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Post by nettles on Aug 21, 2013 0:30:08 GMT
I really hope I'm panicking over nothing but today I noticed poops stuck around Melmans vent! At one stage he had about 2 or 3 stuck to his feathers. I misted him and eventually they fell off but a few hours later, another few were stuck again. He's not hand trained at all and is very wary when I have my hand in the cage (this is actually an improvement from a month ago when he went crazy every time I went near the cage!) so I don't want to stress him more and undo any trust I've gained by catching him and taking him to the vet unless I absolutely have to. Also, to be honest, money is really tight at the minute so unless it's "urgent" I'd rather avoid a vet bill if at all possible. I WILL TAKE HIM IF I HAVE TO THOUGH! I also noticed one stuck to Marge's vent as well but it came off after only a few minutes. I've been at home a lot over the last week so I've been really pushing with the hand taming. Could I be stressing him out? I tend to just let him be and focus on Marge while he sits and watches from the corner. One last thing, he seems to have lost a little weight from Christmas when we first got them for my mum (we've had them for a month now due to her ill health) Marge chases him out of the food bowls quite a bit but I know he still gets some peace to eat when she decides. They've been together 9 months now and still don't seem very close. She pecks at him if he doesn't move out of her way quick enough and he seems quite afraid of her. Is he just hen pecked or actually being bullied? Could all this, plus the new cage and surroundings a month ago have made him stressed and now ill? I know this was very long winded but I'm really worried about him  Any advice? Oh and he's been eating quite a lot of fresh fruit and veg over the last month, especially new foods that he hasn't had before! |
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Post by Hezz on Aug 21, 2013 0:52:31 GMT
New food, new diet can change their bowels, just like you.  As long as there are at least two seed pots in the cage, he should be able to eat when Marge is eating. If she is being a right cow about it and constantly hunting him from the pots, you might need to see about separating him and allowing him to have time out away from her. They are still quite young, aren't they? Sorry, I can't remember if you got them as babies for your mum, but I have to say that Marge's behaviour is very similar to what my first hen used to get up to. I am happy to say she has mellowed with age, but is still the ruler of the roost. As long as the poops haven't changed colour (although a diet of greens can do the same to the end product), a little wetter can be put down to fresh food too. The biggest thing to watch is that he doesn't get a built up that stops him being able to relieve himself. Also the best way to moniter his weight is to weigh him ...... I am guessing this might be a tad hard with him being rather timid and you not wanting to handle him. Hen-pecked or bullied? I say hen-pecked. Marge isn't causing physical injuries; she is just making sure she stays the boss! |
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Post by ffiscool on Aug 21, 2013 5:48:47 GMT
Bailey has this from time to time depends on if he is sat on his cuttlefish or in his food as nowhere for them to drop. But as it is all new to them what with with Marge too, hopefully just a little not quite settled in yet... If you did need to take him perhaps the whole cage could go? Is it portable, rather than trying to get M out?
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Post by nettles on Aug 21, 2013 6:21:41 GMT
Oh that makes me feel so much better! I felt like crying last night as I was typing  A month ago I had no interest in keeping budgies but since these two little characters have come along, I'm really taken with them  Hezz, the breeder said "they're this years birds" when we got them at the end of 2012 so I was guessing they could be anything up to 20 months by now..?! I'm not sure if that's still classed as young.. He can still relieve himself so I don't think there's a build up and apart from the poop being slightly wetter, which I had put down to the fresh food, he seems fine! I hope Marge mellows as she gets older! I feel so sorry for Melman when he sings to her and tries to be friends and then all of a sudden she just swipes at him. I also have no chance of weighing him at the minute but hopefully if he settles a bit more and gets a little braver he'll consider getting on the scales for me. Thanks so much for easing my panic! |
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Post by nettles on Aug 21, 2013 6:35:16 GMT
Aha!! You might have solved the problem ffiscool! When I have my hand in the cage he either hides in the food bowl or perches on the side of the bath so I suppose there's nowhere for them to drop!
