Pascal's First Week :o

[louie]

Hello there folks, I am just needing a wee bit of advice! Wee bit probably a lot!

Pascal the budgie seemed to be settling in well, and I got him (for now) to learn to step up etc. He seemed very used to us and chatty, and I felt a bit sorry for him sitting/flying about the cage, and talking to us all the time..So I decided to take him out of the cage on Saturday...It was an error of judgement..I basically did it because I felt really sorry for him being cooped up, I did not expect him to take to full flight straight away and we are in a high ceiling tenement..think the ceiling is at least 14ft high or more, so he flew like an expert..did not bump into walls and perched himself up on top of the curtain rail, which is 12ft high..He seemed to have great fun though, my ladder was too short and he would not step up to my extended hand, probably my lack of sleep but he seemed to revel in bobbing his head toward me and showing off his wings..and general chirping sweetly...victory dance!

Things went on a bit, and of course I stayed up all night in the living room with him..he had a little travel about the room until midnight on and off, but too high for me to reach..I did not want to towel him and at that height it would have been dangerous for all concerned! I did nap off and on and at about 8.30am Sunday..I took charge really and kind of shooed him off the rail..he flew down on the bay windowsill (blinds closed) and looked at me while preening and chirping happily..so I gently cupped him..he wasn't too pleased and pecked me (was not sore surprisingly!) And my eldest daughter held the cage for me to put him back in...Not that it makes much difference..his poo was and is extremely healthy..he is eating..and is stepping on and off on command today..not with any pressing on his tummy..I am just saying step up pascal, and step down pascal, and good boy (assuming he is a boy lol) He is eating well and not seemingly affected by the outing! In fact he was trying to stay on my hand while I was in and out the cage for the food changes..I decided to use a spoon to get rid of the husks and replace the seed..rather than take the cover off of the bowl to do it from the outside as..the gap is big enough for escape

I would like to ask, should I just keep him in the cage for the time to keep on with the step up/step off..Should he be taught to respond to 'treats' first before letting him out again also? He doesn't seem fussed with Millet on my hand..should I try veggies..I will read into this with the google...seems better asking on this forum though..what tastes do budgies like really? I suppose they are all individual..I have a sprig of fresh coriander in the fridge..I could try that!

Thanks for any advice..I did read the guides on here..I suppose like any other pets/animals..there are individuals that don't fit the average..I thought it would be nice to share also, seeing as I am new to these forums..and I should probably stop feeling like a jailer and let Pascal out when he is ready to live in this environment...He will be getting a wider cage soon with a stand methinks..kids are saving up the pocket money also for this..not that his current cage is small of course!

Also does putting things on top of the cage help them to recognise where they have to return to?

That's me I am rambling as usual!

[Hezz]

Okay ....... you have got Pascal stepping up onto your hand in the cage - very good. Have you worked at all on getting him to step off your hand? This is just setting boundaries for him and if done properly will get him to stay on the dowelling or you hand when you need him to. As you have probably worked out teaching him to step off on command can be tricky as you need to get your timing right so he hasn't already flitted before your command.

Secondly, for first time outings, until you have him consistently stepping onto the stick or your hand (and staying there long enough for you to return him to his cage) I always recommend using the smallest room in the house, usually a small bedroom or bathroom, making sure the room is budgie-proofed of course, windows covered, no open water (toilets) and importantly make sure there are obvious perching places for him. If using a bedroom, I know from experience that a room with the bed against one wall is much easier on the human than a bed in the middle of the room! Otherwise you are likely to spend a great deal of time walking around the bed to where he is perched, by which time he has headed off to the other side, so back around the bed you go, and this can go on for quite some time. Also when giving out-of-cage time like this make sure you have plenty of time to get him back into the cage without feeling stressed or rushed if you have to go out. If you get stressed or frustrated, he will pick up on it and react accordingly.

For fresh veggies etc, check through the thread below. It is not a comprehensive list of what they can and can't eat, but rather was meant to give an idea of the sorts of things most budgies seem to respond to. If I were asked for a vegetable that no budgie can resist, I would say sweet corn, but of course there are always exceptions to the rule; these are budgies we are talking about, nothing is a given!!
budgerigarsforum.proboards.com/thread/509/fresh-foods-offer-budgie

Also with millet, this depends a lot on whether the bird was introduced to it as a baby. Those that have generally are millet junkies, while others seem to have to learn that millet sprays are not going to attack them.

