CaspersRose

I am a bit of a dabbler... do lots of odd things reasonably well, rather than being a prodigee at one thing. I enjoy photography, particularly nature/scenery photography: I also make all my own cards, and use wire to make all kinds of shapes and designs (animla shapes, cursive writing etc giving them detail with beads) to put on the cards.

Hrrrmph... that always happens to me! I can't work it out!! Does this work? Smokey the Athlete: http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e117/rbr...keyOlympics.flv

I know this is a photo comp, but I thought I'd put this up anyway... I'm thinking either 100m Sprint or Long Jump? Click here: Smokey the Athlete

It may be, but I use a more expensive supermarket seed (Lovitts Whistler Bird Seed Avian Science Budgerigar Mix) and it doesn't actually have much if any of that red seed. It is the bigger long seeds that look like oats that he leaves behind. Do other people's bird also turn their beaks up at these, or is Smokey just fussy?

Smokey picks at his food too, and only eats the bits he likes... but I am sure the bits he doesn't like are the healthier ones, so I try to make sure I blow the husks off then just top up his seeds without tipping out the ones he's left behind... that way there's a bigger proportion of the bigger seeds, and not so much of the little millet seeds in there... and I cross my fingers and hope he'll end up eating a mix of seed, rather then just his favourite bits! It really funny to look at his seeds after I've blown them, because what is left is pretty much made up of just three or four kinds of seeds rather then the whole mix!

you'd have to make sure the budgies don't go to town nibbling on any edges etc which might lift up.

Ooo, ooo! Now that you've started this thread up again, Denise, why don't we start a "our wedding pics" theme... I'd love to see the ones that people are somewhat embarrased about. Mine was only six months ago, so it might be a matter of waiting until I have teenage children who point out how daggy and unfashionable we were before I find pictures of me on my wedding day hideous! Here's mine: Who else has wedding pics to share, no matter how old!!?????

hehe... ...what was the ***** meant to be?

haven't watched it, but it does look intriguing from the ads. Do you speak more than one language fluently.

i do the vacuum cleaner thing too... if you get the suction right, if your dishes are mounted on the walls of the cage, you don't even have to open the cage (thus reducing the chances of sucking the budgie up with the husks!) and can just wave the vacuum around near the edge of the food dish.

Yes... my mum used to serve us "mashed pumpkin" and because we were fussy eaters would hide all kinds of other orange veggies in it... carrot, sweet potato, even parsnip! Now I do the same thing... haven't og tkids, but it works on my husband! Can you "swith off" your budgies' talking by turning off the tv? (it's like our tv remote is for Smokey- press the off button and Smokey switches off too!)

Oh dear... that's so sad! I hope the loss is not too disheartening for your son, and that, given time, he will continue to enjoy the wonderful side of keeping pets. Thinking of you!

No worries... anyone have any ideas on how to train a budgie to clean up his own poos? My husband gets really thing when Smokey is sitting on his shoulder and poos on his clothes! Hehe... what's he going to be like in a few years when we have kids who poo and puke???

Hehe... S&G are fantastic! And Sounds of Silence is one of their best! My song is "Morning Train (9 to 5)" by Sheena Easton

go fish. Do you love to watch sport, but hate participating?!

Well, as with all training things, there is a degree of bribery involved! We have been using food rewards more recently, but it was different initially. He wasn't (and really still isn't) all that keen on being out of his cage, and always wanted to go back in when he was out. He can't easily get back to his cage on his own as his wings are clipped so after he'd been out for finger taming, I'd put my hand out, right next to his cage and he'd step up, then I'd put my other hand over him and gently place him in his cage. Consequently he began to associate my open hand with being put back into his cage. After a while, I started saying "come" every time I put him back into his cage so he'd start to connect my open hand with "come". Gradually we started increasing the distance, and encourage him to "come", always at the end of his "outside" time. Now, as you can see, he comes from the other side of the room! He always comes if I'm stitting in front of his cage calling him, but we're still working on getting him to come to us in other places around the living room. That's the next big project!

yeah... we think he's pretty clever... but we might be biased!

maybe that will work better?... not sure what the prob was... I'm not the most computer savvy chick on earth!

Hi all! Smokey's not the keenest budgie when it comes to handling, but tolerates being picked up enough for me to be satisfied that if I ever had to grab him to get him off to the vet, or tend to him in some way, he's not going to be too emotionally scarred by the experience. He does step up when neccesary, but quite frankly would prefer to have his cage to himself, thank you very much. What we have been working on though, because he doesn't like to be chased around, is getting him to come on command while he's out of his cage. This way I am hoping that if he ever gets himself out of his cage, or whatever, and we don't know where he's got to, we can call him and he'll at least poke his head out from wherever he's lurking. Well, here's a little video of his progress. He got a bit camera shy, and didn't want to jump up onto my hand with the camera pointed right at him from my other hand, but he did put on enough of a show to give you a bit of an idea of what he can do! http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e117/rbr...SmokeyCome2.flv

Sort of...done it on e-tax, but haven't sent it off yet... just waiting for a few details re: my hubby's tax... generally happy with what I think i'm going to get back though! are you afraid of heights! If so, what is the sacriest "high" thing you've done?

Yes... when I'm at home. I missed a whole bunch of swimming finals this morning... bummer. Just caught the end of the men's relay. What a finish! The US team is amazing! (our guys came third and that's cool...but I still watched the US team in awe, particularly Phelps!). Is it sunny at your place today?

go fish. Only into the third week of uni, so things are still pretty quiet. Give it two or three more weeks and ask again... then I might snap back at you! Do you like banana bread?

i try are you going to spend/waste too much time watching the Olympics on TV?

That's a good idea. I recon that would make a world of difference! Maybe members with particularly nifty playgyms could post some photos so Marlo can see what you're referring to?

go fish! I your other half a tidy person??!! (mine is... and i'm not... work well mostly)