my new bird

[newbird]

Hi everyone..glad to be here. I just recently purchased a new blue English Budgie. He has blue cere so I assume it is a male. I have had him for three weeks now.
He sings and eats his food...but he does not do much else. I am not a real experienced bird owner or real knowledgeable...but I have had a couple of American Parakeets in the past. They were very playful and did all sorts of funny stuff in their cage. They were real characters. However this bird (I haven't named him yet) is a rather boring guy. He does not play just hops to different perches. He appears healthy. What's wrong.??? He has toys in his cage..the cage is about 18 inches wide and very tall. I talk to him all the time and give him attention; he's in the living room and that's where we hang out....???? But he just sits there...he is very alert too..looks around .
Thanks and it was fun getting to chat and be here,
Newbird;)

[Shirley]

Hi there!

So glad you joined our group!

http://shirleymorgan.com/misc/BF/em/Welcometothegroup.gif

I'm not very familiar with English Budgies, but I do know they are different in behavior from American Budgies. I don't know how similar they are to Australian Bourke's Parakeets, but here's what I'll share:

We've been told and told how *boring* the Bourke's are by various bird shops. WRONG!! We've had them for 4 yrs+ now and what a delight they are! Of course, if we did nothing, then they would just sit there and do nothing, too. I'm not implying you are doing nothing by any means, I'm just saying that unlike the regular budgies, the Bourke's do not clown around and chatter and talk and play with toys and entertain you or themselves or each other. HOWEVER if you talk to them, get them out and let them sit with you, interact with them every day, etc, then they will do all sorts of things both on their own and with you. Ours continually break "the rules" of what so-called bird shop people would expect of them. We have them living with friends in various places - and get story upon story about how delightful they are, yet I still hear from bird shop owners/employees that they are "boring"... NOT!

I wrote this about them and put it on my Bourke's site, and I don't know how close it is to the English Budgie, but perhaps you'll find it helpful. I've found that just about all birds respond to human interaction.

First though, how old is your bird? Our older Bourke's (3-4 yrs old when we got several) took a year to modify behavior and get them to figure out how to do things other than "sit and look around". Our babies grew up active and affectionate and interactive with people.

Here's the article I wrote: (It's what people read before they decide to get one of our babies... and before we choose to allow them to have one of our babies...)

About Bourke's Parakeets
By Shirley Morgan


Bourke’s Parakeets are from Australia and eat on the ground in the grasslands in large flocks. They are about 7-1/2” long, tail included. Their diet includes a parakeet seed mix, small parakeet-size Zupreem brand pellets, and fresh chopped veggies 2-3 times each week. I provide unsalted raw frozen (thawed) corn and peas, and fresh grated broccoli and carrots. Millet sprays are also enjoyed. Vitamins are not necessary, and especially should not be given if they are eating Zupreem pellets. They must have a cuttle bone attached to their cage bars all the time. These are available in bird and pet shops. The cuttle bone provides calcium and helps keep their beaks in good condition. They enjoy taking a bath once in awhile in a plastic cockatiel-size bird bath attached to the cage door, or a large water dish placed on the floor of their cage. Fresh water must be provided every day. Bourke's seldom if ever need their nails trimmed, and never need their beaks trimmed. Only a a qualifed AVIAN veterinarian should attend to a bird's beak. Bourke’s rarely, if ever, bite. A tame Bourke's will not bite, but may nibble or taste curiously and affectionately. They are easily tamed if they are not already tame when purchased. I have found them to be a super bird for children who love birds, because they are not aggressive, they are naturally sweet and calm, and they don't mind being ignored. They don’t require personal attention out of their cages on a daily basis. They also don’t need a companion bird, and if you have two, they are still just as tame and friendly toward their human friends. They do not snuggle, groom, or interact much at all with a companion Bourke. Bourke's of same sex or opposite sex get along together just fine. If you don't wish to raise a family, then do not provide a nest box and discard eggs that may be laid. Your pet Bourke's will still be your pet, even if you have two together in a cage.


Kilroy, our first Bourke's, was hand-raised and only 8 wks old when we got her four years ago. She bonded to my husband, Steve, immediately and lives in our bedroom. He opens her cage door every night and she flies to him and eats seed on a towel in his lap, then sits on his shoulder and chirps and picks at his hair and face while we watch the news. Then she goes to bed in her covered cage. She repeats this ritual on Sat/Sun mornings while we read the paper. She comes over to say hello to me and then goes back to Steve. She is fully flighted and has been most of the time we've had her. If there is the slightest possibility of an open door or window while your birds are out, then their wings should be clipped so they cannot fly away. Once a pet bird is outside flying, it becomes scared and disoriented so quickly that it is rare that it will find its way back home.


Bourke’s don't care much for cuddling, although they will give you kisses and pick at your hair and face. Sometimes Kilroy likes to have her back rubbed. They do like to sit with you or ride around on your shoulder with you. Males and females are equally affectionate with their human friends, and make equally well-bonded pets.


Bourke’s don't play with toys, and they chirp the most in the mornings and late evenings. They imitate some of your speech with their chirping, but they rarely learn to talk. A wide cage is most appropriate rather than a tall cage. Bourke’s are not climbers like regular budgies (parakeets) are. They fly or hop back and forth from perch to perch and usually don’t climb cage bars, although they will climb wood ladders. Bourke's enjoy picking at things such as short (safe) stringy preening objects sold in bird shops as "preening toys". Be sure the stringy parts are stiff bristles so they cannot get their feet tangled.


