Hi all!

 

I got my first budgie today!

 

It's a male blue, 9 weeks old. Bought him from "Burwood Pets and Birds" - got him about 4 hours ago.

I put my hand in the cage, and he freaked out. I left it in there for about 5 minutes and he got more comfortable, but didn't go near it.

 

He has been behaving weirdly - He just stands still in the cage, and hasnt touched the food or water.

 

Would he have seen the food and water by now?

 

Regular taming updates to follow.

 

Edited February 28, 200916 yr by fazrulz

Hi Fazrulz. Congratulations on getting your new budgie :budgiedance:

 

Firstly, let me put it like this: For almost all his life he's lived in the same surroundings (inside the cage and out) with the same friends around him. Then a giant creature came, grabbed him like a predator would, put him in a box and now he's in a completely new place. He is probably frightened by the things inside his cage, the new surroundings around his cage - things like different coloured walls, different floor material, different water hopper, the huge people coming way too close. His whole world has been turned upside down. He will sit still because if he moves a predator might see him - and he has no idea what around him might be a predator.

 

I would give him a day with most of his cage walls covered by a towel so he first gets used to the new things. He will eat when he decides nothing is going to hurt him. I wouldn't start to worry about him being so quiet until the second day (unless he is sitting there fluffed up and sleeping, on the floor, poopy bum, sneezing, or other sign of illness).

 

Here is what I've found with new birds: They sit there quietly for the first day or two. Then they go into escapee mode, where they do amazing acrobatics looking for a way out of the cage. This lasts about four days. They're too busy trying to run away to care about how nice and not-scary you are. Then they settle down after that and it's the best time to start taming (in the sense of putting your hand in there without them freaking out). Another thing to remember is that a bird can get too scared to move away so even though he might step on your finger for a few days, he doesn't necessarily like it or want to do it. After a few days he will stop being scared and refuse to do something he doesn't want to do.

 

It is very exciting getting a new bird and thinking about all the things you will teach him. But let me warn you before you rush into taming, remember this: it takes a heck of a lot of patience and a lot of time. Don't force things - let him come to you. He will be more trusting that way.

 

The following is my recommended style of taming - but each person has a different idea about it. There is no time frame for these goals, the only rule is that you can't move forward until you've completed the one before. Each step can take an hour to a few days or even weeks.

 

1. Partially covered cage (three walls and roof covered by towel) - let him adjust to being in the cage

2. Slowly uncover cage - let him adjust to the broader surroundings beyond the cage

3. Come to the cage and talk to him gently. No hands. Only ever show him your hands if you can't help it (changing food, water or cleaning the cage etc). Show him you're not going to suddenly grab him like a predator would.

4. Put hands near the cage, not doing anything. Closer and closer.

5. Offer food from hand, outside the cage.

6. Put hand inside cage – not doing anything.

7. Put food in hand inside cage – let him eat from your hand. Hopefully by this point he will realise that you are a source of treats

8. Put finger near bird – not doing anything. From here, reward with food for completing the step

9. Touch bird’s belly gently with finger

10. Press finger against belly, until he naturally puts one foot on finger

11. Both feet on finger

12. Staying on finger for longer and longer periods

 

As I said it is a long process and I think you will be set up for disappointment if you rush into things and try to accomplish them in one day. Take your time and let him choose when he's ready, not the other way. I believe that a relationship built on trust and understanding is the strongest and longest lasting.

 

Once again congratulations on a new budgie, they are wonderful little birds

Edited February 28, 200916 yr by Chrysocome

He doesnt seem to want to eat or drink or move at all!

 

I have put some millet spray on the prech next to him, but he doesn't budge.

 

He hasn't eaten or drank since I got him 5 hours ago.

Don't stress mate. I'd keep his cage partly covered and leave him to be. He would have seen his food and water, but it's not abnormal for them not to eat for a little while. Great advice by AV above.

I am beginning to get worried.

 

He just stands still all the time, and hasn't drank or eaten for nearly 24 hours (I think)

 

When I walk up to the cage, he seems fine, and doesn't panic.

 

PS: He is nibbling at his perch - is there anything I can do?

Edited February 28, 200916 yr by fazrulz

I am very worried about my new budgie louie.

He doesn't eat or drink.

He doesn't have a poopy bottom, and his poo looks quite normal.

 

He is chirpy, and when I offer him food, he doesn't eat.

 

Is he just stressed? Or is he a sick birdy?

How long have you had him for? Photos would be good also. Are you sure he's not eating? Check the seed dish for any empty husks or the floor also.

I have had him for less than 24 hours.

 

SERIOUS PROBLEM: He is eating his nails!!!!!!!!

 

I am sure that he isnt eating.

Is he eating his nails, or just playing with them? Mine will chew their claws too, they seem to enjoy it.

