I'd been given a 5 year old male budgie(Fred) and after purchasing him a larger cage (75cm x 75cm x 100cm) I tried to introduce a male baby budgie(Waldorf) this did not go so well with Fred biting Waldorf's tail so I put Fred back into his original cage and got Waldorf another male baby budgie friend(Statler) they got along fine. Fred then seemed to want to go into the larger cage so I put him in and he was fine with Statler (feeding him and following him around) and ignoring Waldorf. Now 2 months later both Statler and Fred ignore Waldorf and the other day I noticed a few feathers missing from Waldorf's head (however when I watch them it appears Waldorf is the boss of the cage particularly over Fred scaring him away from food and off perches) - my question is should I have an even number of budgies in the cage or if I get another will 3 be friends and Waldorf still be an outsider?

 

Also what fresh fruit and vegetables can they eat, what should they avoid and can they eat thistles from the yard?

I found it amusing and bizarre that the three birds on your website are exactly the colours of Fred, Waldorf and Statler.

 

Thank you

Kylie

I'd been given a 5 year old male budgie(Fred) and after purchasing him a larger cage (75cm x 75cm x 100cm) I tried to introduce a male baby budgie(Waldorf) this did not go so well with Fred biting Waldorf's tail so I put Fred back into his original cage and got Waldorf another male baby budgie friend(Statler) they got along fine. Fred then seemed to want to go into the larger cage so I put him in and he was fine with Statler (feeding him and following him around) and ignoring Waldorf. Now 2 months later both Statler and Fred ignore Waldorf and the other day I noticed a few feathers missing from Waldorf's head (however when I watch them it appears Waldorf is the boss of the cage particularly over Fred scaring him away from food and off perches) - my question is should I have an even number of budgies in the cage or if I get another will 3 be friends and Waldorf still be an outsider?

 

Also what fresh fruit and vegetables can they eat, what should they avoid and can they eat thistles from the yard?

I found it amusing and bizarre that the three birds on your website are exactly the colours of Fred, Waldorf and Statler.

 

Thank you

Kylie

 

Sounds like you have you're hands full there Kylie! When I buy birds I usually keep it even but that could just be me. From my experince budgies usually stick to pairs rather than trios - but as I said earlier that could just be me. At the top of this site there is a tab called Budgie FAQ's. In there you will find a list of suitable and unsuitable foods for birds under the nutrition heading. My bird's love carrot they go completly crazy over it along with broccoil, oats and apples. Budgies can take there time to get used to eating new food as they can be fussy eaters. Don't be suprised if it takes them a while to eat it - even days (it should be fresh daily I only leave it in the cage/aviary for an hour). One of the most important things to remember when giving a budgie any fruit or vegetable is to make sure it is washed throughly to remove and chemical/toxin/poison residues that are on the food from pesticides. Hope this helps you.

I'd been given a 5 year old male budgie(Fred) and after purchasing him a larger cage (75cm x 75cm x 100cm) I tried to introduce a male baby budgie(Waldorf) this did not go so well with Fred biting Waldorf's tail so I put Fred back into his original cage and got Waldorf another male baby budgie friend(Statler) they got along fine. Fred then seemed to want to go into the larger cage so I put him in and he was fine with Statler (feeding him and following him around) and ignoring Waldorf. Now 2 months later both Statler and Fred ignore Waldorf and the other day I noticed a few feathers missing from Waldorf's head (however when I watch them it appears Waldorf is the boss of the cage particularly over Fred scaring him away from food and off perches) - my question is should I have an even number of budgies in the cage or if I get another will 3 be friends and Waldorf still be an outsider?

 

Also what fresh fruit and vegetables can they eat, what should they avoid and can they eat thistles from the yard?

I found it amusing and bizarre that the three birds on your website are exactly the colours of Fred, Waldorf and Statler.

 

Thank you

Kylie

 

Hi Kylie. Welcome to the forum. It sure sounds like you have a busy 'family' there. Re the fresh fruit and veggies, Lisa gave some good advice. My birds LOVE corn on the cob!!! But it will be a case of you being very patient. Try cutting them up into different shapes, and having different colors... so like corn, carrot, broccoli etc... Try a different serving suggestions... a dish, shoved in the side of the cage, on a fruit skewer. It will take time, but the new 'items' will get the better of them. You can even sprinkle bird seed on top of what you are serving to try and entice them.

 

As to evening out the numbers, it would all depend on the size of your cage. What are the measurements? Maybe there's not enough room for three let alone four budgies??? If it is as it appears, and Waldorf is the boss, the loss of his feather may be the other sticking up for themselves? You could consider getting him a mate, but you'd have to quarantine him/her for 30 days, and then possibly start with introducing him/her to just Waldorf and try and get a bond happening there before joining the whole crew together. Does he seem unhappy? Could you house him separately and just let them have out-of-the-cage play together? They would still be able to see each other and talk together, but not attack each other? Just some thoughts... Good Luck :(Laughing out loud):

Edited January 18, 200817 yr by maesie

Does he seem unhappy? Could you house him separately and just let them have out-of-the-cage play together? They would still be able to see each other and talk together, but not attack each other?

 

He is the happiest one of the three. Never stops playing with the toys in the cage or talking. I tried putting him in my other cage and he just spent the whole time at the side looking at the other guys pulling and chewing on the wire.

 

I recently removed a ladder that he had been being amorous with. This was where he was most aggressive towards Fred especially.

 

The cage is, at least, 75cm x 75cm x 100cm.

 

Thanks alot for your help and advice

Kylie

Could you post a picture of your cage set-up?

 

If he is getting a bald spot then he is being plucked by someone. It also sound like they are going through a hormonal stage if you said he was liking his ladder a little too much.

 

How many hours do you keep them covered? It is recommended at least 10-12 hours of darkness and sometimes you have to increase cage coverage if they get hormonal and you will find that happens more in the spring and summer hours. Also how many seed bowls and water bowls to you have available?

 

Are your birds going through a molt at all? They needed to get a bit persnickity during this time too.

 

When you did introductions with your bird did you do a quarantine program?

Could you post a picture of your cage set-up?

 

I will get a picture as soon as possible. This is Kylies Sister.

 

If he is getting a bald spot then he is being plucked by someone.

 

Not sure on this

 

It also sound like they are going through a hormonal stage if you said he was liking his ladder a little too much.

 

Could that just be a maturity thing because Waldorf and Statler were babies when she got them?

 

How many hours do you keep them covered? It is recommended at least 10-12 hours of darkness and sometimes you have to increase cage coverage if they get hormonal and you will find that happens more in the spring and summer hours.

 

They are covered for at least that long each day

 

Also how many seed bowls and water bowls to you have available?

 

I know there are three seed bowls because we discussed that yesterday. They also have two treat seed bells and two water bowls.

 

When you did introductions with your bird did you do a quarantine program?

No this didnt happen really. Waldorf and Fred were kept apart for a few days. Then seperated again and then Statler was introduced. Waldorf and Statler were purchased from the same shop. Kylie explained the situation that she was introducing the babies to an older bird and she was not given any information on a quarantine program.

 

Thanks for your help

Leanne (for Kylie) :budgiedance:

Hi, welcome to our forums