Ernest Goes To The Hills!

[Hills 0]

Well after 150 posts :bluebudgie: we are finally a budgie family. We picked up Ernest (formally known as Claude) from Liv today and he has already settled in nicely and is singing and preening himself. His cage is currently covered on 3 sides as per Elly's taming instructions so this looks a bit dark.

 

A big thanks to Liv for taming him so well!!

 

Edited November 22, 2008 by Hills

[**Liv** 0]

Awesome news!!

It was so nice to meet you and your lovely family.

I am so pleased he is happy - he is beautiful and i hope he settles in nicely

 

:bluebudgie:

[maesie 0]

Yah for you and your family :bluebudgie: . I'm sure he will be loved! Ernest looks very happy...

[Trish 0]

Earnest has such pretty toys, what a lucky boy!

[**KAZ** 0]

What a little honey of a baby boy you have there :bluebudgie: I am guessing he is going to be spoilt

[Hills 0]

I think you might be right there Kaz!

 

He's unbelieveable!! He's already so much tamer than any budgie we've had before and I really don't think its because he's scared. He has come up to the font of the cage for a neck scratch, as you can see here he's eating millet sprays from my son's hand and he quite readily steps up and the hops off again. The last time he stepped up I almost had to push him off and he's now sitting on my son's hand eating the millet sprays. Liv certainly knows how to tame budgies!!

 

Do you think tomorrow would be too early to try him out of the cage or are we pushing him too fast?

 

[Andrew 0]

great news Hills, im so happy for you! I would mabye leave it a couple of days before you let him out, as he sounds confident and as the cover is still on 3 sides he hasnt gotten to know his surroundings, and could do some damage flying around without getting to know his surroundings yet, i would spend 1 or 2 days taking off the cover, and moving him around the room you first want to let him out in so he gets to know all the hazards and landing spots, make sure he has at least one place to land in the room and you should be fine

 

good luck

[Hills 0]

Thanks mate, that sounds like a great plan!

[Elly 0]

Since his wings are not clipped I would make sure the first time you do it you do it in a room that is small, all windows are covered a bathroom is a great place to start with the toilet seat down of course. It is a natural instinct for a budgie once out of the cage to fly and go wild tame or not. When they do that it frightens them and the taming that was established can go a little bit backwards. I know he is tamed but maybe think of having his wings clipped 1 time this is a great way for him to get to know know his surrounding safely without hitting a wall dead on and then as his wings come back in (which I find within a month they start to get a small lift) he can gradually start to fly and then when he is full flighted he would know exactly where he is going.

 

Congrats on getting him he is a doll , you are very lucky to have been able to adopt him from a wonderful forum member such as Liv.

[Hills 0]

Thanks Elly, yes Liv showed us how to clip wings and we'll do it in another few weeks once he's strengthend his muscles a bit more. We're following your instructions from the FAQ page, its just we're finding he's progressing really well as Liv has already done much of the hard work, but we want to make sure we do it right and not go too fast and undo her work.

 

He is a great budgie isn't he! We would strongly recommend getting budgies from breeders who handle them. All of our previous budgies have been from pet stores and the difference is amazing!!

[**Liv** 0]

He will be fine to be let out today. He has been 2 weeks in my crazy house with the kids etc, he will be fine. He is a strong flyer so let him out in a bedroom or somewhere where there are not too many windows. If he takes off, stand still with your arms out and he will normally land on your arms or head

Talk to him lots when he is on your hand, he really likes it and listens to you. Lots of food treats etc is great too

[Hills 0]

Woohoo, thanks Liv!!

 

Well he's just had his first session out of the cage. We let him out in the entrance lobby where his cage is with all the doors closed. He sat on my finger while I showed him around the room, then I sat him on the play gym. After a bit of an investigation on there he flew loops around the room without bumping into anything and landed on Michele's shoulder. He then flew down to the ground where I was able to slowly put my finger down and he stepped up and I put him back in the cage. Now he's enjoying another millet spray and looking very proud of himself.

 

I thought we'd give him another fly later this afternoon, so we don't over do it.

[Andrew 0]

yay! go Ernie!

congrats!!!

my first flight with Bing was a disaster

he flew behind the curtains and dropped from the sky trying to get through the window, then he just went everywhere into the ceiling etc... but he is okay now

 

good luck

[Hills 0]

Oh dear!! I'm glad you told me that after his first flight here and not before.

Edited November 23, 2008 by Hills

[Elly 0]

How wonderful that is great, you may not even have to get his wings clipped

Great job Liv!

[Hills 0]

That's what I'm thinking Elly, he seems to really enjoy his flying time and I'd hate to take that away from him. If he's going to be happy to step up after a flight then I was thinking I won't need to clip. I'll see how he is in a couple of weeks.

[JimmyBanks 0]

I'm slack... sorry for not congratulating you sooner on getting a new budgie. He looks a cutie... Now all you need is a little hen, and avairy, a breeding room... hahah nah just kidding don't get addicted!! lol

[Hills 0]

Haha, thanks! Must admit when I saw Liv's avery the thought did cross my mind. Daisy was just sitting there...

[krosp 0]

He is such a cute little fuzzball babyface. I love them at that age

Looks perpetually ready for a neck scratch

[Sunnie 0]

Congrats on bringing Ernie home, I am sure he is gonna love living in the (with the) Hills

[Montie 0]

Congratulations. He is a beautiful little thing and you are doing such a great job.

[Hills 0]

Thanks all, I must admit my 10yo son Angus has really stepped up and is doing a great job looking after Ernie. every night before we cover Ernie, Angus pulls up a stool and reads him a bedtime story for about 10 minutes. I took the cutest photo of them doing this last night.

 

I think this has been a great experience for him, as well as the rest of us!

[Sunnie 0]

Looking forward to seeing the photo

[Hills 0]

Here he is. As you can just see Ernie is listening intently

 

[maesie 0]

Here he is. As you can just see Ernie is listening intently

 

 

Awwwwww, That is too sweet. Thanks so much for sharing!