A play gym on the top of the cage gives them somewhere to rest, play without being in the cage and without taking up any more floor space. If you are able to provide a few different perch stations around the room he will be in, this can help in giving him safe places to perch rather than him perching in places you don't want him to be. He will get to recognise where to come home to, regardless, but to make sure he always goes back to the cage without too much effort, never provide food for him outside of the cage. Whatever you use for rewards is fine, but keep the seed and fresh food in the cage and you can be sure that he will go back in when he gets hungry. Hope this all helps.

[louie]

Thanks for the advice Hezz, really helpful We will carry on working on the step off for now and I suppose we could use the bathroom for outings it is quite tiny..will make sure the toilet is covered and the mirror is covered also And try some sweetcorn etc. And a play gym sounds good

[louie]

Update

Pascal, I think is a male..extremely chatty!.. been trying the bathroom thing, covering the mirrors etc. He doesn't like the bathroom yet..I have tried to encourage him out..he just flies back into the cage..he likes millet though now, and will peck from my hand, I gave him a taste by having a spray wedged in through the bars..not a full one just a half, he demolished it..He is now playing fully with his bell toy and bark branch swing..still bobbing his head and speaking loudly..with tweets and whistles..at 8.30am on the dot when I come home from dropping my daughter to school bus..he is shouting 'Prettypretty' I speak to him all the time when I am in saying 'Who is a pretty Pascal, and etc.' Kids do also..so I was surprised he has kind of started mimicking, when it is hard to get him out of the cage..He is not scared of our hands..Step on is no problem..step off, well we will keep at it..I know he did not want to come out of the cage when in the bathroom as I took him out of the door, just and he flew back in! Small steps..Oh and he looks bigger now..looks like he is starting to moult a bit..he has 'new' facial markings, little specks at the corners of his beak..He seems happy enough at the moment, and has finally started to use the cuttlefish..and Hezz I put some sweetcorn in his seed bowl..It got eaten He is not sure of this apple I put on a stick for him though..hehe we shall see

[sweetpea]

You many want to discourage Pascal from settling on the curtain rail (doing his victory dance whilst you wobble on a too-short ladder!) by blocking that area. Some people tie things like balloons there to put them off. This should encourage him to explore more accessible perching areas.

[Hezz]

It sounds as though he is coming along nicely. Eating millet and corn, stepping up, talking ........ he is a gorgeous addition to the family. Now is the time to introduce another vegetable when you next dish up some corn for him. Maybe some grated carrot, or peg up some leafy greens onto the bars of the cage. But we do need photos!

[suesbird]

Jo loves to shred a stick of lemon grass.

[Shirls]

My lot will do anything for a stick of celery!! Pascal (and you) are coming on leaps and bounds, well done both of you.

[jellybean]

Sounds like your having great fun with Pascal.
Hezz mentioned trying him with some grated carrot, if he doesn't eat it grated, try giving just a piece of carrot, my 2 also love Tenderstem Broccoli, but won't touch the ordinary stuff. I think with budgies it's just a matter of try try try, until they decide what they like or don't like.
Would love to see some pictures of the wee guy.

[OP]

It sounds like you are really enjoying the company of Pascal as Pascal is warming to your company. Gentle steps all the way and you will have your Pascal bringing you even more joy. Keep on enjoying the learning and the company of your new friend. Yes, pictures are a must.

[samwiseg]

Everything sounds perfectly normal owner and budgie behaviour You are doing so well!

Would love to see so pics of Pascal

[louie]

Thanks for the encouragement sorry been absent from the forums, meh we had a flu type virus that has been going about..I did not want to touch pascal much, with my human germs, but he is fine, and getting back into the swing of things..he has been stepping up for my youngest now, and has new toys, a selection, he has not ventured out of the cage since, I am going to attempt to encourage him out in the bathroom tomorrow, so I can clean the bars properly got a pet safe mild cleaner. He is stepping down of a fashion, but he seems to enjoy being moved about on my hand in the cage, he seems to know 'ding ding' (his bell) 'yum yums' for millet, and 'peck peck' for the cuttlebone..either that I am going mad Pics to follow next post

[louie]

[louie]

[louie]