Handling birds..

[fliptheswitch]

I popped out to the supermarket earlier, and came home with a couple of budgies (not from the supermarket).

I saw an advert on the noticeboard for someone looking to re-home them, so I phoned and went to get them.

Anyway...

They're in a large cage, but I'd like to let them have a fly around. I just went to open the cage door, but they went crazy! Am I supposed to put my hand in and take them out, or just leave the door open and let them come out as they please?

They're not babies, they're 2 and 1. The lady said they haven't been handled much, only on a couple of occasions. Are you supposed to even handle them?

I need a crash course in budgie care. Thanks :-)

[B00]

Was this today?

Reason im asking ,as while im no budgie expert (really, i know bugger all about them!) I'd have thought the stress of moving is enough to send them berserk in the first few days, especially if they're not used to being handled either and you're also attempting that.

Can't you give them a few days to settle in first?

[rowanwitch]

just leave them quiet with food and water.. for a few days then get them used to you my initially just being in the room and talking quietly to them gradually getting closer to the cage... then its a case of making sure the doors and windows are closed and leaving the cage door open for them to venture out.... then spend the next few hours wondering how to get them back into the cage

[fliptheswitch]

Yes, just a few hours ago. I put a cover over them in the car, as I thought they might get a bit scared.

Probably good advice, to leave them for a few days.

God, they're noisy buggers!

Thanks Rowan. Yes, I have been wondering how I'm planning on getting them back in! :))

[B00]

"hanks Rowan. Yes, I have been wondering how I'm planning on getting them back in! :)) "

Hoover??

(I'm kidding!)

[fliptheswitch]

Lol! No, that's especially reserved for the spiders... Joke! :))

[rowanwitch]

wait until it gets dark watch where they are get someone to turn the light out and throw a silky scarf over them they stay still in the dark you can then scoop them up and put them back into the cage... then wash the budgie poo off everything they perched on

[fliptheswitch]

"then wash the budgie poo off everything they perched on"

Eww. Do they poo quite often?

Lol. Sorry, that was a really stupid thing to ask. I was just wondering how much there's likely to be.

[notasyoungasiwas]

Good for you flip for taking them on and being so concerned about them. If it was me, once they're settled, I'd leave the door open and let them come and go as they please, as long as it's convenient to you of course.

[fliptheswitch]

Thanks, notas. They are very sweet and are sat on their swings happily tweeting away.
I'll leave it for a few days, let them get settled. I just wanted them to have some freedom, but I can see how they might still be a bit stressed after the whole move/car journey.

[notasyoungasiwas]

Awwwww

[rowanwitch]

small birds, small poos. just a lot of it if they are startled

[fliptheswitch]

I'll try and remain calm at all times then :-)

[carlton23]

When I found my bird, which was out in the cold of winter in a tree, she was so cold she allowed me to pick her up easily and take her indoors. I then kept her in an upturned plastic box which you can fold up, till the next day when I toured the neighborhood to try and find the owner, to no avail, I`m happy to say, so as you can see she is alive and very well in a very happy home. She isn't a budgie tho, but a small parakeet called a Rosa Bourke. I let her have the freedom of our living-room during the day and when she`s hungry she goes back into her cage, but I wish she wouldn`t stay all day on my new 3d TV crapping. She has really taken to me, for saving her life I`m sure. So just have patients with yours and keep you doors and windows closed. Good Luck.

[fliptheswitch]

Thanks Carlton, that's great. Yours is gorgeous!
Do you think their ages will matter?

[carlton23]

If they have been in a cage all their lives I would be very uncertain about letting them out as they may fly straight into a window or looking glass and break their necks. I have had wild birds do so trying to get into my fulll size patio doors. Just keep them clean and well fed and fresh water regularly and give pieces of fruit and NEVER chocolate.

[fliptheswitch]

Thanks Carlton. I do have wooden blinds on all my windows, so I wonder if they would/could fly straight at them.
I just don't want to leave them stuck in the cage. I'd feel a bit mean.

[ladybirder]

So glad you're going to let them out flip. It breaks my heart to see birds kept in cages, it is so wrong poor things.

[Andyvon]

Hi,

My wife and I have ten budgies. We built an aviary in the corner of the lounge for them and they have plenty of space, light, fresh air and exercise. On the odd occasion I need to catch them (for spraying) I use a kiddie's fishing net which I bought for 99p. It's the sort that's stuck in a bamboo cane that we used to catch sticklebacks in as kids!

In the past we used to let the birds out to fly around the room and I made perches to fit the corners of the room. However, the birds were really unhappy being out. They just sat quietly on the perches for two or three hours before we put them back in the cage. As soon as we did that they were happy and flying around again.

If your budgies are not used to being handled Fliptheswitch, then they will find it stressful now. They also won't like being out of the cage if they aren't used to that as the cage is their home and safety zone. That will stress them too. If they are happy and content in the cage then leave them there. You can spray them against mites by covering the cage with a sheet or towel and spraying underneath that. Alternatively, why not build a larger avairy.

I'll try to post a link below to show our one. I hope it appears in a few minutes.

[fliptheswitch]

Lady, andy,

I think what I'm going to do, is just open the cage door in a few days time, as see if they want to come out. If they don't, then I don't intend to try and handle them and "force" them out, but I'm hoping they will want to come out and have a nose.
I too hate birds being in cages, hence my major efforts in trying to get them out.
It's a large cage, but I still feel they should be free and flying around :-)

An indoor aviary sounds amazing, but I just haven't got the space. Also, I've got two young children, and I can't help but think the little'un would take to messing around with it.

[askyourgran]

I just used to let mine fly out and then fly back into it's cage when it had enough without handling it. I attached a little landing perch from the open door. They could get used to you handling them but you need a lot of patience.