Elly

Chrissy, my response was a joking response as Kaz's was, I do see your point and I appreciate that you are making me more aware of how I affect others. Thank you and I apologize if I offended you or anyone else on this post or even on any other post. We don't mean to be like that and if I have been again sorry

Always good to read this type of news

Have you seen our FAQ, all your answers are there http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/faqs/, including in the Welcome Center how to post pictures. How can you tell if they've undergone their first moult? - the bar lines disappear and does this happen around 3 months of age? Yes around 3-4 months I read a budgie book that said that their cere changes and first moult happens around 3 months, but I think I read somewhere on here that someone's budgie's cere only changed colour at 8 months. They are saying a guideline, it depends on the bird but most around 3-6 months. Henry has been preening himself quite a bit and when he does so some downy feathers come off which makes me think that he's about to moult. He also has a few feathers growing near his neck. It can be a start, some molts take a couple weeks some takes a couple months just depends on the bird and a lot of it factors in on the climate and nutrition factor. I read that the plumage is complete around a month so I'm not sure if his growing feathers are an indication that he's already moulted or not.. He still has the bars on his forehead down to his cere but again ,they're not very dark and it's a little difficult trying to get a photo that shows the bars on his head, the lighting always lightens the visibility of them. Some bar lines are light some are dark so nothing to worry about. His cere is getting bluer each day whch makes me quite sure he's male. If it is a deep purple blue most likely, hens can have whitish blue ceres when they are out of breeding condition. His wings have been clipped. I thought it was best to do so seeing as he was an aviary bird and would probably not enjoy me handling him when he could fly away, it was also a safety measure but I'm not planning to clip them after new feathers have grown back. That is okay, not a biggy just don't let him on the floor it is not safe. also one thing I've been curious about is how big budgies get. I've seen some adult ones at the pet store and they are like the size of a cockatiel fledgling (they're not british varieties). All Budgies are from AU, the English and American was brought into play I believe by the Americans? The English were breed in England but still originally came from AU. The correct term is show budgie (bigger ones) and pet type (smaller ones). 35-45g is normal for a pet budgie and larger budgies can be up to 55g. (this is estimations) I know there is an article about budgie weight in the FAQ's I think some adult budgies at the place I got henry from was also that big so would that mean that Henry would double in size as time goes by? It's just a little confusing because books say they're fully grown at 6 months! But it seems like they an get a lot bigger after that. Budgies are considered adults by 12 months and I would say that is probably when they are fully grown. If you look around you will see a lot of different varieties in both pet and show especially in the breeding journals and budgie pics.

I agree, hens

good news and I hope the hen gets the point

the little one looks wonderful, fingers crossed everything continues well with the little one

Merlin approves and says they are gorgeous as he sits on my shoulder and cuddles next to my hair saying sweet baby, I should have taught him sweet girl instead so it sounds like he is talking to me not himself and so concieted.

they are gorgeous, congrats on your results ladies.

keeping her warm above 75F in a room, keeping her quiet, making sure she is still eating and drinking and the avian vet appointment scheduled today.

congrats Jenene, they are beautiful cockers .

I did a google and didn't come up with much, I am going to say it depends on the size of the bird too, I bet that SW or Chryo. would have that type of information in their reference books that they use for vet school?

I went through that period too when my dishwasher broke, after awhile I go so used to it until it was fixed, then when it was I was so happy, in fact I have read an article that says dishwashers use less water then hand washing now isn't that interesting.

Go Fish Have you ever been visited a foreign country?

I love productive days like that you are exhausted but you know feel accomplished and good inside . Good for you!!

Well if you had the flash on in this photo no wonder it was thought to be female then and male now. I see you are asking for opinions on yahoo and getting some really stupid answers from people who know a whole lot less that we do here. Dont you trust the experts on BBC ? PS most people on yahoo are kids who know very little but still give opinions like they are experts :

get posting LOL JB or be here for many years (coughs) like Kaz and I

Awesome picture of Kaz's for budgie of the month for January Hills..you should add it Excellent picture and your boys are so handsome (that includes Ernie ). Clipping Wings....as long as you know the DOORS, WINDOWS are always shut and he can never get out it would be okay, but if you have doors opening all the time, or if it is active at your house I would consider strict precaution, you know a clipped budgie can fly out and get enough lift to get out of fingers grasp so I think clipping is a "false" feeling of security personally.

Big hugs, I was so hoping it was nothing

I would say he probably around the 3 months mark before his first molt, Merlin had iris rings very earlier on, not biting is not always a sign of a male vs female, we have a topic about Budgie Ceres you may want to view that to see which one matches your bird best. Calling for another budgie may take around a month BUT make sure that he is not calling for you. When you leave the room and he calls he may be calling for you not another budgie which is something you have to ignore or it will turn into a habit. I personally would not let your budgie run around on the floor because he can get stepped on accidently, the reason he is running around is because he can't fly (wings are clipped?) but once he starts to get flight again he won't be running on the floor like that. I would use a couch or a table for exercise that is what I do with Merlin.

This is very normal, Merlin does that to me all the time it is like talking to another budgie, nails I believe are very similar to ceres to another budgie so they get excited, dance and do nibbling some even regurgitate seed. Be very happy she still is bonded with you even with a 2nd budgie, there is nothing to worry about .

They are beautiful

hugs Deb, this is a new beginning for you and your son

Go Fish...but I do it anyways because the one that is supposed to forgets Have you owned more then 2 dogs in your life time?

cool

to see if the eyes are red will indicate an ino, plum eyes within the first couple days indicate cinnamon