CaspersRose

8/10 I, too have witnessed my budgies holding things in their feet and nibbling on them. I also got the aggression one wring.

hi all! Smokey is doing pretty well in terms of taming. He lets me get hold of him, steps up onto my finger and doesn't bite or screechwhen being handled. He has his wings clipped. I have noticed that when he has been out for a bit of a run and a flap, he holds his right wing out from his body just a little. It is usually toward the end of our handling sessions, and after he has tried a few times to get from the floor up to his cage in one go (it is too far for him, so he usually flaps his way up onto the table, then into his cage). Otherwise, he is a happy cheeky budgie. At first i though maybe it had something to do with having his wings clipped, but then I remembered my previous budgie doing it as well, and his wings weren't clipped. Are they being melodramatic, and pretending just to get some sort of attention (in Smokey's case, to be picked up and put back into his cage, rather than having to get himself there), or might he actually have a sore wing? Could it just be that his little wings don't get a lot of exercise so when he does go for a fly, they get that same feeling our legs get when we go for a well-intentioned run after six months of winter idleness? I don't theink there's anything really drastic going on, becuase it isn't stopping him from doing the crazy grip the perch and flap wildly thing, but any suggestions or explanations would be much appreciated!

Hi All, Smokey has been with us for around 6 weeks now, and is growing up very quickly (his cere is now a purply shade of blue, and his forehead lines are receding...). Over the weeks, we have been popping different veggies and greens in his cage, to work out which ones tickle his fancy. But he doesn't seem to like any of them. He's had bunches of different sprouts (alphalpha and snow pea sproouts) which my last budgie used to go nuts over, but has shown no interest. We've also been putting veggie kebabs into his cage, with carrot, broccoli, celery tops etc... he doesn't even nibble on the leafy bits! I have just this week discovered he is enjoying a sprig of gum leaves. Is shredding and nibbling on leaves enough green stuff for my budgie's diet, or should we continue testing out different veggies to try to find something he will eat?

I was thinking the same thing... the sound of his little feet tapping along the table top is so cute!

Hehe... it is funny in a way, isn't it... Our cats were the same... they are always so proud of their handiwork... If they were human children they would present it to you with the burning anticipation of you sticking it on the fridge! Unfortunately, live snakes aren't particularly appealing kitchen fridge displays!

she looks just like my Smokey, whom I have been informed is a greywing...

Possibly another useful slant on this post is the one side or two debate?? I know a lot of pet-shop birds are sold with just one wing clipped. I got my budgie from a pet supplier (as opposed to a shopping centre pet shop - two VERY different types of pet shop!) and when I had chosen him, my already high regard for the sales-girl (whose badge identified her as the "avian supervisor) was elevated when I was asked a barrage of questions including: have you tamed a budgie before? have you got a cage? how big is it? what sort of food and water containers do you have? How much are you at home? where is the house is the cage going to be? and finally, would you like his wings clipped? I said yes, after having lost a beloved budgie to a flying accident, and I didn't even need to request both be done... it was as though it was a given. I have always been of the understanding that having both done is better for the birds, so where does the idea of only clipping one come from?

Hi there! I know in the past people have posted their concerns re: never seeing their budgies drink, and I know that it is in fact a bit of a rarity to see them having a drink, but I was wondering, seeing as I don't get to see Smokey drink, and therefore have little idea of HOW MUCH he is drinking, what signs should I be looking out for to tell me he might not be getting enough water? The water level in his water dripper thing goes down, but I have noticed he likes to play with it so I don't like to just assume that because the level is going down, he is getting all that water!

Hehe... I remember when that ad was on TV!

This is hilariously cute... by the way, what kind of mutation is he? Click:

We always have the radio going during the day, and he does sit with us while we're watching TV (until his bedtime!). We get the impression he likes TV better than radio, cos he chortles more when the TV is going. But yes, I do get the impression sometimes, he is being a bit attention-seeking! Despite not liking being held etc at the moment, he still rushes to the front of his cage when we get home etc, so he does get a lot of talking to. Even as I speak, he is making tiny little pecks at one of his bells... ting, ting, ting...ting, ting, ting... it has been going on for a good few mintues now! Hehe!

Smokey has been with us for a few weeks now, and is making gradual progress interms of taming. He is stepping up onto my finger now, and doesn't freak out when we put our hands into his cage to clean etc. He does still try to run/climb away if I try to actually catch him, but doesn't bite or freak out when I actually do catch hold of him. He has started to be a bit more verbal lately too, which is nice, because it gives me the impression that he's feeling a bit more at home now. He hasn't really shown a great deal of interest in the toys he has in his cage, but this is where the mystery begins! He has all kinds of different toys in his cage - two of those holey balls with bells in them (one hanging, one on the floor), a dangly thing with little beads and twirly things, some wooden rings, a ladder, a ropey thing, several hanging bells and one of those fluffy tent things which my previous budgie never really warmed to. Anyway, like i said, he hasn't really shown a great deal of interest in them yet, and I figured it will just take a bit of time for him to work out that they're fun etc, but every evening, after I've covered him up, I can hear him going berserk clinking the dangly bead thing, and poking at the hanging ball. As soon as I go to have a look at him doing it, he stops and looks at me as if to say "I wasn't doing anything!"... how confusing. I have even tried to peer up under his blanket without touching it, so he doesn't know I'm there... but he still stops and pretends he hasn't been playing! I am totally confounded! I wanted to get a photo of him playing, but I don't think I'm going to get one at this rate! Is this something a lot of budgies might do if they are still adapting to their newish surroundings, or is it likely to be a quirky personality thing, unique to my funny little Smokey? PS. Seeing as I couldn't get a photo of him playing to use as bragging material, here's one of him in flight!

