Feathers

Hi Judy, Kazumi is extremely tame. Sometimes I think that it isn't me playing with Kazumi, but Kazumi playing with me In the morning he will run back and forward along the side of his cage until he gets my attention and I wake up. We have a bit of brekkie together (he loves wholegrain cereals and pears the best) and then have a bit of a cuddle, kiss and scratch. Just lately he has decided he likes flying between the computer screen and me - sitting on my head! He also likes to play under my fingers if I am using my laptop, because he is more important than anything I want to do, obviously (so he thinks). This is Kazumi.. and this is a link to a topic about Kazumi's love of food http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/index....showtopic=17000 Feathers.

Hi all, Over the last couple of weeks Kazumi has discovered a love of food.... MY food! It all started with a caesar salad, he saw the lettuce and his little eyes lit up. His absolute favourite is cereal, preferably of a wholegrain variety. and Pears... I ran out 2 days ago and he is missing his afternoon treat. He wasn't too sure about trying the banana but he had a little nibble... he even spotted a tasty little worm.. before realising his TOE!! didn't taste quite as good as it looked. Feathers.

Hi, that breeding cabinet size is probably fine, but the nestbox looks way too tiny. As far as attaching the nestbox goes, I have used large cable ties... works brilliantly, many just use hooks. Feathers.

Hi Clair, It sounds like they are going really well. Good job. Dad will feed them on the floor. Feathers

It is easier to teach a solo , male budgie to talk as you become a member of their flock and they learn to mimic you. Budgies together have each other as their flock members, so as you have found they mimic each other. Sometimes, if you have had a solo budgie and taught t to talk the second budgie will copy the first and learn phrases. More often though, when another budgie is added, they will regress and stop talking as much, or at all. They are all different though. Feathers.

Hi Kestral, Fantastic photos. I love them when they get all soggy like that. Have a look on your camera for a 'macro' setting. It is usually denoted by a picture of a flower that looks something like a tulip. The camera will focus better on close subjects with that setting. Feathers.

Hi Judy, you are right about the wild birds. In a flock budgies tend to do everything together. During the day they do have preening times and a nap times. They usually have a coupe of naps during the day. I take Kazumi out in the morning, put him back around lunch time and then we have an afternoon play time before he goes home for a meal and is covered at bed time. Feathers.

Hi there, I noticed that Kaz is here at the moment too, so we will probably double up with the same answers. Charlie definitely looks like a boy in the second photo that you posted. I think it may have been the flash in the picture on your shoulder. His behaviour is typical of a male budgie too. Fantastic response from him in such a short period of time. Great that you have him coming out on your hand too. Budgies generally love their cage. It is their 'safe space', their home. So they usually are fine about going home. As for Max, it sounds like he is having a fairly normal moult. During the moult every feather on their body is replaced. In the wild if they moult too quickly they would lose their ability to fly, and therefore get away from their predators. Their feathers can fall for 5 - 6 weeks, with all the feathers regrown in approximately 8 weeks. I'm looking forward to watching your progress with Charlie. Budgies have such amazingly great individual personalities and make fantastic companions! Feathers.

Hi Briony, I would say that the female is actually a golden face cobalt. Feathers.

Hi Earth Angel, There could be a couple of reasons for the reaction that you got. He could be going through a hormonal patch (most male juveniles do) or he could be starting to moult and scratching the pin feathers could hurt unless you are very careful. As he has happily trusted you before keep on spending time with him daily and put your hand in the cage and perhaps leave it resting on a perch for a while so that he re-learns that your hand is not a threat. It may time time, but he should come around. Feathers.

Hi Missy, Zebra is correct, the bar spacing on the cage you posted is too big for budgies. Have a look around on the internet and ebay. Cages like the one that zebra posted are available and are brilliant. Quite a few of the members here have that or a similar cage. Feathers.

Jason, it is most definitely a boy. Feathers.

Hi Briony, If you click on the link at the bottom of my reply it will give you instructions on how to upload your pictures to photobucket and post it online. Feathers.

Bea, I love it, how funny. I think Kazumi will come out with something soon... first thing every morning and most evenings he tries out all the different sounds he can make.... at the moment it all just sounds Martian to me Feathers.

Way to go Steele... doing it for Sapphire! Good show, Miss Kaz. Feathers.

Hi Jason, I am so glad that not everyone listens to so called 'advice' from some pet stores. Space wise it is easier for them to stock tall cages, rather than wide ones. The minimum cage size for a single budgie is a 45 X 45 X 45 cm square cage (18 X 18 X 18cm), 60cm wide (24inches) is better. 2 or more budgies need a cage at least 80 – 100cm wide (32 – 40 inches) so they have room to fly from side to side. Feathers.

Hi all, Just a friendly reminder to keep your photo sizes to a maximum of 640x 480 pixels. There have been a lot of images well in excess of that range recently from various members, including some that have been posting for a long time. Some may be under the impression that as the board automatically compresses any images over 385 pixels that the posting of larger images is alright. These large photos take up more system resources than ever due to the added compression. The forum administrators are working on deleting the built in compression code. Please assist us by following the guidelines, which can be easily found at the bottom of any staff messages. Thanks, Feathers.

Aly, thanks. I think that donations to children's hospitals are the best charitable donations anyone can make. Our children are our future. I've seen so many sick kids over the last few months and it breaks my heart. These facilities are focussed on health but also on all the needs of children. They don't forget about important aspects like play. Our donations help them buy important equipment, but also help with things like playrooms, toys, etc. I encourage everyone to consider donating to their local children's hospitals when they decide on their annual charitable donations. Thanks again!!!! xoxox Thanks to everyone else for your continued kind words, thoughs and prayers. Hi Shawna, The telethon weekend has just been held. It was the 40th anniversary and the organisers hoped to get a record amount of $4 million. Thanks to 3 massive donations from the state and federal governments and the owner of the tv station totalling $2.6 million dollars they smashed that amount and ended with over $6.5 million. That is a lot of money towards childhood research and facilities. As promised I made a donation as a tribute to Lucas and his brave battle. Aly

Hi Vicky, I agree with Elly. I think it is a good thing that he only comes out of his cage on your hand. That way you will always be the top 'flock member' and if you need to put him back quickly due to an emergency you can. Feathers.

Hi Tash and Adam, Welcome to the BBC forum. Charlie is a great looking little budgie. With a little time and patience I am sure that he will be your best friend in no time. Feathers.

Hi Sunnie, silverbeet is fine.. your birds will love you for it. Feathers.

Hiya, well done Sunnie. He is a yellow face type 2 skyblue (maybe cobalt - blues dont photograph well) opaline budgie. In the YF2 the yellow 'bleeds' into the blue turning it green. Feathers.

These are Kazumi's parents. Hen is a cinnamonwing light green op and Dad is a light green rec pied. Feathers.

Hiya, I too am very pleased you got him back. Pinnochio looks like a very spoilt, very happy little budgerigar. Feathers.

Aww, I am sure he would love you too... if he knew you a little better He will step up on anyone who visits to say hello. He has always been a "people bird", he accompanies me into the bird room, but ignores them and still prefers to be with me. He was destined for the aviary when he was born, but HE chose us. Feathers.