Hi everyone i'm new. I've just gotten a new baby budgie yesterday (after my beautiful 9 yr old one had to be put down) and he seems very very quiet. In the breeders he was the most active and very noisy (why i chose him) but now he just stays put in the one place doesn't move around and hasn't made a single noise and hasn't eaten or drunk anything yet. Could it be because he has no other baby budgies around him like he did in the breeders? How long will it take for him to come out of his shell? (so to speak (Laughing out loud)) I didn't think he was scared because i've been playing with him and he seems pretty tame already, sitting on my finger and shoulder and he lets me pet his stomach and back without flinching. He also seems happy enough to ruffle his feathers and have stretches. However I did notise when he comes out he breathes by opening and closing his beak , which I assumed he did because he was nervous? Is he in shock because of the new environment??

 

any advise help etc would be great, I can't remember what my previous budgie acted like when he was brought home as it was so long ago. thanks!

Find some small jar lids or something to put food and water on the floor for now until he gets familiar with the "official" food and water containers. Also put him down some greens and a sprinkle of treats or millet would be best, good luck!

Yes, he's just nervous. Think about it from his perspective - everything is new, the smells, the sounds, the sights, possibly even the food! It can vary from individual to individual how long before they become 'at home' so to speak. The next stage is where he will try to escape from his cage from every which way. Don't panic when you see it - it can look scary

 

Hi and welcome. We'd love to see some pictures

as lin said

 

but it also might be an idea to back off the handling for a while so he can get use to his new home. Talk to him in soft tones and if your out it might help him calm down to have a radio playing softly.

ya thats okay just take a deep breath and put the raidio on a low talk channel and cover him with a blanket it will take him a week or 2 to settle in if he still isent eating after 3 or4 days ide go see a vet

Pretty was the same way, and in fact he is still very quiet. But he is healthy, they act different in a different enviroment.

 

You have to remember, that you just took him from all his budgie family and how he is alone so he is going to need time to adjust to his cage, his surrounding and you.

 

I suggest keeping him totally covered except for the front of his cage and talk with him. In a couple days pull the cover back more and more and in a week you should be able to keep him uncovered. If he seems still frightened then proceed slower. This worked well with Pretty.

 

I also didn't put my hand in the cage until he felt comfortable with just my presence of being in front of the cate, and then we started with finger training in the cage.

 

You will see that he will perk up once he knows he can trust his surrounding.

 

Remember you will probably see him start to eat but they don't drink alot so you might not get a glimpse of him drinking and that is okay, as long as he is healthy and there is no sign of illness.

 

Congrats on your new addition, and I look forward to pictures

When your talking to him, occasionally close your eyes. A predator wouldn't close their eyes, so that makes you seem safe. If he closes his eyes, even just for a moment, then you know he's starting to trust you.

When your talking to him, occasionally close your eyes. A predator wouldn't close their eyes, so that makes you seem safe. If he closes his eyes, even just for a moment, then you know he's starting to trust you.

 

Wow, that is interesting information- I never knew any of that.

 

And I have to agree with the others, sounds pretty normal for a bird that is nervous and getting used to a new home. I currently have seven birds in my home, and I have seen this many times. Some acclimate faster than others. I have a least a couple that went a whole day without eating. I wouldn't be too worried right now. Just give him time.

 

By The Way, have any pics? I just love seeing everyones birds! :budgiedance:

Edited January 8, 200619 yr by Christine9

Welcome to the forum BlueSky, you new baby bird is just use to their surroundings. Just leave plenty of food & water feeders around the cage.

Nothing much to add.. I've been through it too.. Is he doing any better today. I'm sure he'll start to come around soon.

hello all! He is doing a bit better, moving around slightly more today however he still doesn't know where his food or water containers are. I've tried so hard to show him but he doesn't seem to notise them. I even held it up to him and he wouldn't. Yesterday though i let him out and sprinkled some food on the floor which he ate when i showed him and i gave him a little bird bath and he drank a small amount of water. As for photos I already have so many and would love to put some up but I don't seem to be able to as it says i need to type a web adress and that i can't just post them from my hard drive.

 

Oh and something really cute: this morning when he was out here with me in his cage a few birds flew over our house and chirped and he chirped back! (he wouldn't do that yesterday) and because i was thrilled to hear him and he seemed relaxed when they flew past I played a budgie track from encarter and he kept responding its so cute !!!

 

he does still seem quiet and i tried closing my eyes so he doesn't think i'm a predator and he closed his back. He's so adorable!!! I hope he does pipe up abit soon, I still miss my other budgie who was just so active and talkative, although each birds different just like people.

That's GREAT News!! I still would give him some millet to get things started.

If he's a single budgie, I'd not play budgie sounds to him. He thinks there are other budgies around and he's calling to them. It's frustrating when they don't respond. You'll want him to learn to bond with humans right now, rather than looking for other budgies.

Also just a note, he may just be a quiet budgie. I remember my grandma's budgies, very talkative all day long but Pretty doesn't do that. I was worried asked questions and found that probably is his personality. But I love him anyways

 

I 2nd that with eterri said, if you want to whistle to him that is awesome, but I remember doing the budgie sounds off of a different site and it was frustrating because he was calling and no one in the budgie world was calling back.

 

I am glad he is getting more comfortable :fear

If you are very worried about him not knowing where the food is, try putting some in one of those containers that just hang onto the side of the cage. Put one next to where he normally sits, just a bit low, so if he is sitting on the perch he can see into the seed cup, and lean over slightly to eat from it. He will figure it out.

 

Welcome to the forum!