NickNack

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF OLIVE ! Why are there seeds all over the bottom of my cage ? OH Lady ... LADYYYYYYY ... HELLLLLOOOOOOO LADY ! YOU HOOO ! CARE GIVER ? My seed dish is empty. You think I am going to put up with that ? HOW DARE YOU ! And by the way ... Why is there such corn & carrot debris hanging around the bars of my prison cell here ? Who threw that all over the place ? WHAT A MESS ... I mean really .... leaving my cage in such shambles. I am not happy with this. WHO DO I HAVE TO SPEAK TO ABOUT THE LEVEL OF CARE & ATTENTION I NEED ? DO I HAVE TO FLY OVER TO THAT PHONE & DIAL PETA MYSELF ? I WILL ... DON'T MAKE ME. I mean really. Some birds keepers ... sheesh. Don't make me shred something ... like ... (Olive looking around cage) hmmmm .... those curtains look like they are pretty close. & those sheer curtains look like they would be chewy ! (Olive reaching thru bars & snagging pretty lace sheers) OH ... YOOOO HOOOO LADY Look what I have ! I made these things some holes to let the sun in from the window. These sheer things were not that pretty until I fixed them. Oh and yes ... My bathwater is dirty. WHAT DO YOU MEAN ITS NOT MY BATHWATER ? It had water in it, didn't it ? It's where I wash my pretty budgie hair & stuff ... ain't it ? I mean how do you expect me to look so good ? I must wash my hair & stuff ! Really ... I can't drink out of this ... what are you thinking ? GET me some fresh clean bottled Evian water .... & hurry it up. I don't have all day. Actually .... I want some of that fizzy bottled water. That will make me feel all fresh & sparkly. Gee's .... what does a girl have to do to get some attention around here ? What's the number for PETA anyways ? 911 ?

Man-Moods ... (Laughing out loud) ! I prefer the words man-moods better then manperiods. Sounds less messy dontcha think ? What wonderful strange little winged things that have stolen our hearts ! :ygbudgie:

Nice pics there Birdluv. There is really nothing sweeter then a budgie with its head tucked under its wing sleeping. Great picture of the Hobbes napping peacefully ! Your birds are lovely molting or not.

Way to go Elly ! I just joined here & I think this is a wonderful site with great people who have made this place an excellent place to be. I'm learning about birds & meeting many different people from all over the world who share in something we all have in common. It is greatly appreciated to all that have made this possible. Nick

I LOVE OLIVE ! Talk about loads of Budgie Attitude. She sure showed you what she thought of her new home. A prisoner budgie banging a tin cup against the bars & yelling " GUARD GUARD I WANT OUTTA THIS PLACE ... TAKE ME TO THE WARDEN ! " She is going to really make your life more interesting. Please keep us posted with more of her antics. She sounds like a riot.

Have done Elly. Not to worry. This morning the Weebil came out of the cage on my finger without issue & is now preening & playing with his hen buddy. He showed no fear to my hand. I was pleased & praised him happily. We did step up for 10 minutes & he was perfect in cooperation. He even ate some new treats from my hand & now is investigating some toys he was never interested in before. While I was reading some work sitting in an arm chair close by, he was talking to me in soft calls & paying attention to my talking to him. This is a good sign. I am not being forceful with him. He is watching the hands/on I am also doing with the hen & is eager to show he can also participate. I find praise is really important & he is responding to my talking to him & encouraging his actions. I feel the more I respond to him & encourage him with possitive attitude he will get better & better. Almost 3 days & there is a remarkable change. I have not heard the screaming since I have started this. Nick

That was good Lisachromis Tango & Mango looked good in 79 piece stars !

I appreciate everyones nice comments. I can't tell you how excited I am in dealing with these 2 birds now. I only want them to be happy healthy pets. Joining the Budgie Community & Forum has been so helpful. I really think that everyone's feedback & advice & comments can help us all. I doubt I would have taken such a bold step if I hadn't asked for help with Weebils screaming issues. Many members advice & links took me to places where others had similar problems & they too suggested advice that led me to some possitive results. What a GREAT site we have here ! Thank You all for your help. Nick

Thanks Kaz ! Lets all do the Budgie Dance ! :budgiedance: :budgiedance:

That helped greatly. Now I know for sure ... my hen is a HEN ! A mouthy singing freaky fun over rambuncious crazy happy hen ! ( that acts like a male ) I took the Weebil to a new Avian vet yesterday. I didn't take the hen. I have no problems with her. I'm sure he could have told me what she is. He has Budgies of his own.

