Hello

I am new to all this and would like some advice. A few days ago a budgie flew into our lives and we have housed him and made him feel welcome. He is small so I assume he is still young. He is doing a very strange thing with his food box. He get inside the food box (which has a little roof) and kicks a whole lot of seed out and then he sits in there for a while. Is he trying to nest? should I empty the water out of other box and let him sit in that one? I would then put one of those spouty water containers in. Please help as it is many years since we have owned a budgie.

This appears to be a favourite baby budgie thing I call it 'bed in breakfast' Does your little one have bars on his head? These stripes that go over his head are his baby bars, and the further they are to his cere - his beak - then the younger he is. If you post a picture or two we can help out with the age, and we just love pics anyway

This appears to be a favourite baby budgie thing I call it 'bed in breakfast' Does your little one have bars on his head? These stripes that go over his head are his baby bars, and the further they are to his cere - his beak - then the younger he is. If you post a picture or two we can help out with the age, and we just love pics anyway

Hi Lin

I am having trouble posting a picture of 'George' or 'Fo Shizzle" as my teenage daughter likes to call him. The bars on his head go down as far as the middle of his eyes. Is there a cure for this digging or is it something he will grow out of. He is going through heaps of food i.e it is all landing on the bottom of his cage!

Sounds like a baby, - you've described a young baby exactly! We'd still love to see a picture - there is a pinned topic under 'budgie pics' that explains it exactly.

 

He will grow out of it, the only thing you can do is buy those food dishes with a cover, so he can't get into the dish.

You need to be careful of the hooded dishes, only because many budgies won't go near them to eat. They can't see around them, so are (to them) vulnerable to attack whenever they stick their heads in.

 

I agree, what you describe is normal juvenile behavior. It seems to be more prevalent in hens, and if memory serves correctly lasts a few months. It sounds like your bird has already gone through the first molt if the bars are already gone up to the eyes. How did you get the bird? It sounds like you found him outside from your description! Or am I taking it too literally?

It also think it's related to a bird not use to being in a cage or alone. My Thistle did this the whole time she was alone for a month for her quintine time. Since getting out in the avairy she hasn't dug at any food. I know she was use to being with other birds from when I got her and she is an older bird.

 

Is the feed dish clear? Maybe changing to another type could stop this too. they are seed dishes sometime call "D" cups becuase this is what they ook like that hang on the side of the cage.

You need to be careful of the hooded dishes, only because many budgies won't go near them to eat. They can't see around them, so are (to them) vulnerable to attack whenever they stick their heads in.

 

I agree, what you describe is normal juvenile behavior. It seems to be more prevalent in hens, and if memory serves correctly lasts a few months. It sounds like your bird has already gone through the first molt if the bars are already gone up to the eyes. How did you get the bird? It sounds like you found him outside from your description! Or am I taking it too literally?

 

 

You need to be careful of the hooded dishes, only because many budgies won't go near them to eat. They can't see around them, so are (to them) vulnerable to attack whenever they stick their heads in.

 

I agree, what you describe is normal juvenile behavior. It seems to be more prevalent in hens, and if memory serves correctly lasts a few months. It sounds like your bird has already gone through the first molt if the bars are already gone up to the eyes. How did you get the bird? It sounds like you found him outside from your description! Or am I taking it too literally?

Sorry I have taken so long to reply- gremlins in our computer! We did find George outside- He flew onto our screen door and we rescued him from the native birds that were chasing him! By the way he seems to have stopped his digging and a has settled in well. Our dog is not too happy though! George loves the dog but the feelings are not reciprical!

 

It also think it's related to a bird not use to being in a cage or alone. My Thistle did this the whole time she was alone for a month for her quintine time. Since getting out in the avairy she hasn't dug at any food. I know she was use to being with other birds from when I got her and she is an older bird.

 

Is the feed dish clear? Maybe changing to another type could stop this too. they are seed dishes sometime call "D" cups becuase this is what they ook like that hang on the side of the cage.

Hi Nerwen

Sorry I haven't replied - gremlins in our computer! I have just replied to Rainbow and let her know that George has stopped digging and seems to have settled in well. Thanks for the advice.

Edited August 24, 200618 yr by kipper