Introducing New Budgies to the Flock

[Lozhinge]

My thoughts turn now to next month when Linden & Hollian's quarantine is due to come to an end.

Introducing new budgies has been my thing really, I have felt I knew what I was doing and for whatever reason, I've been fully successful integrating new individuals and new pairs into the Flock.

This time it's different. My existing Flock has required some diet modification in order to address the obesity issues of some Flock members. Compare this to the new girls, whom I can supply seeds with no worries, the girls being lively, energetic and very slender/lightweight.
I have been offering pellets mixed in with their seeds from Day One but I'm under no illusions as to their uptake.

When the time comes to integrate the flocks, there is a risk of dietary shock or under-nourishment when the new girls discover that seeds are not as plentiful as they are accustomed. The alternative is to supply plentiful seeds which will impact very negatively on my chubby budgies.

I have been mulling over strategies.
The safest one might be to extend the quarantine until such time as I have converted the new girls to pellets. This is a depressing prospect as splitting my time and energies between two flocks has a detrimental effect upon the running of the household (chores & such). However, it will ensure a smoother transition.
An alternative, riskier approach is to remember that budgies are wild animals and they are accustomed to adapting to changing environments & changes in the food supply. This isn't guaranteed though - the girls are over two years old and used to things being a certain way. On the other hand, they will have budgies who are well-adapted to life downstairs whom they can learn from.

I've not had to consider this particular issue before. The last time I introduced new budgies, there were seeds on-demand. This is no longer the case.

I'm interested to reading people's thoughts on this matter.

 

[MJGB - MikeJenGaryBeckyBoo]

Without knowing all the details, and I do bow to your expertise with budgies!.... Could the new girls be trained into meal times if they're not already? Would they get used to eating what they could when it's available, rather than having it there all the time? I was just thinking of reducing the time they have for available so they start to recognise their "window" for eating? Sorry if you've already done or tried this! I tend forget most of what I've already read in previous posts . It could mean extending their quarantine so that they're trained before being with the flock though.

 

[Lozhinge]

Introducing a restriction in the availability of seed is something that has occurred to me and I should have mentioned it. In the case of the girls, I only ever see them eating in the morning and in the evening so I wonder if it's something I actually can and should address.

It's possible they are sneaking food while I'm out of the room but I see no evidence of that in terms of shelled seeds.

I am currently mulling over a half-way house approach, which would be supplying Nutriberries in the Forage Gym, in the afternoon or early evening. This would mean that it will mainly be hungry, more mobile budgies getting extra food but it will still result in some budgies getting too much high-calorie food.

It's quite a puzzle!

 

[plumsmum]

Can the new girls go to bed together and therefore have access to seeds then? I have only one that has seeds and this is when she gets hers, in bubbyes. Try a seperate pot of the pellets and perhaps also smash some up to see if this helps the uptake?
The girls being in quarantine and therefore used to their cage will be fine and they are not yet fully immersed into budgie politics so wont be missed at bedtime I doubt?
Happy New Year!

 

[Lozhinge]

Can the new girls go to bed together and therefore have access to seeds then? I have only one that has seeds and this is when she gets hers, in bubbyes. Try a seperate pot of the pellets and perhaps also smash some up to see if this helps the uptake?
The girls being in quarantine and therefore used to their cage will be fine and they are not yet fully immersed into budgie politics so wont be missed at bedtime I doubt?
Happy New Year!

That occurred to me.
Getting budgies to go to bed in a particular cage is challenging, putting it mildly. I would need to encourage the new girls separate themselves from the others at bedtime, whilst keeping the other budgies (and Chocobo) from raiding their cage.

The girls' pellets are already a combination of whole and smashed-up pellets. It had occurred to me that a small amount of powdered pellet on the seeds would get budgies accustomed to the taste and that approach certainly seems to have worked with the existing flock.

Happy New Year for tonight!

 

[plumsmum]

Will your new girls step up hun? They could then be taken to their cage. This is opportune time because this is how it works with the new girls! No change needed half way through. I obviously dont know how you get so many to go to bed, goodness three is enough at times LOL.

Just some food for thought?

Here's hoping WW3 does not break out tonight and it sound like we are being bombed! *ੈ✩‧₊˚

 

[Lozhinge]

Will your new girls step up hun? They could then be taken to their cage. This is opportune time because this is how it works with the new girls! No change needed half way through. I obviously dont know how you get so many to go to bed, goodness three is enough at times LOL.

Just some food for thought?

Here's hoping WW3 does not break out tonight and it sound like we are being bombed! *ੈ✩‧₊˚

I have three budgies who can be persuaded to step-up in order to get them to go to bed. One of them, reliably so

The new girls barely allow me to approach them although they have learned that me walking past them is no cause for alarm. I've not gotten them to so much as hop on a millet-laden taxi perch. They are completely non-tame.

I suppose I could extend the quarantine in order to try and get them step-up tame but that is hard work with two budgies - they will interfere something awful with each others' training!