Is There Something Wrong?

[Tutu&Gypsy 0]

I have noticed that my female budgie has had some changes in the last couple of weeks and I am unsure why, so I found this forum and thought I would see if anyone else had come across it.

 

I got a male budgie (Tutu) at xmas for my partner which is fully trained, around 3 months later we thought that we should get another budgie so Tutu wouldnt be lonely for when we were not around. We got a fiesty female (Gypsy), when we got it home it was much bigger than Tutu, so we thought that maybe it was older than what the pet shop told us, we also couldnt train Gypsy.

 

So a couple of days ago when I was cleaning the bird cage, I noticed that Gypsy cere was a darker brown and was crusty. I havent noticed this before, so I thought it was strange. I went online and came across different reasons. Now I came across something that said budgies during the breeding season the females cere goes dark brown and crusty. Now this was just on a yahoo answers page, so I wanted to check with other experienced budgie owners if this was right?

 

Then I started to think... I had the thinking hat on, hahaha... now we are 2 weeks into spring... mmm... now that I think about it I have noticed some other things that are strange.

 

One thing is that Tutu is looking awfully small compared to Gypsy, he was always smaller but lately there is a big difference. I then realised that it was Gypsy that is actually getting bigger, she looks fat, I also noticed that her wings are sitting differently on her back. She even looks like she has something at the bottom of her body.

 

The birds stay in the house at night, in the morning when I take them outside Tutu normally comes over and says hello, lately he has been trying to bite my fingers.

 

Other than that there hasnt been much difference. Tutu and Gypsy always sing to each other, I am really proud of Tutu as he likes to copy my whistles, and he talks like a radio station, bites my lip hard when I dont whistle to him, he rules the house. Gypsy just does her normal chatter.

 

Oh I do remember another thing, Tutu has been dancing when my partner puts music on Tutu starts to dance with his head, and so Gypsy has picked up on this and had started too. Anyway I love my birds.

 

Now I know nothing about birds breeding. We picked up a breeding box, months ago, but the thought went out of my head. Yesterday I put both birds in a larger cage and put the breeding box in there just in case. Although its at the bottom on the cage and I dont know if this is okay? I have put some shreaded paper and this other bird bedding stuff in their too. The birds havent gone in the box that I know off?

 

Another question, Im not sure if I should move them all the time now, if she wants to lay some eggs, should I just leave them in the house... its just that they like being outside, and feisty Gypsy in the past would normally screch in the morning until she goes outside.

 

I have a vet booked for tomorrow, because I am a little worried and I tried to get some info from them, but all they wanted for me to bring the birds in. It costs about $58 for the consultation, I dont have much money, so would rather get some advice, but if I dont of course I will take my birds to the vet.

 

Now the birds are normal other than this, right now I can hear them being noisy loud birds, I think my whole street can hear them. This is nothing unsual.

 

So does everyone think Gypsy is in breeding season? And if anyone could give me advice of what to do that would be great. Like is it alright to keep the breeding box on the floor of the bird cage, can I move them inside and outside every day. Anything special I need to know?

 

Thankyou anyone that would like to reply to me and my birds :-).

[daniela 0]

I have noticed that my female budgie has had some changes in the last couple of weeks and I am unsure why, so I found this forum and thought I would see if anyone else had come across it. WELCOME

 

I got a male budgie (Tutu) at xmas for my partner which is fully trained, around 3 months later we thought that we should get another budgie so Tutu wouldnt be lonely for when we were not around. We got a fiesty female (Gypsy), when we got it home it was much bigger than Tutu, so we thought that maybe it was older than what the pet shop told us, we also couldnt train Gypsy. Sometimes birds are just genetically larger than others... it is generally not a symbol that one is older than the other

So a couple of days ago when I was cleaning the bird cage, I noticed that Gypsy cere was a darker brown and was crusty. I havent noticed this before, so I thought it was strange. I went online and came across different reasons. Now I came across something that said budgies during the breeding season the females cere goes dark brown and crusty. Now this was just on a yahoo answers page, so I wanted to check with other experienced budgie owners if this was right? Yep thats right... shes interested in breeding

Then I started to think... I had the thinking hat on, hahaha... now we are 2 weeks into spring... mmm... now that I think about it I have noticed some other things that are strange.

 

One thing is that Tutu is looking awfully small compared to Gypsy, he was always smaller but lately there is a big difference. I then realised that it was Gypsy that is actually getting bigger, she looks fat, I also noticed that her wings are sitting differently on her back. She even looks like she has something at the bottom of her body. Now when you say something at the bottom on her body, could you mean that there is an egg in her? when the budgies are "pregnant" they tend to have big bums

 

The birds stay in the house at night, in the morning when I take them outside Tutu normally comes over and says hello, lately he has been trying to bite my fingers. I think tutu is feeling threatened as a males job is to protect the nest.. i wouoldnt take him out anymore

 

Other than that there hasnt been much difference. Tutu and Gypsy always sing to each other, I am really proud of Tutu as he likes to copy my whistles, and he talks like a radio station, bites my lip hard when I dont whistle to him, he rules the house. Gypsy just does her normal chatter.

 

Oh I do remember another thing, Tutu has been dancing when my partner puts music on Tutu starts to dance with his head, and so Gypsy has picked up on this and had started too. Anyway I love my birds. :emoticon112: thats so sweet!

