Oct 24, 2012 16:07:21 GMT
delaisse
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 6
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Post by delaisse on Oct 24, 2012 16:32:48 GMT
Hi everyone, I'm new to this forum: I've joined specifically to ask this question, but I hope I'll be able to join in and learn more as well as I go My problem is this, and I hope very much someone can advise: I have a new budgie called Oliver. He's about 12 weeks, male, and incredibly timid. I also have two other budgies, Trotwood, 10 months old, male, very tame and very placid, and Myshkin, male, 6 months old, tame, but, shall we say - very independent! Oliver joined us on Monday - a friend of mine was having problems rehoming him because he's so nervous, and I had so much luck with Trot and Mysh, I was happy to take him on. Things aren't too bad: a little fighting, as you'd expect, with all three trying to figure out their hierarchy. Trot and Mysh are as easy to handle as ever, but Oliver seems so very nervous. When we got Trot, he was tame within an hour, Mysh took several days but seemed more "independent" than frightened. Oliver, however, just seems terrified. As I type this, Mysh and Trot are in their cage with the door open having been out for a few hours, and Oliver is on top of the cage, unable to figure out how to get in. So, as I'm rambling: 1) Does anyone have any tips on how to tame a very frightened budgie? I'm willing to put the time and effort into it, that's not a problem at all. 2) When all three budgies argue, am I to leave them alone to figure it out? They're not hurting each other, no wounds or anything like that, simply warning Oliver not to get close. 3) Is it more than likely that they'll eventually bond, and if not, how long do I persist? If this turns out to be a no-hope situation, I'll have to buy another cage for Oliver. As I say, I have time for my budgies and have no wish to pass Oliver on from pillar to post. I want him to have stability. Obviously I don't mind buying him his own cage, it's just that I want them all to be friends if possible. Sorry this is a long post. As I say, I'm brand new to this forum and I suppose I'm after a little reassurance. I hope I've given you all the information. (By the way, he's found his way into the cage as I came to the end of my post!)
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Post by skysmum on Oct 24, 2012 16:59:48 GMT
Hi delaisse and welcome. I know he came from a friend but i still would prob have quarantined your new bud for a month in his own cage just incase he had anything that could be transfered to your two exsisting bud's, then after that period i would have put him in the same room with his cage next to your two so that they could all get used to each other for a while then let them out together so that they could get to know one another but still have their own cages if they wanted to retreat. After a period of time they would all prob be happy to pop in and out of each others cages ;D and you could end up with them all in one . Some just take much longer than others and it depends on why he is so frightened in the first place, could he have been badly handled maybe ?. Its all about time and slowly slowly really, building up his confidence. Its great that you have the time and are willing to help the little chap, he has landed on his feet with you im sure. Good luck with him, keep us posted , pics would be nice.
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Oct 24, 2012 16:07:21 GMT
delaisse
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 6
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Post by delaisse on Oct 24, 2012 17:56:43 GMT
Hi skymum, thank you for responding I've just powerwashed the budgie's travel cage (hence delay in replying to you) so Oliver can sleep in that. They only get locked in their cage at night (though they hang out in there quite a lot with the door open), and during the day I'll keep Oliver in the study and Trot and Mysh in the bedroom (we have a log burner which is why they don't fly around downstairs) and I'll alternate between rooms during the day. Might it be an idea for Oliver to sleep upstairs with me for a while? My thinking was I want him to be used to me, but I don't want to focus TOO much attention on him in case it makes him all the more nervous. When we only had one budgie, Trot, he used to sleep on the bed head My friend who gave my Oliver really is a trusted source, but if you think it's best I'll keep them apart. Right now, for the first time, Trotwood and Oliver are cuddled up, I'm loathe to interrupt them when I'm confident he's disease free... I'll attach a pic in a mo, having connection problems!
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Oct 24, 2012 16:07:21 GMT
delaisse
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 6
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Post by delaisse on Oct 24, 2012 18:05:12 GMT
Oliver at the top, Myshkin towards the back, Trotwood centre Attachments:
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Post by skysmum on Oct 24, 2012 18:11:35 GMT
Hi, well perhaps if they have been together for a while now and your quite happy that all is ok on the health front leave them to it . I still would try and bond with Oliver on a one to one as once they are with the other buds they only have eyes for each other ;D.
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Post by skysmum on Oct 24, 2012 18:14:11 GMT
Ohh they are beautiful .
