Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 1/7/2008

Question
My work-mate & I keep two bugies in a cage in our office. We think that they are both male and we've had them for about 4 weeks.They seem to get on well, they groom each other etc. My dilemma is that we spend so little time with them... mostly afternoons each weekday. They are alone evenings and weekends. I am concerned that we may be neglecting their needs although we always make sure that they have adequate food, water & heating for when we are not here. Please could you offer an opinion.

Answer
Hi, Avril,

I found your question(s) in the question pool this morning.  Evidently, the person you sent your question(s) to originally could not answer for some reason.

The fact that the birds have each other should "makeup" for the time you and your work-mate are not around.  However, this depends on how tame the birds are.  Birds prefer other birds to humans.  I would need more information about the entire situation in order to render an opinion as to whether you are "neglecting" any of their needs.  Visit my website for more general information:  www.angelfire.com/falcon/birdinfo/index.html.  www.birdchannel.com is also a good website.

One problem most bird owners make is that they don't feed their birds properly.  An all-seed diet is not a proper diet for a budgie or any bird.  Parrots (your budgies are parrots) need a variety of healthy, nutritious human foods in order to stay healthy, including pelleted food.  They need some seed, however, allow them to consume their healthy, nutritious foods before providing seed.  As far as warmth goes, as long as you are comfortable in a T-shirt in their environment, it is OK for your birds.  No cold drafts either!  Fresh, clean water every day, and I prefer to use water bottles with my birds.  Keeps them from drinking fouled water in a dish.

You can run into problems sometimes allowing birds to stay by themselves for several days without checking on them.  Be sure there are no hazards in their cage they can get injured with when you are not present, such as strings, chain they can get their toenails stuck in, anything they can get their heads stuck in or their legs/feet/toenails stuck on/in....things like this.  I really recommend if at all possible that you check on them at least once per day when you are not present for the day.  

Chrys