New Parakeets

[paratroopersgirl]

Hi! I was wondering if someone could give me some advice pretaining to my parakeets. My boyfriend got me (after discussing it with me of course!) a wonderful pair (male and female) of Budgies for Christmas. My female is under 4 months and still a baby and my male is around 4-6 months I believe (judging by the color of his eyes). I've spent several hours reading up on everything I can about them, I've only had finches before. My problem is that, while they have tamed down considerably since I got them and are now semi-hand trained, my male is still considerably wilder than my female and she lapses into periods of misbehavior when around him. Is there anyway I can cure this other than separating them until they are better trained? I will also be returning to college at the end of the week and am wondering what I can do to help ease the birds transitition from being with me all day to only seeing me in the evenings. I will still be able to spend adequate amounts of time with them (at least 2-3 hrs/evening if not more) but not the amount of attention they have received over the break. I'm also in ROTC and will be required to spend a weekend out in the field during some point this semester, is there anyway I can help them handle the stress of not seeing me for a weekend? (I'm assuming it will be stressful for them, maybe I'm placing too much on their love for me ) I want to provide the best possible care for them (which is why this post is sooo long...I'm trying to cover everything I've had questions about) but would like help on these three issues if anyone can give it. It would be much appreciated!

[poco1dallas2]

Hi welcome to birdboard!
I too have two budgies, but i wouldnt be able to help you.

[svolk]

In order to keep them both tame, I would suggest working with both of them individually on a constant basis. Meaning take one into a different room and just spend time there and work on things like 'step up.' Do they play with toys yet? A playgym or area to play when out of the cage has been very useful for me.

I think they will be fine with the schedule changes as they are still new to your environment, and they have each other to keep each other company while you are away - which is why you should work with both of them separately. It will take time and patience to tame them both, but it can be done. I only have 1 budgie so I am only speaking from what I have read.

[paratroopersgirl]

They pretty much ignore their toys. I still switch them out every few days but I've never seen them show any interest in them. They play with more objects out of the cage than they do in the cage. They step up probably 8 out of 10 tries. One is more consistent than the other. They are no longer scared of me so I guess that is progress. I agree with taking them one on one. My boyfriend and I usually take a bird each and go into a different room. I also have problems with their diet. They refuse to eat anything but one seed type out of their mix and despise anything fresh. I'm glad the schedule change wont be detrimental to them though.

[svolk]

Originally Posted by paratroopersgirl

They pretty much ignore their toys. I still switch them out every few days but I've never seen them show any interest in them. They play with more objects out of the cage than they do in the cage. They step up probably 8 out of 10 tries. One is more consistent than the other. They are no longer scared of me so I guess that is progress. I agree with taking them one on one. My boyfriend and I usually take a bird each and go into a different room. I also have problems with their diet. They refuse to eat anything but one seed type out of their mix and despise anything fresh. I'm glad the schedule change wont be detrimental to them though.

It sounds like you are making progress! Budgies can be very stubborn and hard to convert to new things/foods, so it is usually a slow go.

Try playing with their toys yourself, and act like it's the most fun thing in the world (I know it sounds silly, trust me ). Most budgies learn by observing. And eat the veggies yourself as well and let them see. Once one tries it, the other will likely follow.

I know it's difficult to convert their diet, it is a slow process. Just keep trying and make it creative and fun with the fresh foods. Chop up various textures and colors of foods.

Keep up the good work with the taming, you're doing wonderful!

[Cindy215]

There're alot of ways to get them to try something new. Just trying is all it takes, they dont even know it's really food lol.

Some people just withhold their normal food all morning till the pm. That's not my style lol. Other people dump the fresh on top of the seed and remove after a couple hours. OThers make a gloopy mixture and sprinkle seed on top to trick them into trying it.

The best way I found for me is to put a chopped (like food processor) mix of alot of dark leafy greens (kale,escarole,endive,dandelion,mustard,turnip no spinach or parsley it binds calcium)...and some veggies especially broccoli then add some cooked grains with it in it's own cup every day. Like oats and grouts, barley, buckwheat, quinoa, millet,wheat berries etc. Every single day I put some in whether they try or not. (2 hours max) Then they get used to seeing it there. They may try but dont worry if they dont. They see the 3 or 4 bowls (4 if you offer pellets) and think it's normal. Just factor waste into your budget it's a bird thing lol.

[ALSO when they finally try it they dont SWALLOW all the food necessarily the chomp down on the green stalks to extract the juice so dont think they are wasting the food they're just eating the bird way lol. But mine actually do eat and swallow most of it ]

I did this for two months with two rescue budgies who were sensory deprived and sorta robotic. They didnt show any real interest in the fresh.

THEN one day I didnt change the see food and left it for day two. It was kinda picked over. I put the veggie mix in THAT cup and all of a sudden they were chowing down.

EVery day from then on, they get fresh food for the pm meal from 1:30 till 3:30. Then I put the seed (and Harrison HiPo Mash for one of them with lipomas) back in around 4:45 because we follow a strict natural daylight schedule so they go to bed at about 5:15 right now.

Keep offering and just like Sarah said even show them you eating it and make a big fuss in a high voice and stuff so they think it's fun lol. And for sure once one tries the other will.

If you like cooking or prepping food you can even try sprouts Budgies LOVE them. Also Budgie Butter or Eucalyptus leaves from Budgie World in Australia.

You can make this Veggie mix up for 3-4 days in advance just put in the cold part of the fridge. I found a perfect size glass container at Kmart in the Martha Stewart section it's about 4x4 or 4x6 or so, square with a lid and all glass and stays really cold.