I help to look after a charming six year old male budgie named Charlie, he lives with an elderly woman. We have noticed this week that he seems stressed out. He chirps non-stop instead of talking which he usually does and appears to be eating his way to Jenny Craig. The elder Lady keeps the top of his cage covered as she is worried that he might be cold, I thought this might be worrying him. Also he has a lot of honey seed sticks which I thought might not be healthy as they are meant for treats only. He also has started pulling out his feathers. Can you give me some advice as he is a wonderful little man and is this Lady's constant compagian.

Thank you in anticipation of your help.

Does he have any toys? get let out for a fly? maybe he is bored?

Budgies usually don't pluck unless there is a medical illness it is not usually behavioral. So it sounds like there is something happening and I would suggest a trip to the avian vet.

 

As Cheeky said what does he have in his cage?

How big is the cage?

Does he have toys?

Does he receive fruits/veggies daily to supplement his diet?

Honey sticks are yes a treat just as millett is not an everyday thing to hang in the cage.

Does he seem fluffed up in anyway?

 

Sorry so many questions but to get a good feel of what you are meaning need to ask. I still believe an avian vet is in order especially if he is plucking (or do you think it may be preening?) there is a difference.

Does he have any toys? get let out for a fly? maybe he is bored?

 

 

Yes he does have toys, he has bells, a ladder and a mirror which he loves. His cage is rather small and out of cage time is not possible unless he is being held as the elderly lady would have no chance of catching him.

 

Budgies usually don't pluck unless there is a medical illness it is not usually behavioral. So it sounds like there is something happening and I would suggest a trip to the avian vet.

 

As Cheeky said what does he have in his cage?

How big is the cage?

Does he have toys?

Does he receive fruits/veggies daily to supplement his diet?

Honey sticks are yes a treat just as millett is not an everyday thing to hang in the cage.

Does he seem fluffed up in anyway?

 

Sorry so many questions but to get a good feel of what you are meaning need to ask. I still believe an avian vet is in order especially if he is plucking (or do you think it may be preening?) there is a difference.

 

 

He is having vegies every second day now because I thought the honey seed sticks were not too healthy. He see's a vet every three months for vitamin D shots as he doesn't get enough sunshine. I thought he might be bored and had heard that budgies like to watch TV but that is not an option as the elderly lady is worried something on the TV might frighten him and he will make too much mess with his feathers. You may have guessed the elderly lady has an anxiety disorder, I wonder if that hasn't rubbed off on Charlie?

I don't think budgies watch T.V. but they do like the noise so if it is really quiet that can be stressful because in the wild quiet is like telling them there is a predator around. So have her play soft music that she likes during the day to listen too, it doesn't matter if it is classical or country or rock they just like noise .

 

He is a social budgie? Interacts with her when she comes up to his cage? This situation reminds me alot of my grandma who had a budgie named Corky who was in a tiny cage with toys, a mirror but never had flight time or mental stimulation. He did enjoy coming to the side for kisses though.

 

Are you sure he is plucking? or could he be molting?

I don't think budgies watch T.V. but they do like the noise so if it is really quiet that can be stressful because in the wild quiet is like telling them there is a predator around. So have her play soft music that she likes during the day to listen too, it doesn't matter if it is classical or country or rock they just like noise :budgiedance:.

 

He is a social budgie? Interacts with her when she comes up to his cage? This situation reminds me alot of my grandma who had a budgie named Corky who was in a tiny cage with toys, a mirror but never had flight time or mental stimulation. He did enjoy coming to the side for kisses though.

 

Are you sure he is plucking? or could he be molting?

 

Thanks for that, yes she does play the radio for him and he loves it. He loves a little scratch and I have no trouble holding him but every time the elderly lady puts her hand in the cage he bites her, I told her that I think he knows she is nervous and it makes him nervous. He usually talks like a trouper but this last week all he is doing is chirping and swarking. At first I thought he was just chatting to the birds outside then I read the article in Burkes Backyard Mag and thought he might be stressed.

Thanks to everyone for your help it has been a while since I have cared for a budgie as I have so many other animals.

has she tried more this week to have him step up? You could work on training him to step up with her while you are there. Does he get out while you are there?

has she tried more this week to have him step up? You could work on training him to step up with her while you are there. Does he get out while you are there?

 

 

She won't allow him to be let out to fly as she is terrified that something might happen to him, the best I can do is get him out and walk around the house holding him.

