Elly

Looks male and then female but I am not the best at sexing them at a very young age.

best to post pictures of your birds, if you are not interested in certain mutations and more the size of the bird, and looks then that will be your best bet so they can see them.

I know. It's a big house we have. That's part of the problem. It's an old house with high ceiling and these (in a parakeet's point of view) wonderful mantels over the windows and doorways. They got up there and run around. Upstairs they don't have that stuff and I can get them in no problem.I've never clipped Shelfie's wings since they've grown out. She will stay with the other birds. I'm guessing Pretty might too.But the boys like to fly from room to room. And the girls follow. Summer I know they love flying. It's been amazing the see the change in Pretty since she grew her wings. She is so much more confident. She climbs all over now. The cons are big for us though since we have an old house without screens in the windows (it's getting warm here). I really worry about forgetting a window and losing them. In this climate they couldn't live through winter outside.Also we have two cats so I have to get them inside when I need to leave. Our first cat has no interest in them. In fact Shelfie use to to to "explore him" and would chase in across the floor. But we adopted a second cat this year. He's an old guy too but he wants to eat them. He already caught Baby Blue once. Amazingly BB was fine. But his wings weren't even clipped and I was watching them (and TV) and there goes our kitty with a patch of blue in his mouth. That was huge wake-up call so I only let them out when I can really watch them.I'm just torn about it.Summer : you let your cat out with your birds...even if they can fly as you can see they get caught, I would never let my cats and birds out together even supervised. That being said my cats are ALWAYS locked up even when Pretty and Merlin had their wings clippped. I feel that a 1 time clip helps you tame them and then once you have gained their trust letting the wings grow out and giving them the freedom to fly when the cats are under lock and key is awesome because they tend to come to you. If you read my Taming Article in the FAQ I believe I touch on this aspect.

I completely agree with Maisie, excellent advice!

How do you know the Spangle is Split to Rec. Pied? The spot on the back of the head is very common in the spangles so it doesn't denote that they are split like on a normal. 4. What color are the eyes are they red or black? 5. I agree expect it would be a Clearflight Dominant Pied 7. Would need a better picture of the bird with better lighting and no flash, what color are the eyes? 6. Would be a Lutino, he has a pink cere still and I assume red eyes too correct?

Welcome

Hugs,

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so pretty Cathy, I love her markings.

good luck

If you do a one time wing clip and really work with them on taming you may find you have an easier chance when they grow out, I find that is what a lot of pet owners do, that is what I did. If you can get 1 tamed enough to step up and put them back in the cage then they rest will follow. Wing clipping will not hurt them and it is a personal choice, yes they do like to fly but dogs like to run doesn't mean we don't keep them safe and have them on a leash or behind a fence until they can listen well enough to keep them safe. Chasing your birds around for 10 mins is very stressful on their little hearts and it certainly itsn't getting them to trust you by any means.

Agreeing with Neville, here...it is okay to clip them many vets do say that for safety but as they grow in you will be able to tell the color of the flights.

Personally I would introduce new things in a cage, a budgie that is frightened of something and can fly can fly into a wall and break it's neck, it does happen and has happened here on the forums, plus you are then teaching flying away out of the cage vs being curious, anything you add new to a cage may take a couple days for your budgie to warm up to but by nature they are curious and do get over it and they still have a choice they just don't go by it, use gum leaves as a reward if that is what Minx is already eating that makes it easier then trying to introduce millet with your hands as a reward since it is new.

Good Advice AV, let us know what happens

Awe Cathy, how wonderful I am so glad you found another one , I can't wait to see pics and what the name is, congrats sweetie.

do you have a photo of the back, looks a bit opaline too I have moved this to Mutations and Varities Forum

If you want to get a 2nd budgie adding another male is perfect, but the honest truth is that if you add a 2nd budgie male or female the likelyhood of the 1 that talks will most likely stop because now he has someone budgie to talk too, it is a rare occasion that the 1st bird if a strong talker will teach the other bird to talk.

Females budgies are more likely not to talk then male budgies and when you have 2 of them together is it even less likely in both male and females.

have a fun safe trip, we expect a lot of pics when you come back :rofl:

This could indicate that she has some type of internal issues which is why I would take Kaz's advice and take her to a registered Avian Vet to have her examined, they most likely will have to do blood work to see what is going on, this is not something that happens very often. Please keep us updated.

congrats on your beautiful additions

even if they hop on your hand in the cage they will still fly when they are let out and go a bit nuts, I always go on the side of precaution and use a smaller room where they can't get up on curtian rods and where you don't have to chase them down to get them back in that does make their taming go backwards (I have been there before)

When they are in a group they will pick up whistling but talking unless one already can and will continue is very rare, most stop talking when they get with another budgie.

Welcome to the forums