 

I personally dont think you should worry about him not eating yet, but if you are worried, cover the back of the cage and the side that should help him calm down. Pick him up, does he feel light? Can you feel his keel bone - is it sharp?

 

What have you been offering him to eat? Does he have seed accessible to him all the time?

I covered the cage - sides and back, and he is still acting the same.

 

I have put some millet spray on the perch next to him, and there is seed in a container. This is easily accessible to him.

 

He feels the same weight as yesterday. Is the keel bone near his abdomen? If so, it is a little bit sharp - yes.

Okay. When did you cover the cage? Now or earlier? The bone I want you to feel, is the bone that runs right down the center of his chest.

 

Is the seed the same as what he was eating prior to you owning him? Where did you purchase him from?

 

Any chance of photos?

Okay. When did you cover the cage? Now or earlier? The bone I want you to feel, is the bone that runs right down the center of his chest.

 

Is the seed the same as what he was eating prior to you owning him? Where did you purchase him from?

 

Any chance of photos?

 

 

I covered the cage just then - Yes the bone is sharp.

 

The food is the same - I purchased him from Burwood Pets and Birds.

 

Sorry - the cage is too dark to take photos.

Okay. When did you cover the cage? Now or earlier? The bone I want you to feel, is the bone that runs right down the center of his chest.

 

Is the seed the same as what he was eating prior to you owning him? Where did you purchase him from?

 

Any chance of photos?

 

 

I covered the cage just then. okay. cant expect results immediatly, keep an eye on him though - Yes the bone is sharp. okay. Not good, sounds like he is underweight.

 

The food is the same good job - I purchased him from Burwood Pets and Birds. okay. Try sending forum member Angelic Vampyre a PM, she goes to Burwood Pets and Birds frequently I believe also believe she knows the owners, may be able to help.

 

Sorry - the cage is too dark to take photos. Okay, can you take the cover off for a minute just to get a quick photo then back on again? Just easier when we can see the bird.

Hey where you the little guy that was in there yesterday and Ivan was squirting this little one with water? I was there talking to him about Love Birds. He was getting preened by the sacley breast lorrie.

 

okay first thing first stop panicing.

 

Second they might take a few days to settle in, he has gone from a VERY noisey and active room to somewhere quiet. Remember birds in the wild make noise when it is safe and are quiet when they are hiding. Try putting a radio on or just going in and talking to him softly.

 

I am going to PM my deatils so if you are worried I can come have a look at him.

 

Elmo my King Parrot (I also got from Burwood Birds and Pets) took 2 days before he ate anything. You might also want to hand dome silver beet in his cage as the colour may attract him.

 

Let us know how you go.

Yes - that was me yesterday.

He probably had something to eat while you were asleep. I understand you are concerned but give the little fella time, you've been given some great advice here.....partially cover the cage so he doesn't feel 'exposed' on all sides and just let him calm down and get used to the new sights, smells and sounds.

 

Good luck, he's a lucky little fella to have an owner that cares about him. :budgiedance:

Some good advice there. Birds tend to stress initially in a new environment. I say give him some food, give him some spinach, put the radio in a music station, then walk away. He is not going to eat anything whilst you stand there staring at him. He will feel more relaxed when there is more noise, when there is silence, it is a signal for him that there is trouble, and so he will nor chirp or eat.

Some good advice there. Birds tend to stress initially in a new environment. I say give him some food, give him some spinach, put the radio in a music station, then walk away. He is not going to eat anything whilst you stand there staring at him. He will feel more relaxed when there is more noise, when there is silence, it is a signal for him that there is trouble, and so he will nor chirp or eat.

 

okay - I thought he might have been scared when he chirped. He chirped when my mum and brother came in and started talking.

 

At the moment - I am doing homework on my computer.

 

I will turn the radio on and go have lunch soon.

Edited March 1, 200916 yr by maesie
Changed ATM to at the moment. Please don't use shortcuts

What seed blend are you giving him ?

You have asked the exact same questions in your other thread about his taming journal. Again... the same responses. I understand that you are worried, but just relax and give the poor guy time to settle in.

l agree with Maesie.

You just got him and it will take time for him to settle down and to get use to his surroundings.

I am merging this into your other topic.

I little background on this guy, I know he has been in the pet shop for about 3 or 4 weeks, he also was a "free range" budgie as in he was not kept in the cages with the other birds but allowed to wonder the bird room.

 

he may not understand the confines of the cage.

 

Kaz - if he has kept the same mix that Ivan sold them it is what I feed my guys and one of the best mixes i have found, they leave nothing and eat everything and will be the same mix he has been on for the past few weeks.

 

Hope he is looking better, he will settle.

Today - I got home from school - he was chirping, and I thought - he could be hungry.

 

I raised the food container up to him, and he hopped on, and is currently eating ravenously!

 

I am so happy.

 

Now comes drinking.