Oct 6, 2014 22:34:38 GMT
SamSun
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 6
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Advice?
Oct 7, 2014 19:11:57 GMT
via mobile
Post by SamSun on Oct 7, 2014 19:11:57 GMT
Hello everyone, I would appreciate some advice on what I can do for my beautiful budgie pair. I feel I have not been a good budgie mom lately. I brought Sammy (male) home approximately two years ago. After seeing how shy he was, I figured I'd get him a friend. I upgraded his cage and adopted Sunny a few weeks later, who turned out to be male also. They instantly bonded and have been inseparable since. Sunny was very tame from the moment I brought him home. He willingly perched on my finger and played with toys outside of the cage. Sammy was never quite as bold as Sunny, preferring to stay in his cage, although he was quite friendly. Over the course of a few months, I tried my best to tame both birds, working to get them comfortable outside of the cage. However, both birds continued to get more and more elusive. I worked very slow with them, trying to show that I wasn't going to hurt them. Despite all my effort, Sammy never became the tame, friendly bird that I had hoped for. Sunny too, started to retreat to the cage once he realized Sammy wouldn't come out. The two could never be separated without one falling into a panic. With fail after fail of attempting to gain their trust, I eventually just stopped trying to take them out of the cage. I would leave the cage door open for hours without them making a single move. Getting their wings clipped was a huge struggle. This was such a traumatic experience for them, that I discontinued that practice as well. I tried to give them the best environment I could with them in the cage. Lots of toys and treats seem to keep them relatively happy. I keep their cage nice and clean, with regular feeding. They look happy, with clean feathers and bright eyes. But, I still feel guilty about them being too scared to come out of the cage. To make matters worse, they are also very picky eaters. I've tried all sorts of fresh fruits and veggies, but they stick to strictly seeds and millet. I'd love any suggestions on what I can do to give these birds a happy and healthy life. Please understand that I have tried my best with the situation at hand, and I just want the best for my boys. Thanks!
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Post by Budgies Retreat on Oct 7, 2014 21:59:38 GMT
Hi there.
I'll keep it short, but my two pence worth is that once you put a hand tame budgie with one that isn't, you will lose that tameness as it will revert back to doing what the other bird is doing. I have just recently put my hand tame budgie in with 5 other un-tamed birds, and he wont come near me anymore. In regards to feeding, just leave them to eat seed if that's all they'll eat, but ensure that you get a good blend from a reputable seed company. Again I have tried all-sorts of greens and fruits (avoiding the known dangerous ones) and although they'll take a chopped blend of hard boiled egg white, broccoli, red pepper, carrot and coriander, they will not take either of them in their whole form. So I just give them good quality seed to which I add tonic seed to once or twice a week, and give pre-washed disinfected millet sprays. I use FC10 disinfectant which can be ingested by the budgies, so I just leave the sprays to dry near to a radiator overnight and give them the next day.
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Post by Hezz on Oct 8, 2014 0:43:41 GMT
Firstly, there is no reason to have their wings clipped, so glad that isn't happening any more, but this may well have been the beginning of all your problems; if you went through a catch and grab, snip, and release, and at the end of all this trauma the birds couldn't fly, I am afraid I wouldn't want to go near you either. Sorry. With a bird that is shy and one that isn't you really needed to spend heaps of time working with both so the shy boy could experience the trust that the other had in you. Can that be turned around? I really don't know. A lot would depend on how much time has passed - how ingrained the behaviour has become. And you would necessarily be starting again from scratch. Looking back at your post, it seems it has been around two years, give or take. If you decide to start again, I would begin with the initially more outgoing bird. As for food, it sounds like they could benefit from a regular addition of a vitamin/mineral supplement, if you cannot get them eating anything in the way of fresh foods. And limit the millet sprays. That's like offering a child a dish full of veggies and one of icecream; of course they are going to eat the icecream if left up to them!
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Oct 6, 2014 22:34:38 GMT
SamSun
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 6
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Advice?
Nov 15, 2014 2:16:43 GMT
via mobile
Post by SamSun on Nov 15, 2014 2:16:43 GMT
Hello to you both, I apologize for the delayed reply! My computer was down, and I could not get it back up and running until now. :/ I am extremely thankful for your replies. I just feel absolutely horrible about neglecting my poor birds, but they won't cooperate with me under any circumstance. Sunny will cautiously step up onto my finger, but Sammy absolutely refuses to get near me. I feel better about their feeding situation. What would you recommend as a staple seed? They won't touch pellets either, even though I've soaked them, mixed them with fruit, etc. Anything else I can try? I took them to a local bird shop to get their wings clipped, and they did do the catch and snip method. :/ I suppose that's quite a traumatic experience, to the point where they don't trust any human hands. I can't let them out of their cage anymore either, since I can never get them back in. Plus, they don't really like leaving the safety of their cage anyway. This means that they are getting little to no exercise right now. I'm afraid of them developing health problems due to this, but I'm completely out of options. I was determined to be the best budgie owner I could, reading everything about caring for them and making sure I was able to devote the time and resources to care for these beautiful birds. I feel terrible now, knowing that I have jeopardized their health and quality of life. I would greatly appreciate any advice on what I can do to improve their living and make it up to my boys.
