aleks0_0
New member
I recently took in my boyfriend's roommate's budgie.
He's had him for some time, a few months or so now, and he wasn't exactly kept in the best conditions. He's been fed only seeds. He had a mirror toy that he became obsessed with and as a result became very bitey.
He took to pleasuring himself on the towel draping his cage and then became very territorial and would attack your feet or hands.
His first few days here I removed the mirror part of his toy. A few days later, the toy was replaced with another one because it seems to trigger him. His behavior improved a lot and he became more aware of his surroundings almost.
I noticed then that he seemed to have poop stuck to his vent. I had been planning to switch him over to a healthier diet so I started right away. I had heard that seeds diets can cause problems later on, as well as constipation.
I got him to finally eat broccoli that night, as well as pellets, carrots, and apple the day after.
I began giving him only a little bit of millet and occasional seeds, but majorly pellets. He was eating normally, but would go crazy when I'd give him some millet like an addict.
He became more cuddly and allowed me to scratch his head, even asking for it. He'd fly around my home without any issue.
However, now he's more quiet. He'd be all jumpy in his cage and then when let out he'd just want to sit and have his head scratched, occasionally flying.
Tonight his behavior has changed even more. He became nippy again, he goes into his little fabric hidey home thing (which he never used to do), he's been poofed up for days, and only now he seems almost depressed and disinterested even in the bathroom mirror.
What could be causing this?
His poops look normal, but his feet are a little colder.
His roommate used to let him go freely about the apartment all day, but of course I can't do that.
Is he depressed because he's in a new place, because I took away his mirror, because I changed his diet, because I don't let him out as much?
He seemed odd before I gave him new food so I don't think it's that. I only started the new food because I was worried the just seeds diet was making him like that.
I've kept his cage the cleanest it's ever been too.
Was it something before I even took him in? Is he maybe hormonal?
Edit: Also he's just been sitting puffed up, sleepy, and stretching his wings frequently as of the last 30 min.
He's had him for some time, a few months or so now, and he wasn't exactly kept in the best conditions. He's been fed only seeds. He had a mirror toy that he became obsessed with and as a result became very bitey.
He took to pleasuring himself on the towel draping his cage and then became very territorial and would attack your feet or hands.
His first few days here I removed the mirror part of his toy. A few days later, the toy was replaced with another one because it seems to trigger him. His behavior improved a lot and he became more aware of his surroundings almost.
I noticed then that he seemed to have poop stuck to his vent. I had been planning to switch him over to a healthier diet so I started right away. I had heard that seeds diets can cause problems later on, as well as constipation.
I got him to finally eat broccoli that night, as well as pellets, carrots, and apple the day after.
I began giving him only a little bit of millet and occasional seeds, but majorly pellets. He was eating normally, but would go crazy when I'd give him some millet like an addict.
He became more cuddly and allowed me to scratch his head, even asking for it. He'd fly around my home without any issue.
However, now he's more quiet. He'd be all jumpy in his cage and then when let out he'd just want to sit and have his head scratched, occasionally flying.
Tonight his behavior has changed even more. He became nippy again, he goes into his little fabric hidey home thing (which he never used to do), he's been poofed up for days, and only now he seems almost depressed and disinterested even in the bathroom mirror.
What could be causing this?
His poops look normal, but his feet are a little colder.
His roommate used to let him go freely about the apartment all day, but of course I can't do that.
Is he depressed because he's in a new place, because I took away his mirror, because I changed his diet, because I don't let him out as much?
He seemed odd before I gave him new food so I don't think it's that. I only started the new food because I was worried the just seeds diet was making him like that.
I've kept his cage the cleanest it's ever been too.
Was it something before I even took him in? Is he maybe hormonal?
Edit: Also he's just been sitting puffed up, sleepy, and stretching his wings frequently as of the last 30 min.
Last edited: