molting and antisocial

[bboylayz]

i heard that a lot of budgies dont want much to do with you when they start molting. my peep is just starting to get rid of his barhead and is scratching it a lot but he also just moved to a new place with me. he plays with his toys and comes out f he knows im going to handfeed him but immediately after, he would lean towards the cage and if he got close enough, jump and climg onto the side. he usually was pretty good about letting me take him out but now it feels like he doesnt like me as much anymore. when i first took him here a week ago, he wasnt really afraid of the outside and he played with me on my bed but now all he will do is go for the cage. right now im watching him play with his toys so hes not really tired.... so is it actually the molting or is he just too comfortable (i read somewhere that a new budgie will seem more tame at first but when he gets comfy, he will do more of what he wants, in this case sit in the cage).

he perches on my hand so long as i dont make any movements toward the door of the cage, in whic case hed step off. what do you think it is? is it realy a step back from my great progression or is it just a stage?

(one more thing, i know hes not really afraid cause when i first brought him here, when he saw me a couple times he jumped to the front of the cage wanting me to take him out and play)

[BUUZBEE]

it sounds like hes starting a molt, and their first one can be hard on them.

i equate a molt with growing pains in children, it can really be a pain in the bottom!

[bboylayz]

i think it probably is the start of his first molt as well but... jsut wondering if its normal for them to still be active in their cages (hes still playing with his bells)

[BUUZBEE]

yes, its normal

[bboylayz]

k thanks :)
how long do you think it will be til he wants to play wiht me again? and how should i handle it?

[BUUZBEE]

I would still try to get him to play everyday. depending on how severe the molt, it can sometimes be a month.

[redgirl]

My Edie was terrible when she was going through her first moult, she got agitated and started to bite really hard but with Skyla she is the opposite she is absoloutley fine so I am glad about that hehe xxx :)

Update
I spoke too soon, Skyla is not herself today at all she too wont come out of her cage and is in a right cranky mood, cant wait till it passes xxx :(

[softie]

I wonder if I can put this in a public post but... molting is kind of like PMS: Pre-Molt Syndrome :P

During Shiloh's first molt with me, he's been the most agressive budgie I've ever met. He would pick fights and boss (although he does that normally, but it was much more intense) and go after just about anything that came in his way, even my finger!

It's a natural behavior for a budgie to become more aggitated during a molt. Those pin feathers really must hurt! But even with Shiloh being so agressive, I still made sure I played with him but for little less time than usual. I would send him off to sleep earlier, since molting budgies need to sleep longer to regain their energy.

[bboylayz]

haha im glad Peep hasnt bitten me yet :D and i hope it stays that way. on another note, i wanted a boy so that he would be more likely to want to come out and play and be more vocal but the pet store lady had to take a guess for me (she went out back to get one of the younger ones) and she said it was impossible at such a young age. doing my research i found that that was untrue, it was just more difficult to tell. right now based on my research im completely unsure (looking at the cere color). he (i hope) has no white ring around his nostrils but his cere is pretty light. it seems to be turning a bluish/purple-ish color if you see it in a clear light. so im thinking it is a boy. however, keeping in mind his behaviors, i know that males are more likely to want to bond with you and aremore vocal. so far ive only heard those tiny squeeks (i call them peeps haha) and some chirps occasionally. and occasionally a single or two squaks (those yelling noises). no warbling yet unfortunately, and i do know what they are supposed to sound like... whats more important when determining sex at a young age, cere or behavior?? (he explores a lot when i let him out)






oh and just watching him now, two more questions. what is he doing when he stretches his neck forward and opens his beak like hes trying to talk but no noise comes out?

also, ive seen him grab onto his perch and flap his wings for a second or 2 when stretching but just now, he just flapped for like 30 seconds.... im assuming a lot of stretching? or is it a cause of the molt?


(im sorry im just full of questions haha)

[bboylayz]

I wonder if I can put this in a public post but... molting is kind of like PMS: Pre-Molt Syndrome :P


haha yeah ive heard that before, it gives me a chuckle :D