I am trying to get her to get him a bigger cage I have heard wider is better than taller. I have got a list of fruits and vegies that are budgie friendly which I will TRY to indroduce and I have bought him some more toys and an extra mirror to try to entertain him. Hopefully he will be more cheerful next week. :budgiedance:

I think the mirror may be making him grouchy and protective. There was a big thread on mirrors but here is my opinion some do not agree most do.

 

Budgies will attach themselves to a reflection because they are flock animals. And the sad part about the mirror is that the other budgie in the mirror can not give back the talking, head scratches, emotional needs or it becomes very protective as it was his mate.

 

So frustrations builds because the budgies is bitting and being protective and may even been feeding the mirror and banging on it.

 

I would suggest you take out both mirrors, in the beginning it makes for a quieter budgie but in the end it makes for a budgie that will focus on human companionship which is willing to give love.

 

It is your choice but I feel that the aggression too could be stemmed from that along with I believe is spring coming for AU now? Which means longer days, warmer days and it instinictally puts them into a "breeding" mode which irriates the situation.

 

Does that make sense?

 

Pretty was the only bird for 9 months, I never gave him a mirror (now you must remember before I came here and read up on budgies I thought mirrors where okay I mean they sell them in the pet stores right). but I feel because of this he never became agressive, a biter and is a well tempered budgies. Not to say he hasn't had is moments of not wanting to step up, go back in his cage etc... :budgiedance:. I also change his cage around at least twice a month makes for a more interesting setting.

I think the mirror may be making him grouchy and protective. There was a big thread on mirrors but here is my opinion some do not agree most do.

 

Budgies will attach themselves to a reflection because they are flock animals. And the sad part about the mirror is that the other budgie in the mirror can not give back the talking, head scratches, emotional needs or it becomes very protective as it was his mate.

 

So frustrations builds because the budgies is bitting and being protective and may even been feeding the mirror and banging on it.

 

I would suggest you take out both mirrors, in the beginning it makes for a quieter budgie but in the end it makes for a budgie that will focus on human companionship which is willing to give love.

 

It is your choice but I feel that the aggression too could be stemmed from that along with I believe is spring coming for AU now? Which means longer days, warmer days and it instinictally puts them into a "breeding" mode which irriates the situation.

 

Does that make sense?

 

Pretty was the only bird for 9 months, I never gave him a mirror (now you must remember before I came here and read up on budgies I thought mirrors where okay I mean they sell them in the pet stores right). but I feel because of this he never became agressive, a biter and is a well tempered budgies. Not to say he hasn't had is moments of not wanting to step up, go back in his cage etc... . I also change his cage around at least twice a month makes for a more interesting setting.

 

 

You are quite likely right about the mirrors. I have noticed Charlie does spend considerable time talking to his mirror and nipping at it also rubbing his head on it. I guess it would be frustrating to have a friend who never communicates back to you. The elderly lady has only owned two budgies, the first was when her husband was alive, he had constant out-of-cage time and was truly a member of the family. Unfortunately her older daughter came home from school one day and didn't see him on the floor and stepped on him, so there is NO way she will ever allow another budgie out of his cage to interact and fly around as she is scared he will get hurt or killed. I don't know how much luck I will have convincing her to let me remove the mirrors but I will give it a go and see how he is.

Do you think he is biting her because he senses her fear, because he never bites me or her younger daughter and we handle him on a regular basis?

He is such a charming and clever little chap with a wide ranging vocabulary that it is sad to think he is not very happy at the moment.

Yes he knows he can get away with it. Pretty will step up with me without a pretend nip but if the kids try to get him to step up he fakes them out. Budgies are smart!

Hi all, I just wanted to say thanks for all your help with Charlie's problems. He doesn't have the honey seed stick now and is trying a good range of fruits and vegies, his chirping is happy chirping, he still has one mirror but has stacks of other toys to entertain him and his cage is uncovered during the day now (I convinced the elderly lady that he is not cold and doesn't require blankets over his cage to keep him warm). I am going to try to re-arrange his cage every so often but that might be a little tricky, we are still working on whether he will get a bigger cage too.

So thanks once again your help has been most appreciated.

Sounds good!

Sorry I didn't see this thread before, but it sounds like he has settled down and back to his normal self which is good to hear. Your doing a wonderful job in help both the lady nad her friend. I can understand the fear with getting hurt if that happened to the first.

 

How old is this budgie?? If he is around the 6-12 month age the change of behaviour could have also been becuase of hormones. Also if he is an older a bird a trip out of the cage (his home and safely blanket) will be stressful, so if you wish to continue for out of cage time with the lady keep in mind to start slow. Also you could try for 'free fly time' on a small room, bathroom or bedroom and see if the owner can accept that.

 

Thank you also for the update.