Hello - some advice please!

[auntbessie]

After a break of 12 years or so I recently decided to have another budgie. I found a pet rehoming website and someone fairly local was advertising a couple of boy budgies they no longer wanted - so of course I had to offer them a home (I collected them yesterday)! The cage they came in is far too small but thats not a problem for long as I've a larger more spacious cage for them on the way (Ferplast Piano 4) that should arrive this week. I do have a couple of queries though and wondered if anyone could help please? I think they've been shut in the cage for a very long time and may have problems flying as they've not been let out for so long. Whats the best way of letting them regain their strength? And their former owners smoked The poor birds stink of cigarette smoke How would this have affected their health? They seem chirpy enough otherwise ... they look clean, poos are well formed, eyes are bright ... but I couldn't leave them there ...

They are both five years old - possibly, they think ... and I'll post photos when I've figured out how!

[stace]

Firstly, the smoke could very well have affected them. Their lungs, or air sacs, are so tiny. It will do them a world of good to be out of that environment.

As for flying. I'd let them settle with you for a few days, letting them get used to their new home and new owners. If you've had budgies before, you're probably already familiar with that trust building process.

Once you're ready to let them out, free flight should gradually let them rebuild their strength. Just make sure you have bird-proofed the room and covered or pulled the curtains on the windows. If they haven't been out free flying, they may be a bit weird about it.

There are a few other members on here who have been through the same thing rehoming birds who've been caged most or all their lives. They'll be able to advise you better if they come on soon.

[Rachael Kellett]

Firstly I want to say a big well done on taking in unwanted budgies You have done a really good thing and I am sure that they will have a good life from now on with you. I took in a two year old budgie in December last year who had never socialised with other budgies or ever eaten anything but seeds. She is getting there slowly and likes to spend time with my other budgies now She can't fly due to a damaged wing but I have experience with letting budgies out of their cage for the first time with my other budgies.

Make sure the room is budgie proof, as much as you can, tidy away wires, any sharp objects, make sure there is nowhere they caan get stuck such as behind cupboards. Also, for now, cover any windows and mirrors. If the budgies know how to step up then you can bring them out of their cage that way but I suspect from what you said that they haven't been handled. For now just leave the cage door open and put a millet spray outside to try and tempt them out. Its best to have somewhere for them to go to such as a playgym on top of the cage maybe? I look forward to seeing how you get on and do we get to see photos of your budgies? ;D Try not to worry too much if they hit a couple of things, as long as they don't really hurt themselves, it will take a while for them to get the hang of the room. I have heard many a budgie owner say "oh I let him out once but he hit a wall so I don't let him out anymore" When they have built up their muscles I am sure they will be zooming around like pros ;D

[auntbessie]

Thanks for the advice - I'd completely forgotten about covering the windows! I think I'll let them settle in for a while before letting them loose ...!

And here they are (hopefully its worked!):

[Rachael Kellett]

Aww they are gorgeous. What a tiny cage that is! And nasty plastic perches too! I am glad you have ordered them a new cage, they will soon have lots of space to play ;D

[budgiefriend]

Your little budgies are very cute. Now they are ready for the good life. Do they have names? You will have so much fun with them.

[BudgiesBuddy]

Your budgies are very beautiful. They needed a good home and a lot of care and I am glad you are providing them with it

[ruthpaton]

The first budgie I took on had never been out of his cage - he was already about 10 years old then. We thought we'd give it a try as neither of us like to see birds shut in cages all the time. No kidding - that budgie kept closing the door of his cage again! :-) We tried for a while but I'm sorry to say we didn't yet know enough and didn't have this forum to ask for advice so we decided he would never venture out and gave up... I really wish now I'd known what I do now and persevered a bit more. :-(

[Marianne Marlow]

Well done giving these budgies a new home. Can't wait to see them in their new cage

[ginger]

Thank goodness you got them out of there! They are cute - the grey yellow faced looks just like my Georgie!

What are their names?

Sounds like they need a bath too! Poor babies - stinking of smoke.

Such a tiny cage - I'm so glad you have them - post pics of them in their new cage when it arrives! I am sure they will feel like they are at the Hilton ;D

[auntbessie]

Thanks for the kind words - I'm so glad this forum exists!

The blue fella is called Peter, the grey is Godzilla ... Interesting choice by the previous owners, but I don't think I'll change their names ... I took a few toys out the cage before I took the photo as they really couldn't move in there! Can't wait for their new cage to arrive! ;D

[Hezz]

Well done, Auntbessie! Peter and Godzilla will be very happy to be out of theat horrible stinking enviroment. If they smell smokey still, how about provide them with a shallow dish of water - something like a pie-dish is good. If they don't bath by themselves and you wish to clean them up, you can spray them with some tepid water - a clean spraybottle that has only been used for water or a new one.

Good idea to allow them to settle in first, but with each other as company and a nicer place to live, I can't imagaine that will take long! And a new house, when it arrives! They will think they have died and gone to heaven.

See if you can't source some natural branches for them as perches - apple and willow are two favourites - cages all come with plastic or dowel perches. Plastic ones are bad for their feet and the dowels are just plain old boring!

[auntbessie]

Well it was a lovely warm sunny day here in Yorkshire, so I made sure the cage was secure, carried it outside and gave the boys a spray ... and they loved it! They smell a lot better now.

[Hezz]

Oh, great! That is wonderful that they enjoyed it. Some budgies don't like being wet down, but now you know you can get them outside and spray till your hearts content. It must have felt so nice to them, getting rid of some of that grime build up. They could well be looking for a spray today as well.

[budgiefriend]

Yup, Peter and Godzilla are really going to love living with you, Aunt Bessie. They will never look back on those terrible days in that stinky place. Now they will have a big cage, good food, treats and lovely baths. Life is good.