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How sad, DrNat! How horrible for the poor little birds and yourself. I guess snakes can squeeze themselves through tiny spaces anyway so not a lot you can do? You must have been heartbroken! And I agree with MB, the poor animals you see so confused and stressed in any natural disaster. It makes my heart bleed when I see sheep etc trying to struggle in floods or fires. Mind you I can end up in tears watching a lost dog walking the streets, panic stricken and confused as it desperately looks around for a familiar face. So sad!!! I find it stressing to watch Charley during a full blown thunder/lightening storm, he's safely in his cage inside however he must find the noise and flashes so frightening! I do make a point of trying to act "normal" during storms but tend to talk to him quietly and calmly, hoping that it reassures him. I dont know if it helps him. I also feel for the birds in the wild and wonder what they do during these tremendously heavy electrical storms.. do they try to find a safe place to hide? or are they just sitting it out? I find I cant stop thinking about them .. and we've been getting the storms every evening this week. Poor little (wet) feathered friends!!

Good idea MB! Shall look out for any lost birds. Its funny how everyone thinks of all the possessions lost (and rightly so!) but I immediately looked at my Charley and thought how devastating it would be if he was lost in a storm, this is what brought to my mind that there are bound to be wind damaged or flood damaged aviaries, and perhaps poor little feathered friends who would be stressed.

With the current storm damage and flooding here in Brisbane my thoughts turn to the aviaries and birds contained in them. We are blessed to have the damage pass us by here in Redcliffe (north of Brisbane) however I feel for those people who have suffered damage not only to their houses etc but how are they coping with their aviaries, surely a terrifying time for the budgies as well? Please let us know how you are coping, I'm sure we are all thinking sympathetically of those involved.

I have wondered the same thing re the stretching the wings. Everytime I come home from work and walk in Charley stretches his wings, I've often wondered if thats his way of saying "yippee.. she's home!" He also nibbles all the way up and down my arm and I often wonder if he's looking for a wrinkle to nip or just giving love bites! I'm hoping its the love bites! :rofl: Happily he hasnt got to the "next stage" yet either!! but as you say, isnt it fabulous to feel so loved???

:rofl: Had to watch it again.. and again.. its so funny .. he's trying so HARD and doesnt give up till he gets it!!

:bliss: Thats hilarious!!! I love the photos!! The budgie is obviously enjoying the dress ups... and the attention! Good for you!! :party0011: :party0011:

Thank you Liv for making it into a link.. I dont know HOW you did it, I just couldnt work out how to! :doh: I think the little "suits" are a great concept, but I'd love to see someone try to fit one, following those instructions!!

Not sure if this link will work, but its quite an interesting site! One of the girls from work has ordered for her little parrot the "Ocean Spray" Flight Suit! Check it out!! (I dont know how to make this work as a link.. perhaps you need to paste it in your search engine)... www.flightquarters.com/how_to.htm okay.. I dont think I would rush out and buy one for Charley but heck he'd look cute in one!!!

I agree.. I'm also a great fan of the white and blue, it always look so pretty. Gorgeous pictures, gorgeous bird!!

Too funny...well done! Where did you get the playgym from? Bought the playgym from my local petshop here in Brisbane. I've looked at it often and never really got around to buying it, then when the vet said Charley was overweight, I thought YES!! The excuse I needed!! And to be honest.. I had so much fun putting it together (it comes in pieces and I felt like a little girl again putting all the parts together!! It can be attached to the top of the cage, or to the sides however I've thrown the box out (took up too much room!) and am having trouble working out how to attach it to the side!! I'm blonde and need to see instructions.. especially the picture ones!!! :happy-dancing: The playgym is fairly basic as you can see but I can dress it up with a few natural things like branches, leaves etc.. it also has little seed containers which is what initially attracted him to it! He wouldnt look at it last week when I'd bought it and set it up. Tonight he couldnt resist any longer!!

Charley's too "fat" :tut_tut: so he's on a fitness regime! Here is some photo evidence, during his first session!! I dont think I want to do this!! Is this REALLY necessary??? mmmmmmm .. ..I've checked out the equipment... I'll start with a few "beak push ups" ..aone.. atwo.. athree.. Phew... hard work!! now some neck stretches.... aghhhhh ... oghhhhhhh... eeeegghhh.. okay!! Enough for one day!!! Well what do you know! I think I've started to slim down already.. what do you think???

