1 of 4 new budgies staying at bottom of cage.

[glitterandgrunge]

Hi Everyone.
I am new here, and new to the world of caring for budgies. We have been doing a lot of research, and decided to buy all four of the birds we wanted at the same time from the same shop, so that they would already be accustomed to each other.

I observed the birds, and all four of the birds we were interested in were moving well, mingling well with the flock, using the perches, etc. All seemed happy and healthy.

We brought the budgies home and set up the large cage. We let the birds free in the cage. Three of them quickly made their way up the side of the cage to the highest point. One of them stayed on the bottom of the cage. He/she is moving ok. I can see no outward signs of injury. I think that he/she even took a drink of water this morning.

Someone suggested to me that maybe this one budgie is much younger than the other 4 and is still seeking to hunker down as in his/her nest. They suggested I place a small bowl with cloth in it for the bird to snuggle in. I did that, and he/she did get into the bowl.

Needless to say, I am worried sick about this little one. I have read nothing but bad things about a budgie staying at the bottom of the cage.

I expected "stunned" behavior upon arriving home for the first few days. I was not prepared for this, and am wondering if I just need to relax and wait for this bird to adjust, or if it's something seriously wrong.

I appreciate any input seasoned budgie lovers/owners may be able to share.

~Linda

[glitterandgrunge]

Right after I posted this, the kids got all excited because the 3 perched birds all started singing. Then one flew down to the bottom to 'visit' the white bird, and back up. Next, the 3 birds flew down to enjoy a group feeding. The white bird looked excited, and after a few moments, joined in with them all at the feeding bowl. After their meal, they've just been standing around mingling. Thus far, no one has flown back up to the perches, so I'm not sure what the white one will do. "PLEASE, Little Birdie.... be ok!!!"

[skysmum]

Hi and welcome. She looks ok, and very beautiful she is very very young and it could be just that. All you can do is watch her over the next couple of days, as you say she could have been one of the last out of the nest and still feels the floor is the safest place in this strange new cage . I have just bought a new Bud home (3 three days ago) and she is just over a year old and she also spent quite some time on the floor and even tried to burrow under the newspaper on the bottom, she is fine now, they take a while to adjust. Just one thing, the material that you have put in the bowl has alot of loose threads on it, it would be best to remove this because if she starts to chew on the fibers she could injest them and this will make her sick, replace it with some kitchen towel or shreaded paper maybe. Good luck with your new family and keep us posted .

[glitterandgrunge]

Thank you, skysmum!

Thanks for the tip about the fabric too. I just assumed that since our outdoor birds use strings to nest, it was ok, but I have sooooo much to learn about captive birds! I have actually taken the bowl out of the cage for now to see if she'll join the others on the perch. But if I put it back in, I'll use a towel

[skysmum]

Your very welcome, we are all here to help each other.
Just a thought, have you seen her walking about ok, just wondered if she may have hurt her leg and finds it uncomfortable to stand on a perch, maybe worth just checking her feet out as well.

[glitterandgrunge]

She seems to be able to walk ok, Skysmum. She walked across the bottom to eat. And she is now at the top of the cage with the rest of the gang! My nephew placed her on the side, and she walked up. She still hasn't gotten the hang of maneuvering from the side to the perch, but she's doing lots of acrobatics, preening, mingling with the other birds. I have high hopes that she's ok.

[skysmum]

All sounds good .

[sarah*glittergirl2212]

Hi there Linda, and welcome to you and your lovely birds.. It seems like she is finding her confidence a bit which is great news. Make sure there is always a dish of seed/water and possibly a small piece of millet available lower in the cage in case she finds herself back on the floor for any length of time while you're not about.
You may like to make her a little shelter by using an upturned box or ice cream tub with a little door cut in it if you do notice her back on the floor a lot. Babies naturally like to hide- it's a survival instinct. Hopefully now though she'll be happy up on the perches with the others. As she's very likely the youngest pay attention to her eating so you know she's cracking seed ok for herself.

[glitterandgrunge]

Thank you all for helping me to help these lovely budgies feel at home. The little white one did ok last night. She made her way back down to eat, then back up. My only concern is that she still hasn't "braved" the transition from the cage side to the perch. She spent the night holding onto the side grates of the cage rather than ever using the perch. I am going to search for some safe tree branches to today. Maybe placing a variety with entice her.

[Hezz]

Have you tried taking her off the side of the cage and putting her onto a perch? And I am sure some proper tree branches will be very welcome. I think she is simply taking a little longer than the others to settle in, and being young may be making that transition harder for her.

She is very like my tubby Smudge.