chirpy

Hi Gully, they are great little set-ups for your birds! For a simple DIY playgym that you can make within 30 mins, look here http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/index.php?showtopic=6771 Hope this helps Anne

I think the little fella will be fine. I doubt the petshop cage is specially adapted? He will use his beak a lot as his second foot, and also use his wings as crutches as needed. Im all for adaptaion where is needed, but if the budgie is ding fine anyway, keep its life as normal as possible. Simple observation will let you know if, and which adaptations are needed. If you like the little guy, and want another bird, go for it

Ive always baked in gas mark 4-5 for 20 minutes. I know not everybody does, but I prefer to personally.

He's the most adorable, naughtiest, rudest little budgie you could wish to meet

Terri, I blame the television myself. TUT, what these actors are allowed to get away with these days is shocking! :shock: I'll get another recording of him as soon as I can and see if its clearer for those who cant hear

Rainbow, if you heard what else he invites poor Snowy to kiss (think of his favourite expletive ) then you would see just how much his chat up lines really DO need a bit of work :(Laughing out loud): Terri, the cockatiels just ignore him mostlt They have all been quite sleepy today, cage cleaning and thorough soaking for them and then sitting in a warm room has worn them out, (Laughing out loud)!

I have it on video! Its a poor recording, you will need volume up full, and you must listen. he mustters a bit, mentions that he is beautiful but its clear if you listen, Kiss me Bum!!!! :(Laughing out loud): takes a minute or so to load http://imageevent.com/chirpy/birdvideos?p=...l=0&w=4&s=0&z=2

I think you will find that most of the 'over the counter' medications for scaly face/feather mite etc are basically weakened versions of the prescription treatments. The best thing you can do regarding conditions such as this (in my opinion) is take your bird/birds to the avian vet and he will usually treat the bird with the highly effective ivermectin. Bird mites can be extremely stubborn, so my view on ut is get them erradicated with proffessional back up. Regards Anne

First and foremost he needs urgent veterinary treatment. You can not treat an injury as severe as this yourself, he has suffered an amputation. It would seem to me as though one of the parents has bitten his poor little toe off, mutilation of chicks by the parent happens. You may need to hand rear this little one, again, veterinary advice and guidance is vital. If hand rearing, the wrong consistencly, the wrong temperature, the wrong amount of formula can kill a young chick quickly and painfully. PLease, seek avian guidance as fast as you possibly can.

Sadly, I have seen this very thing. It happened a number of times to my little Albert before he passed, exactly as Gil described it. On describing his symptoms to the vet, the high possibility of seizures was diagnosed. Unfortunately a tumour was also present (or at least a growth of some kind) on his kidneys. Unfortunately, knowing nothing of Alberts breeding, it was not possible to check whether or not other chicks or relatives from that litter also suffered seizures. Also, with little Alberts brutal history prior coming to find sanctuary with me, it was highly possible that he'd had a head injury in the past. I sometimes wish Id had a necropsy done on Albert, but I decided against his little body had been destroyed enough in the past. But yes, seizure DO happen in budgies, Ive witnessed it :hap:

Aww, he's discovering his wings and what wonderful things he can do with them! I love it when they fly, and you get to see your bird actiually being a bird!

Looks fine to me. If you get more concerned, let the vet take a look, as clipping a budgies beak (any birds beak actually) inexpertly can cause extreme pain, shock, bleeding and even death. However, I think that beak looks pretty normal

Such a tiny little bird showing such trust is so heartwarming isnt it

he is a clown isnt he Rainbow, I have no idea what Id done to upset him, he just gets these moods on him sometimes

This is what Teapot has just screached down my ear... ''Bum! Bumbumbum BUM! Yooooooooooo little bugger! Twinkle twinkle little bumbum.'' *Bites cheek and flies off* That bird is going find himself perched unexpectedly on the end of my toe if he dosent mind his manners! Little stinkpot :(Laughing out loud):

There was a cage I was considering but for some reason I didnt get that one. It was the two level one I think? Ive actually got LOADS of cages, Im always upgrading, (Laughing out loud)! I think Im going to donate at least half of them to my bird rescues, or auction them off for raising funds. Terri, Im sure birds can still be brought into the UK. You need a full health certificate off a qualified Avian Vet, and I believe Q, once in the country is one month. Oh PLEEEEEEEASE come to England, to SOUTHPORT!

WHAT??????????????? Sausage rolls should be scoffed in moderation??? Oh I think NOT

Oooh terri, where you moving to??

