My baby budgie

Question
Hi Maggie, I just got a baby budgie about 6 months old, and I'm really worried
cause I only know how to take care of adult budgies! Please try to answer my
questions-thanks.
1. She looks like she does not know how to eat! Do I have to hand feed her? she's also not drinking
2. when I wanted my adult budgie (they are not family) to meet the baby, the
adult kept pecking at the baby bird's beak! Is that hurting the baby bird?
3. Could you just give me some tips about how to treat a baby bird? I'm really
worried about her. Thank you


Answer
Hi,

A 6 month old budgie is not as young as you think. Usually they are weaned by 8 to 10 weeks from their parents and are eating fully on their own by that time. So your bird has been weaned from mom and dad for at least 3 months. Birds don't drink a whole lot, so don't be surprised if you don't see her drink. Plus- if she is nervous from being in a new home, with new people, etc, she will probably wait to eat and drink until you are out of the room.

If you are feeding her seeds, do you find seed hulls in the dish and/or at the bottom of the cage? If so, she is eating- she just might not be doing it around you. Also try offering her fruits and veggies on a daily basis. This is critical to a well rounded, varied diet for long-term health. You can also get a gram scale and weigh her a couple times a week, to make sure that she isn't loosing weight. Since birds' weights can fluctuate, depending on what time of the day it is and how much they've eaten... try to weigh her at the same time each day.

The way your adult bird is interacting with the baby could be affection or aggression. Only you would be able to tell this, since I cannot see the birds. However, birds often feed one another to show affection; they will seem to be kissing and "lock" beaks and bob their heads up and down. It can seem kind of violent, but they are really bonding when this happens. Birds who are bonded to one another will also preen each other. If the adult bird is being aggressive, then I would recommend separating her from the baby and trying to introduce them more slowly (only allow them to interact outside of their cages, and have the cages near one another... but don't force them to live with one another yet).

As far as how to care for your baby bird (and your adult budgie), here is an excellent article that will go over all of the basics:

http://www.forthebirdsdvm.com/birdcare.htm

I hope this helps.

-Maggie