[LowkeyBirb]

Hello again!

This is my little bird Helios, I had an initial post about him guessing his gender and after I took him to the vet he was confirmed to be a boy. He was also cleared from the 4 main tests that were run and is in good health overall.

Now, It's been just about a month and he has a really strong attachment to this branch. He hardly ever moves from it or flies around and is generally pretty quiet. There are times when I talk he will start calling chirp and then even squawking. Im not sure what is going on or why he isn't getting comfortable. I do leave his door open so if he wants to come out he can and usually once or twice a day he will explore and come out on his own and sit for a bit somewhere and then climb his way back up to the branch. at first, I would go to check on him or put him away it if was too long, but then decided he should get comfortable doing it himself. He has very little interest in toys, which I don't think is too weird. I am unsure of his age but am assuming on the younger side.

Is he just lonely? I did read that this could be the case. I am getting a cockatiel from a well-established breeder either today or tomorrow and will quarantine as well as I can for at least a few weeks. My avian vet also said that the breeder does a good job testing their birds and not having any issues. (( except they are almost anti-pellet for some reason - saying it isn't natural for the birds, but my vet was like 'yeah, well, keeping them in a cage isn't natural either ))

I've hidden pieces of millet and seed around his cage or tucked in the rope and he very rarely goes anywhere else other than the branch you see him on. Even on the top platform (which he really liked from his smaller cage - he hasn't even ventured that high)

I read to him and talk to him a good bit, he gets chop with boiled egg whites in the morning with some seed mixed in, and seed/pellet mix at night.

I did start target training to see if that would help, and he did pick it up very well. but almost refuses to get off of this branch.

Does he just need more time? - He's in my office so Im with him almost all day, could he possibly need more time alone?

I'm not sure what I am doing wrong here, is it that he is just lonely or is it something else? Would appreciate any advice or cage change recommendations

 

[Cody]

A month is still a short time to expect too much, he might just be a bird that is more on the shy side. Do you have a separate cage for the cockatiel?

 

[LowkeyBirb]

Okay good to know! I wasn't sure- it seems like most articles just talk about the first 48 hours and then they should start perking up.

Oh yeah, the cockatiel has the exact same cage and similar setup, but completely separate. I have no plans on housing them together.

 

[Cody]

He may be a bird that would benefit from having a budgie friend, sometimes another budgie friend can make a big difference for some birds.

 

[LowkeyBirb]

Do you think the cockatiel will help perk him up? I have noticed that he calls outside birds when he hears them and that will usually get him moving around in his cage or going outside of it. I don't want to rush in going from no birds to 3 in such a short time lol I want to get everyone settled first. I knew I wanted a parakeet and a cockatiel, and am not opposed to another parakeet, but want to make sure it's the right thing to do. I would hate to accidentally become a bird hoarder.
I do have a 3rd cage that I originally had Helios in - so if needed I could quarantine a new parakeet btw.

 

[Sweety's mom]

This may not be correct, but it is possible your bird is afraid of all the things in his cage. Mine absolutely hates any new toy and will sit staring at it like it may murder him for days sometimes, and some toys he simply never accepts so I end up removing them and tossing them. I've gotten to where I just buy the same shreddable toys as he goes through them, so I don't have to go through the long process of him deciding to accept a new kind of toy. Maybe try removing some or most of the toys/swings, etc. Just a thought!

I read to him and talk to him a good bit, he gets chop with boiled egg whites in the morning with some seed mixed in, and seed/pellet mix at night.

Another thought...should he really get egg every day? I thought I had understood that when they are molting they may have some egg a couple times per week. I hope others will chime in, is it possible he is feeling physically a bit low energy such as when we eat too much and are too full?

 

[Cody]

A budgie will usually be a another budgie's best friend you won't know if the cockatiel will be a good influence until you try it, hopefully he will benefit by having another bird in the same room. There is also a chance that the cockatiel will be scary to him so don't force an introduction.

 

[LowkeyBirb]

Another thought...should he really get egg every day? I thought I had understood that when they are molting they may have some egg a couple times per week. I hope others will chime in, is it possible he is feeling physically a bit low energy such as when we eat too much and are too full?

Oh I'd appreciate some input on that too -
I made some chop and froze it in ice cube trays so I thaw one and I have an egg steamer so i make an egg for him and my daughter for breakfast, but of that, he's getting like less than a quarter of the egg white squished and mixed in with some seed and a teeny bit of water so itll be sticky. I saw that on birdtricks youtube. if it's too much I get that, but he seems to enjoy it - he has gotten really good at going for more than just the seeds and likes the greens.

in regards to the toys, I was thinking something similar after I posted and looked at the pics, I moved the one platform he liked lower and took out the swing, and right now he's talking a bit. I think it's the happy chatter kind of sound, while im playing a podcast. So idk, maybe it is just a more time thing. I know people always talk about patience with birds, but its hard to put that into perspective ya know? That even a month could be too soon for a single PetSmart parakeet.

