HELP!!! Lonely untame budgie stuck in a friends cage!!!

[safarichick101]

My girlscout troup leader had 2 budgies that weren't tame. Then 1 died...

But she and her family left to study abroad in New Zealand for six months. Leaving the bird in the care of a friend (my friend).


I just feel so bad for it. It is stuck in its cage with very few toys and no friends. Which is a problem since shes not tame and kinda old for a budgie. Her cage is in the kitchen, but when i'm in my friends room, she chirps and seems to say .... Where are you??? I just feel so bad for it. I want to do something like convince my friends to get it a buddy. How should I do it?

Please, it just makes me awfully sad for it. Please tell me what I should do...

[LovelySydney]

Awww poor thing. Well, if she doesnt want another bird than the convincing could be tough. I guess tell her that if shes not going to spend enough time with him than its best to get him a buddy to hang out with, this will help him in the long run mentally and behaviorally, and he will be happier!! I dont know how you would go about convincing her - good luck! I hope it all works out for the little guy.

[Newticus]

Sometimes you have to watch introducing new budgies to ones that have lived alone for along period of time. While budgies are social, when left alone for a long time they tend to get teritorial and aggressive with new budgies.
This is not always the case, but I have see it a number of times, including my own budgies, who all live in separate cages.

Budgies are not overly hard to tame, maybe it would be safer to convince your friend to start handling it, or going over to her house and helping her tame it. My budgies live close together so they all talk to each other, but if I put them together they would all tear each other apart.
If you are set on the idea that it needs a friend, make sure there is an extra cage in case things don't go so well and maybe try and find an older budgie who was not living alone, so that it's comfortable with other budgies and its big and strong enough to deal with some inital aggression.

Melanie

[Chicklette]

I would be honest to your friend and tell her your concerns, if she is truly your friend she will respect your opinion. Hopefully she will accept a friend for the budgie. That would be a great solution but I agree with Melanie, make sure you have a back up plan if you get a second bird because it does not always go well. If you don’t have a back up plan then I would just leave it be.

I feel so bad for animal’s that are neglected. My conure Boomer was extremely neglected without much food or water, very dirty, that poor baby drank and ate for two days straight. Being that thirsty and dehydrated is dangerous.

I agree with Melanie, make sure you have a back up plan if you get a second bird because it does not always go well. If you don’t have a back up plan then I would just leave it be.

But that Budgie needs more attention or it will get depressed, Boomer was in a great depression and he is starting to come out of it with hard work. All birds need is love and attention, I don’t understand how someone can neglect them, why get one.

Just be honest without being pushy and all should go fine.

[MissV]

Newticus took the words out of my mouth....is it just possible for one of you to work at socializing the budgie? I've heard tons of stories about how smart they are and how easily they train.

Adding another bird may be risky....if the two were pair bonded, that's often for life and the budgie may not readily accept a new companion. At least it's already used to you and your friend...so socializing may go easier.

[tielfan]

Adding another bird may be risky....

Especially since this bird actually belongs to someone else. Your friend needs to get their permission before adding another bird, because otherwise there's a risk that the owners won't want the new bird when they come back.

It would be wonderful if you and your friend can work with the current bird and tame it. Then the actual owners will be more likely to pay attention to it when they return.

[hollyhawkz]

For sure there is no guarantee that a new bird would be accepted. If you have extra toys, I would definitely offer her the toys so at least the little guy has something to play with.