Nov 24, 2016 15:58:50 GMT
evelyn83
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 5 
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Post by evelyn83 on Nov 24, 2016 16:05:56 GMT
Hi everyone I am new here. I recently got a budgie who I was told is about 4 months old.
We have had him nearly 3 weeks and he has come along a lot. He has flown three times, sat on my head, has let me stroke his beak a few times, has let me pick him up and he seems very inquisitive. He is always cocking his head from side to side when I talk to him. I have been reading to him as I was told that was a good thing to do.
He moves along the perch when he sees me come into a room and has his head sideways. He will make a noise to get my attention and when I leave the room he calls out like he is crying until I go back into the room then he stops. Is this an attention thing?!
Also, he has now taken to nipping my finger. Not too hard and when I say no he stops. But as weird as it sounds, when he nips and he is getting a bit too playful he makes this strange little noise like he finds it funny / is laughing!
He is very much a chatterbox and chirps along to the radio or the TV. I guess I am checking that this is all normal behavior?!
Thanks!! |
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Post by ffiscool on Nov 24, 2016 18:15:58 GMT
Welcome to the budhouse!
Would love to see photos. What's his name?
Yes all showing a happy budgie and obviously he trusts you
I used to have the same when I left the room, it's wanting you back/attention.
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Post by Hezz on Nov 25, 2016 0:16:14 GMT
His light nipping of yours hands is him tasting you to make sure you are the same - we probably all look the same to a budgie at first - and often this will happen before you are allowed to give him a scratch; it's also his way of giving you a preen. His trust is growing to accepting you.
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Post by Marianne Marlow on Nov 25, 2016 9:45:06 GMT
I wonder if the laughing noise is what some of us call a squiggle. Could be a hen!
Can we see a photo if possible?
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Nov 24, 2016 15:58:50 GMT
evelyn83
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 5
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Post by evelyn83 on Nov 25, 2016 17:04:26 GMT
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Post by Marianne Marlow on Nov 25, 2016 17:34:52 GMT
Gatsby does look like a hen to me!
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Nov 24, 2016 15:58:50 GMT
evelyn83
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 5
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Post by evelyn83 on Nov 25, 2016 17:37:23 GMT
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Post by Hezz on Nov 26, 2016 1:14:09 GMT
I think Gatsby is a hen as well, but more worrying is the sand sheet at the bottom of the cage. Please remove this asap as they can cause very painful and hard to heal sores on the bottom of the birds' feet. It is called bumblefoot, and believe me, you don't want to go there! If she has any sand perches, get rid of these as well, and replace all your perches with natural branches that have been thoroughly cleaned. There are plenty of online sites that give lists of budgie-safe trees to check out before you go pruning. If you aren't somewhere where you have access to your own sources, the company below is used by lots of members and are a wonder to deal with: www.naturalbirdco.co.uk/ |
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Nov 24, 2016 15:58:50 GMT
evelyn83
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 5
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Post by evelyn83 on Nov 26, 2016 3:02:07 GMT
I think Gatsby is a hen as well, but more worrying is the sand sheet at the bottom of the cage. Please remove this asap as they can cause very painful and hard to heal sores on the bottom of the birds' feet. It is called bumblefoot, and believe me, you don't want to go there! If she has any sand perches, get rid of these as well, and replace all your perches with natural branches that have been thoroughly cleaned. There are plenty of online sites that give lists of budgie-safe trees to check out before you go pruning. If you aren't somewhere where you have access to your own sources, the company below is used by lots of members and are a wonder to deal with: www.naturalbirdco.co.uk/Thank you for your reply. What do you advise to use other than sandpaper? The setup came as is from a friend who needed to rehome. That website is a handy link! |
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Post by Hezz on Nov 26, 2016 6:17:27 GMT
Newspaper - generally this is in plentiful supply and you can save your money on the sand sheets and buy more lovely perches from The Natural Bird Product website.  You can put several layers of newspaper down at a time, each day take off the top, soiled layer and you have a nice clean cage again for the rest of the day. I usually put down enough to get me through a week, by then it is time to give the cage a full clean out anyway. Even if you have to buy a newspaper specifically for the birds to read, you will still be in front, money-wise. |
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Nov 24, 2016 15:58:50 GMT
evelyn83
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 5
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Post by evelyn83 on Nov 26, 2016 8:35:48 GMT
Newspaper - generally this is in plentiful supply and you can save your money on the sand sheets and buy more lovely perches from The Natural Bird Product website. You can put several layers of newspaper down at a time, each day take off the top, soiled layer and you have a nice clean cage again for the rest of the day. I usually put down enough to get me through a week, by then it is time to give the cage a full clean out anyway. Even if you have to buy a newspaper specifically for the birds to read, you will still be in front, money-wise. Thank you  |
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You can put several layers of newspaper down at a time, each day take off the top, soiled layer and you have a nice clean cage again for the rest of the day. I usually put down enough to get me through a week, by then it is time to give the cage a full clean out anyway. Even if you have to buy a newspaper specifically for the birds to read, you will still be in front, money-wise.