Budgie Q&A
Q. I recently adopted a new parakeet and I fell in love immediately. I'm very excited because he's finally getting on my finger. For the past couple of days he's been acting very unusual. He moves his head/neck rapidly back and forth and opens his beak up wide. He almost acts like something is stuck in his throat. Often, during this behavior, he has a loud screaming/singing sound that I've never heard before. He hasn't been fluffed up or acting tired but he does seem to be shaking a little bit while this behavior is going on or in between the actions. He's also eating fine. He doesn't do this action all day, but here and there. He also rubs his beak on his wooden perches. I don't know if that is related to the other behaviors, though I read that it could be a common mating behavior? Could he have mites or something like that?
A. Budgies are small members of the parrot family and share many similar behaviors with the big birds. Your description does sound a lot like typical courtship behavior. The fact that your Budgie will now step on your hand means that he has established a stronger bond with you than before. This certainly can create some of the behaviors that you mention. Budgies regurgitate food for their mates. The wide open beak with his head rapidly moving is regurgitation, which is a normal mating behavior. Your observation that he looks like something is stuck in his throat is an indication of regurgitation. This behavior is not the same as vomiting, which is an indication of illness. Regurgitation is a normal process used to feed babies. Parents will bring up a partially digested gruel from their crop to feed their babies. As with the bigger birds, courtship behavior is usually based on the amount and angle of light, temperature, and humidity. All of these aspects provide stimulation for mating because it means there will be abundant food for their babies.
Bill wiping is also a normal Budgie behavior. Sometimes it is just a matter of wiping food off of their beaks but in many situations, it is a displacement behavior. Generally this means that a natural behavior is not possible so they perform an action that has the effect of dissipating the energy that would have been used for the natural behavior. A lot of behavior in parrots, whether they are small or large, is based on displacement behavior and this is one of the reasons that some behavior is difficult to understand. The behavior of any pet parrot is based on a complex combination of both nature and nurture. However, the Budgerigar (mistakenly referred to as the Parakeet) has been bred in captivity so long that it has lost a lot of its natural instincts.
Q. Help! After 5 ½ years of loving our two budgies, we have lost one of them to illness. It was devastating and our family is grieving. Our remaining budgie is a female and has always been the dominant one in the cage. She loved her companion, and they played a lot together and she preened him up until the last day. We feel she is lonely now, not playing with her toys and not eating as much. Should we get her a new companion? If so, what the correct way to introduce a new bird to her and us?
A. When I was in the 4th grade, my beloved Budgie, Mickey, died and I was devastated. He was my best buddy. I can certainly understand how difficult it is to lose such a delightful companion. Parrot family birds certainly grieve the loss of her cage partner. She might like to have another Budgie for company, but whether she likes the new bird or not depends on many factors. Since she was the dominant bird and is a mature bird, introducing a baby into her cage might not be a good idea. I have seen situations where Budgies hold their own against larger parrot-family birds. Usually if a Budgie and a Cockatiel live together, the Budgie will be the boss. If you get a young bird I would recommend getting a separate cage for it to live in so you can introduce them slowly. Since your hen is used to being the boss of her cage, placing a young bird with her could cause her to be aggressive to the baby. While some hens may exhibit maternal instincts with a young bird, this is not always the case. You will also need to decide whether to replace the male with another male or whether to get a female Budgie as her new friend. If she stayed tame to you even though she lived with a mate, another male may work just fine. On the other hand, two hens may play with each other without forming a strong mate bond with each other. I am presuming that your hen Budgie is somewhat tame. If you bring a young bird into your home, you will want to give it a good deal of affection and handling so that it forms a bond with you. If the new bird forms a strong bond to your hen Budgie from the very beginning, it may not be as interested in being friends with you. Most Budgies are now parent raised and are infrequently socialized to be tame with people. With patience and gentleness, it is not difficult to tame them down, but it is usually more difficult when they bond with another bird in your home first.
Q. I’ve been having problems with one of my three birds. My 5-ear-old budgie, Neeko, has been abusing his brother, Sunshine. I know it’s not uncommon for there to be a hierarchy, but this is getting out of hand. Sunshine is not allowed to eat, drink or play with his toys. He is only allowed to sit in the corner and pull his feathers out. My 1-year-old cockatiel, Ziggy, who both the budgies have always been nice to, is now being chased around the house and being rammed in midair by both budgies, which causes Ziggy to fall on the ground. This is really getting out of hand.
