Baby budgie chewing / tasting everything!

[karenke]

Our baby budgie, now 9.5 weeks old is going through a phase in the last couple of weeks of chewing / tasting everything, including our fingers! 

We're pretty sure he's a male, cere pink now turning a little blue.

Just wondering if this is a normal phase

[suesbird]

Fingers are usually the tastiest, next to ears and nose (rofl. I did not realise Jo's cage was so near to our wall until I saw her chewing the wall paper, at the moment she is on a glass shelf which is set between mirrors and she can rattle the mirror to make a really good noise! At least you can start her on veggies and fruit whilst she is exploring things.

All the more experienced keepers will be on later and can help you better.

[jellybean]

Keep his little beak busy with things he will enjoy chewing and shredding, like Balsa Wood, you can buy these already made up into toys, or just buy some balsa wood and have fun making your own toys for him.

[Hezz]

Normal behaviour, expect it to last as long as the budgie. As the others have said, get him things to destroy of his own, so he is less inclined to destroy yours. No guarantees, though.

[karenke]

Thanks for all your responses! Do you know where I could source balsa wood?
Also, he's now going down to the bottom of the cage and chewing his dried poop, don't think he eats eat rather breaks it up, is this also normal? 

[jellybean]

Hi karenke, this is a great place to buy stuff, you can buy the toys made up, or make your own, it's also run by lovely people who will help with any questions:-

www.naturalbirdco.co.uk/shop/search.php?q=squiggles&search.x=10&search.y=6

You could also try a hobby shop if you have any where you live. Budgies love balsa wood, and seem to get great enjoyment from shredding and pulling it to bits. Hope this helps you out.

[Hezz]

And to add to your other question, all budgies seem to go though breaking up their poop. You may find that he will stop for a period and start up again. There is a theory that they do this to take in trace elements that they may be missing, but really the jury is still out and no permanent solution has been found, not to my knowledge, anyway. Budgies don't have many yuck habits, but that is one of them.

[karenke]

Thanks so much Jellybean and Hezz! I tried to discourage the poop chewing to no avail! I'm looking forward to creating some shred toys as well

[mintysowner]

I second the balsa wood - be prepared for lots of shredding to happen