My super lonely budgie...what should I do? - Paw Talk

bumble_b18 · #1 11-01-2006, 10:23 PM

I've had Thinger for about a year now, he had a mate, but she had egg binding and died. Ever since, he squawks for hours, and calls her relentlessly. He hates being alone, but won't let me hold him. I've put plenty of toys and mirrors in his cage, transferred him to a larger cage (he's now in an extra large rabbit cage mounted sideways to the wall). I let him watch TV occasionally, let him fly around in my room, put on music for him, but ever since his mate died, it seems as if he HATES me. He refuses to be handled. The thing is, I'm pretty sure that if I got him another friend, he'd quiet down, but the people I live with don't seem to understand that, so I'm 'discouraged' to get him a cage mate. They think it'll be twice as noisy. Should I give him away to someone who CAN get him a playmate? I really would miss him, but I'd rather he be happy. Or should I just get another budgie and hope he sttles down? I don't want to be inconsiderate to my housemates, but if he really will be quieter, they'd be fine with it

maria · #2 11-02-2006, 07:55 AM

why should you get rid of him he is you bird that you love very much i would get him a mate and that might stop him squawking and i think he would be less noisy don't worry what every one thinks just go with what you want and if you would to give him away you would probably hate your self and miss him lots i hope this helps you to deside!

thebigwoodgie · #3 11-05-2006, 10:46 PM

Hi,
The first thing I would do is get rid of the mirror. He is probably getting overly protective of his cage. Budgies are territorial and he is no doubt thinking that the bird in the mirror is another male and he doesnt need that right now.

Have Fun,
Bill
http://www.birdscomefirst.org

bumble_b18 · #4 11-05-2006, 10:51 PM

Well I'd have to disagree with you 100% there. There's no way I'm getting rid of his mirrors. He LOVES them. ALSO, Males can be housed together just fine, so I REALLy don't see how it'd bother him. Every bird owner I know recommends mirrors. I COULD be misled, but I'm more likely to believe everyone else than just one person sorry

CoCo Chanel · #5 11-05-2006, 11:56 PM

okay.

first off, just like any animal, birds are individual and you as their owner will have to decide whats best. some birds can have mirrors, and its okay.... some cant because they become obsessed with them and think thats how a bird is supposed to act, or will get depressed because their "friend" isnt showing them any affection.

here... do this... watch to see if he "throws" up for the "bird"..or if you find dried vomit on the mirror.... if you do..its not vomit but regurgitated food in which birds show signs of affection for one another.... (and to you too!) its how mother birds feed their own, and how they feed their mates....

if you do... then i would DEFINITELY take out the mirror.... he's showing all his affection and attention to it...and it could seriously harm him as he is regurgitating all his nutrients as well.

if youre house mate cant stand his loudness...another one will not make him any quieter but LOUDER!!! also...do you have the room and space (ie another cage, another room) to quarantine if you get a new bird?? birds can get sick very easily and since they are bird of prey (a sick bird in the wild is a dead bird!!) they will hide their signs of illness until usually its too late! minimum quarantine period is 30 days...

birds are also very social...and since he's your pet... YOURE his flock!!

it's never too late to tame him.... it sounds like he's not clipped...

the best way to tame him is clip his wings... it sounds terrible.. but you'll actual do it because you care.... he can get into trouble if he's flying around on his own...opened doors/windows and walls and mirrors are very dangerous.... one winter i let my parrots wings grew back because i thought it'll give them some excercise... one of my birdies...thought she'll go behind a dresser and hide.... my other parrot went with her...lying on top of her smushing her down...and inevitably killing her....

my parrots are all very tamed and bonded to me and each other... i never thought they'll fly off...

even with semi clipped wings...if something spooked them...off they go.... one day all four of mine flew away like that..... my Blue and gold macaw...who is 8 years old and never flew before in her life disappeared....I was one of the lucky one.....i found her two days later..and she was LITERALLY 2 houses down...underneath my neighbor's deck....

clipping also GREATLY aids in taming and training...all birds should be taught the step up command as it will help you remove them in case of emergency.

if you want to know how to clip wings, the best suggestion is to get a vet to show you how.

and if you want help in taming...ask away!

Mygala · #6 11-06-2006, 06:22 AM

I agree with Bill, I'd try getting rid of the mirror too. Do it on a trial basis, ...say for a couple of weeks. See if there is any improvement in his behavior.

Coco (Bethany) is also right with her clipping advice. It's always a good idea to have a bird clipped.

It will take time and patience on your part to calm him down and get him adjusted to life as it is. However, you and your roommate need to understand that this is a bird. Birds DO make noise.

Everything is relative. Compared to most parrots, a budgie is like a "1" in the Richter Scale. Take your roomie to a pet store or breeder that has some larger birds (even Conures are good for this comparison) and maybe they'll realize that your bird isn't so loud after all!

Good Luck

bob

thebigwoodgie · #7 11-06-2006, 03:32 PM

One way to research the issue and then decide is to do a google search for parrot mirror aggression or parrot mirror you will find points on both sides of the issue.

Most parrot behaviorists will usually not advise using a mirror in a cage if someone wants to train a parrot , bond with a parrot or deal with noise as an issue.

Keep in mind that all the characteristics of parrots are wrapped up beautifully in wonderful birds like budgies as they are parrots too.

