Chrysocome

That's great! Well done

Oh that kind of evil mummy Sounds really funny. I used to have small round bells on springs with a clip, the kind you get for fishing (not anymore, because of the dangers of slit bells and probably the metal too. I'm very glad I've learned so much more about budgie safety!). Nibbler used to have a ball bashing that up, it was so funny because it would spring back and wobble around. Can't wait to see pics!

The even grosser (and, um, cute, I guess? ) thing is, when she regurgitates the bits of seeds, they stick to me. Then she thinks that I'm trying to feed her back so she eats it again! Ah, young love

Oh, those photos are beautiful. It makes me sad to know that he is not going to be with us for very long. But I am so very glad that he is being loved and cared for. Thank you for sharing, Daz.

Nathan, this is a forum about budgies. I'm confused as to why you prefer not having stories and pictures of budgies on a budgie site. It is like saying that once you have posted about your bird you should not post again. Pictures can say a lot more than writing. But as Daz said, you don't have to go anywhere if you don't like it there. (A side note, your writing is confusing and you seem to be aware of it. Could you run your posts through a spellchecker in future? The one on Microsoft Word is quite handy. Just a suggestion.)

Good advice everyone. Reminds me, I should restock mine. I'd like to add to your post Sco-tie. The oesophagus which leads to the crop is located at the back of the throat. When you tube a bird you should go along the sides of the mouth, avoiding the floor and tongue. Holding the bird in your left hand, feed into the bird's right side, ie go over and across the tongue from the bird's left to right. (You can reverse the directions if left-handed, I don't think there is a wrong or right side of the throat to go down. Where did you hear about going to the right side?). The opening to the trachea (windpipe) is on the floor of the mouth, at the base of the tongue. As long as you do not stick the needle straight down onto the tongue in the centre, you will avoid it and end up in the oesophagus. The crop is located just above the keel (breast bone). If you are not sure if you are in the right tube, feel along the bird's neck, you should be able to feel the tip of the crop needle just under the skin. If you are in the trachea you will not be able to feel it. Hope this was helpful.

Handsome Blinkie! I personally love the budgie smell, if you get your nose right near them and inhale deep. They should put that smell in a can. It's warm and sweet. I love it. My friend says wet-budgie smell is the most heavenly scent ever. :(Laughing out loud):

Thanks all. Squee will be pleased Phoebe, I hope they get along too. The cage is big enough for two, but not two hen budgies if they decide they don't like each other. Squee has a tendency to pounce on anything that moves, as well. I'm happy to have them as neighbours, I'll just have to figure out space arrangements. For now I'm keeping them apart while I train Squee, but I can't wait for them to meet!

Squee just moved out of quarantine into her big new house. Of course, that means Photo Time! What? Now? I'm not ready yet!! Go away! Oi! No photos! I said NO PHOTOS. Grr. I know you're sneaking photos. Fine! *headless* Gotta look good... Keep the feathers shiny... Even those hard to reach bits.. And moisturise these cheeks.. *rubrubrub* (Don't you love it when they do that? ) Oh yeah gotta shave the underwings... Okay! Now I'm ready! *looks cute*

I love the second photo. So cute! Great photos

What a beautiful and touching story. Truly heartwarming. Cheers to all those involved.

Oh my gosh! My Milly is trying to feed my hands as I type right now! I'm so happy though it's kind of gross It happened after a harcore preening session, I was absent-mindedly scratching her head/accepting her nibbles while watching tv on my computer. For, um, two hours now she's decided that my hands need food. I've seen this previously in my boys but they tended to flirt with everything, (Laughing out loud). This has really made my day. I love my budgies! :dbb1: :ausb:

Wow! That's amazing. I had no idea Thanks for that info. Genetics continues to astonish me! I guess that could possibly explain the other colour changes she's gone through, particularly on her back. Her main tail feather is now almost completely yellow as well (it used to be olive green). Thank you, I'll pass on your compliments

Ee! Lookit them all as wee babies. So cute and so handsome now Name: Millet Mutation: light green recessive pied Age: about 2 months Acquired: pet store in July 2004 Now: ~2.5 years Is this really the same budgie? I'm not sure what it means that Milly had a blue belly when she was little, and she's got a bit of a blue sheen to her green now. None of my other green recessive pieds have had that. I haven't got photos of my previous budgies as bubs, and Squee's not really old enough to look all that different. She's lost her baby bars and the iris rings will come in any day now (if not recessive).

Squee! (whose gender I am still unsure of) Milly's turn :ausb: What do you mean these cheeks make me look fat?? (don't tell her I posted this one! :bluebudgie:)

I've been following this anxiously and am wondering too. Riebie and Bobby, we're thinking of you. I wish you the best of luck and hope all is well.

