Help me! what's wrong with my budgie?!

[xXBekuXx]

I'm new to this website and i only signed on becase i am in diar need of help! i got my first budgie just before christmas, and he was the last one in the pet shop. We're not sure on his gender because his cere is mixed colours.

So yeah, we got him home and gave him time to get used to his surroundings. but all he did was sit on the same perch day in, day out, eat drink, sleep ect. I've tried all the finger training techniques, but he's too damn scared of my hand. he hardly ever makes a sound as well, except for when he hears other budgie noises.

At first i thoguht he was lonely, so i bought him one of those fake budgies, which he just ignored. So i dont think it's a good idea to get another one, beucase he's pretty much anti-social.

when i went back to the pet shop, they had more budgies in, which were all playfull and happy, why can't mine be like that? I don't understand; do i have a duff budgie, or does he jsut need even MORE time to get used to us? Or is he just manically depressed and needs putting down?

please help, anybody, i don't wabnt to get rid of him, but i want him to be happy as well.:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(

[chompie_puppy]

Welcome to Talk Budgies. :)

Is your budgie fluffed up a lot? He might be sick and that's why he isn't doing much.

What is his diet like? Does he eat pellets, veggies and fruit? If not he is very likely lacking in vitamins and minerals.

Has he been to an avian vet for a check-up yet?

Sorry for all these questions, but in order for us to give you the best answer and information, we need to know more about your little guy. :)

Lastly, no healthy budgie ever needs to be put down. Some budgies (and this is extremely rare) are anti-social and will fight with other budgies. This only means they should be housed on their own and provided with extra care and attention. No need to put them down because their personality isn't what was expected.

[absolutangel]

Firstly no, he doesn't need putting down! Budgies all have their own individual characters, and some are naturally more restrained than others. When I was younger we had one that was quiet, not particularly into toys and wasn't too keen on being out of his cage but he lived a good life and at times would come out of his shell. Just because yours isn't as active as the ones in the store is no reason to get rid of him or have him killed.

As Kelsey says he may be sick. Have a look at the sticky on poop and see if everything is ok on that front. If he is always fluffed up he could be ill.

What sort of surroundings do you have him in, if things around him are too frenetic or there is something that he finds threatening that might be why he's withdrawn (for want of a better word)

Have you tried millet training and letting him come to you, rather than you taking your hand to him? There is a good sticky on this too, and the video is well worth watching. It's only a small change in approach but might be less scary for him.

Finally, I have never had a budgie that likes those fake birds. What other toys have you got in the cage? Maybe a change of stimulation might arouse some interest...

Good luck with your baby, and if you post a pic we can try and help with the sex.

[xXBekuXx]

ohh thank you for all your help, i will post a pic of him at some point, just gotta figure out how first. He does fluff up, and we've noticed that there's a small white spot on one of his eyes, do you think that will affect him?!

His cage is situated basically in the middle of a hallway, i shall move it immediately. I shall also look up how to mileet train birds.

In his cage, he's got the fake bird, a swing, jangly bell thingys mirrors and little food stick thing. The cage is big, but It's getting kinda crowded in there.

I can't get him to eat anything out of my hand, he's too scared and he doesn't know what it is.

And I took him to the vets when we first got him, but the guy just told us he looked fine -_-

[homebird]

I think once you get him out of the hallway he will change. Budgies thrive on attention but they are fearful of new things. Being a baby he is overwhelmed with things.

Be aware that this is also a special time for you & your bird. Being a baby he looks to you for friendship & nurturing. Every Budgie is different. I have 2 that are like night & day. You have to deal with their personalities - it takes adjustment.

I'm glad to hear you are worried about him. To gain his trust I would do very simple things. Find some time to hang out by his cage every day - perhaps a few times a day. Reading or listening to music - If you can sing all the better. Budgies love music & singing. My Bow is very quiet bird, but my Rio is not, so just see what happens. Try different types of music as well. Gentle music like Classical has enough verity that they can go with the flow. Mine love the male tenors & just instrumental music as well. Country music is also a hit - they all love Rock but I find it has to be in small doses.

