Sueie
In the Brooder
I have a parakeet in my yard for about a week now because I feed all of the birds and the parakeet eats several times a day here. I put food out several times a day for all of the birds. He eats only seed. I tried to give him other fruits and veggies but he didn't touch them. I don't know what to do because we live in MA. Its summer now (although its only 59 degrees here today, on July 24 abd it was 85 - 90 all week, very strange), but soon it will be Fall and then freezing Winter. I googled and asked if parakeets can live outside and I came across this forum. I don't know where Budgie came from (that's what we call him), he just appeared one day about a week ago now. He is yellow and green with little, little short legs and walks around very fast eating, eating, and eating. All of the other birds, esp. the grackles seem to be afraid of him, I think because they see he is so different. We do occasionally get hawks of different varieties that come through too looking for lunch or breakfast and Budgie sticks out like a sore thumb and his colors are so bright I'm afraid he is going to get picked off first. I've tried to get him to go on my finger but he won't. He lets me walk right up to him and my husband too. My hand/finger I offered him was 3 inches from him tonight. He is now sitting out in tree above my shed where he's been for about 2 hrs. now. I don't know if I should try to catch him or just let him be. Maybe he likes being free and if he does, I'd feel bad forcing him to live in a cage. Any comments about that anyone?
I also know if he doesn't leave this area by Fall he will die out there in the Winter, as it gets very, very cold here in MA some days and some winters we get a lot of snow too. I can't see him surviving here in the Winter?? I don't know anything about them. I wonder if he will know to fly south? I wonder where he came from? He must have escaped from someone's house, I just don't know. May I have all of your comments please? I've never owned a bird before but I have rescued a sulcata tortoise that was being mistreated so he's now mine, (not that I wanted one but the ppl who had him were literally killing him by feeding him wrong, putting him in a pen with toxic pine shavings as the substrate, never lettering him outside, no calcium or nutrition) so my husband asked if he could take him and the people said yes, take him, so he's now here! I am 55 yrs. old and he is going to long outlive me so I think I'd better start looking to rehome him to a state where its warm year round - - anybody want a sulcata who is about 5 yrs. old?? He's very sweet. My husband knows I'm not really a reptile person but he knows I'm such an animal lover, and he likes turtles and tortoises, I guess he banked on my letting the tortoise stay. I have a 16 year old Beagle too, who is close to the end of life right now. BUT I've never owned a bird. Budgie is sure cute enough and seems very sweet. I think he may be getting used to us because we keep feeding him and talking to him whenever we can and offering him our hand, but he won't jump on to my finger. Any suggestions anyone, or any Parakeet owners? I wonder if any of you who have had their parakeets fly away could tell if he could be yours if you had a yellow and green one. His head has no pattern on it, its just plain yellow but he has little black and white patterned little things next to his mouth/nose. I look forward to reading your comments on this forum. and let me know what you think I should do - - catch him or let him be and if I should catch him, how? Do you think that he will eventually go on to my finger if I keep trying??.
Thanks,
Sue
I also know if he doesn't leave this area by Fall he will die out there in the Winter, as it gets very, very cold here in MA some days and some winters we get a lot of snow too. I can't see him surviving here in the Winter?? I don't know anything about them. I wonder if he will know to fly south? I wonder where he came from? He must have escaped from someone's house, I just don't know. May I have all of your comments please? I've never owned a bird before but I have rescued a sulcata tortoise that was being mistreated so he's now mine, (not that I wanted one but the ppl who had him were literally killing him by feeding him wrong, putting him in a pen with toxic pine shavings as the substrate, never lettering him outside, no calcium or nutrition) so my husband asked if he could take him and the people said yes, take him, so he's now here! I am 55 yrs. old and he is going to long outlive me so I think I'd better start looking to rehome him to a state where its warm year round - - anybody want a sulcata who is about 5 yrs. old?? He's very sweet. My husband knows I'm not really a reptile person but he knows I'm such an animal lover, and he likes turtles and tortoises, I guess he banked on my letting the tortoise stay. I have a 16 year old Beagle too, who is close to the end of life right now. BUT I've never owned a bird. Budgie is sure cute enough and seems very sweet. I think he may be getting used to us because we keep feeding him and talking to him whenever we can and offering him our hand, but he won't jump on to my finger. Any suggestions anyone, or any Parakeet owners? I wonder if any of you who have had their parakeets fly away could tell if he could be yours if you had a yellow and green one. His head has no pattern on it, its just plain yellow but he has little black and white patterned little things next to his mouth/nose. I look forward to reading your comments on this forum. and let me know what you think I should do - - catch him or let him be and if I should catch him, how? Do you think that he will eventually go on to my finger if I keep trying??.
Thanks,
Sue
I am clueless about how to train a parakeet. 
