My Bird was Traumatized

User Question
I got a parakeet about a year ago. within a month I had him trained to sit on my finger, and I could let him fly around the house with out worries.

One day my mom had a party where a little boy broke into my room, forced my bird out of his cage, pulled out his tail feathers and then stuffed him in a paper bag. When I noticed my parakeet was missing, I was panicing and searching everywhere. Then I saw the little boy walking around the house with a paper bag and I demanded he give it to me, we wouldn't so I took it from him. My bird was in there alive,but he was scared and injured.

Now he flys into walls and will not come out of his cage. He will not sit on my finger. What should I do?

Lisa's Answer
I'm so sorry to hear about that!! I hope that kid was disciplined for the next 2 years straight, it sounds like he is in need of talking to a therapist. That is NOT normal behavior for a child, even a young one.

Your parakeet is very justifiably traumatized and needs some time. He can't fly because his feathers are out, but they will grow back in.

The emotional wounds might take a bit longer, but the parakeet knows you are a loving person. He just needs some time to get over his fright. Keep talking quietly to him, be gentle to him, and don't rush him. I'm sure in a while - a few weeks to a month or two - the fright will fade and he'll be back to normal with you.

All Questions in this Category

List of Parakeet Question Categories

NOTE: Because of the huge volume of incoming questions, I no longer answer them one by one. Instead, we have created a live, free Parakeet Forum which is very active, where people are online 24 hours a day to help you with your parakeet related questions. If you have any questions about parakeet care - or simply want to share your parakeet stories and photos - please join us!

Parakeet Forum