I look forward to seeing & hearing more about your Budgie - Keep reading & doing research. Offer some food you are eating - no saliva tho :eek: - deadly stuff - and make sure it is OK for Budgies. Look at the recipie section. They love to share & once he is relaxed he will come to you to share.

Good luck.

[xXBekuXx]

Ohhh ok, how do you teach a budgie that something is food? mine's terrified of anything i offer (maybe becuase it's foreign?)

I do indeed play him music; i can play classical guitar, and i sit next to his cage when i practice. Is saliva poisonus to budgies or something? Don't worry i havent kissed him or anything XD

I'm not sure he is a baby anymore, i think he was born in July 2008, does that make a difference?

Thanks for all the help xx

[Siobhan]

Mine love my mandolin, so yours would probably love classical guitar. When I play my flute or guitar or anything else, they chirp along, but they really go nuts when I play the mandolin. Try playing a bluegrass record for yours. And maybe he's scared of the fake budgie, so try taking it out.

I have a male and female and I just put them in the same cage last night. Before that, Bonnie was quiet and didn't play much, but Benjy soon fixed that! They played and flitted and chirped and had a big time together. So maybe he does need a friend.

[absolutangel]

He's still pretty young, and I think whatever their age going to a new home is probably quite a big upheaval and pretty scary. If there's a lot of movement in your hall he may feel threatened and insecure so moving him may help. If you have a corner you can put him in, so he has security of knowing nothing can sneak up on him from 2 sides that would be good.

Budgies often fluff up briefly then their feathers smooth down again, if that's what he's doing it's perfectly normal.

It can take time to get them used to new foods, I have a small plate that I got them used to by putting their regular food on, so they got the idea little blue plate = food, then started putting new things on it. You just have to persevere with veggies, they get there in the end.

[homebird]

He's a half year - maybe being on display for most of his life & dealing with so many Budgies has made him quite & withdrawn. I think that you will see big changes in him over the next year. They always change. I keep a journal of my Budgies & the changes are amazing. Rio used to be very anti-human but know he is very social - still hates hands tho.

Guitar is great - My son & husband play & the birds love to come & listen. My Laker used to sit on the guitar or a knee to be close. My new bird Bow hasn't been too interested yet. Rio will fly into the music room & listen.

Saliva [human or cat] is very full of bacteria. So if you see people on Utube feeding their bird from their mouth - either they are being very careful or they are just ignorant. Bacteria is one of the major killers of birds. You have to make sure you wash your hands when you come home - even a touch on a door handle & your bird can transfer deadly bacteria. WE all tromp to the washroom when we come home. Also it is very important to keep the cage clean - to wash out & rinse really well the water dish. Never leave wet food out for hours either.

I make small bouquets of lettuce & raw veggies, clipped with a hair clip, placed in a saucer of water - so the veggies & lettuce etc stays fresh longer + mine like the idea of other water sources. If you cut the celery hearts out with the leaves attached - they seem to like those - try them wet as well.

I used to take my 1st Budgie into other rooms, in his cage - if I was watching TV or eating. Then he would be part of the action. I know he liked it but he was happy to return to his familiar area & get out. We have a free flighted area in one area & the rest is off bounds.

[xXBekuXx]

kk, i do try playing guitar to him, but he kinda ignores it :( he's just really not talkative, my neighbours say it's becuase he's half budgie half canary.

I have tried putting new foods in his bowl, and like the guitar, it is ignored.

And i don't have any bluegrass XD but i'll learn some just for him.

Truth is, i was gonna try and give him away to someone with a good experience of budgies, because he just seems soooo depressed all the time, i have no clue what's bothering him, but I will try moving the cage and getting rid of the fake budgie.

should i leave the TV/ radio on when i leave the house?! My mum really doesn't want me to (save the electricity n' all) but if it'll make him better I'll give it a try.

[SpickyDavies]

it wouldnt be very fair to give away your budgie just becuase it deosnt run around and play and amuse you, you need to step up and find out whats going on.

have you photo? maybe a good nice one of the whole cage and then one of the budgie would be GREAT help

any physical prombelms (with legs, fetahers, cere, beak) noticed any strange sounds?and dont class your bird as 'anti-social' becuase it wont play with a fake plastic bird!!!

photos as soon as :)

[xXBekuXx]

I will post a photo as soon as possible. Sadly i can't for a few days, as it's at my other house, with my mum atm.