WHOA.. well I can see why Charley is classed as a bit of a fattie then if he was 57 grams.. (and I do think you meant "g"s not "K"s Elly?... ).. I will try to buy some scales so I can weigh him myself. I've checked out your FAQ's section on how to weigh so will give that a go. I will also put him on a bit of an "exercise regime".. (gentle... so he doesnt "ache all over"!! :bump: ) He loves going back to his cage when he's out, so I'll put him first a little away from it, and then if I see him flutter back, I'll gradually put him a little further away etc. It's going to almost be a fun challenge (like the "biggest loser"!!).. fun for me.. and I'll bet he will find it fun as well, as he loves attention!! .. and of course he'll look nice and slim for Christmas..

Sorry, you missed my point. In this topic http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/index....c=18890&hl= you stated.... Very interesting article. I hadnt seen this (it was originally posted before I had a "feeding" problem so it didnt really sink in!). so from that I assumed you had not read it in this topc as yet....and that is what I meant by saying You seem to have missed this link the last time I posted. OOPS.. yes I did miss your point!! and... you're quite right!! I had missed that link when you posted it..., thanks Kaz. Silly me!! ....

Neat... a breakdown of fees is as follows: 1.25kg bag pellets $23.61, consultation/annual check $87.20 (this is what I thought was a little over the top!!), in house gram stain slide $28.05, worming $14.50 (GST $13.95)..TOTAL $153.35. I found out today that he was 57 grams. I have no idea what a budgie is meant to weigh, he is not an "English budgie" which I know are bigger, yet he's not a small budgie so I guess he's somewhere in the middle. and Kaz.. I did see the links you posted and found them very interesting and informative. I needed to hear that what I thought (vet pushing hard for people to buy their products) was not a rare occurrence. Obviously it is happening at other vets as well. I know there is a case for and against pellets. I am going to buy the better quality seed on the weekend and will see how he goes on that. (he's definitely not interested in the pellets!) He's been a totally healthy little guy (the vet even commented on how beautiful and healthy he was in all ways other than the weight) so I feel if he's happy with the (new) seed, plus veges, fruit, branches and leaves (plus I give him his patch of "seed grass" which I grow, every now and then which he ADORES!) why would I change his diet completely, to something he obviously doesnt like. It is interesting to read all the different opinions in articles re budgie feeding and I have learnt a lot!! Thanks guys! And if you can also please advise me on what would be an "average" kind of weight for a budgie of Charley's age and size.. I would be grateful!

Very interesting article. I hadnt seen this (it was originally posted before I had a "feeding" problem so it didnt really sink in!). Thank you Neat for bringing this back to the current forum. I can only speak from my personal experience and Charley seems a lot happier since I "gave him back" his seed and took away the pellets. I will however take the advice of the forum and make sure I get him the best seed, I will try canary and/or finch. I am also giving him more natural branches, at the moment he has a branch from a bottle brush which he's having fun with. He normally loves anything new, but hated the pellets idea!! Thanks again Neat, I would never have found this article on the forum.

Thanks all, brilliant advice all around and has taken the "panic" out of my slightly stressful visit to the avian vet. I didnt retain what the vet nurse said his weight was because I knew nothing about weights and measurements for a budgie so it didnt really mean much. Perhaps if she had elaborated on it by saying he weighs this much but should be no more than that much it would have had more of an impact. I can phone them today and ask them again, as she did write it down. She phoned me yesterday to follow up on Charley's bleeding experience and was happy to hear he's settled down okay. As I told her, he was very quiet for about 3 days, hardly spoke to me and seemed a little less active but on Monday evening he seemed to spring to life. I wondered if perhaps he had discomfort from where he had bled, as someone here suggested perhaps she had "abrased" him, and it has maybe taken those days to heal. He's certainly back to his lovable, chatty, cheeky self now. It was nice of her to phone to check on him, although I think it may have been to set her mind at ease as she did seem a little shocked when the "poke" down his throat drew blood!! He still wouldnt go NEAR the pellets so I've mixed a few in with both birds' seed, just for something different. It seemed to me also that the vet was pushing their pellets and I still think $24 is too high a price for 1.25kg. I researched the brand (Roudybush) and it looks a LOT cheaper there! Correct me if I'm wrong but to me a "health check" and wing clip for $152 (includes the $24 pellets) is way too much. When I initially phoned them they quoted $16 roughly for wing clip and added "would you like him checked as well?". Thinking perhaps up to $50 extra I jumped at the chance to have my little man checked out fully. I did NOT expect to pay $152 for the entire visit. Naturally I accepted it, I love my little guy and would pay the earth to keep him healthy.. but I dont like being ripped off! Maybe I'm wrong.. does this seem overpriced to you??

