Hello, this is my first post and question. I hope you will have some patience and understand my dilemma.

 

 

 

My girlfriend just brought home a young/ baby Budgie. She said it was born April 1^st. Anyways, it is very cute and we will try to take good care of him or her. My dilemma is that we both work and are not home all day. I have read that you need to feed young budgie every 5 to 6 hours a day. I go to work at 0630 and my girlfriend goes to work at 0800. She can feed him around 0700. Then I get home at about 1730 (5:30pm) and I could feed him. That is 10 ½ hours. Is that safe? The person that she got it from said that as long as we keep feeding him at the same time every day it was okay. Is that true?

If he is truly only 3 weeks old he should not even be out of the nest and away from its parents. It has been sold or rehomed too early.

I am sorry but If the bird was born on the 1st April it is only 21 days old and will need constant hand feeding every 4 hours.

I can take him to work. Do you think a hour drive everyday will be okay? Or should I have my girlfriends parents look after him?

what are you feeding the bird? at 3 weeks old they are still not fledged so you'd have to trust the parents very much and know that they know what they are doing...

My girlfriend brought home some bird food that the person at the pet shop recommended. I don’t know the name of it but it looks like very small round seeds and they said to add warm water.

Any chance you can post a picture of the bird? Some pet shops will say a bird is younger then they are. Are you having to feed the bird using a spoon or does he eat by himself?

what are you feeding the bird? at 3 weeks old they are still not fledged so you'd have to trust the parents very much and know that they know what they are doing...

The parents arent in the picture here JB

I can take him to work. Do you think a hour drive everyday will be okay? Or should I have my girlfriends parents look after him?

 

 

what are you feeding the bird? at 3 weeks old they are still not fledged so you'd have to trust the parents very much and know that they know what they are doing...

The parents arent in the picture here JB

 

Sorry Kaz I should've been clearer, I meant that Oki would need to trust her girlfriends parents very much and know that they know what they are doing when they feed the bird...

at 21 days old they need crop milk. you will have to hand rear it till atleast 42 days of age. did you buy the bird from a pet shop

Edited April 22, 200916 yr by KAZ

My girlfriend feed him this morning with a spoon. I wasn’t there but she told me that he eat lots of food.

 

She did get it from a pet shop and the pet shop recommended that food to her.

 

Damn, I am getting worried now. The bird has been at home with out food.

 

I can post pictures later when I get home but that would be in about 3 hours.

best thing to do would be get some hand rearing mix from a store and give it to the chick. at 21 days old it wouldnt even have all its feathers. does it have all its feathers? do you have a picture?

His feathers are just starting to come in.I'll see if my girlfriend can send me the picture she took with her cell phone last night. I'll post it...

for you. like Kaz said, over here some pet shops say they are selling babies when infact they arn't so hopefully in this case they are lieing because a 3 week old baby wouldn't be doing great right now if it hadn't been fed.

 

just read your post... when you say his feathers are just starting to come in do you mean he looks like the birds in my signature below??

Edited April 22, 200916 yr by JimmyBanks

Do to work computers being under a secure network the pictures don't show.

 

My girlfriend is sending me the picture now so as soon as i get it I will post it.

Not only does this unweaned baby need feeding very often on a handrearing formula ...it also needs warmth from a warm lamp. That petshop has been very irresponsible selling you a baby, unfeathered and unweaned.

Edited April 22, 200916 yr by KAZ

I got the picture but can't post it. Can you help or I can send it to you in an email.I am at work so I can not get into the Photo bucket to post the picture. I can send the picture if someone will be willing to post it for me. I can send you my email address in a PM if you would like.

this is the picture.

 

It is definitly a young bird. Should never have been sold at this age, very very irresponsible for a pet shop to sell at this age.

 

 

 

You will need to get hand rearing mixture mate and also a warm lamp or somthing to keep the baby cool. It's very young. Good luck.

Its not three weeks old. Two weeks maximum.....needs a warm lamp 24 hrs a day and 3-4 hourly feed from someone experienced to do so.

Wow, I am very surprised at the pet shop. I just called them and asked all the questions I am asking you guys. Well this is what I was told. Please understand that I am not taking their advice. I think I should take your advice here. I hope the little guy will be okay when I get home today.

 

 

 

Heat Lamp: Well, since Okinawa is hot, and if we keep him in the box they gave my girlfriend he should be fine. That’s what they use there.

 

 

 

Food and Feeding: The food they sold my girlfriend is what they give all their young ones and they have no problems. They also said that since they are very busy they only feed their birds twice a day. (About 6 to 7 hours apart). I also asked about the 10 ½ hours and they said that if I keep It the same hours everyday it was fine. (I don’t know about that.)

 

 

 

Well, I don’t think my girlfriend parents will do the heat lamp and what not so what do you all think about me bringing him to my work? I work in an office and can work with him all day long. Taking him back to that crazy pet shop will be worse.....

Wow, I am very surprised at the pet shop. I just called them and asked all the questions I am asking you guys. Well this is what I was told. Please understand that I am not taking their advice. I think I should take your advice here. I hope the little guy will be okay when I get home today.

 

 

 

Heat Lamp: Well, since Okinawa is hot, and if we keep him in the box they gave my girlfriend he should be fine. That’s what they use there.

 

 

 

Food and Feeding: The food they sold my girlfriend is what they give all their young ones and they have no problems. They also said that since they are very busy they only feed their birds twice a day. (About 6 to 7 hours apart). I also asked about the 10 ½ hours and they said that if I keep It the same hours everyday it was fine. (I don’t know about that.)

 

 

 

Well, I don’t think my girlfriend parents will do the heat lamp and what not so what do you all think about me bringing him to my work? I work in an office and can work with him all day long. Taking him back to that crazy pet shop will be worse.....

 

 

Reckless petshop .......all they care about is the $$$'s.

Take him to work each day then if you can, use a warm desk lamp over his box to keep him warm between feeds....25 to 40 watt globe ( not fluoro as they dont throw out any heat ). warm bedding in the box....even some dry porridge oats as bedding will keep the temperature good. Good luck

Yea, great advise- I have a desk lamp here too.

 

Man, I just hope he will be okay today. I still have 30min before I can get off work and 1hour drive to get home. I'll see if I can get off early to go help this little guy out.

 

Thanks for all your help guys.

good luck with everything Oki. I really hope that your bird is okay. I can't believe they are selling birds that young!?! I can't believe a breeder would sell birds to a petshop that young either!! Irresponsible on both their behalves... for you and your little one...

check with your work if they are happy with an animal there ..that is a great way to keep an eye on him. you can make a heat lamp with a desk lamp if you need to, over one part of the box so he can deside how close to the heat he wants to be.

 

since you spoke of adding water to that food and using a spoon you have some sort of hand rearing mix from them.

 

wow I've hear of pet shops doing this but this is the first time i've seen it.

let us know how he is going when you get home.

 

updates please, after you make sure he is fine of course.