Why Does My Cockatiel Keep Yawning?

If you’ve raised a parrot before or have recently begun raising a parrot, then you’re well-aware of all of the similarities parrots have with humans.

It’s sort of odd to look at a parrot and imagine the two of you having a lot more in common than you might realize.

In fact, you might be more familiar with a parrot than some humans!

All jokes aside, it’s fascinating to see some of the simple physical elements a cockatiel does in retrospect to how we do them.

With this in mind, yawning is a compelling area of concern.

You might be wondering, why does my cockatiel keep yawning?

To answer this question…cockatiels tend to yawn when they’re tired, have something stuck in their throat, or have a respiratory problem. Although some yawn when they’re happy, the most common area tends to be associated with them being tired. Usually, there isn’t anything too worrisome to think about the matter unless they continually do it for longer than you think they should.

No matter what the specifics of the case might be, don’t be afraid to reach out to their vet in case you’re worried.

A simple trip to the vet will be able to clear the entire thing up and lay it out to you if there’s anything wrong.

Considering this should always be your main priority in a case like this, don’t be afraid to seek help.

Even if you don’t have an avian vet for your newly-adopted parrot, turn to online.

There are countless online forums that’ll be able to lay the entire thing out to you and help you get a better understanding of the matter.

If you’re interested in learning more about this subject, we’re going to discuss everything there is to know about it.

We’ll go over why cockatiels yawn after you pet them, why they yawn in general, and if it’s terrible if they yawn.

From there, we’ll discuss plenty of other information related to the subject that is worth highlighting.

Before you know it, you’ll have an abundance of information in this area that’s worth taking a close look at.

Without further ado, let’s get started!

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Why does my cockatiel yawn when I pet them?

If your cockatiel only yawns when you pet them, this is typically associated with happiness.

Although humans never yawn when they feel happy, every animal is different, and this tends to be a calming and exciting mechanism from a cockatiel.

If you think about it, petting them promotes a state of relaxation and allows them to achieve a comforting state.

Since comfort is typically tied to feeling happy and calm, this is part of the reason why they yawn in this regard.

On the other hand, there may be something more severe going on with your pet.

It’s possible your cockatiel is anxious whenever you pet them, and their yawn is a mechanism tied to this instead.

As you can assume, it’s challenging to see which area of concern is more likely, thus, why you must bring your cockatiel into the vet.

Even if it’s something minor like a yawn whenever you pet them, you might as well check anyway.

It’s always better to be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to your parrot’s healthy and overall safety.

Plus, you should bring your parrot in for a routine check-up regardless if you don’t think it’s a huge ordeal.

Why do cockatiels yawn?

As touched upon in the introduction, there’s plenty of reasons why a cockatiel yawns.

The most common area tends to be noted with tiredness, but there are countless other examples for them to fit in.

Thus, why you need to take a close examination to see what exactly they’ll fit in.

However, you might find yourself having difficulty trying to pinpoint precisely what’s wrong with them.

No matter what the case’s subject might be, you need to get a deeper understanding of the situation for future reference.

Let’s take a look at some of the key examples of why cockatiels yawn:

Tired/Sleepy

If you look at a human and they’re frequently yawning, you tend to get the idea that they’re tired and in need of some sleep.

Regarding parrots, you can make this same assumption since it’s widespread for yawning cockatiels to be tired and sleepy.

Happiness

Unlike humans, a lot of cockatiels tend to yawn whenever they feel happy.

For example, if you pet your cockatiel or give them the attention they’ve been seeking, they might yawn as a sign of them being happy.

If they can manage to feel comfortable, expect them to yawn a bit as a result.

Respiratory Issue

Although not as common, be aware if your cockatiel is repeatedly yawning, there might be something more serious at play, such as a respiratory issue.

The only way to tell this is the case is if they’re repeatedly yawning and you bring them to their vet to see.

Make sure you get them to the vet if you’re worried this is the case.

Something Stuck in their Throat

If they’re repeatedly yawning, but it turns out they don’t have a respiratory issue, it’s entirely possible that something is lodged in their throat.

This can be anything from food or a toy they’ve accidentally eaten.

A simple trip to the vet will be able to see what the issue is.

Anxiety

If your parrot shows other signs of anxiety such as irritation, shaking, and overall annoyance when someone is near them, anxiety may be the culprit behind them yawning.

Similar to humans, parrots tend to be more tired whenever they have an issue with anxiety.

As you can tell, there’s plenty of cause for concern to look at when it comes to why your parrot might be yawning.

As a result, make sure you address the matter directly and get them the help they need when the time arises.

Is it bad if my cockatiel yawns?

After reading the numerous examples of why your cockatiel might be yawning, you can infer that it’s either bad or okay for your cockatiel to yawn.

Whatever the case might be, it’s always better to assume it’s the worst-case scenario when you think about it.

Thinking about it negatively doesn’t mean you should overreact and think it’s doomsday for your parrot, but more or less, get them the proper care right away.

Even if it turns out everything is copacetic, at least you did everything you can in the situation.

Still, you should keep a level head in the area since it’s never ideal for getting too worked up over something.

After all, if you freak out in front of your parrot, they’ll be able to sense something is wrong and get more freaked out by it.

Thus, make sure you’re responsible in the situation and do everything you can to ensure their safety is your top priority.

If you try to ignore it, the worst-case scenario might present itself and make it significantly lousier for you.

Either way, be prepared for whatever might come up and be aware of what they can mean. As long as you’re prepared for everything, the easier it’ll be in the end to help your parrot.

Plus, for all you know, they might just be yawning because they’re happy.

What should I do if my cockatiel yawns?

If your cockatiel yawns, your top priority should be focused on finding out why they’re yawning.

Although it’s good to take them to a vet and see what’s wrong, try not to get too ahead of yourself.

Of course, if you feel something is significantly wrong, don’t wait for it to get worst.

Still, there are several ways for you to take a closer look and see what’s wrong.

Although it’s challenging to pinpoint what’s wrong, there are some ways for you to find out why they’re yawning, which can either put you at ease or worry you more.

Let’s take a look at what you can do:

Bring them to a Vet

As noted throughout this article, make sure you bring them a vet sooner than later when it comes to something like this.

Even if your vet tells you everything is fine, it’s better to know everything is okay than to wonder about the worst-case scenario.

Look for Factors While They Yawn

While looking for factors, this has to do with what’s going on while they yawn.

For example, if you’re petting your cockatiel and they’re yawning, this typically means they’re happy more than anything else.

Always be aware of what else is going on while they yawn.

See if They’re in Pain

Lastly, try to get a gauge on whether or not they’re in pain.

If they’re in pain or at least appear to be in a level of irritability, you should be able to get an assumption of what’s wrong in the case.

Thus, why you should get a feel for what’s going on in this regard.

As long as you’re patient and do what you can to see why your cockatiel is yawning, you’ll be able to find out what’s wrong.

Once you know what’s wrong, you’ll be able to move forward into doing what’s best for them.