A. Wow – Your Budgie, Neeko, sounds like the original Red Baron from World War I. Budgies can be very tame and gentle little birds, but they can also be little tyrants in their relationships with other birds. I really doubt that you will be able to do much to change the hierarchy in your home. I think that your solution is going to be one of management. If Neeko and Sunshine are in the same cage, I would recommend that Sunshine gets his own cage so that you know that he is not being deprived of food, water, and play time. He will also need some time out of his cage when Neeko is confined in his cage so that he can play without the little tyrant Neeko harassing him. Your cockatiel, Ziggy, also needs time out without the threat of being “shot out of the sky.” I am concerned that Sunshine is picking his feathers. This is somewhat unusual behavior for a Budgie and although it could be stress from his problems with Neeko, I would recommend taking him to see an avian veterinarian. His picking could be due to a nutritional deficiency or to some disease process. You do not mention what your feed your birds, but a seed only diet will create serious health problems for Budgies… especially since they are prone to get fatty tumors.
Q. I have a pair of budgies, a confirmed male and female. Why does the female lay eggs and breaks them? This is the third time she did it.
A. There are many reasons that your Budgies break their eggs. Consider the fact that they have now been bred and raised in captivity for many generations. Some of their natural instinctive behaviors are no longer that natural. Some of the Budgies being raised for the pet trade may no longer have the instinctual knowledge to breed successfully. They may be too young to be successful parents. The eggs may be infertile because the female was stimulated to lay eggs but the male may not get it right the first few times. The male may simply not be “attracted” to the hen. Maybe the female has no idea how to take care of the eggs and will need some more practice. Sometimes birds just move around too much an/or the female was too rough in trying to turn her eggs. The eggs may be too thin due to nutritional deficiencies … particularly a calcium deficiency. Practice may make perfect but some pairs may never be able to produce viable young.
Q. My friend lets her parakeet fly around the house freely. They have cats, but she says the cats don’t go after him. And what about the stove -- and everything else? What should I tell her? I just don’t think its safe or her bird.
A. There will always be a strong debate about flighted birds and each side of the issue can present a convincing argument. I think it is up to people to educate themselves about the pros and cons of trimming a bird’s wings or letting their birds fly free in the house. I personally think that flighted birds are physically healthier but there may be a greater incidence of injuries and escape. My childhood Budgie, Mickey, was an excellent flyer but that was not what did him in. I am sure that his early demise was based on the evening martinis he shared with my father. My grandmother was visiting us and Mickey was on her shoulder when she walked out the front door. He did not fly off; instead he said, “Shut the door stupid, the bird’s out!” He had heard that many times and my grandmother quickly turned and walked back into the house. I think that people who are very aware of what is going on around them can live with a flighted bird. However, if kids constantly come in and out and people don’t pay close attention to the bird at all times, a flying bird can frequently be in a dangerous situation. Years ago I had a Lory that would fly into any container with liquid in it. I knew that she could not come out if I was cooking or cleaning. I also knew to keep the toilet seat down all of the time with the bathroom door shut. I always checked these things first before I let her out of her cage. I have always made sure that all of my doors had screens as extra protection to prevent a bird from flying outside.
A. Budgies are small members of the parrot family and share many similar behaviors with the big birds. Your description does sound a lot like typical courtship behavior. The fact that your Budgie will now step on your hand means that he has established a stronger bond with you than before. This certainly can create some of the behaviors that you mention. Budgies regurgitate food for their mates. The wide open beak with his head rapidly moving is regurgitation, which is a normal mating behavior. Your observation that he looks like something is stuck in his throat is an indication of regurgitation. This behavior is not the same as vomiting, which is an indication of illness. Regurgitation is a normal process used to feed babies. Parents will bring up a partially digested gruel from their crop to feed their babies. As with the bigger birds, courtship behavior is usually based on the amount and angle of light, temperature, and humidity. All of these aspects provide stimulation for mating because it means there will be abundant food for their babies.
