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Post by noobie on May 25, 2013 12:56:04 GMT 10
Hi!!! We have a new pet!!! Myself and my three kids went a chose a budgie two weeks ago, since then I have done LOTS of research on budgies, and have realized a few mistakes I have already made, 1. Getting a budgie from a pet shop. 2. Buying the cage try showed me, as it is some topped, I will rectify this as soon as I can, my budgie, which we have named cheeky, because he had escaped the main budgie cage and was hanging out in the run part, so I decided he had a cheeky spirit, and would need it being a part of our family, he is a male (has blue on his beak) but he is not a very vocal bird, I'm hoping this will change maybe? He has sung a few times and I LOVE the sound of it, ad he chirps every now and then, but not often... As of yesterday he has starting putting two feet on the finger, we were stuck in just one foot for a week, but I DO have a few questions This morning I noticed he was looked like, dry retching while I was talking to him, and he did this quite a few times...? Was quite concerned! Also I got real close to the cage (my face) and was saying the same sentence over and over, he was looking at me, and moving his beak in time with me, is this a learning process to him trying to talk? He made no noise though. Also, he bites his cage bars, is this because he is bored? He mostly does it though when I have my hand in the cage... Is he angry with me, bored, scared, just being naughty? I just don't know! He is also not really playful like I keep reading budgies are? On a plus note, this morning, he stayed on my finger for quite some time, but when I slowly tried to bring him out, (and I got to the door) he jumped off, I'm guessing this is a good sign as I made it that far. I was so shocked a few days ago, when I happened to see what he was doing, and the cheeky thing had learned how to open his feeder door! And we had only had him for a week and a half by then, so have pegged all his doors, quite scary really, because I have a few times placed him outside, while I clean the kitchen using cleaning products... He could have escaped!!! We DID have his wings clipped, which the pet shop did for us when we bough him. Any advice on anything I have said so would be GREATLY appreciated :-) Amy and cheeky from Perth |
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Post by noobie on May 25, 2013 12:58:30 GMT 10
Whoops made quite a few spelling errors writing that! And lots of autocorrected words (writing on my iPhone) Doh!!
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Post by zena on May 25, 2013 17:34:18 GMT 10
The only way to actually tell if 'he' is a he is usually from the cere/nose colour- depending on the mutation... I've not had a bird that has done dry retching- in less it was the regurgitating that males do. How old is your bird? (If you know- also what colour is the cere?) As for the biting the cage bars- the only time my birds ever did it was when they were nervous, bored, or wanted to come (if the were on the front part that opens) It can depend on the individual to how playful a budgie is but is he healthy- like not fluffed up, mostly sleeping- things like that? My bird did escape not that long ago- I guess I'm lucky he was more interested in us then flying away!
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Post by avinet on May 25, 2013 21:21:16 GMT 10
I have a bit of trouble understanding some of the questions but will answer what I can Nothing wrong with buying from a pet shop - provided that shop looks after their birds and keeps them clean. You are just as likely to get a sick bird from a breeder. I owned a pet shop for 20 years, and you would not believe the condition of some of the birds that breeders tried to sell us. Don't understand this - translation needed please. an occasional "yawn" is not unusual, but repeated "yawns" would be. If he continues to do this and stops eating then see a vet. Budgies will normally start to talk - if they are going to talk and the majority don't - at 5 or 6 months. Start out with just a single word or two, don't make it too long or complex. He needs to get the idea of copying a simple word or phrase before moving on to more complex tasks. Also very importantly initially only one person should try to teach him to talk. If different people are trying to teach him he will quickly get too confused and copy no one. I wouldn't read too much into this - probably doesn'yt mean anything. I assume you have some suitable toys in the cage for him to play with? Avoid mirrors - male budgies can get obsessed with their reflection to the detriment of sociability with those around them. Sounds like you are making progress with taming him - how old is he supposed to be? Short sessions several times a day is usually effective. I used to hand tame many of the baby budgies we sold when a customer had selected one - with 90% of them I would have them finger tame withing 5 minutes, stepping from finger to finger and coming out of their cage on a finger, but I had tamed thousands  If I couldn't finger tame them within 5 minutes I would usually suggest they select another one. I assume you are aware of a good diet for a budgie - have a look at the article I wrote at scas.org.au/html/pet_parrot_care.html for advice about diet and other aspects of keeping a pet bird. cheers, Mike |
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Post by noobie on May 26, 2013 11:50:53 GMT 10
Hi all, thanks for your responses!!
As to the diet, I have tried feeding him (and I assume it's a him because of his blue beak/nose) fresh fruit, but so far he has not been interested... But I will keep persisting, as I have read a good diet with fresh fruit and veggies can extend their lives quite a bit.
And the "some topped" was autocorrected from DOME TOPPED, I have also read this is a waste of space for budgies.
The dry retching/regurgitation has happened again so far...
Unfortunately I have NO idea how old he is...
In his cage he has a round swing that hangs from the top of his cage, a dangle bell toy, and I have also got a cuttlefish bone and mineral block for him in their and three perches... Should I get more toys? The pet shop did say to avoid mirrors... Lol but the biting of the bars is still happening and it's rather frustrating for me, cause I don't know what he means by it, he bites, looks at me, bites, bites, looks at me, while sliding down the bars in his cage, this happens when I put my hand in the cage occasionally, other times he will let me get close and steps up on fingers, other times he will come down to the floor and run under my hand for a thorough patting.
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Post by noobie on May 26, 2013 11:52:50 GMT 10
Is there any way to determine age?
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Post by avinet on May 26, 2013 18:02:20 GMT 10
There is a good explanation of the differenc ebetween a young budgie and an adult at kathylibby.tripod.com/id12.htmlOnce the bird is 4 or 5 months old it becomes very difficult to tell the age but up to 4 months it is quite easy for most colours. If you can send us a photo of his head we may be able to give an age. cheers, Mike |
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Post by avinet on May 27, 2013 11:39:30 GMT 10
Nothing especially wrong with a dome top - it does allow toys of various lengths to hang from it so they are around perch height for the budgie to play with them. However I always prefer a flat top because that allows a plat stand to go on the top of the cage and give the bird somewhere to sit and play when out of the cage - a play stand such as this on Ebay www.ebay.com.au/itm/Large-Bird-Playground-Activity-Centre-by-Penn-Plax-/261199919460?pt=AU_Pet_Supplies&hash=item3cd0ba7964For a similar reason I do not like open top cages - pretty boring for the bird when opened. Much better a simple flat top with some sort of play stand on the top. cheers, Mike |
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Post by noobie on May 27, 2013 12:29:32 GMT 10
I have seen those play gyms and really want to get one for him to play with, IF I can ever get him out of his cage!
From the age page, he is definitely not a baby, however just how old I don't know, the pet shop never said, I'm now despairing of ever getting him tamed, as he must be an older budgie.
When I can find out how to post a pic, I will :-)
As for the dry retching I was talking about, as he did it again this morning, I have noticed that it only happens when he preens himself so must eat a feather and is trying to clear it? The cage biting is still happening when I put my hand in the cage, he doesn't seem scared, as he will allow a foot on my finger during this session, but was using two feet a few days ago, it seems we are going backwards instead of forwards, and I know patience is the key, but I really just want to get him out and play with him already, frustrated!!
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If I couldn't finger tame them within 5 minutes I would usually suggest they select another one.