I have noticed that there it what seems to be a small white spot on it's left eye, do you think it could be having vision problems, and that's what's making it depressed?

And can someone tell me what 'normal' budgie sounds are, i have no idea what to expect from the little guy!

should i get a cage mate to keep him company, or will he just get beaten up becuase of his shyness?

I offically *heart* everyone for being such help.
thanks for all the great advice. :)

[homebird]

kk, i do try playing guitar to him, but he kinda ignores it :( he's just really not talkative, my neighbours say it's becuase he's half budgie half canary.

I have tried putting new foods in his bowl, and like the guitar, it is ignored.

And i don't have any bluegrass XD but i'll learn some just for him.

Truth is, i was gonna try and give him away to someone with a good experience of budgies, because he just seems soooo depressed all the time, i have no clue what's bothering him, but I will try moving the cage and getting rid of the fake budgie.

should i leave the TV/ radio on when i leave the house?! My mum really doesn't want me to (save the electricity n' all) but if it'll make him better I'll give it a try.

You have to keep trying with any pet - they need the repetition to take it all in & try & figure out what we want. It is thru interaction that he will get to know you & understand what you might do next - so he can relax. He needs interaction not people running around. So find a place were he can be part of the family but also get his rest - 10 hours a night & that means quiet & dark - perhaps in an other room.

Giving him to an experienced Budgie person would be OK too.

Budgies find it frightening to be alone. If things are quite & nothing is happening they think a predator is lurking. They will be very quiet . I take my birds out onto the balcony on beautiful days - one day a hawk was riding the wind just off our balcony. My husband wasn't aware the Budgies were on the table - cause they were so quiet. :eek:
A Radio set on Classical would be better than nothing - My older Budgie would be quiet when we came home, even with the music playing & the lights on - that is why in the end we got him a friend. Then they would have a buddy when things looked bleak, waiting for someone to show up.

They don't see well in the dark so they need some light to be a Budgie during the day - that's why people put their bird by a window in the day. The window should be a safe & well thought out place. No lurking predators or hot sun or drafts or toxic plants to nibble on.

Owning a bird is as fulfilling as any pet - just very differnt at first. If you stay with it, this Budgie will be very entertaining & you will learn that they are fascinating. If you haven't the time or interest - get him a better place. No offense - we all have to be real.

[xXBekuXx]

My parents are seperated, so i'm not at the house most of the time. My mum's there, but oftern leaves for hours, should i buy him a playmate for company? or is he too sensative at the moment?

is it ok that i move his cage to my room at night? it's quite and i cover the cage.

I will try out everyones advice, millet spray and cage moving are first on the list

you've been great help. :)

[absolutangel]

Maybe he's not depressed at all and is just one of those birds who isn't crazy and noisy. I don't think there is any such thing as a normal budgie. Make the chances you've mentioned and then give him some more time and see what happens. If he's alone a lot I'm sure he'd appreciate a friend, but you would need to quarantine for at least 30 days before having them in the same room, and it may make no difference, like I say there may be nothing wrong with him, could just be how he is.

Although I hate to perpetuate the idea that budgies are disposable pets if you're thinking of giving him away because he's not entertaining enough and too much like work then perhaps that might be for the best for him. To get anything out of them you have have to put time and effort in, if you spend the time with him you'll be repaid in spades.

Without seeing a pic of the spot on his eye I have no idea what it is or whether it's a problem, hopefully you can get a pic up and we can help. Unless you need to move him into your room at night I'd cover him and leave him where he is, let him get settled a bit.

[xXBekuXx]

Great, thanks everyone! I do have the time to put in for my budgie, and i shall spend every moment i can trying to bond with it. I might also get another cagemate for him, but i'll wait a bit and see how his personality changes.

