New Backyard Rescue

[Rob'in'To]

So, yesterday Angie looks out from the kitchen window into the yard and notices a little blue bird way at the back.  Binoculars out and we realize it's a Budgie.  This is the third time to happen here in four years now.  We still have the first one, the second one never did catch, and now this guy.  He was so easy to catch too.  I just walked outside and he let me get pretty much next to him and I dropped a towel over him.  He put up no fight either.

I can tell he's quite young just by his appearance and he wasn't outside for very long either...  he's clean and not "wild".  The Budgie we do have looked like she went through hell by the time she came into our home after four months of living out back and fighting for food amongst the others, knowing her pecking order in between the Sparrows and the Blackbirds and Blue Jays.

Now trying to decide if we should keep him.  We have one cat and one bird already.  Add three frogs and a newt too.  And we have a little zoo.  The bird we have is a female.  I am pretty certain this one is a male.  I am not up for bird breeding.   Oooop, scratch that, everyone is telling me it's a female.  The color of the bit above the beak is not bluish for males...  but pinkish brown.

[BoboBird]

Well done.

[Rob'in'To]

Thanks!

It's now 48 hours since she came into the house.  Both birds know of each other.  So I let the one who has been here longer, who is also a backyard rescue Budgie from four years ago, do all the investigating.  It took no time at all and she was up on the other cage, soon in it, and not long after sitting next to the new one.  They are both females so hoping this works out.  Seems so.  But a few are saying mixing two female birds in one cage can be bad...  just not getting along.  But both birds seem quite content.  I know this is a wild bird page but backyard bird feeding draws in many creatures, and occasionally lost pet birds.  Someone here might have some knowledge to share about this.   :?

So, here they are...  Misfit and Moonie!

[JimmyM]

Very nice story and photo !
Jim

[cathief]

I don't know anything about domesticated birds but they are both beautiful - I hope it works out.

[nursesoo]

I have had budgies as pets for about 10 yrs now so if it's ok I have a couple of thoughts.  I in fact just lost 2 female budgies.  I started out keeping them together however, ended up keeping them side by side in separate cages.  I started to notice that Livy was a bit of a psychological terrorist.  When Suki would want to eat Livy would stand right beside her on the perch making Suki anxious as she obviously regarded this action as threatening.  If Suki wanted to play with her favourite toy Livy would hop down on a perch behind and start yanking on her tail feathers.  I would come home at the end of the day and would start wondering why Suki had feathers all bent out of place.  I have been told that its possible that one bird will refuse to let the other eat.  These little guys can only go 2-3 days without eating and they will suffer from dire consequences.  My two girls lived beside each other quite happily for a number of years.  When I was at work they were safe and separate and when at home I let them hang out together.  I use to feel I was doing them an injustice until one day Livy was going through a period of molting, obviously not feeling well ( this is quite common) and Suki went to pay her a visit and was almost instantly attacked for her troubles.  I couldn't help but notice it didn't take long before Suki left and went back to the peace and quiet of her own cage - I stopped feeling guilty after that point.  I tell you this only to make you aware of what can happen not necessarily what will happen.  Is the cage big enough so that they each can have their own bit of space?  Please keep a watchful eye on how they interact, their feeding patterns ( do they eat together or does one always get first crack?) Do you see them both in fact eat whether together or separate?  What kind of a diet do you have them on?

[nursesoo]

If they are on a seed diet do you put vitamins in the water?  Pellets suppy the best nutrition for birds as they can suffer from certain diseases due to malnutrition.  If you are going to try to convert these guys from seeds to pellets you might want to ask an Avian vet as budgies are notoriously stubborn and have been know to starve rather than give in an eat the pellets.  I have read that sprouting seeds is a much easier way to improve avian nutrition.  Apparently the birds adapt easily to the germinated or sprouted seeds and this process improves their diet by leaps and bounds.  Perhaps this is something you might want to investigate.  Introduce them to as many different types of foods as possible, fruits, vegetables, cooked rice, just research what is the best for them because some foods can be harmful to these guys.
Finally, talk to them, interact with them, give them out of cage time.  Im sorry if I have gotten carried away , overwhelmed you, or sounded like busybody know it all, I just caught a look at those little guys thought were just plain adorable and wanted to help.  Im always around and happy to help if needed.

Regards
Sue

[Rob'in'To]

Thank you for your informative input!

The birds are in separate cages.  We decided it's best.  The older one is unpredictable; and we would rather not have them be alone together unsupervised.  They do well having their own space, even cage side by side.  Both eat when they chose, drink too...  and play.  The younger one often imitates whatever the older one is doing.  She still tries to be friends but it's not happening anytime soon.

We used to let the older one come visit the younger one.  As in open the doors and let the older one come as you see in the photos.  But with a few too many aggressive encounters, we keep the younger one locked in safe and let the older one walk about the exterior of the cage.  They mingle for a bit.  They squabble and lock beaks up.  The younger one will back off for a bit but then return to wherever the older is on her cage.

We've researched the different food you can offer them (fruits/vegetables).  

The older isn't keen on diet changes.  We tried the pellets with no luck.  She's on seed, a Budgie fruit/seed stick and cuttle bone.  

The younger one I am still working on the whole adjustment thing.  She's in a better state so far compared to the other.  But it does take time with the trust.  It is earned and not just given.

Neither bird will touch spray millet.  I hear how much Budgies are supposed to enjoy it.

Thanks again for all the information.  And welcome to the board.  I will keep you in mind if any questions surface.