When you bring a cockatiel home, you will indeed have many questions that come up. First, of course, you want to ensure that you are giving your cockatiel the proper attention and that you will keep them healthy. One thing that you may notice in your cockatiel is that it seems to close its eyes, especially when you give them attention or pet them. But why is my cockatiel closing its eyes?
Why Is My Cockatiel Closing Its Eyes
Why Is My Cockatiel Closing Its Eyes? Cockatiels usually close their eyes to show that they feel comfortable and safe with you, especially if they do this while you are touching or petting them. Sometimes they can close their eyes because they are tired, but sometimes it can signify that they are not feeling well.
When your cockatiel starts to close its eyes often without petting, you will need to take it to the vet.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the different reasons why your cockatiel is closing its eyes so you can learn what is normal and whether this could be a cause for concern.
Why Does My Cockatiel Close Its Eyes?
Usually, the most common reason that your cockatiel is closing its eyes is a sign of fatigue. This is because cockatiels, like us humans, will need to close their eyes to fall asleep. Although they sometimes stay awake at night and see little in the dark
, they usually sleep at night and need to close their eyes to get to sleep.
Closing its eyes allows the cockatiel to get more darkness, which helps it to fall asleep more easily. Also, in this way, your cockatiel rests all of the facial muscles to feel better.
When they feel comfortable, they can drop their heads to the side, which will give their neck muscles a chance to relax. But for the most part, the cockatiel will close their eyes when they need to rest.
Some owners think that cockatiels will close their eyes when they are bored. This is possible in some cases. The cockatiel may be a little bored with its surroundings and is not getting enough attention, so it will decide to go to sleep and rest.
If you are sure that your cockatiel has gotten enough sleep during the day, but it still closes its eyes, it may be time to play with them a little and add some stimulation.
Will My Cockatiel Close Their Eyes When Sick?
There are some cases where your cockatiel can close its eyes when it does not feel well. For example, sometimes, they may have an infection inside the eye and will want to keep it closed to feel better. Other times cockatiels close their eyes because they need more rest to get over the illness that is affecting them.
For example, if your bird is closing its eyes more than it should, this is a sign that it is not feeling well and may have some illness.
If cockatiels seem like they are in pain or they do not want you to touch them, this can also be a sign.
As soon as you notice that your cockatiel is not feeling well and closes its eyes very often, it is time to visit a veterinarian as quickly as possible to help him.
They will take a closer look at your bird and give you good options to help take care of the cockatiel to feel better.
Why Does My Cockatiel Close Their Eyes When I Touch Them?
If you notice that your cockatiel closes its eyes when you pet it, you may worry that they are brushing you off and that they are bored.
There are several reasons why cockatiel can close their eyes while you are petting them.
They are joying
Your cockatiel can close their eyes to show that they feel comfortable and safe with you. Likewise, when you pet your cockatiel, you make it feel better. They enjoy petting, and sometimes they even tilt their head down as a way to encourage you to pet them more.
They feel relaxed
Your cockatiel will only close its eyes during the petting session when they are relaxed. Therefore, when you see that it opens its eyes, this is a sign that the cockatiel is anxious or something bothers it.
When their eyes are closed, this shows that they feel comfortable and relaxed with you. Likewise, when your bird closes its eyes to attract attention, this is a good sign that they feel comfortable with you.
There are situations where they can betray their guard. It will take some time for them to feel that you will not hurt them and you are protecting them. But when it spends time with yourself, your cockatiel will open to you and show you that level of comfort.
Why Is My Cockatiel Closing One Eye?
There are times when the cockatiel closes only one eye while the other one remains wide open. This may sound a little bit strange, but this is a sign that the cockatiel does not feel entirely comfortable for some reason.
With one eye closed, the cockatiel is comfortable most of the time and can be serene with you. However, with one eye open and often it will be the eye farther away from you, they feel the need to be vigilant for the environment and therefore can not feel comfortable at all.
Please pay attention to the cockatiel when it does this and which eye will decide to close it and which one will open it. Maybe this will surprise you and make you look around to see what is causing them open one eye.
You may be able to fix the thing that makes them nervous so they can relax more.
What Does It Mean If My Cockatiels Eyes Are Wide Open?
It is normal for your cockatiel to open both eyes while eating, flying around, and even playing with you. This is perfectly normal for the cockatiels because their vision helps them see all the things that are happening around them.
If you notice that your cockatiel keeps both eyes open while petting them, it is a sign that something is bothering it and can’t get into relaxation mode.
If the cockatiel keeps both eyes open and does not intend to blink for a long time, this is a sign that the bird is upset and feels fear and insecurity.
You may also notice that sometimes their eyes will open wide, and the size of the pupils will decrease when they worry about something. In such a situation, because they will feel fear, they will not be sure what are the proper steps to take.
Even though you know that your cockatiel cannot talk, it will be able to share as much communication through its eyes, just like us humans can.
It is usual for your cockatiel to be a little anxious or watchful occasionally.
So they scan the area around them to make sure they are safe. If this happens all the time, it can be a sign of a big issue, though, and you may need to check.
Take a good look at your home to see if there is anything stressful for your cockatiel and see if you are able to fix it.
When Should Bring My Cockatiel To The Vet?
Mostly, this is not a serious matter that you should worry about too much. However, if you notice that your cockatiel closes its eyes constantly even if you are not touching or petting them, this may be a sign that the cockatiel is sick and not feeling well.
Once you notice this in your cockatiel, it is time to go to an avian vet to find out what the problem is and get your cockatiel the help it needs.
Final Thoughts
There are different situations when your cockatiel can close its eyes. When there is nothing to do, they will not even want to play or move anymore as a sign of fatigue.
Other times it is a sign that cockatiels may be happy and comfortable with their owners, which can signify that they value attention and feel safe with you.
However, if this does tend to happen a lot, it could be a sign that your cockatiel is not feeling as well as it should, and it is time to visit a vet to ensure that the cockatiel is fine.
