Expert: Marie Charon - 12/11/2009

Question
Hi,

First I would like to thank you for your time.  A  bit about the budgie, we rescued him.  I don't really know anything about him prior to acquiring him, not even age.  I assume he is not over a year or two old.  I know he moved around about 3 times before we took him. I'm guessing he was just stuck in a corner and fed, with little to no interaction whatsoever.  He's not a very playful/friendly bird at all.  He won't come out of his cage unless we pick him up.  He often bites if we try to get him out or pick his casings.  We leave the door to his cage open when we're in the room, and talk to him often.  He doesn't eat any treats at all but millet, he won't eat any fruits, vegetables, nuts etc.  He hardly ever plays, he basically just sits on a perch and stays there, doing very little.  He has been with us for almost 2 months now.  Is there any way we can make him our friend?  Any suggestions would be great!

Answer
He is what you call a cage-bound bird. This comes about when a bird is not allowed out of its cage for extended time frames, and it also sounds like he has become emotionally unbalanced. Parakeets should be very energetic, playful and inquisitive.

Brew him some St Johnswart tea and replace his water with it. Do this for a month or so..... It helps depressed birds.

Now, the cage bound issue. Take a wash clothe and towel him out of the cage. Put some seed or another favorite treat on the floor and let him forage for it. Parakeets also love to play with legos on the floor. Shut his cage door, and do this about an hour or so a day. It will take hold, and he will begin to "forage for the seeds," even if he doesn't the first few times, and he'll begin to play with the leggos. (I've never met a parakeet that doesn't go for legos...eventually.) This will help him remember what it is birds do.....

Also, take him out of the cage, take him into a different room (bathrooms work well) put him on a T stand and begin teaching him to step up. When he flies off of the T stand, just pick him back up and put him back onto the stand and again tell him to step up. Repeat until he has this done. Do this 2-3 times a day, for about 10 minutes each.

You can also towel him, and have 30-40 minute marathon cuddles. Where you keep him gently toweled, offer him millet spray, and teach him how to enjoy being in your company.

These things work well, with all sorts of rescue bird issues, and in time (sometimes it can take up to six months) they all come around and begin to not only trust you, but to seek out your company.