Baby budgie shredding newspaper?

[mintysowner]

Hi!

For anyone that may remember me, I am back.. I sadly had to have my sweet little Minty and Milo put to sleep, which was extremely upsetting, but about four weeks ago I got an 8 week old little baby budgie, she is called Sky. I'm pretty certain she is a girl! (pics to follow).

Anyway, my question is.. is it normal that she is shredding up the newspaper in the bottom of her cage? I think she may be going through a phase as she has also been VERY bitey with me as well, I did wonder if she actually has quite a big beak, the aviary I got her from said they don't advise getting their beaks/nails clipped, but even her nails seem very long and I was wondering if this could be a reason for her shredding paper and being bitey (of course I know some budgies do just bite!). She likes to get the skin on the back of my hand and really pinch it up! I try my hardest and grit my teeth, I daren't make a sound as I want her to (hopefully?!) think she isn't hurting me lol...

I'm also with her 24/7 due to being unwell and in my room a lot but she seems to have really taken to my Dad, in the sense he only has to walk in and she goes mad for him! Is there a reason why she is 'in love' with my Dad and not me? LOL I don't mean that to sound as crazy as it seems but I'm trying to understand what I'm doing wrong to gain a bond with her. I clean her out myself, feed her, try to give her treats (she isn't really keen on anything other than egg food, doesn't like millet spray and so far hasn't touched any apple/brocolli/grape I've given her). She comes out a lot and flies around my room, perches on lampshades and my mirror.

Sorry if this isn't the right place to post, I wasn't sure where to put it!

Thanks in advance,

Becca

[Hezz]

Becca, she is gorgeous!!! As to why she is bonding with your dad and not you, it is not necessarily anything you have or haven't done. Some budgies simply prefer different people, but give her time and I am sure she will come round. The paper chewing is simply Sky being a hen and doing what comes naturally. Providing her with heaps of shredding toys, bark of the tree kind, pieces of balsa wood, cuttlefish bone and things of this sort of thing gives her the exercise her beak needs. I agree with her breeders; don't go off getting her beak and nails clipped just because. Usually you can tell if the claws are too long by putting your bird on a flat surface such as a table top and check out the toes. If the tops of the toes are not raised off the surface to accommodate the claws, then the claws are fine. Also beaks on baby birds can seem bigger than normal; they still need to grow into them.

[ffiscool]

Sky is beautiful

[sweetpea]

I have to say that Sky looks like a perfect hen.... so beautiful, with heaps of attitude.

[OP]

What a beautiful looking budgie she is. Just one question, is that rust I see, where the paint has come off the cage bars?

[samwiseg]

Awww what a stunning hen! She is beautiful!

Can only echo what Hezz has said, and as previously being an owner of a solitary hen bird (in my avatar) I know what you mean about the biting! Hens do have sharper beaks tho than cock birds but you do sort of get used to it But she will go through this stage as she is a teenager but it will settle.

And about her liking your dad - I had the same with my hen bird and my OH. Although she loved me and I did EVERYTHING for her, if my OH came into the room she was besotted with him?! (But she would bite him a lot more too)

But if its any consolation I have heard before that men have difficulties with female birds of prey too - so the birds are actually looking at them as a mate. But don't worry, she will come to you for everything else as you provide for her as a mum would

I can SO see the start of a beautiful relationship!

Oh and welcome back Becca! x

[jellybean]

Welcome back from me too Becca, I'm so glad you decided to get another little bird, she is absolutely gorgeous 

[Shirls]

Welcome back from me too becca. What a gorgeous little hen you have got there! She is lovely, and I do have a soft spot for pieds!! We will need loads of pictures and progress reports please!

[mintysowner]

Thank you for your kind comments everyone I think it must be her hormones then.. as she has been SO chatty as well! She seems to have even picked up whistles that myself and my Dad make too - it's super cute she is definitely a bit of a madam hehe. I've got a couple of 'shredding' toys currently being made for her, but yes - to the person who said about rust on the cage - I didn't know it was dangerous until I just googled it because you mentioned it, eek! :/ Minty who was my 10 year old budgie used to bite the bars and he pulled the coating off. Could it make Sky unwell? As she has been more 'bitey' she has started nibbling the bars actually... should I be getting a new cage because of it?

Hopefully she will come round to liking me more, but I'm fine if she doesn't after all I know she is still a little bird, I figure she must just like my Dad's grey hair! Resembles a nest maybe (although she kisses him all over his face too.. I really do think she is in love!).

I'm sorry to sound stupid but.. what does pied mean, is that her colourings?!

[OP]

Sorry if I scared you re the rust, but it is fatal for a budgie I'm afraid. A new cage is by far the best option. Colourings/mutations are well out of my field of experience. As far as your Dad's grey hair, it could well be an attraction. I have a three year old male and he just loves going for any stubble that I have grown, and that is also grey.

[mintysowner]

Maybe it IS the grey attraction then! She kisses him all over his face too!

No thank you for telling me OP. I wasn't aware it was dangerous as my previous budgie lived until he was 10 and he was always biting the bars. Is there a 'better cage' to get so to speak? That will stop them being able to pick off the coating or not really? Can anyone recommend the best cage for one budgie? I have a Ferplast but was thinking of getting something a bit bigger for her if I'm going to get a new one. I guess it doesn't have to be massive as she is out a lot of the time and so the cage is more of her place to sleep.

[Hezz]

If you are able to get a cage to fit your space that is powder coated, these usually are longer lasting than the painted varieties, but they are also usually the much bigger cages. If this is Minty's old cage, then it has already done ten years of budgie care; not bad considering. Treat Sky to a new cage asap, if she is already biting at the bars. The last thing you need is another sick bird. In the meantime, if you are not able to cover up the rust somehow, keep her away from these areas as best you can, and give her plenty of things to keep her attention away from the bars.

[Angelgirl]

Sky is beautiful :-)

I have a small Hagen Vision cage that I bought for Billy but changed because I couldn't get on with it - you would be more than welcome to it if it is of any use to you. I'm in the minority on the forum as most really rate the Hagen cages!

I'm in Somerset but do the journey to Hertfordshire where my folks are on a fairly regular basis. Depending on where you are, I could drop it round on one of my trips if you did want it.

No pressure...it's just sitting in my shed waiting for a home. It may be you want something different or bigger but the offer is there anyway.

Ax

[OP]

I think the Hagen cages are great, they don't rust, are strong and easy to clean. The best if it is for free.

[Shirls]

Yes mintysowner, I was referring to Sky's colouring by sayig 'pied'. I'm not experienced enough to advise you the full mutation, but I'm sure she is a pied of some sort.