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Post by karenteresa on Apr 22, 2007 14:17:44 GMT -5
Hello,
I currently have two wonderful budgies who just make my day! My sister has contacted me and knows of a budgie that is neglected. The sister of this owner has asked if I would like to have it. Of course I am willing to take in this poor budgie but I am worried about how to get my two little birds to accept it. I know that this new addition will need to be kept by itself for a month to ensure it does not have any diseases my budgies can catch. Can you give me any advice about how to make the change to my home less stressful for this guy? How should I go to introduce it (I don't even know if its a boy or girl yet) to my little flock? How can I socialize this bird to humans in the most effective manner?
Thanks so much for all advice! ;D
Karenteresa
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Post by Sivin on Apr 22, 2007 19:34:15 GMT -5
Hi Karenteresa and welcome to the forum!
If it is at all possible, I would highly suggest that you take the new bird to an avian vet for an examination, just to rule out any contagious diseases that might be festering and to pinpoint areas the bird might need help in nutritionwise, because I'll bet it's been on a straight seed diet. Then, as you said, you'll keep it away from your other birds for at least a month.
During that time they will probably be calling back and forth to each other and when the time comes you might put the new one's cage alongside your original birds, and see what happens. If they seem curious and friendly towards each other then I would open both doors and watch carefully. Hopefully they will all get along. I would not plan on putting the three together permanently since the other two are a pair and this one would always be odd man out, so to speak. But I'm sure other members will give you their opinions about this.
Get a hold of a good, recently written book on budgies and bone up on what they need. You'll want to act quietly and calmly around the new one until he gets used to your home. After a day or so very slowly put your finger in the cage for the step-up command and see what happens. If you believe in clipping wings now would be the time to do it. Even if you don't, you might until the new bird is somewhat tame.
You might be pleasantly surprised to discover that he does know simple commands and perhaps the current owner has just grown tired of him. What a shame! These are delightful little creatures and can give one so much joy.
I know you'll be hearing from others here. Once again, welcome!
Sivin
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Post by karenteresa on Apr 23, 2007 21:09:42 GMT -5
Thanks Sivin,
I have been re-reading my budgie books looking for any helpful advice. I think this new guy will be moving in on Friday so we are getting ready (provided the weather doesnt turn back to winter)! A visit to the vet will be a must also, just to make sure there are no unexpected problems that could alter how we bring him into our home. I am worried about my one bird Jett, though, she does not like new things very much and she can be mean. It would be nice for everyone to get along, but Im not crossing my fingers with Jett. Also, my other budgie Ollie, well he is a talker and I dont want to have him screaming his songs to the new bird all day long. But that might just have to be an accepted fact of this whole situation.
Any other advice is very welcome though!!! I want things to go as smoothly as possible!
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Post by Sheila on Apr 25, 2007 18:25:45 GMT -5
Welcome Karenteresa! I agree w/Sivin. After the quarantine period, then place the cages side by side. I would do this for another 30 days, then let them into one another cage, but be sure to keep a close eye on them. It's something you don't want to rush into, with any of them. Good luck and let us know how it goes.
Sheila
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Post by karenteresa on Apr 26, 2007 16:25:09 GMT -5
Thanks for the advice, just in time too! The poor guy is moving in today! I'm kind of excited but worried that everyone wont get along. I will be taking everything really slow: Quarantine for 30 days (I have a vet appointment tomorrow night also), and I will be introducing them very slowly!
As always, any other advice is greatly appreciated!
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Post by henryswife on Apr 27, 2007 19:18:46 GMT -5
Hi Karenteresa, 'Welcome to this site' There usually is more nice people on, but being spring, everybody is probably busy or having some bad weather.
Well, anyway, we have 4 budgie hens 3&1/2 and 4 yrs. old. Got them as babies and clipped flight feathers for over their 1st yr. to train them. Being their only home they new, they understand what we say to them and respond. 2 in 1 cage and 2 in the other. They visit each others cage etc. when they are let out for play time and get along nicely.
We took in a pair 1 male & 1 hen the end of Feb. who are 1yr. old. Their owner got tired of them and their little one keep letting them out, and they weren't trained at all. Didn't know enough to go home when told, so they were just grabbed to be put back in their cage. I might add they only had one tiny mirror & a key hanging to play with. I put them in 1 of my cages all set with 2 swings, toys, mineral-cuttle bone, pellet dish, and treat dish. They are happy, chrippy, & love to play with the toys. It took time for me to clean the inside grates & and change inside dishes without them trashing around. It's 2 mo. now, but I still can't get them to 'step-up' but when I give their toy a little shake with the bell, they stop and watch, so I'm hoping they come around. I keep saying 'lets play with a toy' I could see it in their eyes they want to, but just don't trust my hand yet. They were in the large bathroom for 30 days, than brought them into the kitchen so they can see and chrip back & forth with the others. They are soo bonded to each other I don't think I could ever let them all out together with him being the only male. I just hate to clip yet, but I think I just may have to. They did eat some hard-boiled egg & grated carrot, some cheerios, but won't touch anything else that mine do. Soo, it takes time with older birds that were not introduced early. I'm not giving up. They are happy, I could tell.
Well, keep us posted how things are going. I just takes time and good care. Alice
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Post by karenteresa on Apr 30, 2007 13:28:23 GMT -5
Well our new addition has arrived! Its a little girl and we named her Attica (Atti for short). Her cere is a quite a bit deformed because of malnurishment but it has improved over the past few days. It kind of rises up at the end which I have never seen before. Part of it fell off so it has improved but there is still a bit of lift at the tip. Unfortunatly our vet appointment for Friday was canceled as the Vet's wife went into labour. But we will be going today! Atti seems to be adjusting ok. I put her in our family room so she would be hanging out with us. My other two have been booted to the spare bedroom. At first they were not happy, but now they are getting used to the new location. Every cage has a bottle of Purrel nearby to ensure we are washing our hands often. As soon as she came to us, she was put in a bigger cage and given new toys. I dont think her previous owners had switched up her cage layout ever. She also only had one of those wood bars that you get with cages. I am hoping that her feet will be ok. Atti has been having loud conversations with Ollie (Jett's not much of a talker) and she has been eating lettuce, eggs, shredded carrots, and apple. She is not much for spray mullet yet. We are waiting till we see the vet tonight to ensure she is up to being switched from seeds to pellets. She is a pretty smart bird though, she will bend over and chirp if you do the same (she caught on to this when I was doing some yoga near her). This game can go on for quite some time. She also has a call that mimicks a laugh so whenever we laugh, she laughs too. Very funny. She finally took a bath (wasnt keen on getting her feet wet with the first bath offerings) and spent some good time preening. She looks 100% better than when she first arrived.
We will also be getting her nails and wings clipped tonight because she is a fighter! She does not trust hands when we have to go into her cage to change her food or water. So hopefully by clipping her wings we will have a better chance hand taming her!
Thanks for all the postings and advice, if you have any more, keep it coming!
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Post by Sheila on Apr 30, 2007 20:09:45 GMT -5
Sounds like Atti has settled in and feels at home... Such a cute name. Be sure to let us know what the vet says and post pics when you can.
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