Phoebe, I tear up when I think about this topic too. I was also involved in shelter work, and last semester we got a few lectures on pets in modern society. I was very upset to find about 80,000 dogs and cats are admitted to shelters in Victoria (Australia) alone - 30% of dogs and 60% of cats are destroyed. These are the ones that get picked up and doesn't take into account the animals that die on the street. These numbers are absolutely beyond my comprehension, and it just makes me so upset to think about it. Just... Why?? I don't have figures for birds and part of me is too scared to go looking. The (humane) destruction of animals that goes on shelters is a little niche in society that the public isn't really aware of. To think of what those people who put down animals have to deal with as well. Is it really worth breeding an animal because it seems fun; to bring a creature into this world to have it mistreated and suffer, only to find its early end in crowded shelters? It doesn't seem fair to me. Anyway, I'm waffling. Let me stress that I am not against breeding itself, but irresponsible breeding. So that doesn't apply to nearly all the breeders on this site because from what I can tell they absolutely love their birds and give them all the best. I think the general public needs to be made aware of exactly what is involved, for beginners to evaulate why they want to breed birds and consider the birds' needs. That makes this forum a great place because it does educate people who consider going into it, the responsibilities and requirements. What is your opinion on making pamphlets about bird keeping (and breeding) to distribute among pet stores that will take them? That will get to people who think they want to start bird breeding, at least. It could be made online and therefore easily accessible all over the world, anyone can print them and give them to stores. It should get checked over by an avian vet first, of course. Or.. something. Gah. I just want to do something. The suffering that goes on is just unnacceptable.

I agree with what the others have said. You might keep the birds in such a situation but which feels right to you - having them around but not in the best health, or having your birds happy? Even if it means you will see them less. I know it's a hard decision that I hope I never have to make, but I know which one I would choose. In the meantime, all animals require a certain amount of sunlight (particularly UV) to make vitamin D. What they get at the moment may not be enough. I think it should be okay if it's not for a long time, but in the long term a closet is not the best place for a bird (or any animal for that matter). For the morning noise - have you tried covering them with a cloth at night? Mine keep quiet until I take it off when I wake up. Then yep, it's Screamfest. It's quite good for when you want to wake up early actually

I love this thread! What a great idea :sad: I couldn't pick just one photo so here they are: Nibbler's poof head: The girls can be poofy too! Just in different places :sad: Milly And the poofiest of all: Squee! :(Laughing out loud):

This was my Nibbler, the only ever blue budgie I had. He was given to my dad from a breeder as a gift. He was my big blue boy. Now I've got to admit that this was a time when I knew not much about budgies and had to learn the hard (and painful way) about things. :hap: But of course, I know so much more now, and thanks to this site I'm learning even more about giving the best possible care. Anyway, I had always assumed he was a normal cobalt, but reading some more I'm starting to think otherwise. Nibbler with flash - purple cheek patches. This is as close to real colour as I can get. Nibbler butt. You can see bits of light blue on his wings (like an opaline) as well as some brown. He also had violet on his neck. Can you help me out? (If you're wondering about the beak - he developed a tumour in his upper beak It was causing his beak to grow off to the side, and he could only use one side of his mouth. Because of that, it didn't wear down and instead grow abnormally long. I took him to the vet when I saw it was just going to get worse (I tried so hard to convince my parents, in the end I just snuck out). He trimmed it and gave some medicine but it didn't get better Not long after, Nibblet started bleeding profusely from his mouth and it just wouldn't stop; everytime he closed his beak it would dislodge the clot and it would start again. The vet put him down, right in my hands, I will always remember him, not only because he was such a bouncy character but because I realised right at that moment that no animal deserves to suffer, no matter how much it pains us to let them go. That euthenasia, though heartbreaking, is a "good death" that saves them a slow, painful end. One final kindness.) Fly free, little one.

It's one of the reasons I love recessive pieds. Baby-face forever

I had a go at getting Milly in flight today. It was just as hard and frustrating as I expected it to be Real difficult to frame a picture when they fly so fast and erratically. I had to use the flash and it washed out her colours Anyway, here they are: (Excuse the mess that is my room... come exam time, personal hygiene gets demoted somewhat on my list of priorities )

Here's something straight out of my lecture notes. Determination of age by reading leg rings For budgies Format and rules for Australian Championship shows sets the colour of each season's ring over a 6 year cycle. 2000 gold 2001 green 2002 black 2003 red 2004 blue 2005 purple 2006 gold NB imported birds' ring colours do not match with the above. Not all rings have hatch dates on them (eg plain coloured plastic ones). The ring issue date is from 1st January each year. The National Secretary notifies the ring manufacturer before September each year of the nominated symbol to be etched onto the ring. For example, the year 2001 may be displayed as 1# and 2002 as 2*. The reason for the symbol in lieu of the full year (it used to be that way, eg 1999 was 99 and 2000 was 00) is that it has been alleged that some fanciers were getting rings manufacted overseas in advance of the year, thus possibly having an advantage on the show bench. Other markings - BCV = Budgerigar Council of Victoria Other letters and numbers identify the individual breeder and the bird's identification number.

Mickey, what is your bird eating? If he wasn't fluffed up I would say that "green and runny" could be a normal by-product of watery green vegetables (this could be what your friend's bird got). But you say he is fluffy all day (by this I am assuming you mean the feathers do not sit smoothly, he does not look 'sleek') - this is a very clear sign of sickness. Being fluffy all day means he is devoting all his energy to fighting sickness, and there is not enough to maintain his normal processes. So he has to fluff up to stay warm. Here's an article on poopology - it applies for cockatiels not budgies.. but it gives you an idea of generally what "different looking poop" means - http://healthybird.net/Poop%20ology.htm - and it's usually not good. Please see a vet as soon as you can. Even if it is nothing big, it is better to be safe than sorry. As Phoebe said you will both feel better. When a bird gets sick, it is very unlikely that it will simply recover from it. Birds aren't like mammals. They try their hardest to conceal their sickness - that means that it is advanced by the time you see the obvious signs. I wish you all the best. It's hard to find a bird vet but they're out there. Try ringing a normal vet and ask if they can refer you to an avian vet.

Milly decided to pose for me. I think she wants me to erect a statue or something