Bill wiping is also a normal Budgie behavior. Sometimes it is just a matter of wiping food off of their beaks but in many situations, it is a displacement behavior. Generally this means that a natural behavior is not possible so they perform an action that has the effect of dissipating the energy that would have been used for the natural behavior. A lot of behavior in parrots, whether they are small or large, is based on displacement behavior and this is one of the reasons that some behavior is difficult to understand. The behavior of any pet parrot is based on a complex combination of both nature and nurture. However, the Budgerigar (mistakenly referred to as the Parakeet) has been bred in captivity so long that it has lost a lot of its natural instincts.
Q. Help! After 5 ½ years of loving our two budgies, we have lost one of them to illness. It was devastating and our family is grieving. Our remaining budgie is a female and has always been the dominant one in the cage. She loved her companion, and they played a lot together and she preened him up until the last day. We feel she is lonely now, not playing with her toys and not eating as much. Should we get her a new companion? If so, what the correct way to introduce a new bird to her and us?
A. When I was in the 4th grade, my beloved Budgie, Mickey, died and I was devastated. He was my best buddy. I can certainly understand how difficult it is to lose such a delightful companion. Parrot family birds certainly grieve the loss of her cage partner. She might like to have another Budgie for company, but whether she likes the new bird or not depends on many factors. Since she was the dominant bird and is a mature bird, introducing a baby into her cage might not be a good idea. I have seen situations where Budgies hold their own against larger parrot-family birds. Usually if a Budgie and a Cockatiel live together, the Budgie will be the boss. If you get a young bird I would recommend getting a separate cage for it to live in so you can introduce them slowly. Since your hen is used to being the boss of her cage, placing a young bird with her could cause her to be aggressive to the baby. While some hens may exhibit maternal instincts with a young bird, this is not always the case. You will also need to decide whether to replace the male with another male or whether to get a female Budgie as her new friend. If she stayed tame to you even though she lived with a mate, another male may work just fine. On the other hand, two hens may play with each other without forming a strong mate bond with each other. I am presuming that your hen Budgie is somewhat tame. If you bring a young bird into your home, you will want to give it a good deal of affection and handling so that it forms a bond with you. If the new bird forms a strong bond to your hen Budgie from the very beginning, it may not be as interested in being friends with you. Most Budgies are now parent raised and are infrequently socialized to be tame with people. With patience and gentleness, it is not difficult to tame them down, but it is usually more difficult when they bond with another bird in your home first.
Q. I’ve been having problems with one of my three birds. My 5-ear-old budgie, Neeko, has been abusing his brother, Sunshine. I know it’s not uncommon for there to be a hierarchy, but this is getting out of hand. Sunshine is not allowed to eat, drink or play with his toys. He is only allowed to sit in the corner and pull his feathers out. My 1-year-old cockatiel, Ziggy, who both the budgies have always been nice to, is now being chased around the house and being rammed in midair by both budgies, which causes Ziggy to fall on the ground. This is really getting out of hand.
A. Wow – Your Budgie, Neeko, sounds like the original Red Baron from World War I. Budgies can be very tame and gentle little birds, but they can also be little tyrants in their relationships with other birds. I really doubt that you will be able to do much to change the hierarchy in your home. I think that your solution is going to be one of management. If Neeko and Sunshine are in the same cage, I would recommend that Sunshine gets his own cage so that you know that he is not being deprived of food, water, and play time. He will also need some time out of his cage when Neeko is confined in his cage so that he can play without the little tyrant Neeko harassing him. Your cockatiel, Ziggy, also needs time out without the threat of being “shot out of the sky.” I am concerned that Sunshine is picking his feathers. This is somewhat unusual behavior for a Budgie and although it could be stress from his problems with Neeko, I would recommend taking him to see an avian veterinarian. His picking could be due to a nutritional deficiency or to some disease process. You do not mention what your feed your birds, but a seed only diet will create serious health problems for Budgies… especially since they are prone to get fatty tumors.
Q. I have a pair of budgies, a confirmed male and female. Why does the female lay eggs and breaks them? This is the third time she did it.