I'll also post a pic of him + the spot on his eye for all to see :)

You'll hear from me as soon as i get back to my mums. :D

[shevpat]

My first budgie (male) was very shy and not very active in his cage. Out of the cage he would hide and not interact with me. After two months, I got a female budgie. Now he is a HAPPY bird. He is still shy with me, but he is happy and playful and follows the lead of the female no matter what she does. I thoroughly enjoy watching the two of these birds interact with each other. They are delightful and give me a good laugh almost every day. Based on my experience, you might want to consider a companion bird and see what happens. (They will bond more with each other than with you but it is still fun.)
Good luck.:)

[Nika]

I am pretty sure he is just lonely. Budgies don't like to live alone. They need at least one budgie friend to share their life with, play with, eat together, cuddle next to each other at night, etc.

If you have a friend who has budgies, I'd take him over to that friend and see how your budgie reacts. If after a longer while he still looks 'depressed' then yes, I'd look into other causes.

[aka.pody]

Hi Becky. You seem to have gotten some good advice from the other members. Not much I can add. When I got my first two budgies they sat in the bottom corner of the cage for two days.
I thought for sure something was wrong. Then suddenly they started moving around and exploring. Just make sure that there's food and water near him.

If you're going to cover the cage at night, it's very important that there's a night light for him.
They can have what is called night frights and can get seriously injured if they can't see anything in the cage. This doesn't happen too often but when it does it can be scary for them and for you.

I want you to be successful in bonding with your little guy.
So before you even think about training work on bonding and trust.
Anytime you have any questions just post them on the forums. There's always help nearby. :)

[xXBekuXx]

Sadly i don't have any friends who have budgies :( I would'vee bought two if i could, but my little guy was the last one in the pet shop, do you think he could be missing the bond he might of had with other siblings?

I'm now seriously considering getting another budgie of the opposite gender, after i've figured out what colour his cere is. (I think it's fleshy in the middle and blue on the rim o.o) If i do, would it be best to get the shyest one i can find, or the most outgoing? I'm really worried that getting another one would result in him getting picked on, becuase i really cant see him being the dominating one. :(

so many questions! i'm sorry if i'm bugging everyone, but I'd love to get a close bond with my budgie like the ones you all seem to have adopted :o

Again, thanks for the help :)

[otephputs]

if u want to upload picturez... try www.tinypic.com

its fast and easy

[otephputs]

same problem as my new one...

i just let him to explore his new home...

just monitor your new one....

much better if you quarantine him for 30 days for his health...

We're not sure on his gender because his cere is mixed colours.


6 months will be enough to determine the gender of a budgie...

mine has changing from translucent pink to a bluish... but im not sure if my budgie is a male...

my budgie is 4 months old....

[SpickyDavies]

Sadly i don't have any friends who have budgies :( I would'vee bought two if i could, but my little guy was the last one in the pet shop, do you think he could be missing the bond he might of had with other siblings?

I'm now seriously considering getting another budgie of the opposite gender, after i've figured out what colour his cere is. (I think it's fleshy in the middle and blue on the rim o.o) If i do, would it be best to get the shyest one i can find, or the most outgoing? I'm really worried that getting another one would result in him getting picked on, becuase i really cant see him being the dominating one. :(

so many questions! i'm sorry if i'm bugging everyone, but I'd love to get a close bond with my budgie like the ones you all seem to have adopted :o

Again, thanks for the help :)

i think i new friend is a great idea, i'd be pretty bored on my own all day! don't forget to follow quartine rules :)

your new budgie won't be picked on, try and get a male if you can
budgies arn't really 'dominating' they bicker and thats it, just a bunch of girls really!!!

you cna still bond with your bird don't worry

[homebird]

2 is best long term. You could wait a few months to become friends with your bird. That way you will have a better chance of taming the 2nd one - if it is also young.

You might find a Budgie that needs a new home for no reason other than no one has time for it - then you might get lucky with a trained one & another cage. There are websites that post about pets or maybe if you ask around someone will hear of one. You will be surprised at the number of people who get a Budgie & then offer it up - so maybe your Mom can look into this option.

Quarantine is best - when you are not 100% sure of where the bird came from or if it may have come in contact with a sick bird. So you will need a 2nd cage for a while. The 2nd cage could be a good idea overall - if ever you have to take one to the vet or treat one separately. Maybe make it a 'travel' cage for later on & have a bigger cage for the 2 at home.

