thk

Yes indeed, Charley talks in his sleep, very softly...its the cutest thing! He's definitely asleep and trying hard to keep his balance, sometimes it looks like if he nods any further forward he's going to fall off his perch. I sometimes just stop and watch him, he looks so cute!

I found the same with Charley. Initially I had no mirrors, now 2 years later he has totallly bonded with me and even though he has a few shiny toys that he can see himself in and has bonded with also, I am still number one. He comes straight to me and only cuddles up to his mirrors when I'm not paying him attention. So I think maybe the secret is no mirrors at all initially but perhaps it seems to be okay once he has totally bonded with you. Charley also prefers to be in his cage and I have to entice him to come out, he'll play outside it for a little while but then flies straight back in. I'm happy with that as he feels happy and secure in his cage.

And whats more... they look like they're having fun!!!! LOVE it!!! :grouphug:

How embarrassed am I!!!! I was dying to see what "budgie shoes" looked like and was trying to imagine how you would get them on your bird!!

Nothing nicer than watching a budgie at play! Charley comes to work with me (in cage) and amuses all the people in the office with his antics. He plays games with the guys, if they wiggle the olympic rings from the top of the cage he goes berserk! I dont know if he's telling them off, or if he's enjoying it. He has a "toy box", a little plastic dish in which I put all his toys, some small budgie toys as well as keys, paperclips, pen tops, key tags, bulldog clips.. anything small. As soon as his toys are all neatly in his 'box' he takes them all out one by one, muttering as he goes .. then when they're out he throws them around, and you see things flying around and crash landing on the floor of the cage or sometimes in his water dish (that's a "goal"!). He then looks at it with one eye... his little head cocked... as he works out how to best fish it out. We watch him for hours.. very little work gets done in my office.... needless to say I'd better not tell you where it is!! (its to do with "law enforcement"!!! )

Sorry .. know NOTHING about this..... but whatever they are... they are so CUTE!!!!!!!!!

My Charley speaks very well and finds it very easy to say his name. In fact he says it so much it drives me crazy!! Everything is Charley this, Charley that... "good morning Charley.. you look nice today!" "hello Charley" "Goodbye Charley" "Charley's a pretty budgie".. "Charleys a bad bad boy" "Charley's good!" "Charley's mummy's boy" (hooray.. I get a mention!!) ....and sometimes??? Just "Charley, Charley, Charley"!!!!!! Mind you I believe depending on the skill of the budgie I think they can learn to say almost anything! I'm sure there'll be many replies from others on this forum whose budgies can say their name!!

Charley does that too. I cover him, then I've tried to wait with turning off the light till I know he's on his swing, but he tends to wait till I turn out the light, before I THEN hear him climbing up the side of the cage to his swing. It's almost like he doesnt want me to see him going to bed!! But what he does, is then give a soft little chirp, as if to say "I'm right now!" I generally wait till I hear that little chirp then I say "Good night Charley, its bedtime", he gives another little "chirp" and that's when I leave him. I think your little guy may be doing the same!!

I wish to enter Charley's photo in this month's Budgie of the Month. . Hopefully this is the correct thread!!! PEEKABOO!!!

Charley who usually come to the office with me and home at the end of the day is now staying in the office overnight, except for weekends (I couldnt part with him for a whole weekend!). In the office (where he's happy as he's there every day!). . he is at least in a consistently cool climate.. today in Woomera we're expecting 39 degrees again, gradually going up to 43 by Saturday. Evenings are "quiet" here without him but at least I know he's comfortable..and when I walk into the office he's chatting away merrily, but his little feathered face DOES light up when he sees me again! Friday afternoon will again be too hot to take him home (at 4pm, expecting 42 degrees) so I'll probably make an extra trip on Saturday morning when its relatively cool, to bring him home for the weekend. How do you all cope who have "outside" aviaries???

The vet advised me earlier this year to take Charley off birdseed and put him on pellets (sayinghe was a little overweight). She said birdseed is not a natural feed for birds ..I found this strange. She also said not to mix the two as then he would still go for the seed. I tried the pellets, he wouldnt even look at them and I also didnt want to starve him so I gave the pellets to someone else with birds and went back to the birdseed. I have changed to Canary seed but have since read on here that Finch Mix is better?

