Expert: Marie Charon - 12/13/2009

Question
Hi there,
I recently got a young budgie. I lovee this bird, and I take him out all the time when I'm home. The problem I am having, is whenever I leave to go to school or work, he cries and cries. He also runs repeatedly across the bottom of his cage where the door is located. I can't leave without him freaking out! My mom actually stayed home one day while I was at school, and she said that he was doing it all through out the day. He has a roomy cage, toys and veggies to keep him busy all day, but he just stresses himself out instead! I was wondering if you had any training tips to hep me out. It just breaks my heart to leave him!

Answer
He really loves you! This is good!

Now to help him out. I would give him a schedule. What time will you feed him every day, what time will you uncover his cage and wake him up, what time will you cover him up. What time can you spend playing with him every day, what are his out of cage times, and when will he be fed, bathed...etc

A daily schedule can give your bird the stability and predictability he needs. The trick to a schedule is to make sure you can keep it the same every day. (Within reason.) On the weekend during the hours you would be in school during the week, don't handle him. Just stick to your schedule, you can stop by his cage and talk, etc but for the most part keep the time of day you do things with him the same day in and day out. This will eventually go far in reducing his stress while you are away at school.

Blessings,
Marie