Ask Lafeber

Avian Exam

How to calm down a very agitated/aggressive bird before physical examination ?

Hi Yesha,

Thank you for viewing the webinar from Hungary!

With some birds, it’s just a matter of giving the bird a chance to calm down – talking to it or asking the owner to help calm him. With some birds, it is necessary to administer a light sedative or use anesthesia. It really depends on the level of agitation. Most birds will struggle and make noise, mainly because they are prey animals and being restrained triggers their fight or flight instinct. But some birds become agitated to the degree that it endangers their life, and the risk of sedation is much less than the risk of the bird dying from stress.

Thank you for asking Lafeber,

Brenda