New budgie

[Dudley]

We have a new budgie (our last one died after eight years and was delightful company having the run of our front room) and this one seems much more traumatised by his newvsurroundings than our previous ones. It is only a few hours since introduced him to his new home after we picked him up from the breeder. He is six weeks old and is just sitting in the bottom of the cage and hardly batting an eyelid. There is fresh seed all around him and we wonder how we should encourage him to eat. Is it ok to leave him there when we go to bed and how soon should he perk up and take to us?

[Dudley]

Amazingly, he has suddenly perked up and clambered around his new cage. He is now sitting on a medium height dowel perch. Panic over, just needs to start eating now.

[askyourgran]

Give it time, we had one that seemed very shy, some of them take longer to get used to their surroundings, especially if it has come from a cage full of other birds.

[Maydup]

Jet lag?

[wildwood]

Hope it has a happy long life like your last budgie.

[daisya]

I lost my darling budgie after 6 years through illness, he was so wonderful, loving and had such a great character. He started off just like yours has and I think 6 weeks is a little too early for them to be taken away, they must find it so frightening. So pleased to hear he has perked up, hope it goes really well for you and him, ours was always in and out of his cage as I hate to see them caged up. I miss him so much, he used to come over and "kiss" me and talk lots he was wonderful I never knew they were so intelligent and knew what you said. I'm sure you will have many wonderful years with your new little birdie, wish I could have another one but after the trauma's and many vets we visited with him I just couldn't face it all again nor put another bird through that. Good luck with him he'll be settling in very soon now.

[notasyoungasiwas]

I wish you would get another budgie daisya - they so badly need someone as loving and kind as you.

[rowanwitch]

budgies are social creatures and need the company of their own kind it means they are unlikely to talk, I am uncomfortable with the idea of keeping any bird as a pet in a small cage

[daisya]

Thank you notsoyoung...it was just so upsetting seeing him suffering at times but still being as loving as he could be. I'm still missing him and upset at having had to take him to the vet for the last time and that was 3 yrs ago, I just can't forget as I loved him so much.

Agree with you rowan, I don't like birds caged up and would never have done that to my baby, his cage door was always open and he was kept in our small front room so couldn't disappear, but he usually only came out on his cage or flew over to me. Used to make me laugh though as when I had to catch him to give him his meds he would fly up high and land on something and look down at me in effect saying, "Now get me you beast" lol.

[notasyoungasiwas]

That's why I feel daisya should get another one, it will have a good life with her with lots of tlc. I too feel sorry for caged birds as they have wings to fly, but sadly they are for sale legally and so the best people to have them are people like daisya who genuinely care.

[Dudley]

Our budgie is progressing well and I agree they should not be permanantly caged. We let our birds fly as often as they want to with the cage door frequently open. They go back in for food etc and are great company. Our sparky is having trouble landing though and flies round and round the room until he's tired and settles and invariably we have to pick him up once he's landed and after he get's his breath back we let him fly back to his cage from about 10 feet. He'll get the hang of it soon, all our others have. Daisyia, you really should have another, as others have said another bird deserves your kind attention.

[notasyoungasiwas]

Glad your bird is progressing well Dudley.

[daisya]

You sound like us Dudley, I'm so happy for you that your birdie is settling in well, he will love his new home as you are so caring and he'll reward you with his company and love which I'm sure you know.