The last weeks or so, I've had my hand in the cage a good bit (about 2-3 hours a day) to try and get them used to me so he's perched in both those places quite often.
I wonder should I maybe back off a bit and let him settle in a bit more? Marge has had no problems with my hand and is even starting to step up onto my finger now but she's always been a lot braver than him.
There's no way I could take him to the vet in his cage. It is actually a chinchilla cage so is 5ft tall. I'd have to catch him and put him into the original smaller bird cage which I really don't want to do unless I have to.
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Post by OP on Aug 21, 2013 7:07:05 GMT
If it's any consolation I had the same poop sticking problem with Joey, I was also worried, but it seems to have mostly solved itself. I am by no means an expert and less much, much less informed than Hezz, however I think I could say that time is the thing when budgies are settling in. Well that is the case with Joey. It has been my experience that when I approach him, with finger or whatever, I do it in a positive but steady manner. If I am tensed at all he will avoid me like the plague.
I know this is nothing to do with budgies but I had a problem with my left eye. I had many many consultants and the like examine me. One day I was in front of a surgeon, who put his hand out and touched my bottom eyelid. He did this very deliberate and without hesitation. From that moment I 'trusted' that surgeon.
I rather feel that if that sort of action is applied to any animal such as budgies and the like then maybe, just maybe the 'trust' factor will rub off.
I am doing this sort of thing with Joey. It does seem to be having a positive effect. But rather than force the 'trust me' factor, I am allowing it to come in its own time. I hope this makes sense.
I do realize from reading these forums that each budgie has its own character. So what works for one may not work for another.
Good Luck.
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Post by nettles on Aug 21, 2013 23:32:14 GMT
Thanks Oldpecker! I really hope it's the same thing with Melman as you have had with Joey and it'll sort itself out over time. As for the confident and deliberate movements, you are spot on as this certainly seems to have worked with Marge! I will admit, I was actually terrified of birds and couldn't believe we had ended up with two of them as pets. I forced myself to interact with them and get over my fears. Now that my own confidence has built, they are both trusting me more and more. The first time Marge touched me with her beak I yanked my hand so fast out of the cage I knocked everything flying! She knew I was nervous and avoided me for days. A few days ago she put her beak to my finger again. I just closed my eyes tight and prayed she wouldn't hurt me lol. She was so gentle! Once I knew she wasn't going to gnaw my arm off I relaxed! Within 15 mins, I was stroking her belly and she just hopped up onto my finger. Now, I put my finger straight to her without any hesitation, say "up up" and she hops straight on  She only stays there for a few seconds but its definitely progress and I'm delighted with it So far this technique hasn't worked with Melman.. but I will keep trying lol. |
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Post by Hezz on Aug 22, 2013 1:20:44 GMT
You are doing really well, then, nettles. I have a couple of friends who are dead-scared of birds ..... something I cannot fathom in the least, but very real to them. Especially birds flying (seemingly) towards them. Neither of these people would ever contemplate taking on a couple of budgies. Well done. Usually you will find that once one bird starts to open up to you, the other will start to follow that one's lead, so you may still be able to get Melman to the stage of seeing you as a good thing, not a scary thing. But he probably will never be as quiet as Marge. As for the poop issue and stress, usually if the bird is a bit stressed, you might see a more wet poop or two at the time, which is less likely to make them stick, not more. Plus, having the two birds together is going to help Melman settle more quickly ....... do you know how long it took for him to settle with your mother? And what was his behaviour like then? If he was like this before, this is probably just the way he is always going to be. |
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Post by nettles on Aug 22, 2013 5:39:16 GMT
Oh I know exactly how your friends feel Hezz! I would still go as far as crossing the street to avoid a pigeon in case I startled it and it started to fly at me :-O But yet I'm totally smitten with these two little beggars Because I have no experience with keeping birds, I don't know what to look out for and I'm panicking in case my ignorance causes me to miss any signs of them being ill. I would be totally devastated if anything happened to them now. I don't think Melman ever really settled in at my mums. He went mental when she put her hand in the cage and neither of them ever came out. There was a lot more people passing by his cage at her house so he wasn't as skittish with noise as he is now. Our house is much quieter and he really doesn't seem to like that. I leave the radio on for part of the day to make him feel more at ease but the buds are in the same room as our degus who don't like the music so I'm trying to keep both camps happy lol. He sings quite a lot now though which is something he never really did at my mums and he will just avoid my hand now rather than go into a mad flying panic like he did at the start. He'll eat broccoli and a little bit of millet from my hand but he's still very wary. If I don't have food, he just sits in the corner looking terrified until I remove my hand from the cage. I can see a lot of progress with him but yet in other ways, he's worse and I've been worried that sitting in a corner being scared of both me and Marge isn't very good for his health. Sorry!! I've just realised how much I've rambled on again. Once I start talking about them, I can't stop lol ;D |
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Post by OP on Aug 22, 2013 6:27:29 GMT
Although I have only been a slave to a budgie for about 9 weeks I can relate to all you say about your feelings. Joey is still not finger trained so you can relax knowing that you are doing exceptionally well in this area, lucky you. Keep at it and listen to the expert advice you will receive on this very helpful forum. |
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Post by ffiscool on Aug 22, 2013 7:35:36 GMT
love it.. budgie slave.. me too.... i even went to bed late last night, as had been gone all day.. felt bad for B and thought how can i now just go to bed........... he was tired - not sure from what - he got very near to me, standing on his play gym.. but wouldnt quite walk round to my face...
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Post by nettles on Aug 22, 2013 9:41:39 GMT
Hehe.. I think we are all budgie slaves oldpecker Advice from the textbook is worth nothing compared to other "budgie slaves" who've been in similar situations and know exactly how you're feeling! I feel much happier knowing that I'm not alone. I'm sure Joey will get the hang of it soon! And I bet it will be when you least expect it, just like Marge Ffiscool, when you say play gym, does that mean your little bud comes out of his cage? That's fab!! Is he finger trained? |
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Post by ffiscool on Aug 22, 2013 10:20:20 GMT
oh he does come out for the occasional panic fly in the room.. but not often. The gym is on a table close to his cage which he eyes up.. .goes to jump and flies round the room. so I realised he didnt like that part of it - the panic flying.. so I had been holding it to his cage... yes, few nights running now, he is on there playing but he can see his landing platform so he is secure in his mind
no... finger.. oh is that for standing on..s hame i thought it was only for biting... lol
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Post by nettles on Aug 22, 2013 13:01:51 GMT
Aaah the panic fly! That's happened to both of ours on separate occasions and it wasn't pretty. Neither will even come near the door now.
I think I'll get a play gym and see if that helps coax them out. I'd have a job getting either of them back into their cage again though. Marge is great with a stick now and sits on it for ages (in her cage) while I hold it but I'm not too confident she'd land on it if she had full flight of the room.
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Post by ffiscool on Aug 22, 2013 13:15:05 GMT
Bailey didnt go back in until I bought the landing platform... now he spots that and is happy to land on it.. still cant work out his distances.. and does a full room circle, when it just needed a jump or few inches.
even if on top of the cage (by mistake) it takes a full flight round to get back to his cage door.
the gym, first one i bought was heavy and badly done but this one, although I used glue is light and he likes it.. will find links for both if you are interested?
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Any advice?
As long as there are at least two seed pots in the cage, he should be able to eat when Marge is eating. If she is being a right cow about it and constantly hunting him from the pots, you might need to see about separating him and allowing him to have time out away from her. They are still quite young, aren't they? Sorry, I can't remember if you got them as babies for your mum, but I have to say that Marge's behaviour is very similar to what my first hen used to get up to. I am happy to say she has mellowed with age, but is still the ruler of the roost.
She only stays there for a few seconds but its definitely progress and I'm delighted with it