Is My Budgie Really A Baby?

[Tam 0]

Hi

 

I bought my first budgie this morning, Coco. The bars on his head run all the way down to his beak, and his cere is still a pinky purple but he has a grey iris ring? He looks like a baby, but I am confused by his iris ring.

 

Thank you, Tamara

[Elly 0]

Some baby budgies can get iris rings pretty quick I know Merlin had an iris ring before his first molt and his cere was still pink. So yes your budgie is a baby. Do you have pictures you can post of him too? Oh and welcome to the forums :budgiedance:

Edited January 26, 2008 by Elly

[maesie 0]

Hi Tamara and Coco, and welcome to the forum and the 'world' of budgies :(Laughing out loud): I agree with Elly. It would be a baby because of the bars on it's head. Please post a picture if you can, we LOVE photos... esp bubs :(Laughing out loud): . Check out our FAQ's at the top of the forum. You'll learn heaps from here, and feel free to ask ANY questions. Enjoy!!!

[Tam 0]

Thanks guys that is good news. My camera gave up the ghost on New Years, and I can't get a decent one with my phone, but I will post one as soon as I can though.

 

Also, I bought budgie starter, not seed by accident. When I purchased it, I checked with the girl at the store and she said it is fine. Is this okay to feed him, or do I need to feed him seed?

[Elly 0]

Budgies need a variety of seed, pellets, veggies, fruits and assortment of healthy food on a daily basis to keep them healthy. They tend to be picky eaters and will only eat seed if given. Many stores sell birds but don't have great knowledge so I can say you came to the perfect place to start getting your budgie on the road to a healthy diet.

 

We have an excellent article in the FAQ section under Nutrition that talks about what to feed budgies along with a food an nutrition forum that you can read an ask questions.

 

Also how big is your cage? Was that a starter too? If so it may be too small for your budgie.

[*libby* 0]

I'd suggest going back and buying a small bag of seed.... Budgie starter is for birds being hand reared/weaned onto normal seed and chances are High he won't take to it at all

[birdluv 0]

hi, welcome

yes, we would love to see pics of your little one.

[Tam 0]

Thank you for all of your help. Yes, I do think that I will head out for some seed. I have put some pics into the attached link. They are not very clear though. Can you tell from the pics whether he is actually a he???

http://s244.photobucket.com/albums/gg31/TamandCoco/

 

Thanks again : )

[**KAZ** 0]

Coco is gorgeous. I am inclined to think a she not a he....but if you have a macro setting on your camera for closeup shots you can get some clearer pictures and we can be sure.

 

Cheers Kaz

 

PS seed will be better than the budgie starter. petshops often get their advice wrong.

[*Nerwen* 0]

agree you have a young one there and a real cutie. I would wonder about she too as the lighter rings around the nares ormally mean a girl.

 

Coco is a yellowface blue normal.

[Tam 0]

Thanks guys. The picture was only taken from a mobile phone, when I get my camera fixed/replaced I will post some better shots. I can see a little bit of white on his/her nose, but not rings, it is mostly pink.

 

Coco took to seed very well, he/she spends most of his time eating, now to try and get him to eat some vegies!

 

I am trying to handfeed millet spray through the cage, and he doesn't seem very interested, would this be more a trust thing, or is there something else that they like to eat as a treat?

[*libby* 0]

Some birds don't like millet sprays, until they realise what it is :hap: Try it out stretched on your palm with some normal seed around it also and se if he comes down to eat

[maesie 0]

Thanks guys. The picture was only taken from a mobile phone, when I get my camera fixed/replaced I will post some better shots. I can see a little bit of white on his/her nose, but not rings, it is mostly pink.

 

Coco took to seed very well, he/she spends most of his time eating, now to try and get him to eat some vegies!

 

I am trying to handfeed millet spray through the cage, and he doesn't seem very interested, would this be more a trust thing, or is there something else that they like to eat as a treat?

 

Could be a bit of both... maybe leave a little bit in the cage for him to try, and when he realises how GOOD it is, he'll be eating out of your hand in no time. My teils were like that. Scared at first until they found out WHAT millet was :hap: You could try some vegies, perhaps corn on your hand, but that's if he wont freak if you put your hand in his cage. Good Luck

[Elly 0]

You can also leave the millet in the cage for the day and see if he becomes interested. When he starts to eat it more comfortable instead of holding it just put your face up to the cage where he is eating it. Hands are very hard for little birds to trust especially if they have never been handled. They trust your face first and then your hands. It worked with Pretty who didn't have any human hand contact.