my parakeets are dead scared of new things

[corona]

i always want to buy these new toys for my parakeets but i know they are just going to be dead scared of it and stay on the other side of the cage. i introduced a big ladder once and they stayed on the other side of the cage for like the whole day so i took it out. is that normal? i really want to make a play gym and pu ta ladder in my cage and some more toys but they are just like that. any ways to help them get over the fear of it?

[Bea]

It's pretty normal for budgies to be scared of new things. I know it's hard but if you leave the new stuff in the cage they should get over it. I know when i first introduced a rope perch to Blinkie's cage he would not go near it. It took 3 days of him hanging off the cage bars for him to get brave enough to test it. :)

[Smoothy]

My birds loved the rope perch when i got it for them, they immediately went to the rope when I put it in the other day. I also put in a ladder and they loved that too, sometimes my new bird will go to the top and just sit there while bugsy is on his rope playing with the plastic toys trying to pull them off. But yeah, put the toys in your cage and give the birds a few days to get used to them, they love shiny small plastic toys which they can manipulate or try to pull off. They will develop a sense that this new thing is not harmful and will eventually get used to it about 3 mornings later. It may just be afraid of your hand when you place it in their cage, I wouldnt want a giant hand coming towards me trying to pick me up or grab me either.

[Amy]

Well, I can't think of anything else to say! I think you've covered it!

Good luck and tell us how it goes.

[Kelly27]

Good luck, keep us updated!
Kelly
xXx :)

[Mavish]

My budgie actually isn't scared of new things.

[Budgiekin]

One thing you can try is placing the objects outside of the cage for a couple of days. Start by placing them near the cage where your sweeties can see them, then after a day or so, hang it right on the outside of the cage. Then after a couple of days, try putting it in the cage. That has helped my budgie get over their fear quickly.

Also, make sure you routinely provide new things. That way they are much more capable of handling new situatiuons and objects better.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!!:p

[corona]

i think i will try that and ill try buying new toys once a week. where do you get your toys from? i usually just get mine from walmart, i tried making some before only one that worked good was the cardboard one, what i did was cut a hole in square peices of card board and slide a string in and knot it at every peice of cardboard, gets torn up alot but they liked it. actually if you have any ideas of homemade toys that seem fun for the keets, tell me

[Bea]

Here's a toy i made with some patty pans, plastic braiding string and some beads.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e346/blink_oz_mig/May192006-Shredder007.jpg
For any toys you can decorate with food colouring cause it's bird safe. :)

[Enna]

Im sorry but i don't feel your pain. I can't keep sonic away from new things. He is trying to destory a new toy already. THe same with lilly only she is a little more timid

[corona]

Im sorry but i don't feel your pain. I can't keep sonic away from new things. He is trying to destory a new toy already. THe same with lilly only she is a little more timid

how did you get it to be like that? because for half a year now ive been thinking of building a playgym for my budgies but im worried if i do its just going to a waste because it may be too scared to ever use it. how did u get it to be so..curious? my budgies wont even play wit the type of bell everybody uses u know the liberty looking bells. the only bells my birds play with is the kind thats inside a ball thats made for birds. i actually only have 4 toys my budgies play with. basically i think it only likes small toys i noticed it doesnt like big things, it was actually scared of a new dowel rod perch i put in the cage, it stayed away from it untill 3 hours later it finally went on it.

[Smoothy]

Here's another idea, try placing the toy where your bird least likes to go. This way they can sit in their favorite place or choose whether they want to play with this new toy or not and after a few days they dont play with the toy then maybe its the toy not the bird. Budgies love to play with shiny toys its budgie behavior to like shiny thigs and if it doesnt like it...take it out and put a new one in. They are in very good moods in mornings and need something to play with so try putting it in every morning and taking it out afternoons and after a few days to a week if it gets used to it then leave it in there. Or the bird may be getting used to its new surroundings let alone a new toy.

[corona]

the birds been in the same cage for over a year. and i bought a colored plastic ladder for walmart today made for small birds, and i put it in the cage while the budgies were outside roaming the room and when it was time for them to go back in they would go right to the door look in and see the new toy and fly away
they did this for about 45mins and then i just took the toy out, and the keets still remembered it being in there and they wouldnt return untill a while later i brought the keets to the cage and they looked around a bit making sure it wasnt somewhere int here and they flew in. im telling you these guys DONT like new toys. and in my cage i only have 2 perches that go from 1 side of cage to the other and they spend equal time on both of course they enjoy the top better. and i have 2 feeding spots 1 on top and 1 on bottom and if i put the toy on bottom the keets wont go to the bottom to eat and my male budgie wont get enough food (the female pushes him away from the food area whenever hes eating so he goes to the other 1 and eventially it does same thing again.) so i just dont know what to do i really want to make a playgym for them but i know they are just going to be too scared to use it

[Budgiekin]

You will have to be patient with your sweeties. Give them time to adapt to the new things by putting them within view. Gradually move the item closer and closer every day or so. Patience is key! You're budgies just need more time to become accustomed to changes. But it is well worth the effort to work with them on this. That way, when they do see new things (that maybe aren't even toys), they will lead a much less stressul life.

[BUUZBEE]

they will come around, give them longer than a day with it though