Have Fun,
Bill

candyraver · #8 11-06-2006, 04:17 PM

I have a lone budgie now too.His mate died 2 years back (they werent young birds when I got them)! He has a small mirror,actually its a toy with a couple mirrors on it in his cage.I don't think he paid attention to it since he got it.Him or his mate at the time couldn't have cared less about it

He does however, love those bird rings that you hang in their cage.He loves climbing on them.And when he's outside of his cage (as you know,they need out-of-cage time too,I don't have a large cage for him,just one of those pet store cages,that will change in the near future! If you have a cage like that,I'd recommend that he has a lot of time outside his cage!)
I'd recommend getting some millet.Makes training them loads easier IMO. (in my opinion).

IF you decide on getting a 2nd budgie (I want to in the future,I absolutely adore them) remember not to just put the 2nd bird in his cage! That is the WRONG way to go about things.Start off with the new bird in a seperate cage,work on taming that one (yes males can be housed together as well sometimes,one just takes on the female role,but like most animals,don't just put another in their terriority - you don't know how they'll react).
When you want them to be housed together, introduce both birds outside of their cages.Leave the cage doors open in case they want to retreat from the other at first.This may take a short time,patience is key! It's much better than ending up with an injured bird.
As for the noise...they are pretty vocal birds,so two birds will equal a bit more noise.

Your budgie could be bored.As said above, youre his flock.They are social birds. I highly recommend you handtame him.

Good luck!

Hillarious · #9 11-08-2006, 02:14 AM

Sorry but your housemantes are right. As a studying behavioralist in parrot flocks and dynamics... I have to tell you that getting another budgie will not, I repeat, will NOT quiet him down AT ALL. On the contrary. More birds= more noice. I have a budgie, Ares, and I wante to get him a friend. Which I did. Way more noise. They will be happier (which means more noise), call to eachother more often, and two birds will encourage eachother to be louder.

If you honestly can't afford him the time to tame him and take care of him by himself, or at least get him a friend, I would try to rehome him. But make sure you screen the home he goes to very well. Unfortunately, budgies often get placed in improper homes because they are "cheap" pets. Taming an adult budgie is not hard at all, but it takes lots of time. If you can't give him that time, better to pass him on to someone who can.

Best of luck =)

bumble_b18 · #10 11-08-2006, 10:43 PM

So I've taken his mirrors out, based on the replies, and he's absolutely furious with me. I think he blames me for taking away his mate, and now I've taken his mirrors. Now he's becoming slightly aggressive when I put my hand in his cage. It seems as though I'm taking away everything that he cares for. And I DO spend plenty of time with him. I have since I got him. As for clipping his wings... I know it doesn't harm him in any way and that his wings grow back, but at the same time, he's a bit of a special bird (Missing a few toes, and ALL his nails on one claw), so I think clipping his wings would make it a littler harder for him to get around. He LOVES flying, I couldn't possibly take that away from him. I got him a huge cage JUSt for him to fly around in. Also, when he had his mate, he was much quiter. He only started squawking and calling since she's been gone. Sure, he SANG to her all the time, but it's not the singing that's the problem.

Millimi · #11 11-08-2006, 11:25 PM

He'll get over the removal of his mirror. Clipping the wings is a personal choice and only you can decide what to do there.
I think you should leave him alone for a few days so he adjusts to the change of no mirrors and then slowly try to get him used to your finger. Make sure he has plenty of fun toys, too!

Hillarious · #12 11-10-2006, 11:38 PM

Yea he will get over the mirror, it will be better for both of you. I can tell you now that clipping his wings will help but it's totally a personal choice.

Have you tried millet? Most bidgies learn to *love* millet once they know what it is. Put a spray of it in there so he eats it, then once he is used to it you can start offering if from your hand. It might take awhile but eventually you can take it from your hand.

Also, you can just rest your hand inside his cage on a perch or something to get him used to your hands. Do that a couple time a day for like 5 or 10 minutes. It might be slow work, but it will work. If you have any questions, feel free to PM me.

bumble_b18 · #13 11-11-2006, 07:07 PM

So it turns out that the mirror removal was a ibttersweet thing. You see, he's getting much more friendlier...too friendly. He still won't really let me hold him or pet him, but now he's trying to MATE with my hands...He's regurgitating food all over them, and he's DEFINATELY tried to....ANYWAY, how do I stop THAT kind of behavior?

Hillarious · #14 11-11-2006, 09:54 PM

First be 100% sure he's regurgitating and not sick (but it does not sound like illness) Check around the cage for barf on other things.

You might try to curb his birdy horniness by rearranging the cage and being *sure* you cover his cage for 12 hours a night. That helps them feel more like it is winter, which is not mating season. Rearranging it will make it feel like home still because it is his cage, but less like his actual nesty territory.

One thing that works is to ignore the mating and regurgitating. Praise him when he interacts with you in a non-horny way. Offer lots of treats from your hands but turn around or walk away if he tries to barf on you ^_^

I really think that rearranging his cage (toys and perches) and covering him 12 hours a night will help the most, without you having to ignore him, which would be sad.

Good Luck with your hornbird!

bumble_b18 · #15 11-11-2006, 10:31 PM

HAHA, this is too funny...first he ahtes me, and now this...and he's definately not sick. With the mirors gone, he's a lot more friendly...just a little TOO friendly. But what I don't get is why it went from one extreme to another in about a week. He still won't let me hold him like my other budgie did, but he's constantly trying to get my attention now. He's also getting much better with me petting him. It's just that this is a little gross and uncomfortable right now. He WILL stop, right? I'll try covering his cage. Normally i just turn the light out. As for rearranging the cage, I already did when I took out his mirrors, but I'll do it again.