first budgerigar.

[bonny]

hiya, i have just bought my first budgerigar, 12 weeks old, so no idea of the sex yet, i have had him/her for two days now, and he/she has everything they need, but he/she keeps constantly running up and down the floor of the cage, is this normal behaviour? is he/she agitated, should i give him/her more time to settle, it,s eating well, and seems alert and interested in everything going on around them, should i worry, id appreciate any feedback, thanks.

[notaprettyboy]

hello bonny i'm new aswell, young bird does it climb up the cage etc or just on the floor?

[Deleted]

hi bonny id like to say a very big welcome to you and your budgie ....
it sounds to me your budgie is just a bit hyper ...and should settle in soon ...
also would you post some pics of said budgie ...so we can see him/her... ...

[BudgiesBuddy]

Hi and welcome
Post the picture, we maybe able to tell you the sex.

[Donna Lee]

How big is the cage, bonny? One of mine did this when he was in a cage smaller than he was used to - too much energy! He stopped when I let him out for a fly though.

[moonkira *Julie *]

Hello and welcome Bonny - we would love to see some photos
your little budgie sounds just like my mother lol ;D she is always agitated and cant sit still ;D

[annieones]

Sept 30, 2012 20:21:17 GMT moonkira *Julie * said:

Hello and welcome Bonny - we would love to see some photos
your little budgie sounds just like my mother lol ;D she is always agitated and cant sit still ;D

ha ha Julie, this made me laugh

Hi bonny i'm new on here too, but got quickly addicted. Would love to see your little budgie. My two were supposedly 10 wks old when i got them (rescued) but they just sat on the perch and nervously shuffled along it when "humans" walked past.

[bonny]

hiya guys ty for ur feedback, has settled a little, but still scrabbling about on the floor of the cage quite a bit, can you tell the sex at 12 weeks? cere is quite pink at the moment, will get some photo,s up here soon.

[Shirls]

Welcome to the forum Bonny. Can't wait to see the pics of your little feathered friend. It does sometimes take a little while for new budgies to get settled so be a little patient, I know its hard and if you are a budgie addict like most of us on here - you will worry regardless!!

[bonny]

aha, i think i,ve figured out what is going on with alfie, still a bit unsettled (left him/her in peace today) but as for the running up and down the floor of the cage, the bottom of the cage is plastic, and he/she can see their reflection in it, i think they think it,s another bird, (sides i should say, not bottom, bottom is covered with sandpaper) what can i do about this, will they eventually give it up, or might i have to get a different cage?

[notaprettyboy]

cheapest thing would be newspaper ,not the sun its too bright ;D

[stace]

Get rid of the sandpaper. It's really bad for their feet, and can cause them to get a condition called Bumblefoot. It's like open wound type blisters. Don't use any sandpaper type perches either, natural wood is best, especially still with the bark on to keep their nails down.

Pet shops shouldn't be selling sandpaper, but they don't seem to realise it's bad for them.

Also, when they are young and first arrive in a new home, they are used to running around on the floor foraging for seed as they did when they were babies.

[Hezz]

As Stace mentions get rid of the sandpaper! Please! It is horrible stuff - not a good thing about it.

I would cover the floor of the cage with newspaper, and make the sheets of newspaper come up the sides of the cage to break the reflection. Does the cage have a grill on the bottom and a tray underneath? If so cover the grill with paper; makes cage cleaning a breeze.

[bonny]

hiya guys, gosh i did,nt know about the sandpaper, all pet shops where i live sell it, but im gonna change it to newspaper, cage has bars going down so far, and then this plastic surround with a tray which slides out, gonna take photo,s of alfie and the cage today so hopefully get them up in here by the wk end, thanks for your advice people, i appreciate it.

[Donna Lee]

Sounds awesome, Bonny!

I think we are all victims of the pet shops for a while until we speak to experienced budgie owners