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Post by Hezz on Nov 15, 2014 11:01:06 GMT
Forget the pellets; no birds like being taken away from their basic diet, in their case this is seed, but if you have access to seeding grasses these will go down a treat, then you can start incorporating other leafy greens in amongst the grass seed heads. But what you are really going to have to work hard at is just spending time around them, near the cage, talking to them, continuing to offer them small pieces of millet until you can get the bolder of the two stepping onto your hand. All this is going to take a lot of patience on your part. Be prepared to put in a whole heap of time and expect nothing in return. This way you will not be driven to despair when nothing happens. If you keep trying and trying eventually there is going to a (maybe only slight) thawing on their part. If you are able to get them a sizable cage in which they are able to fly from side to side, this will obviously help them stay healthier than a cage where there is no room to use their wings. Realise that it has taken two years to get to this stage; it may well take the same amount of time to start to reverse the situation. Be prepared for this to be a very long-term effort. There are no quick fixes, I am afraid. The only other solution I can suggest is giving them up to an aviary and starting again. The birds may well be happier in an aviary situation, but I can well understand that this may not even be considered an option. Anyway, I hope you do keep trying and also keep us informed with your progress. Feel free to come on to the forum and vent your frustration. Others have found it cathartic in the past.
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Post by OP on Nov 15, 2014 11:28:17 GMT
One thing I would like to add is don't forget about individual character. What one budgie does may not reflect in what the other one does. During the time that I have had one budgie who was inquisitive, stubborn yet laid back I managed to train him to step up almost at my will, but more often at his. This situation has not changed although another budgie was introduced. The second budgie is very tame and trusting, yet he will not step up onto the finger. He will jump up onto my arm. His tameness ahas not changed, in fact he is even more friendly towards me now. Joey my first budgie will sit in the cage all day long and chirp away to Whiskers my other budgie who flies about the place. I literally have to get Joey out of the cage on my finger most of the time and let him fly off from there. It has taken a long time to get to this stage, but I have enjoyed almost every minute of it. I may be wrong, but I sense some tension and a touch of frustration in your posts. If I am correct, relax, your budgies will sense this and hopefully respond.
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Apr 30, 2012 19:07:26 GMT
Angelgirl
Normal Violet
Posts: 114
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Post by Angelgirl on Nov 15, 2014 16:04:00 GMT
Hi there, I completely understand how you are feeling.
In May 2012 I got my first budgie Alfie. He was a single budgie as I wanted him to bond with me. Although I tried, I never managed to hand tame him, nor have I been able to have him out. I felt awful so decided since he hadn't bonded with me I should get him a friend. Enter Billie in May this year.
I put Billie in with Alfie immediately. Bad idea on so many grounds. I then separated them so they could get to know each other from afar first.
Billie was younger than Alfie was when I got him and to my surprise responded well to me and was hand tame in no time. I now have a problem in that they still fight when I put them in together and I am worried that Billy (who it now transpires is a he not a she) will lose his tameness if I do it anyway and let them fight it out (I now think they are probably just trying to establish a pecking order)
So...six months later, I still have them in two cages. Your story makes me feel sure they will remain that way unless I can tame Alfie. I don't really have any good advice as having been together so long it would be unfair to separate them now. I think Hezz is right - either go back to the beginning with them both or start again if you can be parted from them.
I don't worry too much about Alfie's health - he is happy, enjoys his seed, occasional millet, cuttle bone and mineral block. He loves his toys and the TV (he will chirp in great excitement if I am watching Big Bang) His cage is big enough for him to have a fly if he wants to and he can chat to Billy if he wants. Although having two cages (three including my hamster) isn't quite what I intended, I couldn't give him up. I still hope I can turn things around with him and have two tame budgies...but who knows!
Ax
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Oct 6, 2014 22:34:38 GMT
SamSun
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 6
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Advice?
Nov 15, 2014 18:29:54 GMT
via mobile
Post by SamSun on Nov 15, 2014 18:29:54 GMT
Thank you all for the kind and encouraging words. It's nice to hear about the experiences with your birds, and that I am not the only one who has dealt with timid birds. I would absolutely love to set up an aviary for them, but with two dogs, a chinchilla, a gargoyle gecko, a bearded dragon and four aquariums along with the birds, I'm afraid my home nor my wallet will allow it. I just don't have the funds or the space to upgrade to anything much larger. Currently, their cage is approximately 17 inches in length, 12 inches in width, and 19.5 inches in height at its highest point. It's not a perfect square (more like a house shape), so the measurements may be off a bit. The birds have enough space to spread their wings and hop around, but not really fly. They have three perches in their cage, a flavored cuttlefish bone, a food and water dish, and lots of toys that I try to switch up every month or so to give them more enrichment. Is their cage an adequate size? If not, what is the minimum size I would need? I may be able to scratch up enough to purchase a larger enclosure second hand. I'm currently feeding them Kaytee healthy support diet mixed in with Kaytee Grassland foraging diet. I've been cutting back on the millet. Is this a good diet or is there something that needs to change? Suggestions on food brands that would be beneficial? Again, thank you so much for the advice and support!
