maesie

Good on you!!! Bravo for all you have done for this poor boy. You could offer him some warmth, via a lamp at one end of the cage (needs to be the old school globes though) If he wants it he will sit under it, if not he will move. Some times if your not feeling 100% this can help. As to his vent, good job on the feather trimming. I'd keep an eye on it and if he doesn't mind you handling him, keep it clean. His leg looks very sore... I hope it heals quickly. They are pretty tough birds and adapt very well to injuries/deformaties once healed. He'll learn to perch and get around his own way. You could advertise him in your local paper. Our local paper lets you post 'Found' items for free... Pity your vet didn't keep the info Good luck to you both, and please keep us updated.

Awww... sorry you didn't get a nice easy answer. I hope he continues to be fine in himself and has many more months/years with you. My only suggestions would be to help him fix his toes when you notice (if he doesn't mind you bothering him all the time) and maybe find the best perches for him. I'd use natual ones, and I'd try different thickness'. Put a few different ones in and see which ones he prefers. Then use that size. Good luck!

He is sooooooo CUTE!!! Tips on mixing his food up. Try serving it in different way. You can get fruit/veggies skewers... so you put slices/pieces of stuff on it. You can also poke stuff though the bars. Try serving fruit/veggies in chunks in a bowl/plate, try grating them and mixing in bowl. To help with the bowl feeding, you can sprinkle seed on the top of the fruit/veggies... that way he picks at the seed and 'hopefully' has a go at the good stuff too! Go for the easy and well liked stuff too... apples (remove all seeds), carrot, corn, peas, leafy greens (bok choy and other dark greens. NOT lettuce/celery etc... as they have no nutrients and are just full of water) Check out this link for more info: FAQ's... diet Just remember to wash everything well, and don't give up. He will get used to them and will end up enjoing them too. Here's another link too: Feeding tips

Many people do... but you need to make sure you have enough room for both species. How big is your aviary?

Thanks so much for the update. I'm glad they're still going strong. They look fab!

He sounds like a perfectly happy boy!

Congratulations! He's cute. I can't tell by the photo, but for your sake I hope he is. Love the name too!

The country... mmm, got you. I'd go for more traps too... the more the merrier lol... I used to have a mouse problem in my aviary when I had it on pavers. They were tunneling under the pavers and coming up inbetween them. Dad and I flooded the aviary, and flushed a few out. We then set traps and got the remainder of them. My aviary is also next to the fence of a 'community home' where the tenants don't care for their garden/backyard. They had a huge pile of cr*p next to the fence. We complained to the 'powers that be' and someone came around and cleaned it up. We haven't had mice since.

Awww... sorry for your losses! I personally prefer traps as I can see and dispose of them as apposed to 'smelling' them later. Good luck with your fight and I hope you get rid of them soon. Check out places around your backyard... is there anywhere they may be coming from.. piles of stuff, long grass/shrubs, **** over a neighbours fence???

So sorry for your loss xxx

I found a budgie with a ring code starting with the same letters. I emailed them and finally got a response... all be it 'months' later... so I hope you're not in any hurry!

If you only took one, then the mother may not be affected by this... but the one you remove still wiil. Good luck and please let us know what you decide.

lol... I am. Your plan sounds good, but here's the link anyway- http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/faqs/index.php?action=artikel&cat=5&id=94&artlang=en

I personally would never hand rear a bird unless needed... Health wise, budgies should stay with their mother/parents until they fledge and can feed themselves... then from there you bring the little guy/girl inside and start full on taming. That, combined with the fact that you handle the chosen chick from hatching... more and more as they grow, and you will have a very well tamed budgie. I don't believe there is any need to hand rear a budgie, just to get it tame. Hand rearing is HARD WORK too... better left to the mummy and daddy, where they will get the 'best' start in life.