If you adopt a bird from a rescue/shelter - the quarantine applies. There you will proabably find older Budgies & know for sure if it is a male or a female. You will also be able to see if they are calm.

Cautionary tale: I got my last 2 Budgies from small private breeders. Although I do not suggest you follow my lead - I only quarantines for a week or 2 - basically to see how the the bird was adjusting to a new place. The reason I didn't wait longer was I was confident in the isolation & health of the birds in the home they came from.

Male or Female - how to tell: If a Budgie has a pink cere & is under 4 months old it is probably a male. If the cere is whitish with blue overtones - at under 4 months, it is a female. When a Budgie goes thru the juvenile molt in their 4th month of life - their cere changes colour. In the case of the male it might look pink one day & bluish another until you are very confused. But by the end of the 4th month it will probably be blue. This has been my experience. A hen - well I only know this from viewing photos & reading. Their cere is a pretty light blue when they are babies - almost pearly & the cere is not as shiny as a male's. When they are sexually mature [after about 6 months] & are ready to mate their cere will turn tan, thicken & even look scabby, for a while. In the case of a white or all yellow bird the males cere stays pink but the hen's will turn tan like any hen.

? get a Budgie of the opposite sex.
They are happy with their own - girl or boy. Some might say 2 girls might be crabby together but I don't know if that is a given. My 2 boys do bicker a lot but it is funnier than alarming. They only twitter, gesture threateningly & fly off. If you have a m/f pair - they might not bond but they will probably will get along. The hen can be bossy & the male's attention [very persistent] probably has lots to do with that attitude. Unless you want an egg laying bird & possibly babies - do not offer any bedding materials or a nest. Without this stimulus [+ long days] they should be just regular Budgies - not a nesting couple.

My experience: My 3rd Budgie arrived thoroughly tamed- I am thrilled with how loving he is. My 1st Budgie was a rescue & mature & easy to tame - a happy & confident bird. My 2nd Budgie was supposed to be hand tame but he hates hands & is a 'wild' child - after the passing of his friend [1st Budgie] he relied on us for company & love for the 1st time & within 3 months he was demanding our attention.

I also worry about the dominance issues - however one will be the dominant one anyway, so relax & let them figure it out. At first do not put them together - even after quarantine - let them get to know each other 1st & allow them the option of becoming friends slowly. Most Budgies are not blood thirsty. Just make sure each has their own stuff - water dish, seed dish & even treats.

I hope some of this helps - keep asking questions - no question is annoying or dumb. You may find differences in some people's replies - you will have to decide which is right for you. Sometimes there are not a 'right' answer but we do our best to help.

I hope all is well.

[xXBekuXx]

I don't think I can quarentine! My mum deffinitely won't buy me another cage (she's a bit pissed off that the first budgie doesn't do much) which is aparently a big problem, seeing as I really think getting a cage mate is the right choice for him now :(

And ARGH! My budgie's cere is kinda tanned, and crusty. I was going to mention it earlier, but i thought I'd wait to get a photo up.

Do I absolutely have to do quarentine? I'd like to get a cage mate as soon as possible really, seeing as i don't think the little guy is going to bond with me at all atm. What's wrong with putting the two birds together straight away? soz i'm really worried about what to do now. I think my mums friend had one budgie, bought another one and put it straight in there with the older one, should it be ok if i do that?

I have a strange feeling that *he* is actually a *she* so I'll stop calling her him.
And what should i do if i got another one, but they really didn't get along with each other? Would budgies kill a member of their own species?

Thanks everyone :)

[absolutangel]

If you don't quarantine you run the risk of one of the birds being sick, passing it on to the other and ending up with 2 sets of vet bills. Most people on here quite rightly consider quarantine essential. You shouldn't ever really get a new bird and put them straight in the same cage, for another reason - they need time to get used to each other and sort out any dominance issues.

If your mum won't allow you a second cage I don't think you should get another bird a) because you can't quarantine and b) because there is no guarantee they will get on, and you might have to keep them separately. If you end up with 2 that fight badly they can seriously injure or kill each other. If your mum is unhappy with having one then I think the best thing you can do now is spend time with her (and if the cere is tan and crusty certainly sounds like a girl) and try and make progress.

