiency, age, bacterial infections, physical injury, and cataracts.
If it is only a temporary infection, a warm compress is all that is needed in addition to antibiotics. You may need to stay vigil until your little one gets better because this can lead to alarming outcomes.
Your budgie’s eye is injured.
Physical injury or fight with the other bird can hamper the eye or some part of the face. In this case, you should take to the vet where topical lotions and the problem gets addressed in a couple of days.
When a fight has happened between birds, it is highly advised to separate them until the budgie recovers. It is also an indicator that they don’t enjoy the company of each other.
Here is a detailed article about relationships of budgies – do budgies change partners?
Your budgie is excessively sleepy.
Sometimes, your budgie can see you with only one open which can be due to excessive sleep or out of joy. Some budgies tend to trick us when they are overjoyed or relaxed. This is also an indicator that they are comfortable in their territories and might want you to pet them.
You do not have to worry at all if this is the reason. To confirm this reason, you can simply move from one place to the other and find if your budgie is getting alert. Alternatively, you can trick them with music or toys.
Home remedy for budgie eye infection
Saline flush
The most common solution is to cleanse the eye by flushing saline. You need a flush to suck saline solution and then apply to the eye. This needs to be let drop by drop.
- Wear sterile gloves.
- Use a flashlight to get a clear picture of the eye.
- Towel your budgie.
- Gently open the closed one and flush the eye with one drop of saline solution.
- After 30 seconds, flush one more drop.
- After 30 seconds, wipe the treated area with a cotton ball.
(If your budgie is new to you, you may have to try the steps listed in the article to cooperate with you for the treatment. How to train a budgie to come to you?)
If you are new to handling salines, it is advisable to avoid them since unknown quantities and approaches can be dangerous to the bird.
Separate from the diseased
If you have two or more budgies at home, it can be the case where bacterial infections can spread from one budgie to the other. When it is an environmental infection, you may have to separate the diseased from the other and then treat only the diseased budgie with saline flushes and antibiotics.
Remember to maintain separate bowls for food and water for budgies.
Clean environment
Budgie eye infections are common scenarios when the environment is not clean. The best remedy is to keep them and the surroundings clean. It is advisable to clean the place twice a day.
Final thoughts
I have had many of my friends asking why does my budgie close one eye and I have detailed potential solutions to address and avoid such instances going forward.
The rule of thumb is to closely administer physiological and behavioral changes in your budgie to curb eye infections prior.