A. There are many reasons that your Budgies break their eggs. Consider the fact that they have now been bred and raised in captivity for many generations. Some of their natural instinctive behaviors are no longer that natural. Some of the Budgies being raised for the pet trade may no longer have the instinctual knowledge to breed successfully. They may be too young to be successful parents. The eggs may be infertile because the female was stimulated to lay eggs but the male may not get it right the first few times. The male may simply not be “attracted” to the hen. Maybe the female has no idea how to take care of the eggs and will need some more practice. Sometimes birds just move around too much an/or the female was too rough in trying to turn her eggs. The eggs may be too thin due to nutritional deficiencies … particularly a calcium deficiency. Practice may make perfect but some pairs may never be able to produce viable young.
Q. My friend lets her parakeet fly around the house freely. They have cats, but she says the cats don’t go after him. And what about the stove -- and everything else? What should I tell her? I just don’t think its safe or her bird.
A. There will always be a strong debate about flighted birds and each side of the issue can present a convincing argument. I think it is up to people to educate themselves about the pros and cons of trimming a bird’s wings or letting their birds fly free in the house. I personally think that flighted birds are physically healthier but there may be a greater incidence of injuries and escape. My childhood Budgie, Mickey, was an excellent flyer but that was not what did him in. I am sure that his early demise was based on the evening martinis he shared with my father. My grandmother was visiting us and Mickey was on her shoulder when she walked out the front door. He did not fly off; instead he said, “Shut the door stupid, the bird’s out!” He had heard that many times and my grandmother quickly turned and walked back into the house. I think that people who are very aware of what is going on around them can live with a flighted bird. However, if kids constantly come in and out and people don’t pay close attention to the bird at all times, a flying bird can frequently be in a dangerous situation. Years ago I had a Lory that would fly into any container with liquid in it. I knew that she could not come out if I was cooking or cleaning. I also knew to keep the toilet seat down all of the time with the bathroom door shut. I always checked these things first before I let her out of her cage. I have always made sure that all of my doors had screens as extra protection to prevent a bird from flying outside.
My major concern is your friend’s cats. She says the cats haven’t gone after him. I would add the word “yet” because most cats are instinctively attracted to flying birds … especially small birds. I also have cats and my cats learned at a very young age not to mess with my larger parrots. One of my Amazons landed on my 6 month old cat, Nimbus. That was the last time he ever showed interest in the parrots but he was still mesmerized by my finches and canaries. I have usually adopted middle aged cats who have already had their claws trimmed. My youngest cat is the exception. He has not learned to ignore the birds and he is very aware of and attracted to a flying bird. I don’t have any parrot out without close supervision.
Cat claws can contain all sorts of bacteria and even a small scratch can cause serious injury and even death in birds. Budgies are covered with feathers, which can make it difficult to find a small cat scratch that could ultimately be lethal to the bird. If a bird has had any type of altercation with a cat, it should receive immediate attention from an avian veterinarian.
Q. I have a younger budgie (just over 5 months) and he is really mouthy. I can't tell if he is being aggressive and not biting or play attacking me. He will be sitting with me then all of a sudden he is growling and attacking my finger. He doesn't bite or even pinch the skin he just growls and attacks. I haven't prevented him from doing this as he isn't hurting any one and I will even box with him and poke at him and get him really riled up. He is very easy to stop and then he will continue to sit with me nicely until I poke at him again. It seems to be a game for him but I want to make sure I'm not reinforcing something that is going to get worse.
A. Parrots love to play games and Budgies are no exception. At this point, the game you are playing sounds like fun for both of you. A Budgie’s beak is not just a weapon; it has many other uses. Biting and play are two different behaviors and this sort of game will not necessarily turn into aggression. If he was being aggressive, he would probably bite or at least give you a good pinch. From your description it sounds as if he is initiating play by mimicking your playful verbalizations and attacking your finger to get you to box with him. It can always stay a game if you are aware of a few important factors. The first is that you don’t try to force him into the game if he is not in the mood to play. Poking at him when he is not responsive to playing could be perceived by him as teasing and this could create problems in your relationship. He could become afraid of you. Make sure that when you poke him that it is a very gentle poke. Another important aspect is that at some point in the game, he may go into overload because of too much stimulation and may become bitey. Don’t punish him for this, he can’t be blamed for getting so riled up; just slow down your interactions with him and leave him alone so he can calm down.
Q. I think my budgie, Maya, is scared of hands. She never comes near a hand, and if she does, she freaks out, like, a lot. What do I do?
