Boris' Slave

Karen's brain has left the building and her head has imploded.

Today: This one let me know today that s/he has a beak and knows how to use it! :(Laughing out loud):

Took these today. This is the group of foster babies: This is Mrs Robinson & Toy Boy's baby: This little one had splay leg & my handling didn't correct like it did with the other little baby so I used my 'handcuff' correction. The baby at this age instinctively pulls it's legs under it, this design prevents the legs from splaying to the side. The baby's legs now stick behind but because it was a side splay the baby can (and did) pull it's legs up and under itself. It helps that it has siblings to lean on. Fingers crossed that this permanately fixes the splay.

Today: This lil cutie is the eldest and always comes up to me when I open the nest box:

Aww smilyl! That is so sad! I hope the other 2 make it.

Back on Topic now guys. As of today:

HUH?

Found one on eBay, finishes 4th May http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Feeding-Your-Pet-Bi...1QQcmdZViewItem I have bid on another copy for myself. Thanks for the tip Terri.

I think feather dusters usually only live for a maximum of 12 months (if extremely lucky). No one knows really what causes this though there are alot of theories. My personal theory is it's a random gene that no one has any control of. Anyone watch those medical shows? Recently I saw one about a boy who's skin does not stop growing. Everyday he has to be scrubbed. Also I think I read a story of 2 girls from the same family with a similar version. Very distressing but ultimately random. Any healthy couple can have a child like this purely by chance. Same goes with animals.

LusoPeriquito, I got this response on another forum in regards to this same post: Your bird is not a mauve.... your bird's dad is a light green, meaning no dark factor. A light green dad cannot have a mauve (double dark factor) son. It's geneticaly impossible. Also, a cinnamon mauve has a greyish body and not a lilac one. Now I feel confused as I am having differing things said by 2 people who know waaay more genetics than me.

Measure from the top of the head to tip of the tail (or as close as their wriggling will allow)

I hope so, especially since dad did say any more aviaries are to go up the back yard. Just have to make sure I get more before he changes his mind.

Thanks for the aviary one Karen! I just placed a bid & am the highest bidder!! YAY Camira is only 30 minutes away from me!!

Ask at a pet supply store, they may be able to order some in for you.

agreed!

Up to a maximum of around 15 babies per year (otherwise mum loses too much of her stored calcium) spaced as the others above have stated.

sometimes males can be so daft!

3 week old babies are easy to rear. Weetbix are good very short term. Problem with crushed seed is you need to dehul them first which would be very difficult. 3 week olds only need to be fed every 4 hours or so during the day and a final feed probably around 10pm will last through to about 6am. When I raised the 3 week olds I also had a lid from a jar with some sloppy weetbix in it - most times this was ignored but when the baby got older it helped itself to some during the night (also provided moisture if thirsty).

sorry Jen, this bub is staying with me!

IBS is the Ipswich Budgerigar Society, they meet on the 4th Friday of every month from 7pm at the Ipswich Show Grounds. On second thought, IBS could be International Budgerigar Society. hmmmm

Played around with the scales today. Daddy is 40 grams & mumma is 48 grams. Baby who is around 3 weeks old is 38grams already! oh, and she bites!

Yeah, I've saved the link with my other avian links too

I know what you mean Janette. The other night when Boris laid her egg I knew something wasn't right as soon as I noticed she wasn't on her perch. When it's bed time she is always on her top perch nearest to me. I probably over reacted when I saw her but it is better to be over cautious than under cautious. Good luck with Jimmi for Friday. I hope it is not a serious condition for her.

One thing I have heard & read is that when a male budgie becomes sterile his cere will change colour. featheredpets has a 7 year old Albino male whose cere is brown.

Very good questions Riebie and I'll try and answer them as best I can. I am not sure at what stage the first bird developed symptoms - it wasn't too long - perhaps a few weeks but I can't be really accurate. What pavariangoo said was true - all birds carry the cells for this disease in them. It is like cancer in humans, we all carry the cells but certain circumstances have to be 'just right' for the disease to be triggered. For megabacteriosis the most common 'triggers' is stress. Females tend to get it more often as they are under more stress than males: egg laying, sole feeding initially after hatching etc. In reality quarantine will in most cases not catch this disease before being exposed to the aviary. No one knows for sure the incubation time. Quarantine will catch most other diseases & if we follow some vets quarantine recommendation (3 months) then I think all diseases would be discovered. 30 days really is not a long quarantine period so it is unlikely that this disease could be discovered. Best to get a supply of Megabac-S on hand just in case. There are 2 forms after all - the quick acting form & the slow acting form. My birds had the quick acting form. I keep a supply of Megabac-S in the fridge just in case it happens again. (touches wood) my aviaries have been clear of the disease for quite some time now so I am starting to breathe easy again. However, on saying this, I still have the male separated who was responsible for the deaths (last year) of 3 hens & his first nest of 5 babies (from megabacteriosis). He has never shown any signs of the disease, so he is a carrier & will have to spend the rest of his existence in isolation * I found this out from further research: Babies in eggs do not have the disease even if their mother had it full blown when mating occurred & eggs laid. It is when the mothers feed the babies that the active form of the disease is transferred to the babies that will ultimately kill them.