chirpy

I strongly believe that a budgie will fly back to its cage whether hand tamed or not, thats where is food and water are, where it sleeps, where it feels safe and secure. My totally unhand tame budgie Snowy always returns to her cage. On to taming, does she like millet, the sort that comes on a spray? You can always start hand taming her by holding a piece in yur hand, and putting hand in cage fairly near to her. The temptation of the millet often proves stronger than the wariness of the hand If you can get her to hop on to your hand in the cage, you are halfway there. Im not a big believer in 'catching' a bird, BUT, sometimes it may need to be done, say in an emergency. However, I would never try and catch a bird with one hand, its much harder, and the bird has far more time for its panic or distress to grow. I prefer the two handed method (but, again, only when neccessary). Make a large 'cup' with both your hands, with the heel of your hands together. This gives you a much larger area in which to 'catch' her, and once cornered, or against the side of the cage, slowly and gently close your hands around her. Again, I must stress that this is a technique I have practiced on a few occasions, simply for practice in preperation for an emergency. I much prefer the patient, hand in cage and wait for the bird to come to you' method. If you let her out of her cage, try it first in one of your smallest rooms, a box-bedroom or even the bathroom (dont forget to close the toilet lid!) Quite often, in these reasonably enclosed surroundings, if you sit very still, the bird will view you as a convenient perch! (and in the meantime learns that you are quite safe to fly to and land on) It can happen very quickly with some birds, it can take ages with others, and sometimes the bird will always view you as the monster from the deep. If you do release her from her cage before she is totally hand tame, you may even have to leave the room for a while before she will return to her cage. Just be sure the area is as safe as can be whilst she is free. Unfortunately, there are no hard and fast answers because our birds are all so very different! Good luck, and let us know how she progresses! Anne

At least they have the freedom to leave their cage if they want to Millimi, thats the main thing. The fact that they choose not to take advantage of the opportunityreally dosent matter much, they must just love their cage! How is Soda doig now?

It may be an idea to ask your vet for some pro biotics, they help balance up the birds gut floras, whereas anti biotics, although they kill off infection, will cause an imbalance in the gut floras. This is because they destroy the birds need stomach bacteria as well as destroying the bad. A pro biotic will help put the correct balance back.

can you not seperate the laying hen and her mate from the others so they can hatch their babies in peace?

Hi Wendy, welcome to the board, although Im sorry its under such sad circumstances. Well, first of all, I would treat Lilly for shock. Keep her calm, warm, reasonably quiet, and perhaps 3/4 cover her cage. A budgie is a very inteligent creature, and witnessing her mate killed will have been very distressing. If you can, stay near her, talk to her, reassure her, play music quietly for her as a comfort. Offer her her favourite treats as comfort food as well as her normal diet. Basically, just quietly and gently spoil her rotten for a day or two. If you get her another bird, remember to quarantine it for 30 days at least before you introduce them, just in case the new bird is carrying any underlying diseases etc. Then after quarantine put the new bird in a seperate cage in the same room as Lilly, so that Lilly can get used to another bird gradually, instead of having it thrust in her cage and her life. For both birds sake, I would let them adjust to having each other around before caging together. I would go for another male. Without nestboxes or nesting equipment, its unlikely that they will mate and reproduce anyway (although not guaranteed, but very unlikely) I really am sorry for you tragic loss. Anne

That is not diarhea. There is certainly increased urine, but the actual poop colour and formation looks good. There is no sign of seed in the poops. I would class the stools as 'SLIGHTLY' loose, and I mean slightly. May I have permission to copy these pics to elsewhere? I will return with clearer (NONE veterinary!!!!!) responses. Anne

Zoe, this link should hopefully lead to to lots of links containing budgie health. They can be very imformative, but, in my oppinion, should NOT be used as a self diagnosis kit, just a guide. But, it may give yuo some back up information to take to your vet. http://web.ask.com/web?q=diarrhea+in+budgies&qsrc=19&o=0 Anne

can you tell us more about the problem?

A blood test on a budgie isnt particularly helpful. Because of their tiny size, the amount of blood they need to get a good clear result id really too much, and too risky. Faecal tests can prove or disprove quite a few things, but, in a budgie, a freshly moulted (or in an emergency, plucked) large feather is of far more use. Feather pulp can tell a good avian vet an awful lot, a lot more that a teeny drop of blood. If there's concern over a serius underlying problem, the feather pulp test done by an expert in the avian field is your very best bet.