Two weeks is only a short time as well. I have had my bayby budgie for three weeks now, and he is just beginning to step up onto my finger without showing any sort of reluctance. I had his wings clipped, which has made it a bit easier in terms of handling him, but he still scurries away at the sight of my hand coming toward him. I have heard suggestions that if you're trying to tame bugies who live as a pair, to try taking one of them to a separate area to work on taming them, one at a time, rather than having their buddy right beside them in the cage. That way, they focus on you, and thereofre might bond better with you.

"If I frown a bit harder will you get that camera out of my face so I can finish tossing the salad!?"

Hi! Smokey has been part fo the family now for two weeks and his personality is starting to really show. He is still a little bit timid, but I think with time and foody bribes he will settle in well! This is his very first flight photo! Smokey in Flight

Well, I have tried to get the little video of Smokey up and working, so fingers crossed! This is him on Sunday, so day two in his new family. Like I mentioned in the last post, I am really surprised at how happy he is to be handled etc. He is still quite quiet, but is chirping a little more each time he is out exploring the couch with me (that's where we conduct our Hand Appreciation lessons!), so I think once he feels like he kows us, and the unit well enough, he'll start singing (and hopefully talking!) a bit more. Click: Smokey - Day 2

great! that answers my question! Thanks!!!!!!

That's good to know... I don't really know what cress is either, except that my husband has grown it before on cotton wool, like you do with alfalfa, so i thought it might be similar... will start out with alfalfa and bean sprouts i think!

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone knows whether cress is safe to feed to budgies? My husband suggested (after buying me a new budgie for my birthday!) growing a little budgie herb (aka "sprout") garden on the window sill, and we already have some cress seeds and thought that if they're safe, we'd start with those. Are there any sprouty type things to avoid? We're thinking of doing a mixture, so are things like alfalfa, mung beans and snow pea sporouts okay? Rose.

Well, it has been a few more hours since my last post and Smokey and I have had another ten minute Hand Appreciation class this afternoon. He is now stepping up onto my finger and lets me move him from place ot place within his cage... he is a bit wary of being on my finger outside his cage. He is happy for me to pick him up and handle him, and is happy to sit on my chest whwn I'm slouching onthe couch, as long as he has a fold of my jumper, or my hand to snuggle in or up against. I am amazed at his progress! It took six months to get Casper to this stage, and only 24hrs with Smokey. I think Smokey is a bit younger than Casper was when I got him, and now I have a better idea on how to approach taming. Smokey is still fairly quiet, just chortling every now and then, but he does reply when I make chortling noises back to him, which is a good sign that he will end up with a few social skills and maybe even learn a few things to say. But for now, talking doesn't matter... just developing a fine appreciation for human hands!

Hi All... Here's a quick report on the results of Smokey's first Human Hand Appreciation class. He has been with us for 24hours now, and, although a little quiet still, seems to be settling in well. We've had our hand in and out of his cage a bit yesterday, changing seed and water etc to try to get him used to the idea that hands are friendly, then this morning I had him out for about ten minutes doing some tunnelling and just plain handling. He is still mastering the stepping up, but is happy for me to pick him up from behind... and it is only day two!... I'm so proud of him! Here is a little clip of his results after this morning's "lesson"! Hmm... it doesn't seem to do the right thing for me... the link just keeps going to my photobucket homepage... will get it sort out then re-post! Anyway, he has stepped up twice, and is happy for me to handle him adn pick him up from behind, and has enjoyed trotting around the couch a bit. He even sits on my shoulder and walk around with me too! Yay! His personality is beginning to show itself a little bit too... He really loves the back of the couch and climbing amongst the cushions... and running! It's very funny to watch budgies run! Rose

Yeah... he got his name because when I was describing to the lady which one i wanted i described him as "the little smokey one" because of his grey tail and lines... and the name just stuck... not being any sort of budgie geneticist, I didn't realise he was a greywing! His blue face spots are a pale blue, too. Is this because he is still young, or another mutation-related feature?

Well, here he is. Meet Smokey! Isn't he handsome!! After Casper's flying incident I decided to get his wings clipped, so that doesn't happen again!

HiAll, It has been several months since I was on the forums here, and have now realised how much I have been missing them! Last year I lost my Casper in a freak flying incident (poor little guy), and until now, I hadn't got a new budgie. A combination of just needing to wait, getting married, moving into a new rental place etc all contributing, i htink. Anyway, my darling new husband (without me knowing) has hit up the real estate agent to let him get me a budgie for my birthday! I only found out yeasterday, but he has had it in the pipeline for several weeks! So this weekend I will be bringing home a new little feathered friend! All I have to do is try to think of a name... but that will have to wait til I have actually found the right budgie! I'm not sure Dave realises that taking me out to pick a budgie will involve standing and watching them for a while, then considering colours, watching them some more, then checking out who seems to be chatting a lot, the standing back and watching them more again! Hehe... I will be sure to post pictures once i have some! Rose.

My Casper had one of those personalities which was content but quiet too. At first it took ages to make any progress in the taming department, then around the four month mark, it was like he had completely come out of his shell (pardon the pun!). For those four months I just persisted with teh finger training, and made a point of changing water adn seeds every day AS WELL AS rearranging his furniture every few days, just so he could get used to me being around, and i guess in the hope that rearranging his house, and introducing new toys etc would help him become a bit more open to change. And in the end it did work really well, and whilst he never became the kind of budgie who would "play" or snuggle with me like some of the others have, he would sit on my shoulder for hours on end, whispering in my ear, nibbling my jewellery and hair, he would sit outside his cage on his playgym adn talk to anyone who walked past (including our two cats!) and he would even sit on strangers' hands. In the end he became really affectionate in his own little way... Patience is the key.