[SpickyDavies]

honestly, if you can't get a new cage and your bird is down- and your mum seems annoyed as it deosnt do as she wishes, i believe you should maybe consider taking some time to find this little bird a new home a good home with someone maybe who has the time and expsereince (and other budgies) for the little girl.
maybe it something to think about

[xXBekuXx]

Ok, well we went to the vets to talk about getting a second budgie, and they gave us the number of this guy who lives near me and is crazy about budgies. We phoned him and he said that it was indeed best to get a cage mate for my little girl, but since we have a large cage it's ok if we divide it into two and keep one bird in each section, so it's kinda like a half quarantine thing :)

Soooo we went and picked up a nice little male budgie, he's 18 months old and he was the shyest one we could find :) He also seems perfectlly healthy, adn quite perky. We also hung a piece of fabric down the middle of the cage, each bird has a food bowl, a few perches and some toys.

I know it's very early to tell, but I think the problem might be solved, my female is happy and chirping, she seems very excited about meeting the male, and she's also singing along with my guitar (which used to be ignored) And the male is obviously a little freaked at his new surroundings, but seems quite happy, and is playing with some of the toys in the cage!

How long should i keep them apart? I think they'll get along with each other when they meet, but in case they don't, the budgie guy said he'd love to take on one of them to put in his avary.

Thanks so much for all the help :)

[absolutangel]

If they are in the same room and able to be in contact through the bars/fabric you might as well not bother. Unless they are in separate rooms it is NOT a quarantine. At least if you had them in separate cages where they couldn't come in contact you might be guarded against transmission of some illnesses but it doesn't sound like your set up will even do that :(.

[ozzie]

My budgie is not like the other budgies in the petstore, when I bought her, she was all alone on a perch sleeping, she wasn't playing or chirping with the other budgies. To this day she is still rather kept to her self, but through years of work, I have gotten her to open up to me a little bit :) Sometimes I wonder why i did not buy one of the playful budgies and maybe I wouldn't have such a hard time working with them like I do with twyla like eating her pellets or veggies. Good Luck and I hope all is well with your budgie and that you get her a friend :)

[homebird]

I know it isn't a real quarantine. If they can breath the same air & touch the same cage they can give each other lots of things.

You kind of did what I did. If your Vet sent you to this guy - he probably had good faith in him.

No one will say quarantine is bad - cause it does save lives. You have to be either smart or be lucky or both, not to quarantine. Lets hope you & everyone involved was both.

Letting them take time to become friends is really what you are doing + having a divided cage will help with lack of breeding activity. I'm glad your little girl Budgie is happier - I thought she'd feel better with another bird around - like a 'we're in this together'.

You might enjoy reading this recently posted thread Introducing Two Budgies (http://www.talkbudgies.com/showthread.php?t=34707)

I hope all goes well.

[xXBekuXx]

My budgie is not like the other budgies in the petstore, when I bought her, she was all alone on a perch sleeping, she wasn't playing or chirping with the other budgies.
That sounds pretty much like my bird when I first got her. :p

Thanks again everyone! But I hope that both my budgies don't catch something now......they both appear quite healthy, and are "squeeking" happily to me atm. :)

I've moved the cage to somewhere they can get more sunlight (not directly) and is elevated off the ground, It's a great improvement :)

I'll try and introduce them slowly, if the makeshift quarantine thing isn't gonna really work. I'd rather not leave the seperator up there perminantly, beucase as I said, the cage is lage, but it's more of a tall large than a wide large.

Has anyone ever known budgies to breed without nesting material, and such? I don't mind if they do, but I'm not sure how I'd care for them.....

And thank you for the introducing two budgies link, very useful, I'll try to follow it the best i can. :)

Just to let y'all know that your advice has been put into practice. :D

[lorri]

Just give him/her time to settle in it dose take more than you think. I also agree with the others about looking at his/hers poop make that a habit. I do that constantly every morning. My Sky is directly by the window (but no drafts) so he can get as much sunlight as possible.

Did you take him/her to an avian vet cos some ordinary vets can't diagnose the symptoms of a bird properly.

Good luck with every thing