No problem, a simple nod of agreement can mean a lot if there's a bit of concern.

The feather probably wasnt quite ready to drop 'naturally', so I would guess that its been irritating the little thing and he's given it a little tug to rid himself of the irritation. In this case, its quite natural that there may be a little bit of blood on the end, but I certainly wouldnt worry about it at all, not just with one feather. Normally, feathers dont have blood on the end under 'natural casting' circumstances, but a damaged feather, that he's self plucked to stop the irritation, Id say thats fine, and normal.

No problem, uncertainty can be very worrying at times! Anne

Julie, thats quite magnificent, where did you buy it from please?

Bev, sometimes, no matter WHAT we do, things go pear shaped. And it hurts us, BUT, at the end of the day, no matter how hard we try, no matter how much we wish, fate will take over and win. But theres always a reason. The little bird who's doing well? One day he/she may be the answer, the understanding as to why things seemed to go so wrong. Lifes rotten at times, but, who knows, the little bird that passed, maybe the future was a lot bleaker than you'd have hoped for him, and he is now spared that. We cant be Mystic Meg, we cant predict, so all we can do is comfort each other in times of pain, but there's no escaping the fact that everything happens for a reason. Bleesings to you and the chick. Anne x

Yes, I would if its easy to take off. They may feel more comfortable leaving and re-entering the cage with via a larger area. My budgies always go in and out through the top, even though they also have a large front opening door. Anne

Hi Natalie Was very glad to read that Soda seems to be improving! Once things are more 'back to normal' you may find theyre a bit more keen to go exploring. Budgies are such sensitive little souls, maybe they both knew that soda was sickening for something, and more cage clingy because of it. Anne

Hi classy lady, just a little pointer about eggs, the egg white is the binding part, but the yolk tends to have a more loosening affect. I think both effects are greatly diminished by cooking though. Anne

Hath!!!! That is the best thing ive read on this forum since time began! Im on a visit to a champion breeders aviary tomorrow, I shall be thinking of you now, and will enjoy it all the more! God bless your wife for fetching towards the surface whats really in your heart! I could HUG her! Anne with warmth and blessings

the bright yellow could simply be a pigmentation change, its difficult to say without seeing in first hand, but, as always when theres doubt, my advice is, *vet* Anne

airsac mites can cause a clicking sound when the budgie breathes, also can cause very rapid 'bobbing' of the tail, boomery.

Has he been moulting? Do the feathers look like little pin type thiings? If so, the are nothing more than 'pin feathers' new feathers growing through. The make birds look a bit like little punk rockers sometimes Anne

dOES HE HAVE ACCESS TO A MINERAL BLOCK AND A CALCIUM BLOCK AND FRESH VEGGIES? i BELIEVE THAT SOMETIMES ANIMALS (INC BIRDS) WILL DO THIS BECAUSE THEY ARE NEEDING A MINERAL OR VITAMIN BOOST. iTS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE, BUT IT MAY JUST BE AN IDEA TO CHECK OUT HIS DIET oooops, caps lock, sorry!!!! If he has a good diet, then as Budgie babe says, its probably not much to worry about, and be hot on hygiene; but keep a close eye on him for the next week or so.

its such a lovely sund, a tiny little vice coming from your budgie!

First thing I would advise is get them away from mum, or mum away from them. They are being tortured, and it must be stopped, even if you have to plague your vet to death for guidance on hand rearing. Come on breeders, help please!!! Anne

Im so sorry for your loss Lyn, and is IS difficult to spot a sickness in a budgie, they do hide it so well. Often, by the time the bird 'looks' sick, it can be too far gone to help, but not always. Dont blame yourself, you sought help, your were prepared to take him to the vet, YOU CARED!!!!!!! Give yourself a bit of time, thoroughly cleanse and sterilise the cage with an avian disinfectant (availale from most good pet supply stores) and seek out a breeder. (did your bird come from a shop? Shops rarely practice good quarantine procedures, and therefore often sell sick birds to the unsuspecting public, its just a quick and easy cash turn-over to them) Open your heart to another little bird, but from a good breeder. If you have problems locating one, we should be able to help you out there. Im so sorry for your loss, but please accept what we are saying, its NOT your fault. You tried. Blessings, Anne