Klutzy Budgie

[jojo1]

So I don't know what to do with my very uncoordinated budgie. His wings were clipped when I got him 3 months ago, so flying is new to him. But he is very bad at it. I have stuff all around that he can land on but it's like he doesnt make it there (plus he is scared if any new objects) and is always getting stuck in weird places and running into walls.
He is also klutzy at other times. Like the other day, he stood on his millet on a table and the next thing I know, he is log-rolling off the table and hit the floor 🤦‍♀️. He also steps off perches all the time..lol. like I said, very uncoordinated. Anyway, does he just have to practice? I'm so scared he's going to hurt himself. Maybe I should get some rope perches like he has in the cage and put then around the house?? Any suggestions?

[suesbird]

Hello, someone will be along soon who can help. I know others who have the same problems with birds with wings clipped so hopefully you can get some help.

[Hezz]

I really don't know what to say to that, jojo1. To me, that doesn't sound normal, even for a bird who hasn't properly learnt to fly. I wonder if he can see properly ... does anything suggest to you that this might be the case? In any case, you really need to help him to not hurt himself. All that banging into things can't be good, but at the same time, you don't want to wrap him up in cotton wool.

I would try to video some of his misadventures (hard, I know) and perhaps get an avian vet to look at them. I really don't know what else to suggest.

[Marianne Marlow]

One of my budgies, Custard, is getting like this, but he has a liver condition and is more than 7 years old (we don't know his age, because he was found outside)

We had to rescue him from the back of the cooker yesterday, which was scary. I feel like he can't see properly, also has trouble landing.

Definitely worth talking to an avian vet.

[jojo1]

He seems to see fine. Like I've actually been impressed at the little pieces of seed that he notices somewhere that I had no idea was there. Other stuff leads me to believe he sees fine too. I have read that some just learning to fly are klutzy. However, I am wondering if it is partly his fear to blame. He has always been super scared of everything. So I kind of think he doesnt want to land on stuff because he isnt sure about it. He also gets very hyper when he is excited, like he can't contain himself. Idk. I just put a bunch of rope perches up around the house (our house is an open floor plan so it's a big area), so hopefully that helps. I hope he isn't sick. It's only been a short time that I've had him and I'm already very attached

[jojo1]

Ya know, I just noticed hos wings aren't all the way grown in. There are still a few feathers I see that are clipped under his wing. Maybe that is part of the problem?

[jojo1]

One more thing I should say. When he does step off the perches, its when he is super excited.

[Hezz]

It can usually take a full 12 months for all cut flight feathers to moult out and be replaced. That doesn't mean he can't fly until all these feathers have grown back in - they don't need their full complement of flights to be able to fly, otherwise they would never be able to moult them out for fear of predators. It also shouldn't have too much bearing on his landings, but perhaps he never got to learn properly before having the wings clipped so is not as advanced in his flying and landing skills as he should be. I am glad that his sight seems to be fine. Hopefully all he needs is a little more practice.

[jojo1]

Thanks all!