Birds and humans have been living amongst each other for hundreds of years, and we’ve noticed that some bird behaviours can sometimes be curious, to say the least. They have interesting mating habits, they raise their offspring differently and they fluff up their feathers and get puffy. So why do they do this? Why do birds get puffy?
There are several reasons why birds get puffy ranging from general grooming to signs of sickness. Birds can get puffy because they are: responding to cold weather, getting comfortable in preparation for a nap, trying to air out their feathers and when they are sick or ill.
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Why do birds get puffy?
If you own a pet bird and you see it getting puffy you don’t have to worry for the most part, there are several reasons why birds get puffy, these include:
The most common reason for a bird fluffing its feathers in a puffy look, is in response to cold temperatures. Birds will puff their feathers to lock in warm air between their feathers and skin when it’s cold out.
Another popular reason for birds getting puffy is that they are getting comfy in preparation for a nap. Puffing their feathers appears to be soothing before sleeping.
Birds have also been known to get puffy when they want to air-out their plumage, straighten their feathers, get cooler and when taking a dirt or water bath.
Birds on occasion will also puff their feathers when they are sick, either from a fever, flu, cold or other illnesses that affect their internal temperatures. Consequently, the reason why birds get puffy is a warning sign that something could be up with your bird.
How can you help a cold bird?
When temperatures fall, birds don’t have woolly mittens and comfy blankets to snuggle like humans do. You can help a cold bird by providing warm alcoves of shelters where there is warm air or warm steam. Several bird owners put small amounts of warm water below the coups and roosts of birds to provide warmth. Others have created thermally insulated birdhouses and nesting boxes where birds can find warmth. Even providing a constant food source is a great help as it allows the bird to get food, conserve energy and produce more body heat naturally, especially in the snowy months.
Can birds freeze to death?
There are mixed beliefs and reports regarding if birds can freeze to death. Birds have the amazing ability to alter their internal body temperature in response to colder or warmer weather. As the weather gets colder birds generally puff their feathers to alter their internal temperature and trap warmth across their bodies.
There are numerous reports of birds getting frostbite and actually freezing in severe winters and snowstorms. So evidently, they can in fact freeze to death but under the most severe conditions over several days.
Do birds puff up before they die?
Puffing up can be a symptom of illness in birds. Birds that puff up while remaining inactive or bobbing their heads weakly, may be experiencing advanced illnesses. This is one reason why many belie that birds puff up before they die. All dying birds do not puff up before death. Yet sick birds will puff up and often keep doing so if not treated, until eventual death.
How do you comfort a dying bird?
There is no easy way to go. Yet you can make their last moments somewhat soothing by offering comfort to a dying bird. Some birds like pigeon’s coo to their fallen friends. You just being close can help. Be sure not to move the bird around or prod it as that may increase the pain of whatever ails it. Just be close, with an open heart and kind words.
Conclusion
In conclusion, birds puff up their feathers for a variety of reasons, they can puff up in preparation for a nap, they puff up when they are ill and they also puff up to keep warm. If you notice that the bird is having trouble keeping warm then you can help it by offering it a warm place to shelter. In severe cases, if birds don’t get warm they will freeze to death. You can comfort a dying bird by giving it a safe place to pass on and just being there
If you enjoyed this article then you may also be interested in other bird related articles. Here are some articles that you may be interested in: Why do birds eat their eggs?, Why do birds like music?, Why do birds follow me?, Why do birds dig holes in the dirt?