I too agree with the above. I bought Maxie from petshop, could not tame her no matter how I tried. She was terrified of humans and aggresive (out of fear no doubt). Even after 12 months she was still the same towards me. I bought Charley from a breeder however and he's the tamest, most sociable, adorable budgie I've ever 'met'! The breeder was not a well known or show breeder, probably what one would call a "backyard" breeder but obviously he bred his birds with lots of love, affection and care, as Charley was totally hand reared (as were most of his other birds) and is so well adjusted and content. I'm no expert but have always put it down to where they were purchased .. i.e. well cared for but "loveless" petshop compared to loving, caring breeder.

Congratulations GB.. You had my vote!! Cutest picture!!!

Thanks Liv.. I will make sure I'm more careful from now on! I think it was the extremes of the 40 degrees and hot wind, then next day 20 degrees... and of course the air conditioning, and my BIGGEST mistake, spraying him with cool water!! How awful to think that you yourself have possibly caused him to get sick! Talk about guilt.. as Maesie said!! You think "how could I have been so stupid!!" I will be more careful. I have felt now what it's like to think you are going to lose your precious buddy!! To update.. he's perfectly fine now.. I've still got the drops in his water, thought I might keep that up for a few days. I never thought I would be so excited to find a little pile of droppings below his "bed" (swing) this morning! Phew!! And to hear that first little bell ringing (when he wakes up, before I take his cover off, he always softly rings the little bell on his swing... that tells me he's awake). When you are so devastated faced with a suddenly sick budgie and you know not where to turn... so comforting to even get onto the forum and talk to someone who understands!! Thank you!!

Yes Maesie.. I thought spraying him was a good idea (at the time) but I've since read a few things on this forum, one in particular saying that its not necessarily ALWAYS a good idea to spray them as it may make it more "humid" for them if the air is very hot, especially as it was, 40 degrees and so very windy (a hot wind therefore). Next morning it was totally opposite (this morning) quite cool. My boss, who adores Charley too, said on those very hot afternoons instead of taking him from the cool air conditioned ofice into a rather hot car, better to leave him at work ...he still sees people as they work shifts and the only time he's "alone" is between 7pm and 7am which is a good sleep time anyway, he's been left there before when i've been away for a few days and then there are plenty of "friends" to look after him, so he is quite unstressed when he is left there and has always been bright and chirpy when I come in the next morning.

Yes GB, he has been coming to work with me every morning for the past 6 months and loves it. I'm in the outback and work is about 3 minutes drive from here, I take his cage every morning, and home every afternoon. He loves the car, loves the office (knows everyone there, talks to them all and will even sit on fingers poked throught the cage). He knows when we get in the car each morning that he's going to work, he usually starts chatting in the car, telling all his bells where we're going. I have a cover for his cage that someone made for him, he's not stressed at all when I put it on the cage. I think the problem is this. Yesterday when it was 40 degrees I didnt put the cover on his cage as I normally do in and out of the car. I thought it would be too hot. I hadnt counted on the 60kmh wind gusts outside, Charley usually doesnt mind the wind when I have the cover on and he feels it a little through the cover, he gets excited and flaps his wings. Yesterday however, without the cover, the wind blew rather strong and he flew around and around the cage (I felt it was either excitement or a little fear!). As we got in the rather warm car I then sprayed him lightly with a little water (maybe a mistake in hindsight!), I had cooled the car as much as I could before we got in, the drive home, about 3 minutes (tops). He was panting a little so when we got inside the air cond house (not TOO cold).. i sprayed him a little again (maybe another mistake!). Before too long he was himself... chatting and playing as he always does. This morning off to work he was fine in the car and when we first got into the office (his chatting echoes around the office!).. then this afternoon I noticed he was quiet.. too quiet.. too fluffed and too listless. Suddenly! Now that he's home he seems fine, does pay a bit more attention to his bottom but I'm watching his droppings, I had just cleaned the cage so I could keep an eye on them, and there's already one "normal" looking dropping. He eats quite often and I saw him have a drink of the water with the drops in it. He's playing again (throwing his toys around) but I'm covering him up early tonight for a rest. Tomorrow is my day off so he will be home and I'll keep him quiet. So I guess what I'm saying is, he loves the trip to and from the office (has always loved car rides, right from "birth!") and gets excited when we first get to the office and more excited when the regulars drop in and say hello. He generally shows off when someone comes in, talks to them and does all kinds of crazy tricks. Thats why this was totally out of character for him. So suddenly! But hopefully... it LOOKS like he's getting better, but I wont take it for granted and will still keep a close eye on him and keep the drops up in his water for a few days I think. I guess what I was wondering was if this is common for a budgie .. to change suddenly from tops in health to suddenly seeming sickly, then just as suddenly healthy again? Do they sometimes get a little off colour (tummy aches?? head aches??) like we do? And would his constant regurgitating mean anything.. or would it be bad for him.. or has he just got a fettish for feeding his bells... or does he sometimes "over eat"?? okay .. so many questions.. but these are the things that go through your head and the things you would like answers to. As I said .. I'm appreciative of any opinions and advice. So thank you to those who have already commented!! It is always good to hear from others who have experience!

