New budgie not settling in :-(

[George]

Hi, I'm sorry to be asking for help so soon after joining the groups but I'm worried about my new budgie, George.

We got him last monday (five days ago). All of the books suggested leaving him in his cage for the first two days after we brought him. We did that and then started to finger train him. That seemed to be going well and he's had some short flights outside the cage now. His cage is in the study where I work all day, we keep it warm and the cage is at chest/head height.

But he's been very subdued. Even now he's in the top corner of his cage and his feathers are fluffed up. He has talked to us a little bit but he's usually silent and not curious or playful. When he's out he tends to sit on the dressing table next to the mirror with his feathers fluffed up, not saying anything.

At first I though it was stress or shock from the move but it's been five days. Is my budgie ill or is there anything we can do to help him feel safe and at home?

I also wondered if it might be because he's a young budgie (he has bars all the way down to his cere) and get's tired quickly?

Thanks for reading this long post! George.

[Bea]

It really sounds like your budgie is sick. :( You should take him to an avian vet ASAP, the fact that he's showing signs of illness is a bad thing, it usually means it's quite bad. What are his droppings like? Is he eating? I recently got a new baby budgie and it turned out he was sick and had to go to the vet. He's a baby with bars right to his cere too and no that he's healthy he's a bundle of energy. Baby budgies are incredibly playful a lot of the time so it wouldn't be his age giving him this lethargic appearance. Please keep us updated..

[Amy]

Here is a link to help you find a local avian vet:

I can't find it! Sorry!

[Budgiekin]

Here's the link to help you find an avian vet:

http://www.aav.org/vet-lookup/

I would say that if you are concerned at all (which is sounds as though you are), your best bet is to bring your little sweetie to an avian vet for an exam.

Do you think your little sweetie would perk up if you played some budgie sounds from a computer, or listened to birds outside? Is the room really quiet where he is? Consider playing some music for the little guy and see if that helps settle him. Sometimes when budgies are in too quiet a room, their instincts tell them that a predator is nearby.

Good luck with the little fellow and please keep us up to date with how he is doing! :p

[Amy]

That's it Budgiekin. I hope he's alright.

[George]

Thank you all for your replys. He's doing a lot better today - I've played some music to him this morning and he's been singing along. He had another fly and he's showing a lot more interest in what's going on. He's eating and pooping normaly but he's still kind of lethargic. There's a vet nearby and I'll get him down there as soon as the bank holiday's over. Thanks again.

[Amy]

Oh good, I hope he improves.

[Crystal_Dawn]

my dewey was considerd lathargic by his last owners but he is really very playful... the difference is that he now has lots of space and toys to play with. If there is only a couple toys he might just not like those toys. Also females tend to be much less vocal than males, so maybe george is a girl :) if this is true then she will definatley need LOTS of toys because the girls are much more curious and playful than the boys and they LOVE to chew and destruct things haha, so make sure some of them are things she can rip apart like wood, or a string of beads or a paper towel roll... they also really like terry cloth, so try cutting a peice of a face cloth up for her/him :) (not that a boy doesn't need lots of toys too, but girls need LOADS of toys) It could also be going through seperation issues. I assume it was in a setting with other budgies in the pet store and now he/she is all alone, probably for the first time ever... budgies are extreamly social animals and being alone is very depressing for them unless we, their people spend hours and hours a day with them... if you don't have loads of free time, then I suggest getting him or her a friend. of course I'd wait to make sure the vet said he/she is not sick first :)

[George]

Thank you all for your replies - this is just an update. George is fine now. We're using a mite and lice spray and we've installed some new toys and perches. He (or she!) seems happy and healthy. (S)He's talking to us a lot more now and showing a lot more interest in what's going on. (S)He wil even eat of our hands although there's sttill some finger training left to do. Again, thanks. I hope I can offer some useful advice on here soon!

[Crystal_Dawn]

i'm SO glad to here that! keep us updated :D i'd love to know how things go and if (s)he is a he or a she haha!

[Mistyoriline]

I will pray for George to get better faster

[Amy]

So will I, I'm a Christian.