I Has Questions

[SergeantSniffle]

Hello. I have a budgie named Lucky and he/she has some issues. I think. When I put my hand in his cage, he runs over to it to lunge, nip, and bite it. Then when he/she finally steps up, I take him out and he/she is like the cuddliest and sweetest bird ever. Also he/she gets about 10 hours of sleep in a dark room with a cage cover. But my parents have the TV on softly at night until about 2:00 AM in the room about 30 feet away from him is that OK? Sometimes he/she is sleepy. I'm thinking about moving him/her to my room upstairs away from sounds and stuff. He/she is about 1 year old. I think he/she might be going through a hormonal stage but I don't know. Also is he/she a he or a she? He/she is a Lutino.

If you need any other information ask me please.

 

[EAI]

From the lighting I see a hint of blue that suggests a male. Though I could be wrong, not the best with sexing-no matter how dimorphic they are!
Esther (my male) was presumed as a female but after 2 years he's finally got his dark blue cere.

 

[getwozzy]

I vote boy.

It sounds like he's a bit crabby at you sticking your hand in his cage, so maybe wait for him to come out on his own and see how that works out...

I would also suggest moving him to your room so he can get some sleep at night- with the tv going most of the night he could possibly not be sleeping very well.

 

[RavensGryf]

Some color mutations of Budgies don't get a blue cere. My budgie Twigs is a recessive pied, and as an adult male, has a pinkish lavender cere. I believe Lutino is also this way, and would need DNA sexing to be 100% sure. Although there are some hints with behavior that might point to one sex or the other.

I'd cover your Budgie at night if you don't already. That way it cues him that it's time to sleep, and provides a darkened environment making it easier to get to sleep. If the TV volume is on low I wouldn't worry. Afterall, it's not completely silent in the wild either.

 

[kalypso123]

Lucky could just be cage territorial. Just let him come out of his own. How much time do you spend out of cage with him?

 

[SergeantSniffle]

I do cover up his cage at night and have been since we got him/her. And I usually spend about 5-9 hours a day with him/her. I will probably get him/her DNA tested just to be 100% sure. Does DNA testing require anything like a needle or prick or anything that might hurt?

 

[Kalidasa]

I do cover up his cage at night and have been since we got him/her. And I usually spend about 5-9 hours a day with him/her. I will probably get him/her DNA tested just to be 100% sure. Does DNA testing require anything like a needle or prick or anything that might hurt?

Generally it doesn't hurt but a tiny prick, or toe-nail cut just a bit short. Personally, I would recommend more quiet/sleep time for your friend...perhaps a sleep cage in a dark quiet room. Lots of birds don't like their people messing around in their cages, so I wouldn't worry about that too much. As long as the bird is friendly outside the cage, then you're doing good

 

[SergeantSniffle]

Ok thank you

 

[TulipRox]

Looks male, but behavior suggests female.

I used to have a budgie who would do the exact same thing- it's just cage (territorial) aggression. Try taking the top off the cage and enticing him out with millet or another treat (or even just yourself if he's very bonded to you) to avoid this. You can also try sticking your hand in the cage and making a tight fist, allowing him to attempt to bite the back of your hand/wrist, but it won't hurt because he won't be able to get a pinch of skin since it's all tightened. Just sit there and don't move until he stops biting and then you can stick your finger out and try to get him to step up. This may take 1 to several sessions to get him to realize that biting will get him no where and get no reaction from you, and that when he stops biting, he gets praise and to be able to come out of the cage and be with you. Good luck!