It's very normal to feel anxious, especially when leaving you pets kids, be it feathered, furred or scaled etc... It makes it even harder when the trip is unsceduled. As long as you trust your neighbours, all should be well. I went to Bali for two weeks a few years ago, and left my Dad in charge of my aviary full of budgies/cockatiels and two lizards. Along with detailing everything to him, and showing him how to do everything... from feeding to changing heat globes, I also typed out a list, with everything I could think of, and everything they like/dislike and that I do... I also included a list (which I believe can be found here... I'll find the link) of all the dangerous food. If your neighbour doesn't know they may accidently feed them something bad... if they have the list, they can check it before feeding anything different. I also included some contact numbers, of local people that could help if something went wrong. It may ease your mind if you also have their contact number... so you know you can call to check up if you need. Even if you don't, knowing you have it often provides some comfort. I'm not sure how much time you have before you go, but you may get a chance to write something down. Also, two years ago I lost 4 family members in one year. They were all older, but it doesn't make it any eaiser... Death sucks, and no matter how many people you loose, it still hurts. Grief also affect everybody differently, so don't be affraid to show your emotions how ever you need.

I'd go with the neighbour with no budgie... If he's not used to living with another budgie(even though in a separate cage), and you don't plan on getting him a friend anytime soon, I wouldn't bother giving him their company for the week. There is also always the risk of illness... So, I'd personally go for the other one. That way I wouldn't be worried about it. P.S. Sorry for your loss and I hope your trip and the funeral go okay

Using CD's and the bladder of cask wine work well for general birds during the day, but that is because the sun shines off them... this scares the birds away. It sounds like you have received some good tips thus far. You may need to do a combination of them and even change it up every so often... especially as your 'predator' seems to be quite game. Good luck and please let us know how you go. Also... have you tried googling it??? You'd be amazed what a general search will come up with.

My daughters said yes please for the rat forum. Many thanks. I don't touch the rats myself - but the girls are right into them, walk around the house with the rats on their shoulders or sit on their bed reading with the rats running all over them! I got some mice for the girls younger brothers to look after but they weren't interested and I wasn't too keen and the girls too busy with rats so that didn't work out. One of my boys helps out with the rats though. Sure thing... I'm not sure how old your girls are, but if they/you decide to join this forum, just be careful. They have heaps of information there, and are a great group of people... but are very passionate about their rats and everything to do with them. Some members have the habit of jumping down new (and existing) members throat when they don't think you're doing something right. A great forum, where I have learnt sooo much, but just tread carefully . If you do decide to join in the future, let me know you're user name and I'll try and look out for you. The forum is also pretty much based in the states... but there are also members from other parts of the world. This does mean that many things they refer to, like food and cages etc... can't be found here... but regardless of this, it's still good info. I've included another link, to a site which also has heaps of information. It's based in Australia, so it's a little closer to you, and they have an awesome health section and even have some stuff you can buy. Anyway... hope the girls like them... FORUM: Goosemoose AUSSI SITE: Dapper Rat

Good work. Hopefully they continue all of your hard work. It does sound promising that they were willing to pay you for looking after her. Keep an eye on this situation if you can.. like dropping in for a 'cuppa' or a 'catch up'.

Is it hot where you are? Sometimes in the heat they don't sit as much. When did you start noticing it? The eggs hatch 18 days after incubating starts... but often the hen doesn't start sitting until a few eggs are laid. So it goes but when she properly starts.

Thanks for that bit but what about the rest? Now we know what you are giving them, but without knowing whats wrong with them and what the vet said, it's pointless. PLEASE give us more information.

Although not all birds are the same, you 'should' find that the shy one will follow the confident.

I can't help you with sexing, but a little off topic... I was reading your signature and I see you (or your girls) have rats. I too have rats. The most I've had at one time was 5 but am now down to two big squishy males, Doogie and Winston. They make wonderful pets too. I belong to a very informative rat forum if you're interested.

Send me a ticket babe and I'll be over with a bottle of vodka and some gloves

Firstly I'd recomend waiting till they hatch and grow a bit. There are far to many risks of loosing some of them between now and then. As for names... I like to use themes. My first bred chicks were Snap, Crackle and Pop, after Rice Bubbles. My second set were John, Paul, George and Ringo, after The Beatles. My Cockatiels are Bert and Ernie. Not all of my names are like this though. I also have pet rats and they were named based on them, their personalities and what seemed to go. So, if I were you I'd look at song, groups, albums, interests, movies, TV shows etc...