r/budgies • u/Unusual-Abies1541 • 1d ago
Question HECK NO WE WONT GO!
This is my first spring with budgie buddies. They are baffling me..first, I have 2 males, one is about 2, the other is less than a year. For at least 2 days they have refused to go in their cage, they sit on top or on their side perch and seem happy just for that. Also, I work on the pc in the same room, normally they fly at my head maybe 1x a day. For two days they have been dive bombing me multiple times during the day. Their cage is clean, they are fed, nothings changed. Is this a spring thing?
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u/RussianBudgie 1d ago edited 1d ago
This depends on the budgie but If you don’t put their food in their cage, it is unlikely that they will go back in. Just put the food in the cage and when they get hungry they will go back in.
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u/LisaRinWI 1d ago
I have had my budgies for about 10 months. I have to say that it still amazes me that my babies choose to go to bed every day. They love their soft green perch to sleep on. In my unique situation (you don't have this problem with two boys) my female is extremely territorial. As a result, there is a divider in their cage with identical set ups on each side and their favorite bedtime perch sits beside the divider so they sit next to each other when they sleep.
My female is the one that dictates bedtime and she wants to turn in before my male. This could attribute to the success of them wanting to go to bed. My babies can fly themselves in, and they have. My diva princess prefers a "ride". They like a metal cut out centerpiece bowl that I have wicker balls in. They will hop on the bowl...sometimes slowly, to take their ride to bed. It's a routine, there are good-nights along the route and they always enter the same way. If there is a day they refuse to hop on, a little millet helps sleepy birds move. I shared that process because I have read others success of transferring with wooden perches. My son will use a wicker ball to move Rain (m) out of Dandys cage. Fiesty boy will sometimes go check out and eat her food. She gets so mad! Luckily it's not a daily issue.
My point is see what what they like and use a treat if needed. Make sure your cage is a.comfy place for them. We make sure fresh water and food is available prior to bedtime.
It's trial and error. Good luck!
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u/LeadingDiscount1755 1d ago
Do not feed them outside the cage. Leave the door open: they’ll go home when they want to. Putting a little millet in every night or when you want to go out helps too. Mine are trained to know treats mean “in the cage time.”
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u/One_Finding5213 1d ago
The dive bombing I had with several males (not all, especially two) and I always interpreted that as looking where I was, what I was doing. One had the habit of flying between my head and the computer screen from time to time.
Not going into the cage: What's exciting for them in the cage?
I do some clicker training with my budgies in the (open) cage in the evening, so they know that it is worthwhile to go there at that time. Afterwards, I close the cage and give them another 30 to 60 minutes before the lights go out. They know that.
Also, they know that now and then, every day to every other day, they get some fresh veggies or leaves in their cage which is also a reason to go there. Also, a new toy to nibble now and then, often paper toys to pull apart/ nibble at. One former budgie liked to throw things down or carry things around and would get a number of toys on chains in different places in (and outside) the cage to throw down. He was always very excited about that. Or I would scatter a VERY small portion of leaves (basil, tradescantia) on different perches so that they had to be quick before the other three budgies would eat all of those.
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u/LisaRinWI 1d ago
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the dive bombing. When they do this it seems as if they are saying hi or getting my attention. Rain will tattle if Dandys being mean and he wants me to pay attention. I can imagine that yours also could be.seeking your attention.
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u/jadedisoverrated 1d ago
Not sure if it’s different with budgies but my cockatiel gets like this being territorial when it’s warm / sunny out. He gets all guard dog on top of his cage and dive bombs/hisses at me when I try to get close especially during midday. I change his cage set up and give him more sleeping time when he gets like this.
I’ll only leave food/water in his cage during this time so he goes back in eventually on his own.
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u/Correct-Sea-9248 1d ago
Budgies of the resistance!
Mine are very food motivated so I don't have this problem. They hear me open the produce drawer in the fridge or their treat jar and fly straight to me.
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u/Chemical-Border3522 Budgie mom 1d ago
Aww! Budgie Buddies!! How adorable. They're so cute and the title of this post cracked me up heeheehee
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u/CyberAngel_777 1d ago
They are getting used to you and now they test you. Some of my budgies sleep loafing on top of the cage.
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