 

Now I know nothing about birds breeding. We picked up a breeding box, months ago, but the thought went out of my head. Yesterday I put both birds in a larger cage and put the breeding box in there just in case. Although its at the bottom on the cage and I dont know if this is okay? I have put some shreaded paper and this other bird bedding stuff in their too. The birds havent gone in the box that I know off? Budgies are birds that like to nest the highest in the cage as they feel more protected.. i would hang it at the top somewhere by nails screwed in. Dont put shredded paper in... instead budgies prefer sawdust or oats inside the box. If you remember this important factor, the hen will usually try taking the stuff out the nest which is good because she is getting herslf comfortable.

Another question, Im not sure if I should move them all the time now, if she wants to lay some eggs, should I just leave them in the house... its just that they like being outside, and feisty Gypsy in the past would normally screch in the morning until she goes outside. This is tricky.. if i was you i would take them out and leave them there and put them away off the floor on some table in a patio if the havent got the adequate shade from the cage. They usually start breeding in or out, but i wouldnt move them too much

I have a vet booked for tomorrow, because I am a little worried and I tried to get some info from them, but all they wanted for me to bring the birds in. It costs about $58 for the consultation, I dont have much money, so would rather get some advice, but if I dont of course I will take my birds to the vet. I think the birds you have sound in perfect health and they are just getting prepped for the breeding season from becoming a bit bigger to this screeching

 

Now the birds are normal other than this, right now I can hear them being noisy loud birds, I think my whole street can hear them. This is nothing unsual. true

 

So does everyone think Gypsy is in breeding season? i do...she sure is

And if anyone could give me advice of what to do that would be great. Like is it alright to keep the breeding box on the floor of the bird cage, can I move them inside and outside every day. Anything special I need to know? I would love to watch you breed these birds (and im sure everyone else would) as they sound so sweet and happy and also along the way we can help you with what to do next.. our forum loves pictures, so if possible can you please post some pics in? Now its just the waiting game and just giving them the vegetables, seeds and fresh water

 

Thankyou anyone that would like to reply to me and my birds :-).

 

hope you learn something new

[Dave_McMinn 0]

I will play devil's advocate here and say:

 

Just because you have 2 birds that want to breed does mean that you should let them. Over her life time, Gypsy will come in and out of season. If she does not have a nest, she will not lay eggs - generally.

 

If you are going to breed them, please read up in advance. What are you going to do with the young? Are you prepared for anything that might go wrong?

[Clouds birds 0]

yup I agree with Dave, it's perfectly fine to let them be partners, let them mate too, that really is not a bad thing but completely normal and to let them enjoy life together without breeding them :emoticon112:

Breeding is hard work, for the birds and also for you.

My tiels have a clutch at the moment and they require a lot more feeding than normal so I am replacing their food about three times a day, once in the morning as usual, then again early arvo and again at 6pm so they have a good supply when they wake up to feed the babies (and before I do my feeding routine again........)

My parent tiels are looking skinnier than normal which is obviously cause they are feeding their chicks, I don't like seeing the parents so skinny and worn out so will again only let them have the one clutch, like I did last year......

Not every bird is cut out to be a parent, your boy might even be too young, him being a pet budgie, they are known (well, at least with tiels) to make worse parents than non tamed or aviary budgies.

So think carefully before you decide to breed them, yes it is fun and wonderful to see the little fuzzballs, don't get me wrong, but it is a commitment too.

[Tutu&Gypsy 0]

Well thats great everyone doesnt think there isnt anything serious wrong.

 

I wasnt expecting any of this, I know I have a male and female in the same cage, but I have been stressed about a lot of other things at the moment and didnt think. I put the nest in there because I wouldnt want Gypsy to lay eggs on the ground or anything, sort of leave Gypsy in a bad position. Birds have feelings too, lol.

 

I have plenty of time to look after the birds, as I am not working. I just need to know more of what I should do... so I will check out the other areas of this forum.

 

I really didnt even think what could go wrong, so I am back to learning.

 

Thanks everyone for your replys, I couldnt wake up this morning to have a read and see what everyone thought.

 

Yeah I had a look at other pictures of baby birds and had no idea they looked like that! Of course I will be a proud grandparent up and put stacks of pics :-)

[Dave_McMinn 0]

It is very important to be prepared. Some of us were a little under prepared the first time around and it casued some problems. We do not want that to happen to others.

 

Some threads you can read that would be useful are:

 

How To Breed Budgies Correctly,

 

How to set up a breeding cage and manage the breeding of budgies

 

and

 

Points to Consider?: Are you really ready to breed budgies

[**KAZ** 0]

What age is she ?

[Kate 0]

Hi, and Welcome! I hope you post pictures of your pair soon.

 

I was in a *slightly* similar situation of having pet birds that bonded. I had them for two years before putting in a nest box.

Prior to putting in the nest box I tried to research thoroughly to prepare myself; even so, I'm sorry I didn't find this forum first, so you are in the right place!!

 

I am very, very fortunate that everything went well and we have 5 gorgeous happy playful youngsters.... BUT there are so many things that can go wrong so the best advice is to take advantage of the FAQ and all the good information you'll find there.