# Found a Parakeet! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 29, 2007, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-a-parakeet/405915 "2007-05-29T14:43:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-a-parakeet/405915/21 "2007-05-30T14:06:15Z")
Upon consideration, I wanted to mention a few other things here: Fresh water should be available, not only for your bird to drink, but also to play in. If you can find a container to put some water in, your budgie will love you for it. If it’s shallow, the bird will probably climb in and splash around a lot. Water is important for birds. Another thing that’s important: I mentioned cuttle bone and mineral blocks (which are basically interchangeable…you only need one), but I don’t think anyone has mentioned gravel. You’ll need a supply of parakeet gravel (which is what helps their crop grind up the seeds that they eat). It’s pretty much just really clean sand, but you shouldn’t use sand you find outdoors. Grab a box at the pet supply store. That way, it won’t have any parasites or fungi or other nasties in it. Good on you for rescuing the cheeper. I miss my 'keet. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-a-parakeet/405915/22 "2007-05-30T14:10:21Z")
[QUOTE=Dijon Warlock] Don’t put cuttle fish in your parakeet cage, because their tentacles will suck off your bird’s feathers, and then they will die and stink a lot. Both of them. 😃 [/QUOTE] Goats are still OK with giant squid though, aren’t they? BTW, if you’re collecting cuttlebones yourself (not sure if this is likely, given your location), I think it’s a good idea to boil them for a few minutes and allow them to cool and dry before giving them to pet birds, just in case there are any avian pathogens present (from birds at the shore) ---
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-a-parakeet/405915/23 "2007-05-30T14:12:46Z")
You might consider contacting your local animal control or police department (not the emergency line). When I was in dispatch, we kept a log of “lost” and “found” pets to try to match them up. ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-a-parakeet/405915/24 "2007-05-30T14:13:23Z")
[QUOTE=Duck Duck Goose] Budgie owner checking in here: I hope you will do more than merely put up a few hastily hand-lettered posters here and there on your block in order to locate the little fella’s owner–somewhere, close by, there is a budgie owner who is _devastated_ that her bird got out, and is going through agonies worried if Peter’s been eaten by a cat or a hawk or run over by a car or is starving to death somewhere and what if winter comes, he’ll freeze to death… If he was hand-tame enough that he chirped when he saw you (i.e. he recognized “human being” as “safe”, as “familiar”, and not as “potential predator”), and allowed you to pick him up (instead of sidling and then scuttling away), that means that someone in your neighborhood spent a LONG time hand-taming him from 6-week-old chick-hood. How would you feel if you had raised a puppy almost from birth, and then it got out of the house and disappeared? You’d be anxiously scanning the “Lost & Found” ads, and out of your mind with worry. And if he couldn’t fly, then his wings have been clipped, and that means, again, that someone in your neighborhood cares deeply about him, and is going through a very bad time right now. I’d definitely pop for an ad in the Lost & Found of the newspaper, as well as putting up large, easy-to-read posters around your neighborhood, “FOUND A PARAKEET”. You might consider going door-to-door for about 4 to 6 blocks around, if your neighborhood isn’t totally drug-dealer-dangerous. And I’d definitely tell the pet store where you bought the millet, and any other pet stores in town that sell “real” bird seed (as opposed to Wal-Mart), and ask permission to put up a big “Found yer bird” poster at any and all such places. Also places like Petsmart and Petco, who usually maintain big bulletin boards for Lost & Found and Free To Good Home index cards. And I’d give a call to any veterinarians in your town and give them a headsup. And leave a message at the local Animal Control and Humane Society, pound, etc. “hey, I found a parakeet, has anybody contacted you about losing one?” I sense that you are strongly tempted to keep him. If you want a budgie, then go buy yourself a budgie–and we will be happy to give you advice about doing that–but please don’t keep this one until you have truly exhausted all avenues to find his true owner. If you’ve put up posters and asked around, and it’s been a month and nobody has turned up, then I got no problem with you keeping him. But please don’t just shrug when nobody turns up right away and assume that nobody’s looking, because they are, same as they would be with a dog or a cat. ETA: Sorry, I realize that sounds like a finger-wagging lecture, but that wasn’t what I intended. I’m just