Last picture is great!! I love her little feet getting ready for a smooth landing.. She's obviously seen a plane when it lets down its landing gear.

Is there any harm in giving budgies the foliage of a red chilli plant? we have a beautiful looking plant and the leaves look very tasty (for birds!) but i'm not sure if it is okay to give to Charley?? He loves anything new I put in his cage.

I think they all should go BOM!! They are adorable!! And they look so content. Love the one of Coco snuggled up with her toy!! How will you ever be able to part with them!!

Thanks Elly. His cage is normally up on a little bookshelf next to the window, its about shoulder level and I used to just open it from there, but since he had his wings trimmed I was worried it was too high for him if he tried to "fly" off. I could put it on the bed instead for play times (I only have a flat and keep Maxie in the lounge room, Charley is with me in the bedroom, not a lot of space). I guess I thought the floor was the safest as it is not too far for him to "fall" when he is on top of his cage and flutters off. I get your point however. I can see how he could be stepped on.. if for instance I had to get up quickly to answer the phone or a knock on the door. I'll try to find an alternative way for play time.

wow there's so much I didnt know!! Had no idea what "sorghum" was. As wheat is also not useful.. what are the better ingriedients to look for when I'm next buying my seed? (although I could probably find this information in one of the other threads in this forum??) I'm really grateful for all the advice. We think we know so much but there's really a lot we can learn from those with so much more experience. Thank you, you're all being a great help!!

Thanks Kaz.. I will take more notice of the actual ingredients of the seed (rather than just the brand name on the package!) in future.

Seed contains panicum, red panicum millet, sorghum, wheat, french millet, fine shell grit. Contains 8% fat and 17% protein. I generally buy my seed from "Petwise" but this pack is from supermarket as I was not able to get to the petshop that day. The pellets say "High Energy Breeder diet Nibles" (by "Roudybush" (??) California) and contain 7% fat and 19% protein. The pack does say in the directions "feed as sole diet". Wheat is a filler seed and not needed. It may increase weight. There is no canary seed amongst the contents ? No mention of Canary seed... what is the significance of canary seed? Would that be a good addition or a bad one? I've just had "dinner for two".. (he did indeed start eating when I did!! thats so cute!! especially since I live alone!! ) This time I have removed the pellets (he wouldnt even go anywhere near the dish!!) and put back his seed dish but at the top I put in some mixed veges, including some corn kernels (fresh). He has not taken his little head out of the dish.. so hopefully he's getting some of the veges as well as the seed. I'll check it out when he's finished. This way I can perhaps increase the vegie content and lessen the seed content, once he gets used to that eventually might even be able to add some pellets!! I do think this mixing is going to have more chance of working than separate dishes. Gosh, its worse than having fussy kids isnt it!!????

Seed contains panicum, red panicum millet, sorghum, wheat, french millet, fine shell grit. Contains 8% fat and 17% protein. I generally buy my seed from "Petwise" but this pack is from supermarket as I was not able to get to the petshop that day. The pellets say "High Energy Breeder diet Nibles" (by "Roudybush" (??) California) and contain 7% fat and 19% protein. The pack does say in the directions "feed as sole diet".

He looks so CUTE!!!! :rofl: And yes, I guess the vet was giving me a warning so that I just keep an eye on his weight. She didnt say he was too fat, just weighed a little too much! (wish someone would put it like that re my weight!! ) He hasnt had his seed for an hour or so now, a little later I'll put a few seeds in with his veges when I'm having mine.. I'll see what he does. IF he doesnt eat at all I'll put his seed back in this evening so he will have had something to eat. Perhaps if I try to get in the habit of taking his seed out and putting veges in everytime I eat it'll become the "norm" for him and he'll think "aha!!! so THIS is what we eat at dinner time!!" :doh: