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Post by goldeagle on Dec 30, 2013 18:53:21 GMT
So I got my Budgie in August this year. He's my first bird but not my first pet. He is nice but I feel like I'm not doing something right. I gave him toys but he doesn't want to play with them. I tried rotating and switching them too. The toys are all different kinds and I did some research to what I'm supposed to do. The sites I found told me to be patient but it's been a long time and I don't want him to be bored. Also, he looks a bit dirty but won't take a bath. I tried in a bowl and a spray but he doesn't like them. Don't get me wrong! other than that he seems healthy to me. He chirps and flies around my room sometimes but I just want him to be happy! Advice?
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Post by Pammy on Dec 30, 2013 20:56:40 GMT
Is your cage maybe too small? What are the dimensions?
Are you able to spend a lot of time with him, or is he alone a lot? Maybe he needs a friend.
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Post by dianapalmer on Dec 30, 2013 22:11:15 GMT
Two budgies are usually more active than just one. If one wants to do something (for example, take a bath) the other usually will too. However, two budgies are harder to tame than just one.
I guess it depends on what your goal is. Do you want him to be more tame and spend more time with you/on you, or would you like to have more antics to watch?
I would guess, from your age, you spend a bit of time away from home--school, maybe after school activities, etc. In that case, it might be very good for your budgie to have a friend. On the other hand, if his cage is in a family area and if other members of the family spend time with him, he might be getting enough stimulation.
From what you describe, he may be bored and, therefore, gotten inactive. Does he look like he is in good health (eyes clear, normal poops, nothing weird going on around his cere (nose)?
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Post by goldeagle on Dec 31, 2013 14:43:08 GMT
He looks all healthy. I do spend time at school though. My mother probably won't be happy if I ask for another one. She's a good person so I hope she will be ok with it. I try to spend as much time as I can with him but maybe he need more than just me. Thank you! Oh, and what size of bath is appropriate?
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Post by goldeagle on Dec 31, 2013 14:57:35 GMT
Oh, and the cage size is about 22x16x22, with a slanted roof. Is that too small. I'm almost sure that is not big enough for two, so how big would that need to be.
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Post by lisamarie on Dec 31, 2013 15:26:32 GMT
Thats plenty of room for a budgie! Length is more important than height for these types of birds
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Post by dianapalmer on Dec 31, 2013 15:33:08 GMT
I think the best solution would be to get him a friend. However, I see the parent issue. I would suggest giving your parent some things to read and stressing that it is for the welfare of the bird, not just that you want another bird. Tell her you are worried about the bird because of the things you mentioned to us.
You could try leaving a radio or music on for him when you are not home. That might cheer him up. Also, you could play budgie sounds for him, like from Youtube.
In terms of the budgie looking a bit dirty: I don't know if you have tried this, but when misting him, have the water in the mister quite warm. You can test it against your skin. The water cools off quite a bit when it turns into a spray. Also, it is best to spray above him, not on him. If you spray into the air it comes down like a gentle rain. If you talk cheerfully while you are doing it and maybe play some music, he may get into it. In any case, once the feathers are damp, he should start preening himself. Of course (you probably know this), make sure there is no draft and perhaps put him by a light to help him dry off.
I am concerned about the lack of preening. Happy, healthy birds preen their feathers a lot, and generally look very clean. Again, the cause could be lack of stimulation.
I will let others comment on the cage size, as I am not sure. If you were to get another budgie, members suggest having two cages while they get used to each other. If space is an issue, perhaps you could get a cage with a flat top, then you could stack them. This would kind of be a last resort, as that way they could not see each other. However, it might just be for a few days, while you give them a chance to be introduced on neutral ground. My own first budgie took well to having a second introduced right into his cage (18" x 18" x 24" tall). However, he was very young and had only been with me a week.
Good luck, and let us know how it's going.
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Post by goldeagle on Dec 31, 2013 16:28:58 GMT
Thank you! I've always tried to let him out a lot but he never wants to fly around. I know that they need to fly for their health and for fun. Do you have any ways to get him to come out? I tried just leaving the door open, but that didn't work. I been using millet too! After that, I put him on my finger and set him on top of the cage and he just flew back in. I assume that has to do with some kind of boredom.
