It’s an exciting time when you adopt a new budgie
They’re cute and look beautiful!
They chirp all day and can talk too
Amazing pets to have
Along all that excitement there’s a worry for you
A question new budgie parents ask is – Why is my new budgie not eating?
It can be worrying
Here’s the good news
You don’t have to worry because this is completely normal for a new budgie to not eat
How?
That’s what we will find out in this article
Sound good?
Let’s get started!
Is It Normal For a New Budgie To Not Eat?
Yes, this is completely normal
Think about it, your budgie has come into a new environment
Everything is new for them
A new house, new people, new toys
So they will get shy and nervous too
That goes with eating too
That’s right, your budgie may be shy to eat in front you
Budgies won’t eat in front of you
Once you’re gone they will start eating
They feel safer when you’re not there
I guess it’s just they way they are
Here’s the good news
It won’t be like this all the time
Once they get comfortable around you, they will eat right in front of you
Then you can happily share your fruits and vegetables with them!
Question is..
Can you get your new budgie to eat?
Or do you leave them to it?
Let’s find out
How Do I Get My New Budgie To Eat?
Well you don’t want to force your budgie to eat
That will just make them not want to eat
You have to work at their pace
It will take time for your budgie to settle
They’re in a new environment and meeting new people so they have no idea who to trust!
So basically, your budgie is nervous and scared
You can help make your budgie feel comfortable which will result in them eating
Here’s some few steps you can do to help them settle in their new home
- Partly cover their cage to make it a bit safe for them
- Play the radio or TV so it’s not super quiet in the house
- Don’t look directly at your budgies eyes
- Talk in a soft tone with your budgie
These should help make things easier for your bird to settle
You should also keep fresh food and water available to them in a way they can get easy access too
Don’t linger around your budgie
Just keep an eye out on the food bowl and see if there is any food leftover
If your budgie is pooping then that is a good sign they’re eating
If you are still worried, a trip to the vets would help just so you can get expert advice
But overall, it’s nothing to worry about
Once they get more comfortable they will eat right in front of you
And they will chirp and sing too!
You’ll love it for sure
Related articles you’ll find interesting
How Long Can a Budgie Go Without Eating?
Parakeets can usually go without eating for 24 hours
But you shouldn’t let this happen
Give them food everyday
Also, add fruits and vegetables as they are very healthy too
If your budgie don’t like the food they simply won’t eat it
They can be stubborn like this!
Always have fresh food and water available
Usually budgies would eat as much as they need to
Will a Budgie Starve Itself?
Budgies won’t starve themselves
They need food to survive
But you should be concerned if they haven’t eaten for more than 24 hours
Budgies will only starve themselves if they are ill, very stressed or injured
For example, they have an injury or illness in their beak which stops them from eating
If this is the case you should take your bird to the vets asap to make sure everything is okay
A new healthy budgie will not starve themselves
They need to eat food but only when you’re not watching!
Another thing to mention is if your budgie is a picky eater they won’t eat the food you give them
They will go on without eating as they can be stubborn so do be wary about this!
How Long Does It Take a Budgie To Get Used To a New Home?
Every budgie is different
Some will get used to their new home straight away
Whilst other budgies may take a few days
Some budgie parents have said they budgie took 3 days to get used to their new home
Others might even take a week
The good news is
They will definitely get used to their home
It may take time so you have to have patience
But it will be worth it in the end!
Wrapping Up
When you have a new budgie that is not eating it can be worrying
Especially when it’s been over 24 hours
Budgies will eat but when you’re not there
They feel vulnerable eating in front of someone who they don’t know
So your new budgie is eating, but when you’re not watching
If your budgie is pooping then that is a good sign they’re eating
Don’t force your birdie to eat
Work at their own pace
You can make things easier for them to adjust to their new home as mentioned in this article
Here’s some related article you may find interesting
