Why is my blue budgie just started scratching and chewing his sandpaper?

Question

He has only recently started doing this and I have had him over a year. He has water/ seed / millet / a seedstick / cuttlefish.
He has a mirror/bell in cage. He seems to be malting a lot of feathers aswell. Has anyone any ideas he appears to be chirpy and ok apart from this.

Answer 1

it most probably is that your budgie ( Zebra Parakeet ) is trying to get some grit to aid its digestion, try adding some oystershell grit into it's food or even in a seperate dispense this allows it to get an easier supply of grit and also the calcium in the oystershell wiil assist with strengthening its bones and if it is a female will also assist in the production of egshells.
also it could be that your budgie is getting bored with its environment and needs something more to entertain it. some toys in the bottom of its cage for it to play with, also they like to be talked to as if they were a member of the family, in the wild they are birds that flock together in large numbers so it may also be feeling lonely if it is a single bird
do you keep it in its cage all of the time or do you sometimes let it out of its cage to spread its wings snd have a good old fly about, sometimes just letting the budgie flap its wings in free flight stops it tearing its sanded sheet to bits.

Answer 2

I have two budgie's. One will come out but not the other had them a year from chicks. I put the bath on every other. Day I have cuttle fish in nut now and again thy are starting to biteand eat the sand paper anyone no why and what I can do. I also have a seed stick now and again in a plastic. Holder. To make. It harder and more time for them!

Answer 3

Birds are like children they need love, affection, attention. Take your bird out and play with him daily. Change his water dish at least once a day. He might need a bath. My birds go in the shower with me and take baths in the sink. But they sell bird baths that you can hook onto the cage. Is the cage big enough?

Heat will make a bird molt (lose feathers) Budgies most definately need gravel to survive. Don't give him sandpaper covered perches, those hurt the birds feet. GIve him fruits and veggies, bread, anything you eat except salty, fried, stuff or candy. Never give your bird alcohol or milk.

My birds love it when I gently sand their beak with a nail file. Birds like to chew on wood. If you have any fruit trees around that were not sprayed with pesticides give him a small branch or buy some wooden bird toys so he can keep his beak sharp.

Answer 4

Oh this is no problem at all. The budgie is just either trying to trim its beak or claws or is just chewing for amusement. It happens to my birds as well, except I have swings made of sandpaper, so they chew at that. (Mostly female budgies chew--brown cere or nose) It's nothing to worry about. And about molting feathers, it's likely to be normal because of the change in weather, mainly seasons and temperature. My budgies experienced the same thing as well. BUT, just to make sure call a vet, personally speak to him/her, and ask them about the situation.

Answer 5

Suspect your he is a she. Brown cere above the beak. Males have blue cere above beak. If this is the case, I would also guess your bird was a baby when you got it. A year later its now an adult and adult female budgies commonly love to chew.
Especially wood. I guess this is a natural instinct as wild budgies nest in tree hallows, and chew the hallow to a size that suits nesting. If this is the case you might want to provide other things for it to chew. Experiment to see what it likes best. Good luck.

Answer 6

He may have a bad tummy. They sometimes eat the sandpaper to help digest their food. He may be scratching it to get the sand off the paper

Answer 7

You may need to put a little gravel in his cage. This aids in digestion. Birds use the gravel to grind up the seeds, otherwise they can't digest them. Also, he may just be honing his bill. They have to sharpen them sometimes.

Answer 8

Mine does this too! I have come to the conclusion that hes just a destructive little monster!!
But dont put gravel in his cage, she means grit!

Answer 9

moulting is natural. don't worry. as to scratching, thats normal. chewing his sandpaper- birds don;t have teeth, so they need gravel, which goes into their gizzard (in the throat.) the food gets mashed up there. you should provide him/her with gravel.

Answer 10

go to www.cockatielcottage.net they answer all types of bird questions