Hello everyone

 

I have been away from the boards (after just joining) for many months, fighting cancer. Fortunately, I am now in remission and back on the computer!

 

A quick update on Lukie. He is the budgie who is scared of the dark (not sure if anyone remembers?). He now spends the evenings in the livingroom with us and goes to sleep on his giant playgym where he spends his days. If you remember, he had a giant houseplant to play on before, but he killed it quite successfully and good ol hubby had to make him a huge playgym to replace it. Once Lukie is sleepy he is no longer afraid of the dark. He still won't have the light switched off if he is not sleepy enough, though. He gives a frightened little squeak if you switch it off too soon. He is so much better though and much less nervous.

 

On to today's bad behaviour! :devil: We have some new Chinese neighbours who popped over to say hello. The ladies sat down in the livingroom with me and we started to chat away. Luke went beserk!! He squawked angrily and flew at them over and over again - I thought he was going to attack and bite them!! He has never done this before and I was stunned. What on earth is his problem. My husband and I discussed it and wondered if it was the fact that they speak differently with higher pitch voices? Or, perhaps he was defending his flock/space? It was very embarrassing, as he has never done this to other people before. Please help! I am scared to asked them over again. He has never ever been an aggressive budgie and has never bitten us, (although he would do if we grabbed him). He hates hands but he will let us come up to him and touch him but only if he is in the mood and feeling a little dozy as well. Otherwise, he just flies out of reach but he will never peck at us. He does buzz us. He does this whenever we read or watch the TV for too long and do not chat to him! But he doesn't squawk in a rage and try to attack us!!?? He is a bit spoilt (oh all right, he's dreadfully spoilt!) and I know I am going to have to plead for your help in unspoiling my little darling.

 

Hope that you can help. I don't want my new neighbours to feel unwelcome!

 

Its lovely been able to chat to you all about Lukie again. But if I rabbit on and on about how cute he is etc etc. just tell me to zip it!!

 

Luv

 

Vonn xxx

Not uncommon to Lukie they were invading his territory.

 

You have two options.

 

1. They come over more often and you can introduce him to Lukie and have them feed him his favorite treat and take with him to show him that they are okay.

 

2. Or put Lukie away when they come over. Keeps him and your guests safe. At times I do that with my birds it makes it less stressful for them and keeps them safe.

 

That is my suggestion. It is territorial behavior so he wasn't naughty just protecting what he believes is his

Edited September 15, 200618 yr by lovey

Lukie sounds like a right character!!! Do you have any pictures?

 

Congratulations on remission - thats fantastic news!!!

Lukie sounds like a right character!!! Do you have any pictures?

 

Congratulations on remission - thats fantastic news!!!

 

 

Thanks so much for the congrats. - so relieved the treatment is over! Yes, Lukie seems to be turning into a real little character. I was completely stunned, as he is normally such a sweet bird. I know that he must be in his budgie 'teens' now, so is probably being effected by hormones - just hope this wasn't a taste of things to come!!

 

Luv

 

Vonn

 

Not uncommon to Lukie they were invading his territory.

 

You have two options.

 

1. They come over more often and you can introduce him to Lukie and have them feed him his favorite treat and take with him to show him that they are okay.

 

2. Or put Lukie away when they come over. Keeps him and your guests safe. At times I do that with my birds it makes it less stressful for them and keeps them safe.

 

That is my suggestion. It is territorial behavior so he wasn't naughty just protecting what he believes is his

 

 

 

Thanks for the advice, lovey. The thing is, he has never done that when other people come around to visit - even people he doesn't recognise. This is why we find it so puzzling and thought it might have something to do with the way they speak or something. I was really embarrassed, though.

 

I have not trained him, as he was such a nervous bird. So now he tends to do as he pleases, unfortunately. He will not go into his cage so he can be taken out of the room, without having to chase him around and around until he is tired. I hate doing that so tend to give in to him. Wrong, I know. I need some basic training tips that will not upset Lukie and will help him become more obedient and controllable. At present Luke rules the roost. I think the problem is that I am overcompensating for Luke's bad start in life. We found him in a pet shop huddled in a corner looking absolutely terrified. It upset us terribly and we took him home. Luckily we instinctively did the right things by placing him in a quiet room with most of his cage covered, then reducing the cover very slowly until he was comfortable being uncovered. He was very quiet and not particularly happy so we tried letting him fly free. At first he was terrified but very quickly started to love being free. Today he uses his cage as a diningroom, but the door has to be kept open at all times. Amazingly he does not show any inclination to fly out of the livingroom, even when the door is wide open. He is quite content to stay there but does want us there too, as much as possible. I just wish I could tame him but he would get very depressed if he was locked in his cage again. I know I have done quite a few things wrong but it was with the best of intentions and much love. We just love him to bits.

 

If you have any other advice/tips I would appreciate them very much.

 

Luv

 

Vonn

Then I would go with tip 1 (and it is very possible it is because of their voices for sure) and I would help Lukie realize these people are okay. If they don't come over that often it will be hard to train him to understand though.

Oh, I forgot to mention about the photos, cheeky. Yes I do have some - I will get my hubby to load them up for me as I don't know how to do it. I will get him to post them as soon as poss.

 

Luv

Vonn