Cautions: Non-stick coatings: PTFE ~ Polytetrafluoroethylene

Bourke's (all birds, for that matter) do not tolerate cigarette smoke in the home. It is extremely dangerous for their lungs and respiratory system. Candles can be fatal - the scent and oils of the candles are toxic to birds. Also, non-stick cookware such as Teflon and other brands is extremely dangerous to use at high temperatures (375+ degrees) even when the birds are in rooms far away from the kitchen. It is *highly recommended* that non-stick cookware not be used at all, or, if you insist on keeping your non-stick cookware, then please be very vigilant that it never get so hot that the pan is burning or smoking. Humans cannot smell the gaseous fumes that are emitted, but these chemical changes to the surface of the non-stick pans can and will kill your birds before you realize they are affected by the fumes. There are several Websites that explain this scientifically for you. PTFE is the abbreviation for the chemical you would search for used in the non-stick surface: Polytetrafluoroethylene. This chemical composition is also used in toaster ovens, self-cleaning ovens, and some hair dryers, so just be careful and use common sense. The first couple of times you run your toaster oven and self-cleaning oven (the break-in time), take your birds out of the home for a few hours during and afterward.
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Tell us more about your new bird in the Budgies forum and perhaps we can help you there...

Thanks so much for joining and asking questions.

:wavey:

[Jean]

Hi :wavey: it is nice to have you join us. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v387/jeanaskins/welcome%20-%20friendship/thWelccomewreath.gifI see you have only had your bird for three weeks. Do you know anything about his background or family before you adopted him? If he has lost a human mate or loved one he could be unhappy about that or uneasy about a adjustment into a new home. Three weeks is not a long time if he's dealing with emotions of a loss.

You mentioned he does not play, maybe he does not know how to play with toys. We adopted a lost nanday conure years ago that flew into our home. She did not know how to play with toys and never did play with them much. She did not like a swing we got her. She preferred personal interaction over toys anytime. Not all birds are the same. In time, he may learn to enjoy some toys. Do you know if he had any toys before he came to you?

Have you had him vet checked to be sure he's feeling alright? Does he eat a good balanced diet? The more you know about his past the easier it will be to understand and work with him. we have a lot of information and special links to a wide variety of knowledge that offers a lot of good information from good foods to hazards for birds. Please, feel free to browse and ask questions.

He sounds pretty, I hope you can share his picture with us. :heart:

[Sue]

Hi and welcome:wavey:

I had an English Budgie as a child and he was a cute little character, he talked a lot and used to recite nursery rhymes, he used to mix them up which was really cute.
I played with him a lot too, he used to go all over the house with me.

Maybe try giving him lots of attention and get him out and play with him, is he tame?
Good luck.:highfive:

[Shirley]

Sue, I'd forgotten all about your English Budgie as a child! Or I never knew! I'd love to hear more about him! I don't suppose you have any pics of you and him from way back, do you? :wub:

[Jean]

Sue, that would be nice to hear more about.

[Majj]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v373/Maj/Gifs%20and%20siggys/aaWelcomQuakersMajj.gif

[harleybaby]

Just wanted to say WELCOME!!!!!!! :wavey: Leah

[newbird]

I have gottonhim pretty tame. I clipped his wings and I take him out of his cage many times a day. He used to try and get away from me when I would take him out of the cage. He no longer does this...now he is real easy to pick up out of the cage. he will sit on my fingers and I talk with him...he does sometimes try and fly away...but I just catch him again and talk softly. Today when I was talking to him I started whistling and he would whistle back and we did this exchange several times in a row. He still does not play with his toys though and he just sits in his cage and looks around...dpesn't do much. I felt sorry for him...maybe he was lonely??....so I put a mirror in the cage and he sat glued to it for days. But I noticed with the mirror in the cage it would make him more wild when I would try to take him out for a visit. So I got rid of the mirror...now he is real easy to get out of the cage again. Thanks everyone for your responses, New Bird:)

[birdnerd]

Howdy stranger,

Welcome to the funny farm.

Well... if you just got your little fellow, he may be adapting to his environs yet.

Alternately, some birds are just more sedate than others. My female tiel fits that description. My pi is statue-boy interrupted by periods of ADHD.

If he's eating normally and all that happiness, I wouldn't suspect illness.

(:

[Angelbunny]

Nice to meet you, I am Angelbunny<-----was a beloved dwarf housebunny my name is Georgette. I have a maximillion pionus for several years. I found him in the back of a bird store, in the pre-owned room. He is also a perch potato, does not play, he does though enjoy being handled. He never talked, but is a nice companion bird. I have giving him lots of toys, but he is afraid of them. I took him to the vet thinking there was something wrong with him. The vet said he is ok, just a perch potato.
Good Luck
with your new bird

[Jean]

HI Georgette :wavey: aka Angelbunny. Welcome!!! :dance:

It is nice to have you join us. Please, make an introduction so the members will not miss giving you a proper welcome. I look forward to hearing more about your "couch potato" :heart: LOL

[birdnerd]

It's so good to see you.

Another PI!! YAY!

Mine, a WCP, is statue boy punctuated by bursts of ADHD.

(: