rescued budgie help

Squoozy

We have a rescued budgie that had been left in a house by owners who went on holiday and was removed by the RSPCA. We took him in temporarily but have decided to keep him. He is apparently about 5 years old. He was in a tiny cage and very timid.

We bought the biggest cage we could find and he has gradually started exploring it, although he won't go onto lower perches. We had to gradually introduce toys and new perches because he seemed to be scared of them and stayed in one corner of the cage for ages. We would like him to be able to fly out of the cage but he won't leave the cage. He ignores the doors if they are open, and if we take off the top off the cage, which we now do most days, he just stays inside and doesn't seem to notice there is no top.

Does anyone know if he will ever start to fly? He is absolutely adorable and now sings all day and plays with his toys. He seems to be in love with a little plastic budgie on a spring and he seems to like listening to radio 2. I've never liked the idea of caged birds but I have to say we love him to bits. Any advice would be appreciated.

helenut

Firstly, thanks for taking the little one on and giving him another chance.
He will come out on his own eventually however you may have to resort to bribery-by-millet. The only problem when he finally finds his freedom is getting him back in! (again bribery works)

It sounds like he is very happy though! Do you have pics?

samejh

If he is so enamoured with his little plastic budgie pal how about a mirror placed near his cage so that he thinks he has another friend and comes out to play.

Our budgies used to love sitting on our gas fire to play with their reflections in the mirrors either side of the gasbricks.

spacey2012

A bit of lettuce on top of the cage, will tempt him.

YorkiePud_3

... but be careful, too much lettuce can cause really watery droppings in budgies ... !

Pechow

Does he fly around in the cage? He's probably just scared-non tame budgies can take a long time to get used to new things. Don't try to force it, like taking the roof off (that will just stress him out), just leave the door open when you are able and one day he will muster the courage to venture out.

Are you planning on trying to tame him? That would help with his confidence, as he would no longer see you as a threat and instead as a source of safety or interest from which to explore, but again it can take a long time to tame them. If you aren't, perhaps consider another budgie companion for him?

As for a mirror, there are people for and against. Some birds are fine and don't have a problem, but other budgies will treat it as a subsitute partner, and this will reduce the likeliness of them learning to talk and becoming tame. If you do give him one, just keep an eye on him, and if he's becoming too obsessed simply remove it.

Congratulations on your tiny parrot

Support_Peggy

Brilliant you could take him on.
As already mentioned just take your time. He needs to settle in .
As and when you have the cage door open it is a good idea to make sure windows are covered, and if you have any mirrors in the room maybe cover them to start off with.
Birds have a tendency to fly towards them and bump into them until they get to know the room they are flying in. And doors to the room shut so they don't shoot off all over the house.
Eventually once he get used to the room and where to land and if you tame him to sit on your finger you can "show" him them, by touching/ tapping glass and letting him/her too.

Millet sprays are a nice easy thing to use. You can initially hang it up in the cage so he gets used to it. Then when he is used to its presence, you can use it to train him. Hold the far end and let him nibble it, gradually making the stalk or stem a shorter length. Always keep your hand steady and make slow movements so he can get away without panic.

If he comes out and is hard to return or gets in a panic, turn lights down low or off , note where he lands, you can use a torch to locate him and pick him up in a little light cloth like a teatowel.
Hope you won't need to but it is useful to know.

Our birds like a little piece of broccoli head held in a clothes peg.
Carrot is also good for them and well liked whether raw or cooked.
And thawed or warm cooked peas and sweetcorn.
Good luck .
Not to take you away from here, but if you look online there are dedicated sites for all kinds of parrots including budgies, where you can read about how to care for them, tame and train them and feed etc.
You do not have to join but can often just read them for free.
Good Luck