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Oct 24, 2012 16:07:21 GMT
delaisse
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 6
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Post by delaisse on Oct 24, 2012 20:38:53 GMT
Thank you Here's another one Well, right now they're all huddled up asleep on their perch, so I feel a lot better about the whole thing. As for taming Oliver - I know it'll take time. I can easily spend time with him by himself a few times a day. I've found in the past the best time is evening, but as I say they're all asleep and I don't want to upset them, but through the coming days / weeks / months (!) I can do a little work. Amazed at how nervous he is, though perhaps I was very lucky with Trot and Mysh. Thank you again for replying Attachments:
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Feb 29, 2012 21:44:11 GMT
Bird Junky
Normal Green
Posts: 458
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Post by Bird Junky on Oct 24, 2012 22:15:09 GMT
Hi. Re..... BIRDS AFRAID OF PEOPLE.
Your birds future home should be made ready. Half the cage top, the back & both sides should be covered with a dark towel. They also prefer a cage against a wall or in a corner of a room, allow a couple of days for your bird to settle down. Such fearful birds do not like to be looked at through the cage top, keep down to their level & don't make direct eye contact like a predator.
To prevent further upset to an already stressed new bird, the preferred kind of both water & seed containers are the tube type, which can be refilled without opening the cage door. Provide a basic seed mix, water, iodine block & cuttlebone. All other foods that birds enjoy, ie, fruit, veg, hard boiled egg, nuts, cake, biscuit etc..Can be used as treat food & are used in the taming /training process.
Once you know which treats are your birds favourites, note these to be used later as special training treats. Feed the treat foods one at a time in small portions, by placing them on the top of the cage. You should then retire to a distance your bird is comfortable with. This will allow him to settle down & eat. At each treat feed, sit a little closer, read or watch TV while he eats. Take your time, the closer you get, the longer you give him to get used to it. Change the type of treat at each visit so your bird gets a good mix. The smaller the treat portions, the more often the visits. ,This will show your bird that your visits, mean nice things to eat.
Don't allow yourself to dislike, get angry, impatient or even mildly annoyed with your bird will sense this & will react accordingly. If for any reason you can't approach your bird in a happy confident optimistic manner. Then it would be better if you took a break.
When the time finally arrives, that you can sit quietly by his cage as he eats his treat food your can offer him treats through the bars. If this scares him use tweezers or chopsticks for a few feeds. Then try again feeding by hand. When finally he's happy to eat from yor fingers, your both ready next step in this bonding process. From now on talk softly to your bird at every opportunity..B.J.
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May 4, 2024 23:23:31 GMT
Deleted
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2012 23:28:09 GMT
hi and welcome to the forum.... its very nice to have you and your budgies here .. . its a shame you didnt quarantine oliver ... but whats done is done now ..... .. i hope things work out ok ... it sounds like it is already.... fingers x they all stay fit and healthy ... . looking forward to seeing more pics of them ... and getting to here more story's from you .... . regards mick...
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Post by Hezz on Oct 25, 2012 0:57:15 GMT
Hi delaisse, and welcome. As has already been mentioned, we do take quarantining rather seriously, and recommend it to eveeryone as there is nothing worse than making the birds you already have sick from a new one coming in. This is usually for a period of 4 weeks and the only reason I am continuing on the quarantine track is that I have found these four weeks while the birds are apart a great time to get started with taming and training - when they haven't yet met the other birds to be distracted by them, and are basically just sitting around for a month doing nothing. I am at the end of a five week quarantine period myself (not me, the birds ) with two. I think you probably have lucked it with your two males, and some birds are much more laid-back than others. It seems Oliver is not one of these. While your photos are not showing up terribly clearly on the enlarged size, can you tell me if Oliver is the bird in the middle of the second trio? Because I am seeing white around his nostrils and the first photo is showing up mauve. Can someone answer the question - is Oliver really male?? Maybe clearer photos will help. I would suggest you use Trotwood to help Oliver realise that you not the boogieman he sees you as. Trotwood's calm placid manner and his trust in you can be a great tool. Especially as they seem to have becomes friends already. Once Oliver has the basic step-up procedures learnt, you can have both birds out and work with Trot while Oliver is there too.
