New budgie climbing cage

[babypepper]

Hello, this is my fourth day having my new budgie pepper. He is a young bird and I got him from petsmart so his previous cage wasn’t that big. This morning I uncovered his cage and he was in the bottom corner which was weird cause last night he was on a perch. Anyways, later this morning he tried to fly onto his perch and didn’t make it (I wasn’t watching him to not intimidate or scare him so idk exactly why) and so instead he climbed his cage and got onto his perch. On Wednesday he was scaling the side of his cage and he made it up pretty far. He was also climbing to a perch and he was struggling and biting and clawing at it but he slipped. So sorry for the long post I’m just nervous.

 

[TheFatBIRB]

Hmm. That is strange. It sounds like maybe some sort of illness. Maybe just boredom when you said he was climbing the walls etc. I'm not sure. Maybe could you post some updates?

 

[babypepper]

Yes I will update thanks for responding. He’s eating normally and his poop looks fine so I think it might just be boredom or stress I just wanted some other peoples opinions

 

[DesertBird]

Are his wings clipped? Can you maybe post a photo?

 

[Shezbug]

How young?
Clipped?
Been caged before or only in a glass or solid sided cage? Like what is used for many young birds.


Many times when they have only just become old enough to leave the nest/breeder/pet store they have not yet had time to learn how to climb cage bars, perch and get about efficiently and they also have not yet been given enough time to build up the muscles and coordination needed for climbing about.


Watching this stuff in my baby macaw was such an eye opener, was so obvious how tired his little feet and legs would get trying to cart his body about on the bars. I remember seeing it in past baby budgies but never put much thought into why they were all useless at getting about when they first came home with me.

 

[babypepper]

Are his wings clipped? Can you maybe post a photo?

No I don’t think so. This photo isn’t very good but it’s the best I have right now

 

[babypepper]

How young?
Clipped?
Been caged before or only in a glass or solid sided cage? Like what is used for many young birds.


Many times when they have only just become old enough to leave the nest/breeder/pet store they have not yet had time to learn how to climb cage bars, perch and get about efficiently and they also have not yet been given enough time to build up the muscles and coordination needed for climbing about.


Watching this stuff in my baby macaw was such an eye opener, was so obvious how tired his little feet and legs would get trying to cart his body about on the bars. I remember seeing it in past baby budgies but never put much thought into why they were all useless at getting about when they first came home with me.

I’m not sure how young he is but he is young because his cere and how small he is. I don’t believe he’s clipped. The cage he was in had glass on three sides because he was in a pet store. I think he’s just young and doesn’t really know how to fly and maybe he was nervous flying in his new cage? I think you’re right about him needing to learn

 

[TheFatBIRB]

@DesertBird Petsmart usually doesn't clip wings, Petco usually does. Also @babypepper It is probably only a few months old. 2-4 months is usually how young they are in the pet store. I agree with @Shezbug that's most likely the issue and makes the most sense. Just make sure this doesn't continue as he gets older. That would be my advice. Do you know it's gender? If not, and you would like to know we might could tell you. We would need a cere photo though.

 

[babypepper]

@DesertBird Petsmart usually doesn't clip wings, Petco usually does. Also @babypepper It is probably only a few months old. 2-4 months is usually how young they are in the pet store. I agree with @Shezbug that's most likely the issue and makes the most sense. Just make sure this doesn't continue as he gets older. That would be my advice. Do you know it's gender? If not, and you would like to know we might could tell you. We would need a cere photo though.

Thank you for the reassurance and advice. I think it’s a boy but you can never be too sure. Also ignore the food I’m going to wean him off it. Here’s a photo:

 

[Shezbug]

Thank you for the reassurance and advice. I think it’s a boy but you can never be too sure. Also ignore the food I’m going to wean him off it. Here’s a photo:

What are you weaning him off? What do you plan to feed him?

Is he navigating the bars and perches a little better today?

 

[babypepper]

What are you weaning him off? What do you plan to feed him?

Is he navigating the bars and perches a little better today?

I’m weaning him off of the pet store food. I am giving him Hagens original blend budgie seed, is this a good option? Yeah he’s been flying better today but he’s still only been to two perches

 

[Shezbug]

Better brand/quality seed is good idea, I am assuming that blend may have pellets in it too but I am unsure (I do not think it is available here in Aus) so that may be worth checking on and if no pellets are added maybe you can read up on the benefits of pellets and add some.

I personally would not ever switch a budgie to a no seed diet like many push and like my macaw is on but I do think all companion birds can definitely benefit from some pellets in their diet.

 

[babypepper]

Okay thank you, I believe Hagen goes by a different name in different places? I’m not sure but I will definitely look into pellets and thank you again so much for all of your help and advice