Help! Is newly rehomed cockatiel ill???

[Oscar8]

My daughter just rehomed a 4 year old female cockatiel.
She picked her up this past Wednesday. The tiel was vet checked with a clean bill of health. My daughter got home from college today and noticed her room was chilly. The bird's feathers were fluffed. She is worried sick that the tiel is ill. She just lost her budgie (her first bird) about a month ago and was devastated. So she is scared and doesn't want to lose this bird. She turned on her home furnace and the room is toasty now. If the bird caught a cold, can she recover if she is kept warm now? Are there any specific signs my daughter can look for and what can she do? Thanks.

[Monica]

Birds can't "catch a cold" like humans. Birds who are fluffed up may be so because they are cold and fluffing up helps to trap in warm air.

If your daughter doesn't know what her budgie died of, and has not thoroughly disinfected her home and anything the budgie has been in contact with, then it's possible that the tiel *could* get sick from whatever the budgie died of.

Main things, keep a watch on the birds eyes, make sure they appear bright, not partially lidded. Keep a close eye on the birds droppings. Make sure the bird is eating. Weigh the bird regularly. If anything seems off, vet the bird.

[Angelsmum]

New birds settling in too, getting used to a new place can often be fluffed, not eating or drinking a few days. I too would be concerned re the budgie and possible contagion. How long has she had the tiel? Many are concerned with fluffing etc with a new bird but they are usually just fine in a week or so.

[LovelySydney]

My budgie Emi did this for the first few days she was home, she actually sat on the bottom of her cage and we took her to the vet thinking she was ill. I would just keep an eye on her, make sure she isn't sleeping all day long and still is eating & drinking. Im sure she is fine, but I know what its like to lose a bird and then be paranoid about losing the next - Ive been there! The bird could also just be stressed out from the move, it might just need to get used to its new surroundings. Keep us posted, I hope the little one is oK.

[Oscar8]

Thanks to all that replied. As of today, my daughter's cockatiel is doing good. I will keep you posted.