 

[LowkeyBirb]

Alright! We've got movement lol I did take out the big toy on the side too and after an hour or so he did a big wing flap, hop around, and then checked out the top of the platform to find some seeds. 🥰
Thank you @Sweety's mom for the less toy idea. He's had a softer chirp too so I think that did help maybe ease some anxiety.

 

[Cody]

That's great, could be that one thing was making him nervous.

 

[LowkeyBirb]

@Cody If I did get a 2nd Budgie - Do you think they would gang up on the cockatiel? lol Is that a thing that could happen?

 

[Cody]

You can never predict what will happen but that I think is unlikely. I have had several species of birds at one time and although they had separate cages they all had out of the cage time together and they did not interact much at all.

 

[karenblodgett3261]

You mentioned you'd keep the new bird quarantined for at least two weeks. That is way, way to short a time. You want to quarantine for a minimum of 30-45 days. It's great that the breeder tests for illness, but some things may be in an early stage and not detectable at the time of testing.

 

[Sweety's mom]

So happy he is moving and exploring a bit more!!!

I had to learn my guy’s preferences pretty quickly, and once I did he is so safe and happy in his cage home. He likes minimal toys, only his 2 favorites. Plus 1 swing that I had to very very slowly introduce.

He also loves flying about his cage. So I’ve learned where to place perches and toys so that the most space is available in the middle of the cage for him to fly without obstacles.

I occasionally move one of the toys to another place and see if he will still play with it or ignore it. If he ignores it for a week I put it back where it was and he acts like I’ve given him something fun and new. Even tho it’s the same toy.

This doesn’t work for new toys! I have to start by putting the new toy near his cage where he can see it for a few days. Then hang it on the outside of the cage for several days. Then put it inside the cage in a corner where he doesn’t hang out much for a few days. He spends this time making sure the toy cannot murder him When he is sure it can’t, and if he shows a little interest in the toy I will then move it to a place where another toy he already likes is nearby.

It’s definitely a learning process and these little guys are so sensitive to every object. Some of them love toys so much that they are excited for new ones. Maybe my Sweety will be that brave one day too. But for now he reminds me constantly that the world is scary and he’s just trying to not get eaten.

 

[LowkeyBirb]

You mentioned you'd keep the new bird quarantined for at least two weeks. That is way, way to short a time. You want to quarantine for a minimum of 30-45 days. It's great that the breeder tests for illness, but some things may be in an early stage and not detectable at the time of testing.

I have seen that here a lot and in a different situation I would go more by the book. However, I'm going off of what my Avian vet recommended - the breeder is a well-established local bird store and pretty much the only exotic/pet bird specialty store in my region at all. I'm assuming because of their reputation and the local avian community, that if it was a concern my vet would have said the full 30-45 days. But she was pretty much like, yeah they are great at testing each generation of parents so 2 weeks in a separate room should be fine. I was also visiting the cockatiel about 3-4 times a week for the last 4 weeks to handle him and chill for an easier transition home. He had only gotten more handsome lol So at least physically there have been no signs of illness. The Vet also knew about my visits and that I was getting them about a month apart from each other.

(( This is also why I dont want to rush into a 3rd bird, since its a big adjustment at once ))

 

[vkelman]

You got excellent advices here and you're doing all right.
Your budgie came from PetSmart, correct? That my be one reason why he is so shy, scared. They don't know how to properly handle birds, they don't care much, they don't socialize birds. I'm sure your guy still remembers his unfortunate past.
It's very important that you keep bird around you and are talking to him. He will slowly overcome his fears. And sure, it can only come on his terms, you cannot and shouldn't try to force anything.
I had a budgie from PetSmart, who was scared for the same reason.
You got great cage, removing part of toys was correct thing to do. Millet is one of the best lures.
I would probably restrict the amount of eggs a little bit.
Pay attention on how your bird reacts on different clothes. They are often very sensitive to colors, light , light green color is usually preferred, while dark, red, unusual clothing may scare them.

I never had cockatiels, but heard that they are usually not aggressive towards smaller birds and might become friends. If a cockatiel will be tame, your budgie might learn by example that you are not scary and become tame faster.
Budgies are very social birds, they are happier and more confident if not alone, but in a flock of other budgies. They normally get along each other very well and become more happy and active. Still, I understand that getting from just one bird to three birds at once might be too challenging.