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Post by milliej on Nov 15, 2014 18:35:06 GMT
My two are not 'tamed' and I've had them for over 8 years now, nor do they eat anything 99% of the time except mixed seed with occasional millet. They have two adjoining cages which they hop/fly/walk to and fro between and they are quite happy. It's their little world, I sit and watch them sometimes and they're a treat to watch so please don't concern yourself too much and please don't clip their little wings again, I really don't know why people do this, it's unnecessary as far as I'm concerned. Perhaps you could get a second or bigger cage from Ebay or somewhere, as long as it's not rusty! If you're in UK Haiths budgie food is good and my two still eat the new Trill that some have complained about, with no problem whatsoever....so budgies like people are all different.
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Post by Hezz on Nov 16, 2014 0:50:47 GMT
I actually didn't mean you starting up your own aviary, but rather allowing them to go to someone with an aviary and other budgies already. I do understand also that may not even be a consideration, so take it as a suggestion only, and reject/accept as needed. If the birds are not going to come out you need to look at the very biggest cage your space can allow, for everyone's wellbeing. The size of the cage you now have isn't really adequate for two, and definitely not two who don't come out. Look at getting something along the lines of the one in the link below, remembering when you are looking that the bar spacing needs to stay around the 1cm mark. www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BEAUTIFUL-NEW-STYLE-LARGE-BIRD-CAGE-WITH-STAND-BOTH-IN-LOVELY-NEUTRAL-COLOURS-/261430723927?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Birds&hash=item3cde7c4557We may be able to help you more if we know which country you are from.
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Oct 6, 2014 22:34:38 GMT
SamSun
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 6
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Advice?
Nov 16, 2014 23:33:08 GMT
via mobile
Post by SamSun on Nov 16, 2014 23:33:08 GMT
I am in the United states. Wow, 8 years? They must be receiving exceptional care. What size of a cage are yours in? I will defiantly look into upgrading their living quarters around Christmas when I have a bit extra to spend. Unfortunately, I looked around and could not find anyone who had, or was willing to set up an aviary for these guys. One more question; do any of you know ways to make toys for budgies? They love tearing up and chewing on their toys, but it's getting quite expensive always replacing them.
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Post by Hezz on Nov 18, 2014 0:34:21 GMT
Toys? budgerigarsforum.proboards.com/board/31/budgie-toys-enrichment If this doesn't get your creative juices flowing, I don't know what will. You can buy kits, or individual items, beads, bells, balls, string, leather, chord etc and etc on a whole range of websites. You will need to find ones for the US; there seems to be heaps that you guys can access, you are very lucky.
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Post by milliej on Nov 19, 2014 20:50:17 GMT
That's an old photo, the perches and toys are changed regularly but I don't think they like them changed so often now they're older as they've had their backs to me for a few days!
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Oct 6, 2014 22:34:38 GMT
SamSun
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 6
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Advice?
Nov 29, 2014 20:18:22 GMT
via mobile
Post by SamSun on Nov 29, 2014 20:18:22 GMT
Hello again everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday. (For those in the US, that is... for the rest of you, happy Thursday! ) My last paycheck allowed me to splurge a bit on the birds. I picked up lots of new toys and treats for them, including a new flavored cuttlebone, and Higgins Vita Seed, which will be mixed in with their normal seed. Unfortunately though, a larger cage is still way out of budget, but I will keep my eyes open for a good deal. In regards to getting them exercise, I found a way to block off part of the room they are currently in using some tarp. The room isn't *completely* budgie proof, but pretty close to it. Would it be okay if I opened the cage, and just let the birds come out on their own? I could place some millet sticks around the room so that they feel more comfortable outside the cage. Any other tips? When looking for a new cage, should I look for something taller or longer? I saw a "finch flight habitat" that was about 3 feet long, but not as high as their current cage. Also, could someone please guide me on how to post a picture here? (I'm on a mobile devise) I can't thank you all enough for all your help and support.
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Post by milliej on Nov 29, 2014 20:59:43 GMT
I can only say regarding the cage, I've had one of mine for years and got the second in a sale, for more space but....it's best to get long rather than tall ones like mine, I believe is the general consensus of opinion. Will leave the rest for others as I'm not able to help there.
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