projecting how I would feel if my bird got out. I’d hope that whoever found him wouldn’t just shrug and keep him. [/QUOTE] Yea, I guess I did sound like that yesterday morning. All I can say in my defense is that I was rather stunned about finding a bird. I very much want to find the owner. I put up 3 signs yesterday, and I’m going to make some more today (ran out of cardboard). I also called the animal shelter and the vets in the area. I plan on going to the pet store today to get him some toys; I will leave notice there too. We only have one in the area. He does fly, actually. I guess he was just exhausted yesterday. How far do you think he could have come? I want to know how large a net to cast, you know what I mean? “Found” type ads in the paper are free here; I’ll call the two locals today. I’m not sure if he is hand tamed or not. He let me pick him up yesterday, but I haven’t tried since. I’m actually kind of scared of birds. He’s much more active today; he’s been singing along with the music and climbing around in the cage. He didn’t mind when I reached in to change his water and feed him though. Yeah, he’s a cutie, but I hope the owner calls. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Griffin-Kentzel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_griffin-kentzel/32/14787_2.png) [@Larry\_Griffin-Kentzel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Griffin-Kentzel)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-a-parakeet/405915/25 "2007-05-30T14:25:13Z")
If you’re unable to locate the owner (after an ample amount of time) and you do decide to keep the budgie, it’s not necessary to get another one . . . if you can devote a sufficient amount of time interacting with the bird. Generally speaking, (and there are exceptions) a bird with a mirror (and even more so with another bird) will bond with the bird in the mirror (or the other bird) rather than it’s human companion. If you don’t have enough time to devote to the bird, I would suggest that you get another budgie as a cage companion. Cuttlebone is an excellent source of calcium, which is very important in a young developing bird. ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-a-parakeet/405915/26 "2007-05-30T14:27:07Z")
Oh, and I wanted to ask (I haven’t seen this mentioned anywhere online) he keeps doing this thing where he fluffs up and kind of like, mumble sings. It’s hard to explain; I’m hoping someone knows what I mean. It’s a low kind of warble. I’m afraid he is frightened, because he’s gets pretty fluffy (maybe he’s trying to look big to scare off predators?). Is there something I should do? Is he scared? What do you think he could be afraid of? ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-a-parakeet/405915/27 "2007-05-30T14:28:20Z")
He’s not wild if you could change the water and such in the cage. The last bird I saved was a finch hanging in fishing line from the neighbors awning. It was hard getting all the damn line off it’s tiny feet, with my clutsy fingers. It recovered in about half an hour. I wrapped it in a cloth to take it down and work on it. I used a nailclippers, so I wouldn’t snip off part of the leg. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-a-parakeet/405915/28 "2007-05-30T14:35:52Z")
Please make sure the cage is placed in a safe place and away from household appliances. The last thing I want to see on CNN is : “News Flash: Vacuum Cleaner Sucks Up Budgie…!” Oooohh…bub-bye ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-a-parakeet/405915/29 "2007-05-30T14:39:56Z")
[QUOTE=miss elizabeth] I’m not sure if he is hand tamed or not. He let me pick him up yesterday, but I haven’t tried since. I’m actually kind of scared of birds. He’s much more active today; he’s been singing along with the music and climbing around in the cage. He didn’t mind when I reached in to change his water and feed him though. [/QUOTE] If he just sat there and let you pick him up, it could either mean he’s tame, or that he’s ill. A hand-tame budgie will usually voluntarily step up onto your finger. The budgie I had before my current one was never anywhere near tame, but when he fell ill (with the respiratory infection that he died of), he would let me pick him up without any struggle, even though he was still reasonably active in other ways. I think in this case, part of it was simply not having the energy to mount a serious escape attempt and partly recognition that _this big scary animal, normally to be avoided, was in some way, the provider of food_. If the bird you found will let you, try gently feeling the middle of his chest - if it feels soft and rounded, he’s in fairly good health - if you can feel his breastbone as a definite sharp ridge in the middle, it means he’s in poor shape and may have used up some of his muscle mass just to stay alive. Either way, make sure he has seed and clean water at all times. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Griffin-Kentzel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_griffin-kentzel/32/14787_2.png) [@Larry\_Griffin-Kentzel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Griffin-Kentzel)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-a-parakeet/405915/30 "2007-05-30T14:46:38Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by **miss elizabeth** :_ > > Oh, and I wanted to ask (I haven’t seen this mentioned anywhere online) he keeps doing this thing where he fluffs up and kind of like, mumble sings. It’s hard to explain; I’m hoping someone knows what I mean. It’s a low kind of warble. I’m afraid he is frightened, because he’s gets pretty fluffy (maybe he’s trying to look big to scare off predators?). Is there something I should do? Is he scared? What do you think he could be afraid of? Considering the budgie seems to be a tame bird, the fluffing and soft warble you describe could be the birds way of greeting you when you approach the cage. The fluffing is also part of the preening process. I wouldn’t worry about it. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-a-parakeet/405915/31 "2007-05-30T14:56:41Z")
Is he fairly alert and bright-eyed, or does he seem sleepy? ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-a-parakeet/405915/32 "2007-05-30T15:06:26Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] Goats are still OK with giant squid though, aren’t they? [/QUOTE] When did this become a cooking thread? [sub](Or alternatively):[/sub] Don’t ask me, I’m not Jewish. [sub]Sorry, I couldn’t decide which way to go on that one.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-a-parakeet/405915/33 "2007-05-30T15:20:03Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] Is he fairly alert and bright-eyed, or does he seem sleepy? [/QUOTE] He seems mostly alert, but occasionally sleepy. Last night, he kept kind of nodding off. But, mostly alert, I would say. I’m pretty sure he’s healthy. I mean, I don’t really know, but he _seems_ healthy. He sings and plays and stuff. I just worry he might be afraid, because my house can be kind of noisy, and I have two dogs. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-a-parakeet/405915/34 "2007-05-30T15:24:56Z")
It’s OK for him to be sleepy some of the time - don’t worry - if he’s acting anything other than quite alert when you’re moving around near him, it could be cause for concern. General activity and play is a good sign too, as a sick bird will minimise its activity. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-a-parakeet/405915/35 "2007-05-30T16:00:25Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] Another way to tell if a bird has been hand-tamed is to put your face near the cage. A tame bird will come towards you (perhaps even jumping up to cling onto the bars in front of you). [/QUOTE] Whereas a wild bird will dig out your eyeball, wriggle into your skull through the empty socket, and eat your brain. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-a-parakeet/405915/36 "2007-05-30T16:26:40Z")
Brains! ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-a-parakeet/405915/37 "2007-05-30T17:09:21Z")
[QUOTE=Cervaise] Whereas a wild bird will dig out your eyeball, wriggle into your skull through the empty socket, and eat your brain. [/QUOTE] I hate when they do that. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-a-parakeet/405915/38 "2007-05-30T17:26:35Z")
[QUOTE=Cervaise] Whereas a wild bird will dig out your eyeball, wriggle into your skull through the empty socket, and eat your brain. [/QUOTE] OMG. I was on the phone trying to make a reservation. Thank you so very much. Poor lady is wondering why making a hotel reservation is so damn funny. I’m still snickering madly. ---
**Author:** ![phall0106](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phall0106/32/5934_2.png) [@phall0106](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phall0106)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-a-parakeet/405915/39 "2007-05-30T17:32:05Z")
[QUOTE=Cervaise] Whereas a wild bird will dig out your eyeball, wriggle into your skull through the empty socket, and eat your brain. [/QUOTE] He hasn’t done this yet, has he, **miss elizabeth**? **miss elizabeth**? **miss elizabeth**? OH GOD, WHERE IS SHE?! ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2007, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-a-parakeet/405915/40 "2007-05-30T18:00:15Z")
Scene: Christmas Morning 1960 Players: My father and my brother Jeff Jeff: Daddy, I don’t think you’re supposed to let the bird out of the cage, much less outside. Daddy: Don’t worry, son, they clip their wings at the store. He won’t fly anywhere. I guess we found the Lost Parakeet of Christmas 1960. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-a-parakeet/405915.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/found-a-parakeet/405915.md?page=3)