Urgent advice needed

[ScottyM]

Hi everyone,

A budgie ended up in my garden about 10 days ago. He's been hanging around most of the time and perching with the sparrows. I started to hand feed him successfully, even though he's twitchy. I don't know if he can survive long in the Scottish weather even if it is technically 'summer'. I ended up getting a small cage and managed to get him in. Now I'm not sure what to do. He's not happy. Desperate to get out. Tried to calm him down with a towel over the cage. He has eaten, which is a good thing.

He seemed to be having a ball on the outside. My dilemma is, do I put him back out and let him enjoy the rest of his time before a sparrowhawk or cat gets him, should I be more patient and let him get used to us in the house or try a mix of both? like get him used to us then let him out in the garden with supervision during the hotter days?

I just can't bear watching him be so stressed in the cage.

Thanks.

 

[charmedbyekkie]

Sorry, I missed it - have you tried finding his family? Budgies aren't indigenous to Scotland, so he's a family pet. You're right in your feeling that birds of prey are highly likely to see him as edible. The feeling is that once a small parrot gets lost, you've a shorter period of time to find them again. Definitely try posting around on popular local sites, including Facebook groups for lost and found pets.

We found an ekkie that had been lost for a week. Managed to find his family within the same day of him landing on our balcony. And boy, the little guy was so happy to see his family again! 110% worth it.

 

[ParrotGenie]

He get use to the cage in a couple of days, it takes time. But I would not let him back out as you stated he end up being lunch to another bird, plus he won't be able to survive long as not native to area.

 

[ScottyM]

Thanks for the replies. Yes, I've tried to locate his owners. I checked facebook, local pet shop, asked the neighbours etc

He was getting so agitated in the cage biting at the bars that I couldn't stand to see it any longer and let him out in the room. That seems to have calmed him down a bit. He's perched on top of a cabinet. Problem is, there's little chance of me getting him back in the cage, but we'll see.

 

[noodles123]

Hey-- thanks for reaching out!
In the meantime, please read the 3rd post down on this thread regarding safety when a bird is sharing air-space with humans (while he is in your home, you will need to abstain from a few things):
http://www.parrotforums.com/caiques/81049-advice-buying-caique.html

 

[ScottyM]

Hi guys. Sorry for not updating.

In the end with having no Budgie experience, I had to let him back out. He didn't calm down despite the towel over the cage trick. He was very agitated and acting like a wild bird would.

Good news is, he's still going strong. He didn't come near me for a few days after his ordeal but I'm able to hand feed him again with a bit of effort.

His flying has improved. He's fast now. He's hanging around with sparrows and now responds to their warning calls and flies off at their sound.

He seems really, really happy. He's expanded his flying range but visits the garden regularly. He comes every night about the same time for his millet spray.

I can say he's gone totally native. Doesn't act like a pet.

He's eating grass seeds and buds from trees. I give him/her? millet and feed him with other birds for added protection.

My only concern is the green poos? like small green worms. Bad sign or okay?

 

[18WheelsOfSteel]

If he's eating a bunch of greens from trees etc I'd think it's pretty ok, but I remember vaguely seeing some site I found through the Google that said the poo usually is the same color as the stuff they eat

 

[ScottyM]

If he's eating a bunch of greens from trees etc I'd think it's pretty ok, but I remember vaguely seeing some site I found through the Google that said the poo usually is the same color as the stuff they eat

Seen a lot of conflicting info regarding green poo. Some saying it can be lack of nutrition or even liver disease, to other sources saying it's okay.

I can't get him to eat anything other than millet. Tried strawberries, banana, kiwi, apple, broccoli, spinach etc. Won't touch it. He'll eat the black sunflower seeds from the feeder though.

Looks healthy as far as I can tell from his energetic flying and inquisitive hopping about the garden.

 

[18WheelsOfSteel]

If he's eating a bunch of greens from trees etc I'd think it's pretty ok, but I remember vaguely seeing some site I found through the Google that said the poo usually is the same color as the stuff they eat

Seen a lot of conflicting info regarding green poo. Some saying it can be lack of nutrition or even liver disease, to other sources saying it's okay.

I can't get him to eat anything other than millet. Tried strawberries, banana, kiwi, apple, broccoli, spinach etc. Won't touch it. He'll eat the black sunflower seeds from the feeder though.

Looks healthy as far as I can tell from his energetic flying and inquisitive hopping about the garden.

Have you tried a pellet? Sounds crazy but if he is an escapee he may have had a pellet diet in his former life and be receptive to it

 

[ScottyM]

Have you tried a pellet? Sounds crazy but if he is an escapee he may have had a pellet diet in his former life and be receptive to it

I haven't, no.

I'll give it a go. Anything in particular I need to look out for that should be in the pellets, or are they all much alike?

 

[18WheelsOfSteel]

Have you tried a pellet? Sounds crazy but if he is an escapee he may have had a pellet diet in his former life and be receptive to it

I haven't, no.

I'll give it a go. Anything in particular I need to look out for that should be in the pellets, or are they all much alike?

Mine seems to enjoy the zupreem pellets, but they are high in sugars, have seen a few pellets suggested that are better, you still trying to tame this bird or just supplements it's diet?

 

[ScottyM]

Mine seems to enjoy the zupreem pellets, but they are high in sugars, have seen a few pellets suggested that are better, you still trying to tame this bird or just supplements it's diet?

I'll look into those pellets. High sugar shouldn't be a problem given how much flying he's doing.

Still trying to tame, but making little progress other than hand feeding. He won't come to me when I call despite repeating the same words and whistle hundreds of times. He can be sitting up in the tree and I'll go talk to him, and he barely registers my existence. He'll start preening himself and won't even look in my direction.

If I try to touch his chest with my finger, he occasionally lets me if he's sleepy but most of the time I get the beak opening ready for a bite.

I'm already making plans for winter. Maybe making a bird box for him baited with millet spray with a heat mat so he can still stay wild but warm.

I'll post updates. He's quite a character and doesn't take any nonsense from the other birds. Sees off wood pigeons, starlings and sparrows with ease.

 

[ScottyM]

Oh dear, I have a problem now.

After 12 months or so of not seeing any Sparrowhawks, one has just made a kill in my garden.

Budgie is in danger.

 

[Aspie_Aviphile]

Anything new to report? Is he still visiting your garden?

 

[18WheelsOfSteel]

Hopefully you can lure him into a cage with some millet, I think I could get my budgies to fly into a dragons den if they thought they had a fair chance of eating some millet by doing so...it's like drugs for budgies lol

 

[LaManuka]

If your little Aussie mate has gone “native” in Scotland (!) I’d say give him all the millet he wants! He will be burning off plenty of energy in the wilds of the Highlands and/or Lowlands as opposed to your average indoor budgie.

I hope he continues to do well and comes a-calling at your house regularly!