So upset...

[Hidden]

Hi guys,

I'm new to this forum, so this will be my first post. I would like to start off by saying that I have watched numerous videos on YouTube and have read the articles on this forum before deciding to get my budgie. However, what happened today has made me really upset and I need to ask you guys if the relationship between my budgie and I can be repaired.

So, this is what happened... Today I went and got a new budgie. Everything was fine until I got him home. I started assembling the cage I bought while he was still in the box, and my mum decides that she wants to come and help me. I had already set out how I was going to go about doing this. I was going to assemble the cage, put in all his toys, stock up on food and water, and THEN let him in. But no... my mum decides she wants to butt in.

Before the cage was even finished, she puts the box inside the cage that had my budgie inside and she opens the box, with the cage door still open! I was horrified. The budgie jumped out of the box and flew out of the cage and starts flying around the house blindly. All of the windows were open (as in, there were no curtains), and even a door was open. Needless to say at this point I was freaking out, and so was the bird.

He flew into the windows and sliding doors a few times until I caught him. Now he has a little blood mark on his head and his cere. I'm so upset I can't even put it into words. This was NOT how my first encounter with my budgie was supposed to go. I've now got him in his new cage and he is sitting on his perch. He seems okay, but the blood marks are really bothering me.

Do you guys think that he will hate me now? Do you think that the relationship won't be able to develop? I'm so worried that he is going to be scared of me now from this point on. It's been about half an hour since the incident occurred and he hasn't moved from his perch.

I will keep you guys posted with what happens. I am just so depressed right now. I just want to make things better somehow.

[Saerphe]

He's probably just in shock. Ollie was like that too when he broke a blood feather, but he was fine the next day after the bleeding stopped. Just give him some peace and quiet and a little time. He might not be tame in the first place, so you'll have to start with getting him to trust you either way.

Still, it might be good to take him in to the vet if you can, just to rule out the possibility of a more serious injury.

Good luck!

[Hidden]

He's probably just in shock. Ollie was like that too when he broke a blood feather, but he was fine the next day after the bleeding stopped. Just give him some peace and quiet and a little time. He might not be tame in the first place, so you'll have to start with getting him to trust you either way.

Still, it might be good to take him in to the vet if you can, just to rule out the possibility of a more serious injury.

Good luck!

Thanks Saerphe. I might take him to the vet like you suggested. I just feel absolutely horrible about what happened. I was so excited to bring him home... and now this happened. It just couldn't have been more opposite to what I imagined and envisioned.

[Kathleen]

It's a good idea to get a vet check for a new bird anyhow, so you could consider doing that and combining it with this possible injury. The problem is that it is going to appear a little "sick" for the first few days because it's already stressed from being in a new place. So even if this incident didn't happen, it might just stay on one perch and appear lethargic because it's afraid of its cage.

I wouldn't worry about the relationship too much because budgies are more forgiving. Give the bird a little time to relax and get used to the cage and eat/drink in there. Then you should do target training inside of the cage. Once you can sort of manage where the bird will go, it will be much easier to take it out.

[Ariahna]

Well on the human side, I bet your mom feels bad for what she did, she should anyway. But moving on to your little birdie, a vet check would probably be a good call, however, the stress might be a little much after what you described. I would give the bird some space but talk softly to it. Remember that he/she can sense your emotions. If there is any tenseness due to what happened he/she is probably feeling it, even if it is directed toward your mom Talk sofly and offer it a treat like some millet. I bet he will come around but just needs a little time to settle in and get used to things. Please keep us posted.

[Hidden]

It's a good idea to get a vet check for a new bird anyhow, so you could consider doing that and combining it with this possible injury. The problem is that it is going to appear a little "sick" for the first few days because it's already stressed from being in a new place. So even if this incident didn't happen, it might just stay on one perch and appear lethargic because it's afraid of its cage.

I wouldn't worry about the relationship too much because budgies are more forgiving. Give the bird a little time to relax and get used to the cage and eat/drink in there. Then you should do target training inside of the cage. Once you can sort of manage where the bird will go, it will be much easier to take it out.

Hey Kathleen,

Thanks for your response. Do you think I should wait to take it to the vet? I don't want to stress him out even more. It will involve trying to transport him there, then the vet will handle him, and then he'll probably come home even more reluctant to settle down. I don't know, I have never owned a bird before.

Thanks!

Well on the human side, I bet your mom feels bad for what she did, she should anyway. But moving on to your little birdie, a vet check would probably be a good call, however, the stress might be a little much after what you described. I would give the bird some space but talk softly to it. Remember that he/she can sense your emotions. If there is any tenseness due to what happened he/she is probably feeling it, even if it is directed toward your mom Talk sofly and offer it a treat like some millet. I bet he will come around but just needs a little time to settle in and get used to things. Please keep us posted.

Yeah, she felt bad. She came into my room and apologized. Now that you mention it, I feel bad for being mad at her. She didn't know what I had planned or what I had read about taking care of budgies. I'm going to go and reconcile with her.

I'm also playing budgie sounds to my bird so that he can calm down better. Hopefully he will get used to the cage soon. I have put some millet at the bottom but he hasn't touched it yet.

Fingers crossed!

[GlassOnion]

Hey Hidden,

First of all.... Congratulations for doing your homework before getting a bird!
Really, not many people do that. Even I didn't do AS much research as I should've before jumping into parrot ownership.

As for the shock.. don't worry too much. Leave him alone for a while until he starts chirping and moving around. Then start target training, etc etc. Budgies are forgiving, and you will have a great relationship if that's what you want!

[Hidden]

Thanks GlassOnion.

I will let you guys know how he is progressing. I've been talking softy to him for the past half hour or so, as well as playing budgie sounds - he seems to be calming down a little, but still hasn't left his perch.

[Ariahna]

Is it nighttime where you are? The reason I ask is that if it is, and you plan to cover your bird's cage at night, you may want to go ahead and do that. I don't know how much uninterrupted sleep budgies need, mine need 10-12 hours and I cover their cages. I use a beach towel for the conure, and a thin blanket for my ringneck's cage because it is huge. I don't cover the entire cage though.

I tell each bird "good-night" when I cover them, and "good-morning" when I uncover them. Just start tomorrow as a new day and as if nothing bad happened, unless of course he really starts to look like he is not doing well. In that case, a visit to an avian vet is a really good idea.

[Hidden]

Currently it is 12:40pm, so it's still broad daylight. I do have some progress to report though. As I said earlier, I've been playing him some budgie sounds, and he has chirped 4 times so far. He was dead silent until now, so I think he's going to be okay. I was planning to cover his cage at night, so thanks for the tip.

Edit: He seems to be behaving normally now. He's been chirping and singing away. He even went down and had some food, so I think everything is going to work out fine.