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Post by Sarah on Dec 31, 2013 18:02:56 GMT
This dirty feathers business has me quite concerned. It is not normal for a budgie not to take exceedingly good care of their feathers. Perhaps we are dealing with a undernourishment issue. What do you feed him? Do you provide a cuttlebone and mineral block as supplements? When was the last time your bird lost and replaced a lot of feathers?
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Post by Pammy on Dec 31, 2013 19:43:26 GMT
About the cage, my opinion is that your little budgie could use some more space. I've heard it said, and agree wholeheartedly, that it's appropriate to provide the very largest cage you can afford (don't go into debt) for your bird or birds.
As for the birdie bath, you can purchase a little birdie bath on Amazon that affixes outside the cage thru one of the tiny doors on the side, or you can just put a shallow dish like a pie plate onto the floor of the cage. If you want, you can put in just a little water with a few lettuce leaves. Some budgies like to wallow around in wet leaves. Of course they can poo down into that, if it's in the cage, so you'll want to take it out when the water gets soiled so they don't drink it.
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Post by goldeagle on Dec 31, 2013 20:50:07 GMT
I gave him cuttle bone and i feed him a seed mix.
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Post by Pammy on Dec 31, 2013 23:18:11 GMT
How about trying to get some vegetables into your little guy. He will most likely resist at first, but keep trying. You can give him just a tiny bit at a time, so there is less waste. Some of us have had success with raw or cooked carrots, shredded or mashed or diced super tiny. Some of us have also had success with cooked sweet potato, mashed with a fork or diced small. Some people thaw a small portion of frozen mixed vegetables and offer that. Some (including me) even give baby food vegetables mixed with some pellets for thickening. Another choice is a sprig of some kind of leafy green herbs, like fresh basil or mint, for nibbling. A more nutritious, varied diet will likely do him wonders. Just don't give up, and be ready for him to refuse to try it for quite some time.
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Post by rdkntriker on Dec 31, 2013 23:21:23 GMT
I have had luck with strawberries also. does leave a red stain around mouth though. Good luck
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sarahjo
Egg
Yay! I figured out how to add a picture to my signature! =D
Posts: 22
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Post by sarahjo on Jan 1, 2014 19:53:00 GMT
I've had the same proble in the past... My sister got a parakeet for Christmas, Jolly. The girl was 8, and I 'helped' her with Jolly. Jolly was sad till we got Tweety... and after Jolly died, Tweety was just like you described! He wouldn't come out of his cage unless forced, never chirped or sang, wouldn't play with anything, lost interest in preening, he even stopped caring about food - wouldn't take treats and started losing weight 'cause he wasn't eating. He grew less and less interested in interacting with me, and started biting. After I got married we brought him to our new house, and my hubby thought that he was depressed and needed some friends. Over 5 months, we have gotten 5 more budgies. Tweety is in love with the first one we brought home - Greeny. They have their own cage at the moment, and Tweety seems like a completely different bird! He plays with his toys, explores new places and toys (before he would shake in terror anytime I tried to give him a new toy, hiding from it for days in his cage), and he is now our loudest bird. He perches at the front of his cage and chirps/sings at the top of his lungs... then scuttles over to Greeny for approval. :~) Also, since giving him friends, he is far more willing to interact with us - which seems very backwards, but hey, that's just how it went! It's amazing how social parakeets are!
If you can't get another parakeet, try putting a mirror in his cage - that helped Jolly before we got Tweety! Jolly would sit and chirp at himself in the mirror for hours. It may also help if you can put him in a busier part of your home, so that he is around more activity. Especially if the people talk with him some! We had Jolly in the dinning room before we got a cat, and he would even eat when we were eating, and when conversation got going at dinner he would pitch in!
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Post by luvsanimals2 on Jan 1, 2014 21:01:16 GMT
sounds like he is depressed. i wouldnt give him a mirror, this can lead to mental disorders and aggressive behavoir
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