Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 4/7/2006

Question
Hey Chrys,

I just bought a parakeet a few days ago with my girlfriend. I have a few questions. We moved him into a cage larger than what the pet store provided if that helps.

I don't know if the parakeet is deathly afraid of us or is somewhat comfortable. In just a few days, he's been comfortable with us putting our hands in his cage and he'll even let us touch him. That's fine and all, but he doesn't move. When all three of us (my girlfriend's mother) are in the same room, he doesn't move a muscle. But when I'm out or when my girlfriend and I are out, he would move around more and even sing to "Total Eclipse of the Heart", so my girlfriend's mom claims. When we put the sheet over his cage at night (around 10 PM), he starts to move around.

Can you explain why he never moves while we're around and when we put our hands in his cage...but becomes much more active when he's alone? Is he hoping that we don't see him? Is he in his own special parakeet place? Is it just too early to expect anything more than this and will he get more comfortable?

Any advice?

Thank you.

Answer
Hi, Scott.  Thanks for posting.

You don't mention the bird's age.  That might help.  But I suspect that your parakeet just isn't used to his new home, you, and his new surroundings yet.  Sometimes it takes a parrot days/weeks/months to become accustomed to a new home...depending on the personality of the individual bird and it's experiences with humans in the past.  If he came from a pet shop, he might be a bit skiddish of people, since a lot of pet shop birds are used to being poked at all day long.  

Seems if the keet was afraid of humans, he would try to stay as far away from your hands as possible.  Since he isn't doing this, perhaps he's a fairly tame keet, but just stressed out from his recent move and/or not used to you and your family yet.  Things will get better with time.  Your new keet needs time to get more used to you and his new home.  Parakeets are highly underrated as good pet birds.  Some learn to talk well and make good companions.

Come back if you have further questions.

Chrys