Bar spacing a bit on the big side to be honest, 2.1 cm, BUT I know a guy who can sort that, with extra bars got it off Ebay, won it tonight

its 75'' tall, 55.5 inches wide, 35.5 ininches deep, and retails around 600 punds. The largest corner cage in existance and its mine for 125 piunds YIPEEEEEEEEEE

Many years ago there was a rumour went round the manufacturers of Trill put a tiny bit of spped in with the mix, so that the budgies who ate Trill always seemed bouncing with life and vitality. This of course is absolute rubbish. Speed has never been added to Trill! I think Trill is a great combination seed food to give you budgie/s, but, as has already been said, its NOT enough on its own. Fruits and fresh veggies should be placed freshly in the cage every day so the bird has access to fresh foods aswel as his seed; and of course, a cuttlefish bone and a mineral block to nibble on never go amiss ether.

Be sure to keep a very close eye on the little fellow. Personally, Id take him to the vet anyway, just to be on the safe side. Even just a combination of grief and moulting could cause depression, and that in itself could weaken his immune system slightly. That sometimes can be all it takes for a bird to become poorly. He may just need a slight vitamin and mineral boost to give him a gentle nudge in the right direction. My favourite pick-me-up for birds is one I often recommend, its a powder suppliment called ACEhigh, as far as I know it is only available from your vet. I find it absolutely a God-send in times of moult, or just general times of being slightly under the weather. It may be worth asking your vet about it. Its not particularly cheap, I pay ?20. per tub (and its a small tub) BUT you only need the tiniest pinch a day, and there is easilly 12 months supply for quite a few birds when used corectly. So looking at it that way, its tremendous value for money. Sometimes, these day to day occurences like moulting, even house moving/new cage/death can really take it out of out little budgies and birds, and I must say Id never be without my tub of ACEhigh in the cupboard. I do hope all is well with your little one, Anne

Great news! And thankyou for being such a great mum to sqweaky and getting her checked out at the vet! peace of mind is so valuable, and to your bird aswel. These smart little creatures can tell if we are worried, and they worry with you! Well done Sqweaky, you'll feel soooo posh when all your lovely new feathers come through!

Oh lord, the poor little bird! If he smells, he DEFINATELY needs a vet visit, any kind of painful, irritating infection could be causing this. Also, this may be why he is so untame and aggressive! Please get him checked over by nothing less than an AVIAN vet. I am sad that you feel you cant keep him based on his unfriendliness. Sometimes, the 'untame' bird is the most easy, and beautiful to have. I have a little budgie called Snowy, she is a rescue budgie (thats ALL i do, rescue, so believe me, I get some states handed over to me, including EXTREMELY mean African Greys!) Anyway, back to Snowy. I have had her for just over a year now. She is NOT friendly, does NOT want to be a pet, she wants to be a bird. So, I allow her to be what she wants. She flys free all day with my other (very, extremely tame) budgie Teapot, and my 3 cockatiels. On a very few occasions, she has flown to me, but only a few. When being caught for her bi-anual vet check up, she bites the h*ll out of me. I bleed. I dont care, its NOT her fault that we greedy, selfish humans chose to rob her of the blue skies and stick her in a cage. Of all my birds, wild little Snowy is the easiest. She asks nothing but fresh water, fresh food, a safe sleeping place and freedom to stretch and use her beautiful wings. The joy that can be obtained simply by watching her is immeasurable. The very fact that yu have come on here to do research and try and gain advice and guidance for your little friend shows that you are a caring person. Thats what this little guy needs, someone to care. Is there no way you could keep this little bird and continue to care for him? It sounds like you are doing a tremendous job so far, and the poor little thing, I bet the last thing he wants is to keep having all that is familiar taken away from him, time after time. That little bird could turn out to be the easiest, most entertaining pet you could wish for, even if you never get one bit of affection back Just watching his antics, seeing him being a cute, funny, crazy little bird can be worth all the 'cuddles' in the world. I do hope all works out well for you, I really do. Id deffinately get the little thing checked at an avian vet though, he really shuld not smell bad. very best wishes. Anne

Deffinately, first and formost, the trip to the vet is vital. I do hope she is okay. It sounds like your budgie has quite a disrupted sleep routine, is it unavoidable that your husband goes into her room when he's leaving for work? Is there another room perhaps that she could be placed in at night for a peaceful undisturbed rest? If she is poorly, sleep will be vital to her. Do you or your husband smoke around her? Birds have such fragile and complex airways that smoke can play havoc with them. Also, use of chemical cleaners like polosh, window cleaner, shake and vac, air fresheners (especially Fabreze apparently) can all be potentially fatal to any bird. You may well be aware of all of this, but I always think its worth sharing anyway. Please let us know how she gets on at the vet, we worry about our members birds as though they were our own on here! Best of luck, Anne