Unhappy budgie **Happy Update**
So, we're at the end of week four with my new budgie and he isn't much happier than the day I brought him home from the pet store. He doesn't say much at all unless I sing very loudly for a minute or two then he may join in but stops when I do. I have only seen him play with his bell twice and never with the other toys in his cage. He will eat from a millet sprig when offered from my hand but refuses to step on my hand in any way. We spend five hours a day side-by-side in my office having pleasant conversation with TV or music in the background. I often offer treats while holding my hand in the cage for 10-20 minutes at a time and I do it again before and after dinner in the kitchen (yes, I move him around with me). It looks like he stalled out in his molt--no more pin feathers but half a barred forehead still. Is there birdie happy pills? Is he still so unhappy he doesn't do anything? I stopped playing the budgies on youtube three weeks ago as I thought he was possibly looking for them instead of bonding with me. Should I get him a mirror? I offer seeds, an added stress powder on top of that, crumbles, fresh broccoli, carrot and kale every day. He is very interested in the broccoli--he twirls it round and round in his beak but there is very little actually eating of it from what I can tell. What's a mother to do?
So, we're at the end of week four with my new budgie and he isn't much happier than the day I brought him home from the pet store. He doesn't say much at all unless I sing very loudly for a minute or two then he may join in but stops when I do. I have only seen him play with his bell twice and never with the other toys in his cage. He will eat from a millet sprig when offered from my hand but refuses to step on my hand in any way. We spend five hours a day side-by-side in my office having pleasant conversation with TV or music in the background. I often offer treats while holding my hand in the cage for 10-20 minutes at a time and I do it again before and after dinner in the kitchen (yes, I move him around with me). It looks like he stalled out in his molt--no more pin feathers but half a barred forehead still. Is there birdie happy pills? Is he still so unhappy he doesn't do anything? I stopped playing the budgies on youtube three weeks ago as I thought he was possibly looking for them instead of bonding with me. Should I get him a mirror? I offer seeds, an added stress powder on top of that, crumbles, fresh broccoli, carrot and kale every day. He is very interested in the broccoli--he twirls it round and round in his beak but there is very little actually eating of it from what I can tell. What's a mother to do?