Taming and Old Scared Adopted Budgie

[limone1998]

Hello everyone!



I adopted a budgie about 2 months ago and need some advice on trying to make her less scared. So back story she was apparently in a home with 13 or so other birds and the owner had alzheimers and all of the other birds had died. Fast forward to the end of August when I adopted her and the poor thing was in a cage with no toys, only a big dowel and outside in the rain! I took her in, went to the vet and was told she was healthy, just slightly over weight and had some small soaring on her feet and approximentaly 4 years old. I am finally settled in a new apartment and now I want to try and train her better but she is just so terrified of me. It has gotten a lot better, she lets me put my hand in and eats millet and even recently nibbled on my fingers a little. But often she is so scared of my hand and always runs away when I approach her. She is also always so sleepy, and I link that to her likely having had a stressed life and not being treated too well. Anyways, I wanted to ask for tips to help tame an old scared budgie? I really want to make sure that she is happy!

[tweetiepiesmom]

Since she is "older" - 4 years old is not very old - and has never been handled, it will take more patience from you. Firstly, do everything around her very, very slow. Change her food and water dishes slowly, don't jot your hand in the cage quickly to change them. Talk softly to her when you are doing it. Spend as much time as you can beside her just talking softly to her. Don't stare at her, blink, turn your head sideways or close one eye. When you offer her millet, again move slowly. Gradually put your fingers closer to the millet as she gets used to your hands. This may take weeks to accomplish. Remember that she has not been handled but also has had the company of other budgies that she can watch and gage her reaction to things from how they act.

Enjoy your new companion. Its so good of you to offer her a new safe healthy home!

[limone1998]

Thank you for the advice! I guess I should have written older because she is on the younger side, but I will make sure to be even more careful. She is at least no trouble, as all she does is sleep all day! For a few weeks she was with me and my girlfriends lovebird and she seemed to be happy, but now I am finally in a place where I can really take care of her. 

[Marianne Marlow]

Was it an avian vet you took her to? I don't think a vet could tell that she was "approximately 4 years old" when they are older than a year, there are no signs to tell you how much older she'd be.

Also, you say that she sleeps all day, that would make me worry that she was sick.

Can you upload a video or some photos of her and her cage? maybe we can help with her environment.

[Hezz]

I have the same concerns as Marianne, re age and sleeping all day.

Whatever you do, don’t push her into interacting with you, that will only set you back with anything you may have already achieved. Talk, sing, whistle to her, offer her food in your hand, as you have been doing but don’t chase her around the cage if she moves away from your hand. Give her the opportunity to come to you. If you are pushy, she will only retreat. Two months is not long when dealing with a neglected mature bird, and patience is your best friend. Hopefully she will begin to feel secure, but expect little steps forward only, don’t allow disappointment to take over.

It sounds as though she appreciated the company of the other bird while it lasted, so while it might be your dream to have her interacting with you, it may be fairer on her if she has other birds for company, since that is what she was used to. A flock, even of only two, gives them a feeling of safety.

[limone1998]

Sept 22, 2021 22:08:06 GMT Marianne Marlow said:

Was it an avian vet you took her to? I don't think a vet could tell that she was "approximately 4 years old" when they are older than a year, there are no signs to tell you how much older she'd be.

Also, you say that she sleeps all day, that would make me worry that she was sick.

Can you upload a video or some photos of her and her cage? maybe we can help with her environment.

Yes it was an avian vet, and she was able to guess or approximate because of her feet. Basically she has mold soars but nothing too concerning and I was told to wrap all the hard perches with gauze to make sure it doesn't get worse. Also yes I was worried she was sick but the vet said she was perfectly healthy, however I am still concerned that she naps a lot.

[limone1998]

Sept 23, 2021 0:24:26 GMT Hezz said:

I have the same concerns as Marianne, re age and sleeping all day.

Whatever you do, don’t push her into interacting with you, that will only set you back with anything you may have already achieved. Talk, sing, whistle to her, offer her food in your hand, as you have been doing but don’t chase her around the cage if she moves away from your hand. Give her the opportunity to come to you. If you are pushy, she will only retreat. Two months is not long when dealing with a neglected mature bird, and patience is your best friend. Hopefully she will begin to feel secure, but expect little steps forward only, don’t allow disappointment to take over.

It sounds as though she appreciated the company of the other bird while it lasted, so while it might be your dream to have her interacting with you, it may be fairer on her if she has other birds for company, since that is what she was used to. A flock, even of only two, gives them a feeling of safety.

---

Agreed, I have really been just letting her act on her own. She is particularly interactive today, so that is a good sign. I want to let her do things on her own and I always leave the cage open and she goes out every once in awhile. 

[Marianne Marlow]

What about her feet?

I'm seriously interested on how she did that, I have never read anything about budgies feet relating to their age.

Sept 23, 2021 21:41:37 GMT limone1998 said:

Sept 22, 2021 22:08:06 GMT Marianne Marlow said:

Was it an avian vet you took her to? I don't think a vet could tell that she was "approximately 4 years old" when they are older than a year, there are no signs to tell you how much older she'd be.

Also, you say that she sleeps all day, that would make me worry that she was sick.

Can you upload a video or some photos of her and her cage? maybe we can help with her environment.

Yes it was an avian vet, and she was able to guess or approximate because of her feet. Basically she has mold soars but nothing too concerning and I was told to wrap all the hard perches with gauze to make sure it doesn't get worse. Also yes I was worried she was sick but the vet said she was perfectly healthy, however I am still concerned that she naps a lot.

[tweetiepiesmom]

You might use "vet wrap" to wrap around the perches instead of gauze. It sticks to itself so the wrapping works well. It is also safe to use around budgies so if she picks at it, it won't harm her. Its easy to use and you can quickly take off the old wrap and put on new. It can be found in most pet stores and also on Amazon (not sure where you live).

[limone1998]

Sept 23, 2021 21:54:08 GMT tweetiepiesmom said:

You might use "vet wrap" to wrap around the perches instead of gauze. It sticks to itself so the wrapping works well. It is also safe to use around budgies so if she picks at it, it won't harm her. Its easy to use and you can quickly take off the old wrap and put on new. It can be found in most pet stores and also on Amazon (not sure where you live).

Sorry I did use vet wrap! I should have said so. It works great!

[limone1998]

Sept 23, 2021 21:48:25 GMT Marianne Marlow said:

What about her feet?

I'm seriously interested on how she did that, I have never read anything about budgies feet relating to their age.

Sept 23, 2021 21:41:37 GMT limone1998 said:

Yes it was an avian vet, and she was able to guess or approximate because of her feet. Basically she has mold soars but nothing too concerning and I was told to wrap all the hard perches with gauze to make sure it doesn't get worse. Also yes I was worried she was sick but the vet said she was perfectly healthy, however I am still concerned that she naps a lot.

All she said was that it wouldn't have been possible for her to have the types of soars she had on a new bird, it would have taken a few years. It is possible that she was not completely correct but that is what I was told 

[Hezz]

I don’t understand what are mold soars. I presume you mean mould sores, or is it mould spores??

It sounds as though the hen has bumblefoot, which is usually caused by a bacteria, occasionally it is due to Candida sp, which is a fungus. Did the vet not give you anything else to help her with this?

[limone1998]

No, she said it was not bumble foot but she saw mild strain on her feet that were from the fact that all she had was the giant dowel

[tweetiepiesmom]

So great that she has someone to love her and take care of her. What's her name? I'm curious about what's going on with her feet. Can you post a picture?

[limone1998]

Her name is Limone (Lemon) and I will try and get a good picture but here is her and her new cage!