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User Question
I found your website while looking up information on parakeet behavior. I think it is wonderful! It is one of the most complete sites I have found! When I was younger I have had parakeets and have been lucky that they have all adjusted well and were loving companions. Years later, I felt we should bring a little guy home.

That brings me to Dorado! He is older (I think), we know he is a male his cere is bright blue! He is dark green with a yellow face and purple cheeks and a blue tale (very handsome)! My husband picked the name because he said he reminded him of the dolphine fish. He says they are called Dorado. I don't fish, so I will take his word for it.

OK, my question. I am concerned for Dorado, I have had him a month and he seems VERY distant. I have NEVER seen him drink, my husband says he saw him drink once. He doesn't play with any of the toys we bought him. He is getting used to being held but has no interest it being out of his cage or spending time with us. When I bring him to his play pen I can put him on it but he doesn't explore it or play with any of it. He just sits in one spot.

I have treat cups with nuts, dried berries and other dried fruit (all birdie approved)- no interest. I don't even know if he knows it's there because he doesn't explore his cage. I have been told it is an excellent size for one or two parakeets (24"X24"X20"). I only wanted one because I wanted him to bond with my husband and me. Now I am wondering if that will ever happen. I know we have to be patient.

I am getting frustraited though. Not with Dorado but with myself. I can't seem to reach him on a personal level. He has no interest in anything. When he is out of his cage, if he flys off, when he lands, he just sits there. He doesn't explore any of the house at all. We have had him about a month and the only behavior I have been able to observe is, he does eat from his seed cup, and will go to the millet spray where ever I put that (in his cage only). He talks only when the water is running in the kichen sink or we have the vacuume on. Other than that he just sits in one spot in his cage. I have tried new toys, fresh fruit and veggies, pop corn, pasta (no sauce). I figure he has to be drinking water when we are not looking because if he hasn't by now he would have died right?

I try to talk to him, we leave music on for him while we are out, we bring his cage into the main room so he can at least see us even if he doesn't want to play with us. My husband try's to talk to him and pet him. Oh, sometimes I will see him grooming himself! Is there anything else I should do or NOT do? Is it because of his age? Is it a lost cause for him to bond with us, should I get him a companion? I don't want him to be miserable, but right now he is like a birdie rain man. I know that's not funny but it wasn't meant to be. That is the only way I can sum up our relationship. Any advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated!!!! Thanks in advance!!!

Lisa's Answer
Just so you know, Dorado is another name for the fish called mahi-mahi, which is an edible FISH, not the flipper creature which is a mammal that performs in sea parks :) Both of them happen to be called a dolphin but one dolphin is grey and does tricks with balls while breathing air, while the mahi-mahi dolphin is a fish that's green and tasty.

Hand training can certainly take more than a month if the bird is a shy one. I have info on training here -

http://www.lisashea.com/petinfo/articles/bird_hand.html

so be patient with him and let him really get settled into his new home. Remember, parakeets live for 15-20 years so a single month is a really short period of time.

If your parakeet loves the sound of water, then try getting a fountain for the room he's normally in, and make sure you have a bathtub available to the bird to splash around in. Keep up with the training and talking and hanging out. Nibble on a piece of lettuce, then offer it to him, and back and forth. The more personal you can make the interactions, the more your keet will begin to respond to them.

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