A. Most of the budgies that are raised today are not well-socialized by human beings. They are parent raised until they are ready to be sold. Because of this, they simply are unfamiliar with human hands and being handled by them. There are still some breeders who take the time to hand feed and handle baby budgies, but these breeders can be difficult to find. Go easy with Maya and let her gradually come to your hand instead of putting your hands near her. Maya sounds like a sensitive little girl and if you are too direct with her, she can actually become more afraid of your hands. With sensitive birds, this is particularly true when we “invade” their cage territory by sticking our hands inside. I recommend setting up some toys and her favorite food treats on a table not far from her cage. If she is in a hanging cage, it would be helpful to place the cage on the table and open the door. In the beginning, don’t pay attention to her … in fact it is best to ignore her. Sit down in a chair in front of the toys and play with them all by yourself. If she likes a variety of fresh foods, stop playing with her toys occasionally and eat some shredded carrots, some greens, or a half of a grape. The start playing with her toys again. After doing this for a day or so, calmly look towards her and then lower your head and play with her toys again. Parrot-family birds are quite curious and after a few days, she will most likely become quite curious about what you are doing. Budgies are also social birds and Maya will want to become your friend if you win her trust by going slow and staying calm with her.
Cat claws can contain all sorts of bacteria and even a small scratch can cause serious injury and even death in birds. Budgies are covered with feathers, which can make it difficult to find a small cat scratch that could ultimately be lethal to the bird. If a bird has had any type of altercation with a cat, it should receive immediate attention from an avian veterinarian.
Q. I have a younger budgie (just over 5 months) and he is really mouthy. I can't tell if he is being aggressive and not biting or play attacking me. He will be sitting with me then all of a sudden he is growling and attacking my finger. He doesn't bite or even pinch the skin he just growls and attacks. I haven't prevented him from doing this as he isn't hurting any one and I will even box with him and poke at him and get him really riled up. He is very easy to stop and then he will continue to sit with me nicely until I poke at him again. It seems to be a game for him but I want to make sure I'm not reinforcing something that is going to get worse.
A. Parrots love to play games and Budgies are no exception. At this point, the game you are playing sounds like fun for both of you. A Budgie’s beak is not just a weapon; it has many other uses. Biting and play are two different behaviors and this sort of game will not necessarily turn into aggression. If he was being aggressive, he would probably bite or at least give you a good pinch. From your description it sounds as if he is initiating play by mimicking your playful verbalizations and attacking your finger to get you to box with him. It can always stay a game if you are aware of a few important factors. The first is that you don’t try to force him into the game if he is not in the mood to play. Poking at him when he is not responsive to playing could be perceived by him as teasing and this could create problems in your relationship. He could become afraid of you. Make sure that when you poke him that it is a very gentle poke. Another important aspect is that at some point in the game, he may go into overload because of too much stimulation and may become bitey. Don’t punish him for this, he can’t be blamed for getting so riled up; just slow down your interactions with him and leave him alone so he can calm down.
Q. I think my budgie, Maya, is scared of hands. She never comes near a hand, and if she does, she freaks out, like, a lot. What do I do?
A. Most of the budgies that are raised today are not well-socialized by human beings. They are parent raised until they are ready to be sold. Because of this, they simply are unfamiliar with human hands and being handled by them. There are still some breeders who take the time to hand feed and handle baby budgies, but these breeders can be difficult to find. Go easy with Maya and let her gradually come to your hand instead of putting your hands near her. Maya sounds like a sensitive little girl and if you are too direct with her, she can actually become more afraid of your hands. With sensitive birds, this is particularly true when we “invade” their cage territory by sticking our hands inside. I recommend setting up some toys and her favorite food treats on a table not far from her cage. If she is in a hanging cage, it would be helpful to place the cage on the table and open the door. In the beginning, don’t pay attention to her … in fact it is best to ignore her. Sit down in a chair in front of the toys and play with them all by yourself. If she likes a variety of fresh foods, stop playing with her toys occasionally and eat some shredded carrots, some greens, or a half of a grape. The start playing with her toys again. After doing this for a day or so, calmly look towards her and then lower your head and play with her toys again. Parrot-family birds are quite curious and after a few days, she will most likely become quite curious about what you are doing. Budgies are also social birds and Maya will want to become your friend if you win her trust by going slow and staying calm with her.
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