Got Charley home and put some Avi-Drops in his water. He seems more lively. He's now playing with his toys again, and chatting a little though not as "loud" as he normally is. I'll cover him early this evening and keep him quiet (he tends to overdo his playing sometimes, he can be very boisterous!). I've kept the air cond a little warmer in the room and he seems to be improving. I've changed his sandpaper so I can keep an eye on his droppings. Hopefully he'll keep improving although I am aware, from reading this forum, that they can suddenly take turns (up .. or down!)... so I'll keep a close eye on him. I can't believe how suddenly they can change.. from top of the world, to a fluffed up listless little bundle.. then back to (almost) top of the world again. Is this common? He is still constantly trying to feed the bell attached to his ladder, is definitely a lot happier now though. Its the first time he's ever looked "off colour" (he's 2 years old) and boy doesnt it give you a fright??? I felt sick in the stomach everytime I looked at him (and that was every 3 minutes!!). I can sympathise with others now who have or have had sick budgies! The thing that made me feel ill was thinking that my best little mate was suffering!!! Hoping he will be himself by tomorrow morning!!!

Hoping you can give some advice.. Charley is not himself today. I'm not sure if its the change in climate (yesterday was 40 degrees, today about 20), he was fine this morning, it seems sudden, he's quiet, fluffed up and seems to be bringing up seed. He sort of does the action of bringing up seed to feed his bells (which he does quite often) but then shakes his head and little seeds fly around the room. Not all the time, just now and then. Also every now and then he tries to "play'. but then reverts to his fluffed up quiet state. I'm keeping an eye on his droppings, they seem more white than black at the moment. His bottom is okay, no dirt at all. I live "remote" and no vet around nearby so wondering if there is anything I can do myself to make him more comfortable. He is in the office with me and we go home in an hour. Is it best to cover his cage when I get home (and keep him warm), or best to keep watching him? Do they sometimes just have "off days" (like we do) or should I begin to worry? Its very sudden. He was a bit stressed yesterday when I took him home as it was very hot.. i sprayed him a little with water so he would cool down, he seemed fine and noisy as usual in the evening and first thing this morning. Every now and then he hops down as he used to, to "feed" his little bell attached to his ladder (his favourite bell!) and talks to it quietly, so he's not sitting still ALL the time. Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated!! (the boss has turned the air conditioning down in the office as they all love Charley and will do everything to make him comfortable ..even if it means they are sweating!!!)

Thats amazing!! I love the "..DOCious..".. he really emphasises the "DO".. so CUTE!!!! And so clever!!!!

We all feel for you Anne and can understand how you sad you must be. Hopefully you will be able to cheer up soon and just be happy for the time you had with Budda and look back at all the joy he brought to your life. :fingerscrossed:

I LOVE it!! What a gorgeous baby! I love the little legs up in the air when he's on his back and struggling to get himself upright again. They're not unlike real human babies are they!! Fabulous little video!! I had to watch it over and over! Thank you for making me smile!!

I understand it to be that GB meant that she's in love with the "dad".. but a bit sad because you're in Mexico.. and that means she cant have him!

I'm sure you could win many a photo competition with that last photo! absolutely beautiful. The way they are looking at each other, almost as if they are communicating.

Funny enough he has never taken an interest in other birds or their sounds. I expected him to copy the magpies song as they used to sit close by and sing, but he seems to only have ears for my voice. Perhaps he just doesnt hear them as he's always too busy chatting, never shuts up long enough to listen to the birds outside! Every now and then for a few minutes he'll do that loud annoying budgie squawk though, just to remind us all that he is a budgie.... usually when a boss is trying to listen to a phone call (Charley's cage sits on my filing cabinet in the office during the day!), I sometimes have to rush to the cage, hold my hand up and quietly yell "STOP IT!" Embarrassing!