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Oct 24, 2012 16:07:21 GMT
delaisse
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 6
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Post by delaisse on Oct 25, 2012 1:44:27 GMT
Hi everyone, thanks for your replies and welcomes Just to go through each point: 1) Not quarantining - as I say, I am confident there will be no diseases, however I do very much understand that it's taken very seriously here, and as I've read through other people's forum posts, I see that it was a mistake to be so trusting. Yes, what's done is done, and I do think it will be ok, but all the same, yes, I shouldn't have been so trusting. I imagine, after two full days together, it's too late now? 2) Oliver definitely has a blue in his beak (he's at the centre of the trio). The eldest, Trot's, beak is vivid blue, no doubt of that, and Oliver and Myshkin's beaks look the same - mainly blue with a little white. I can't see any pink in Oliver's beak. When I've seen young budgies, I've always seen a bit of both, but Oliver's is definitely blue. 3) I wouldn't get impatient with any of them I'm worried about the whole thing, but I won't get cross with any of them. Since I first posted, they have sat together, then sat apart, Trot and Oliver sat with each other, then Mysh and Oliver, then Mysh and Trot and I felt a bit better, but then they woke up a little and Trotwood pecked Oliver a little again. This is what's worrying me, and it's a bit of a rollarcoaster: after I posted this originally I felt a lot better, and now, at nearly 3am, I'm awake too worried to sleep! Short term, I feel that these are my options: 1) Keep doing what I'm doing: letting them sleep in the same cage, giving them the chance to bond, spending some time with each budgie alone, and letting the three of them have "flight time" together. 2) I keep them apart for a few weeks, get Oliver more settled and more confident, at night keep their cages next to each other so they get used to each other. Long term, obviously, it depends on how well they bond. I take my budgies very seriously as I'm sure you all do, and I don't see re-homing Oliver as an option. If they never bond, then option 2 will be the 'forever' option. Anyway, once again I'm worried and upset about the whole thing. I know it's not a science, so none of you can say, "Well, it takes 6.5 days for budgies to bond", but all the same, if you have any ideas or experiences with either options then could you let me know? Really do appreciate everyone's responses, especially as I'm new and none of you know me.
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Post by skysmum on Oct 25, 2012 8:58:23 GMT
Goodmorning, sorry you had a rubbish night, i know what that's like when you have a bud worry on your mind . What's done is done with the quarantine so put that aside and start a fresh. I think option 2 is your best option, get him a little place of his own for now and keep him in a separate room until he gets used to you and his surroundings, naturally your other two will be a bit upset at this intruder spoiling their cosy arrangement ;D. It really would be best after he has settled for interactions to be done gradually to give them time to get to know each other, a little flight time out together each day and then a chat when the cages are next to each other. It will be a natural progression and in time they will be one big happy family im sure. Also i would do what Hezz has mentioned, use Trotwood to let Oliver see you are an ok human and can be trusted , maybe just have those two out in another room while you work with them, if you have Trotwood on your hand offer Oliver to join him, that sort of thing. Im sure it will all work out but i do think you need an initial time with Oliver alone to build his trust. Keep us posted of progress. By the way love their names especially Trotwood.
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Post by stace on Oct 25, 2012 11:47:40 GMT
All good advice from everyone.
Try not to worry too much. I know that they feel like having little children sometimes.
The new boy might take a little time to feel okay, but I'm sure you will both be fine. Just take it slowly with him. It sounds like you are doing all the right things.
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Oct 24, 2012 16:07:21 GMT
delaisse
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 6
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Post by delaisse on Oct 25, 2012 21:25:35 GMT
Hi everyone, once again thank you for your responses. Had a power cut today, hence delay in replying.
Well, once again everything is different: I put Oliver in a different cage and all three of them screamed bloody murder. Once reunited, they sat peacefully together with no pecking (I swear all of them looked at me with a mixture of indignance, fury, and amazement!).
Then, when I let them out, that's when the pecking starts. It has improved greatly, in fact, as far as I can see they only did it when they were let out (Myshkin is more interested in the net curtain to be honest).
As for taming: I managed to get Oliver on my hand twice bribing him with millet. In the morning, it took about 20 mins, this afternooon I just couldn't do it and had to let him fly out himself, then tonight it took maybe three minutes with a bit of flapping. I think it'll come with time, though I admit I was a tad disappointed that he forgot he sat on my hand a full five minutes eating millet this morning. But such is life.
I'll keep them together because, as I say, there was quite a panic when I put Oliver in his own cage. In the cage, they're now fine, but the problem is arising on being let out. It is an improvement, and I am encouraged. I think I've been unrealistic wanting them to be best friends within a few days, I just really want them all to be happy! They do seem to be now (especially Myshkin playing on the net!). Not looking forward to getting Oliver back in the cage at all, though! (I remember years ago someone telling me she couldn't get her budgie back in the cage, so she never let her budge out at all. I just could not do that, especially as they're safe when they're out, and frankly, if he refuses to go back in tonight they can sleep up there).
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Post by stace on Oct 25, 2012 22:00:12 GMT
My little male budgie tamed very easily and was also very very brave when I first got him. However, he was still a nightmare to get back into his cage for a long long time. He'd step up on command no trouble, but simply would not go back in. From memory, it took around six weeks for him to go home, either on his own or when I put him in there.
Every night, it was such a palaver. I thought the frustration was never going to end. But it did.
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