my baby parakeet

Question
I obtained a baby male parakeet, (a budgie) the runt of the clutch.  He was getting run over by his siblings and feeling sorry for him, I rescued him.  I have had him now for 2 weeks and I believe he is about 3 months old.  My question is: how old are parakeets when they start to perch?  For the first week, he didn t seem to know what his feet were for! Then did little push-ups, then lies back down on his belly.  He wants to stay on the bottom, which I keep VERY clean and flat.  I took off the bottom part of the cage, concerned his little feet would fall through the grid.  I wonder if I m not doing him any great favors by doing that.   I did buy from the store a mult-branched twig, one branch is on the floor, then others above and at different angles.  I try to encourage him to perch, he tries ... sorta ... falls the 1 inch to the floor and stays there.  He will perch on my finger.  I do have other birds and have had them all my life, but can t recall having one so young and so clueless.  Please let me know whay to expect.  Many thanks ...    Sandie Smith

Answer
Hi Sandie,

This is not normal. He perches normally on your finger though? Are his legs normal, do they sit underneith him correctly? Or do they kind of go out to the side (splay legs)?

He should get checked out by an avian vet to see why he is not perching on branches. It sounds like you are doing things well to encourage him to perch and keep him comfortable for now- putting perches low and softening the bottom of the cage (and taking out the grate so his feet/legs don't get caught).

You can find an avian vet near you at these websites:

http://www.parrotpro.com/avianlst.htm

http://www.birdsnways.com/articles/abvpvets.htm

www.aav.org

I hope this helps. And good luck with this little baby.

-Maggie