11 week old budgie

[debpeb]

Hi. I'm new here so please be gentle with me! Have had budgies on and off for years that were relatively tame but was given a 6 week old budgie and he seemed really tame. As weeks have gone on i've found him to be very aggressive when i try to get him out of his cage but once out will happily sit on my shoulder chirping. However he then moves down to my hand and even if i'm sat chatting to him or ignoring him he'll bite my hands aggressively. I'm not using my hands to get him out of his cage any more, using a perch as i wondered if that was frightening him but don't understand why when i'm not doing anything to hurt him he'll suddenly turn on me. Any help would be gratefully received thanks as i hate to think he's scared

[helenmat]

Hello and welcome, I used to have a bud that bit my hand (Pickle in my Avatar) but it was when I was ignoring him and he wanted my attention! It didn't really hurt but made me jump!

He could be just showing off like a stroppy teenager, if you can its better not to react at all but if you do, I would put him away without saying anything and he should soon get the message that it doesn't get him anywhere.

Others might give better advice, that is just my opinion.

[Hezz]

How old is this budgie now? You got him as a six week old, but haven't mentioned how long you have had him. If he is now a few months old, he could well be testing the boundaries just like a teenager of your own. Many go through a biting period during this time; it can last for a good 12 months, particularly if a hen.
Edit to say ... just re-read the title; that answers my age question.

Firstly, don't take it personally, and I doubt that he is actually going out of his way to hurt you; remember budgies "bite" at themselves all the time when preening; young birds need to learn that their preening is not fun for you and does actually hurt. (This is something I have to remember to tell myself with my conure.) However you address this problem, whether it be to put him away, educate him, praise and reward etc, make sure you are consistent, and always be gentle with him. Does he have lots of chewing toys to keep him occupied? Perhaps have something that he likes to chew handy at all times and offer this when he comes down your arm to your hand. Get in first with an alternative to biting your skin. You could do the same with taking him out of the cage on your finger - offer him a reward for coming out gently, a piece of millet perhaps. Sidetrack him with kindness.

[debpeb]

Thank you, he's now 11 weeks old and does seem to be behaving like a stroppy teenager. I've tried the firm "No" and he attacks more and tried ignoring but if i gently nudge him away from me he runs back and gently nibbles at my face without the squawking like he's "kissing" me. I'm hoping this is his way of trying to "apologise". Still seems nervous and won't attempt to fly yet.

[Hezz]

Won't attempt to fly at 11 weeks?? Have his wings been clipped, then?? He should be trying to fly from about 5-6 weeks. If he cannot fly, then I am not surprised that he is/has been behaving aggressively.

[Marianne Marlow]

Could you try and upload a photo of your budgie?

[debpeb]

No he hasn't had his wings clipped. I've started holding my arm up and down slowly and he'll fly a little way then but doesn't make any attempt to fly away from us until he gets bored then can't fly far.

[debpeb]

Oct 1, 2017 11:25:10 GMT Marianne Marlow said:

Could you try and upload a photo of your budgie?

Sorry it's been years since i posted pics to forums. Can you give me easy instructions how to please and i'll try and upload one.

[Marianne Marlow]

I don't think you can upload them by using a mobile phone.

But if you email me a couple of photos I will upload for you.

[e-mail]

[Marianne Marlow]

Here's a couple of photos of Pippi sent as requested. Front facing was when he was 6 weeks old, side view at 10 weeks.

Click to enlarge:

[Hezz]

There does not appear to be many flight feathers there in the second photo. Are you able to take one of his back, for me?

[Marianne Marlow]

Email: received from original poster

"Hi, sorry have been away for a few days. Here's a photo of Pippi from another angle. My parents looked after him while we were away and he did fly but not of his own accord - only once we slightly waved our arm when he was on it - and when we returned i saw him fly in their lounge but there wasn't much height and not far. He seemed pleased to see me though 😁Still pecked me when i tried getting him out of his cage but once out snuggled up to me and nibbled my ear 😁"

[Hezz]

He is not flying; he is gliding to the ground. Those flight feathers, what can be seen of them, which is only on one side, are definitely not quite right. I am feeling that this little fella might just be a case of French Moult.

Please, though, remove the sand sheets from the perch he is on, and replace the perches themselves with natural branches of differing sizes. There are plenty of sites on line which give safe and unsafe (toxic) trees for budgies. Just make sure that you compare a few different ones as there are differences among the different sites. If in any doubt, don't use the suspect tree.

[debpeb]

Oct 8, 2017 10:42:42 GMT Hezz said:

He is not flying; he is gliding to the ground. Those flight feathers, what can be seen of them, which is only on one side, are definitely not quite right. I am feeling that this little fella might just be a case of French Moult.

Please, though, remove the sand sheets from the perch he is on, and replace the perches themselves with natural branches of differing sizes. There are plenty of sites on line which give safe and unsafe (toxic) trees for budgies. Just make sure that you compare a few different ones as there are differences among the different sites. If in any doubt, don't use the suspect tree.

Oh crikey thank you for the advice. I don't know much about French moult? Will be need to see a vet? Is it serious? I've had budgies over many years but not one this young and from someone who had breeding budgies as a "hobby" of sorts. 

[Hezz]

His tail is all ragged as well. Have a look at the last photo you sent; there are three long feathers on the wing of the side he is showing. They are at an odd angle; they should follow the line of the wing down along his primary coverts, which seem to be in fine form. Is it French Moult? I don't know. French Moult is not something that can be treated, and won't affect the happiness of the bird, except for possibly the frustration of not being able to fly.