How to help a scared, lonely parakeet in a neglected, dirty cage?

Hello and congratulations on your new friend, King! Parakeets make wonderful pets, and they are a great first bird for a new bird owner. It sounds like you have everything in order, but I'd definitely get King some toys sooner rather than later as parakeets do require mental stimulation - they are very intelligent! Taming will take some time and patience. Using a perch to entice him to step up can be a good place to start, though I recommend waiting a few days to allow him to adjust to his new surroundings first. Yummy treats can be helpful - dried fruits and veggies are a good choice. Here are some good tips on taming your parakeet: http://www.budgiekeet.com/taming.html Good luck, and I hope King adjusts well! :)

Time, patience, and lots of treats. If you notice Curio has a favorite food, you can start by offering that favorite food only when you're interacting with him. IE, when you pet him, approach his cage, let him out, etc. This can help him to associate you with something fun/good and also make him more curious every time you come by to spend time with him. The same can also be done with toys he likes to play with. Sitting near them when he's out of the cage playing, and feeding a treat every time he comes close or shows interest in you can help teach him that you are safe to interact with and play around. If at any time Curiou becomes nervous or scared, stopping the activity and letting him calm down is best. From there, you can go back to the previous way he was OK with (IE just giving a treat from your hand but not petting) and work again from there.

It's possible Blue wasn't socialized very well or didn't have access to toys, so these are new and scary to him. However, with any behavioral issue, ruling out any potential health issues with your local avian vet first is good to make sure there isn't something underlying behind it. If he checks out healthy, it may be that he just needs more time to get used to being a "normal" bird. If he has a favorite snack he likes, offering it every time you come by, or hiding it in his toys to encourage exploration and play may help. This can take time even with tame birds, so being extra patient with Blue is best. Many birds also like different types of toys, so trying out a variety of things such as mirrors, ladders, swings, toys that can be chewed, ones with bells, feathers, etc may encourage him to find one he likes to play with.

Give Buddy some time! It takes awhile for birds to get used to new surroundings. Make sure he has many perches, toys, and fresh food and water available, and try to leave him alone for a few days to adjust to his new environment.

Parakeets, also called Budgerigars, are small members of the parrot family and they can become good mimics. The average adult size is 7 inches long, head to end of tail. The average life span is between 10 to 20 years with proper care. A well-balanced Parakeet diet consists of: Specialized pellets should make up 60-70% of diet, fresh vegetables and fruits and small amounts of fortified seeds Clean, fresh, filtered, chlorine-free water, changed daily. Do not feed birds: avocado, fruit seeds, chocolate, caffeine or alcohol; it can cause serious medical conditions. Avoid sugar and high fat treats. Things to remember when feeding your Parakeet: Fresh food and water should always be available. Vegetables and fruits not eaten within a few hours should be discarded. Remember, treats should not exceed 10% of total food intake. Housing Parakeets acclimate well to average household temperatures, not to exceed 80°F; be cautious of extreme temperature changes. The habitat should area that is well-lit and away from drafts. A habitat approximately 18"W x 18"D x 18"H, with metal bars spaced no greater than 1-2" apart, makes a good home for one Parakeet. A flight habitat is strongly recommended. It is best to provide the largest habitat possible. Perches should be at least 4" long and 3-8" in diameter; a variety of perch sizes to exercise feet and help prevent arthritis is recommended. Perches should be at least 4" long and 3-8" in diameter; a variety of perch sizes to exercise feet and help prevent arthritis is recommended. A metal grate over the droppings tray will keep the bird away from droppings; line the droppings tray with habitat paper or appropriate substrate for easier cleaning. To avoid contamination, do not place food or water containers under perches. Parakeets can be kept alone to bond with pet parent or in pairs to bond with each other. Different birds she not be housed together. Normal Behavior Parakeets are talkers, but their little voices are sometimes hard to hear. Active and need daily time out of their habitats to interact with family. Keep in pairs if unable to devote daily interaction time. Provide foraging toys, which provide important mental stimulation. Housing Maintenance Clean and disinfect the habitat and perches regularly; replace substrate or habitat liner weekly or more often as needed. Replace perches, dishes, and toys when worn or damaged; rotate new toys into the habitat regularly. Ensure that there are no habitat parts or toys with lead, zinc or lead-based paints or galvanized parts as these can cause serious medical issues if ingested by your bird. Do not use a lot of cleaning agents around your bird a natural cleaner. Grooming & Hygiene Provide filtered, chlorine-free, lukewarm water regularly for bathing; remove the water when done. As an alternative, mist the bird with water. Clipping flight feathers is not necessary, but when done correctly it can help prevent injury or escape; consult an avian veterinarian on what is best for your bird. Nails should be trimmed by a qualified person to prevent injury to the bird. Signs of a Healthy Animal: Active, alert, and sociable Eats and drinks throughout the day Dry nares and bright, dry eyes Beak, legs and feet normal in appearance Clean, dry vent Smooth, well-groomed feathers Common Health Issues Chlamydiosis: Appetite loss, fluffed feathers, nasal discharge, green stool. Seek immediate avian veterinary attention. Diarrhea: Fecal portion of stool is not formed. Multiple causes from diet change to internal parasites. Consult with an avian veterinarian and ensure proper diet. Feather plucking: Bird plucks own feathers; may be due to boredom, poor diet or other illness. Consult your veterinarian and relieve boredom with attention, new toys or new space. Mites (scaly face and leg disease): White deposits on eyes, beak, legs, and feet. Consult your veterinarian. Red Flags Beak swelling or accumulations Fluffed, plucked, or soiled feathers Sitting on floor

First of all, he needs a much bigger cage! this cage is horribly small for Mithu. the symptoms he is showing are probably non related to the cage though, he is probably suffering from an infection and needs to be seen by an avian vet urgently. birds take baths themselves, you just need to put a big water dish at the bottom of the cage, but you need a much bigger cage for that too.

In order for your bird to trust you you will need to work with him daily. If you are worried that he may fly away when you let him out of the cage you can clip his wings so he will not be able to fly. This is a completely painless procedure and the feathers will grow back if you decide at a later date to allow him to fly. This way you can let him out of the cage to explore but won’t have to worry about him getting away. The more interaction you have with the bird the better. Offer him treats while you are working with him so he can start building some trust in you. I would assume that after a month or so of repeated interactions you bird will be much more comfortable with you. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.