Budgie rehomed

[Emmy-Dan]

I have just collected our budgie. There was a family local to me wanted to rehome as the children had got bored. How many times do we hear that?

Anyway, I hated the thought of where she would end up so we offered to have her. I am so glad we did. They were heavy smokers and her cage and things absolutly STINK of smoke.

I have never had any birds before and want to give her the very best. Sadly I think she is quiet old and want her to live peacefully until..........

She has been home for half an hour and already eating and drinking. We have covered her for the night and gonna give her some peace and quiet to settle in.

Any tips would be very much appreciated.

[Taboo]

You might want to visit here: http://talkbudgies.com/forum.php
Its an active budgie forum.

Jus let her get settled in for a couple days and then you can start handling her (if she's tame) an such. Its good she's eating/drinking so soon.

I have 15 budgies, 6 were rescues off of CL.

[Alusdra]

That's a breeding forum. Better is Second Chance Bird forum budgie section. They are much more focused on rescue exclusively. Budgies can live a long time- up to 20+ years. If the 'kids got tired of it' likely this kiddo is only a few years old. The first thing you should do is take the budgie to the vet- an avian specific vet if at all possible. Birds hide illnesses really well, if you see symptoms often it is too late. Insist on bloodwork, even though it's tough with them being so small- and get him/her on a good pelleted diet like Lafeber or Harrison's. Budgies do need some seed and millet in their diet, but it is far from complete. Also bathing with a squirt bottle and/or giving access to large shallow bowls of water for bathing should help with the cigarette smell. Some parrots are very allergic aside from the respiratory problems.

Thanks for taking this little one in.