2 New Budgies

[notagoodtamer]

Hi guys. first post on this. I adopted 2 8 week old budgies roughly 3 days ago. 1 Male and 1 Female.

Lily (adorable blue female) has quite the personality. Shes more vibrant than fredo (lovely green male). I left them alone for a day and since then I have been interacting with them regularly. I was impatient and did put my hands in several times but they either moved away or don't move. However today, I did use their wooden food stick as a perch and they flew on to it. Lily took the initiative then so did fredo. 

When im with them alone they're not really that active but when they are in the living room with everyone else - they're the most vibrant budgies ive seen.

I have not grabbed them or caused intentional stress to them, I may have locked eyes with them at one point which is why they might see me as a predator.

Any help would be greatly appreciated and if anyone could link me good perches for their cage that would be amazing. I want to get rid of the plastic ones! if it helps the cage size is 29cm.

Thank you! 

[Hezz]

The best perches, and the cheapest, you can get are branches from bird-safe trees, so you would need to look around and see what you can find. Look up bird-safe plants and link the safe ones with whatever grows in your area. That might be a bit hard in you live in the middle of a city, I realise, but I have never bought a perch so no links to help with there.

Where do you live? Someone might be able to give you some sites, if we know where you are.

Taming and training any bird takes time, consistency and a lot of patience. Work with them every day several times a day but for short five-ten minute stints each time. Never push them before they are ready or you will go backwards. There will be times when you feel as though you have regressed anyway. That's normal. For now work with them being comfortable with your hands in or near the cage. Only try getting closer once they are comfortable with your hand being in their cage.

[notagoodtamer]

Jan 15, 2020 19:25:40 GMT Hezz said:

The best perches, and the cheapest, you can get are branches from bird-safe trees, so you would need to look around and see what you can find. Look up bird-safe plants and link the safe ones with whatever grows in your area. That might be a bit hard in you live in the middle of a city, I realise, but I have never bought a perch so no links to help with there.

Where do you live? Someone might be able to give you some sites, if we know where you are.

Taming and training any bird takes time, consistency and a lot of patience. Work with them every day several times a day but for short five-ten minute stints each time. Never push them before they are ready or you will go backwards. There will be times when you feel as though you have regressed anyway. That's normal. For now work with them being comfortable with your hands in or near the cage. Only try getting closer once they are comfortable with your hand being in their cage.

Thank you for your response!

It seems as if i have regressed today, now they get terrified when my hands are in the cage . Oh well, i’ll keep doing what you’re doing. What would you say about moving their cage from room to room. For instance, when I’m home i would keep them in my bedroom so i can bond with them and if I’m not home they would be in the living room, but when they go to sleep they are put in the hallway.

[Deleted]

Jan 17, 2020 1:01:12 GMT notagoodtamer said:

Thank you for your response!

It seems as if i have regressed today, now they get terrified when my hands are in the cage . Oh well, i’ll keep doing what you’re doing. What would you say about moving their cage from room to room. For instance, when I’m home i would keep them in my bedroom so i can bond with them and if I’m not home they would be in the living room, but when they go to sleep they are put in the hallway.

It might be that they’ve started feeling more comfortable with their surroundings now, so they’re more willing to move away. Often when we first bring a bird home they’re so unsure about where they are that they’ll sit still, but after a few days they feel more settled. So it’s a probably a good thing, just understandably confusing or potentially mildly frustrating when it feels like you’ve gone backwards.
My first bird slept in a different room to the one he played in. They still one but it’s not possible in our current accommodation. The change of scenery can be stimulating for them. You might want to wait until they’re a bit more settled in before you start moving them around too much though.

One of the more experienced members will be able to give you better advice than I can. Good luck!

[Shirls]

Personally I wouldn't move them around to much to start with, they are in a really strange place, and look upon you as a predator so are really going to take time to adjust. Try not to stare at them, wink at them and talk softly, they will wink back realisiing you are not that scary predator they thought you were.

If you do't mind me saying, unless you are going to give them free flight time in your room, a 29cm cage is really very small for two budgies. If you can get a larger one that would be really great then use the small one as a spare, carry cage or a hospital cage (which, hopefully you will never have to use as such).

[notagoodtamer]

Thanks for the reply guys! very useful information.

@shirls, its a 30cm length and 35cm width. If that's still small then I guess I was lied by the pet store . I will 100% look for a bigger cage. Thank you for informing me!

[Hezz]

Pet store employees have no idea what is a decent size for a caged bird, unfortunately.

Personally, I wouldn't be worried about moving them around from room to room. Start as you mean to continue, I say. If you need to spend a decent about of time in another room and wish to take them with you, I would do just that. They will soon get familiar with another space.

[Shirls]

Pet shops just want to make a sale, regarless as to whether the item is suitable or not!! Sad, but true. The cage will come in handy tho as a spare.