THE WEEBIL ! Is a tiny little normal green budgie. He has the vocal range of a CONDOR or an EAGLE ! He can scream like a siren. I have been at a loss of what to do with him. HE SCREAMS SO LOUD. I have upset my neighbors with his noise. It's also not so pleasant in my home either. I went to a new avian vet yesterday. He said the call the Weebil is making is a Warning Call. A Threat Call. But we are at a loss to what the threat is. The Vet says he is shocked by the volume of this little tiny birds call. He said he has never heard anything so loud in his life & he has Budgies of his own, so I'm sure he knows most of the calls. He also was sad to see how small the Weebil is. Weebil is a rescue bird & he endured the worse life before he ended up in my care. The Vet said he was pleased to see the Weebil was full of food & he was happy that Weebil has a good diet of fresh foods daily as well as pellets & seeds. But the several months of bad living in his first home caused the bird to be so small & undernourished & Weebil suffered from it by not growing & reaching a normal size at all. VERY SAD INDEED. But now the Weebil is physically healthy. Just not so well ... mentally. He asked me what type of relationship the Weebil & I have. Obviously by my holding the bird in a towel & the blood pouring from my fingers he saw that we were not doing well in the BONDING way. He asked me to check out the web & read about a man on the internet called the BIRD WHISPERER. Some of you might have heard about this man. I thought I would go & read this Bird Whisperer's info, view his videos & see if he can help me make my little bird a happy bird. I am willing to try anything. SO I DID ... Weebil has lived now with me for almost 8-9 months. In that time I have only touched him a few times. Just to move him to his carrier to get to the Avian Vets for more check ups. I just hate that this bird is so frightened that he bites & chews at me like I am a huge chunk of budgie millet. So .... after reading the Whisperer's data I thought ... here we go. I am going to make this bird a happy bird. But the first few hours of this new plan ain't gonna be so happy for me or the Weebil ! I went to the cage & took him out. Bite bite bite ... chew chew chew .... ouch ouch ouch I felt. I never said a thing & let him chew away. If he knows I am unhappy by the bites ... he wins. I ignored the pain. I then lightly wrapped him in my hands & sat down in a rocking chair & we had a little chat. Chat & chew I call it ... while he chewed & I kept offering my hand to him often in attempts to touch him while talking softly to him. I offered my hand by the palm or the back of the hand. He couldn't really latch on to me that way & after 40 minutes he soon tired of the biting. I KNOW ... 40 minutes seems really harsh to be holding a bird against its will ! All that time I held him ... I still softly talked to him while this went on. I was also stroking the side of his cheeks & cere ... he would open his beak in attempt to bite but was not really trying to bite me at all. He would turn his head toward the tip of my finger for more touching. He was not panting ... he was not struggling. He was watching me & taking on the touching. I figured as long as he was not panting & heaving with distress & not struggling we were doing okay. I was shocked. He was responding. BIG TIME RESPONDING ! He made a few calls during this time. The other bird was wondering what we were doing & why wasn't she/he in on it & so it would call to us. He DID NOT ONCE OR EVER ... call in that annoying screech that I hate. During this entire time. After 1 hour of hands on .... I had a new bird in my hands. DON'T HATE ME ... BUT ... I clipped his wings. He let me do this without a fuss. I thought if I am going to have a daily a hands on relationship with this boy ... I must have the upper hand & I refuse to make matters worse by chasing him around trying to have one on one when he can easily get away. I then held him on my fingers & placed him next to his buddy. He stepped down gradually & did not run from me. He preened & cleaned & sang softly & was a new bird. I wanted to cry. My girlfriend was sobbing in happieness. She was praying this would work. Today. I repeated the actions. First. He ran from me & didn't want to come. I expected that. We weren't the best friends & this would take some time. But I gathered him up & sat with him for 20 mins & touched him & talked. He didn't bite. He was calm. He never said one call .... he was now resigned to this. I thought in a good way. I started praising him & he was doing step ups to my fingers on both hands within 10 minutes. A few times he flew over to the cage & I would go to the cage & talk to him praising him in a happy tone & telling him how amazing he was. I would offer my finger & he would step up on my fingers right away & was willing to let me walk around the room with him. NEW BIRD .... BRAND NEW BIRD !!!!!!!!! He is now listening to me. He waits for me on the edge of the play center. I can handle this now. I am going to do this hands on training with him at least 2 times a day. All afternoon I have been going to the cage & placing my hand in the cage in front of him & asking him to step up. He does without fear or pause. I praise him like he is the most amazing thing in the world. And to me he is. I want to cry. I really do. I am stunned I have reached his little budgie wharped brain. I am convinced that I have made a break through with this little bird. I was almost ready to give up. Not now. Now ... I am ready for anything. For those who wish to read about the Bird Whisperer. Here is the site link. http://www.thebirdwhisperer.com/ I welcome any advice or negativity in regards to this. But I am now convinced this little bird will be happier & healthier & I can give him & the other budgie a better life. I needed to try something .... anything. I can't let this little guy down. He's had it too bad for so long. It's just not fair for him. I will keep you posted on the work in progress. Nick :ygbudgie:

I wish I had a camera ... I don't. Not even a cell phone cam. I'm poor ! I am below poor. But at least I have the internet !!!!!! I am stumped on this one. I love that you all are trying to help me here. I am impressed by all your ideas & the time & effort you have shared. Thank You !

This is Jigzone puzzles ... its great as you can change the cut of the puzzle pieces & make it more challenging & interesting for each picture. It's free ... you don't have to download anything here. The pictures they have are amazing. You can also join for free & then post & share your own bird pics & let others do them as puzzles. You all have some awesome bird pics ... share them & send them to us to do. I'd enjoy it. Nick http://www.jigzone.com/puzzles/1E055D50E408

OH OH .... I may have another cock then. The temperment of this bird is making me wonder. This bird SINGS ! It SINGS so pretty ! It has lots of ranges & goes high & low & is so sweet to listen to. It's not just a one single light chirp that I am told is what a hen does. This bird sings ALOT ! The more I look at the cere the more I think its purplish pink ... its dark. AYE AYE AYE !

This is called Segmation. You don't have to download anything ! Just click on the link & see the picture. Just click on the color tab number under the picture, then click on the picture where that number is & fill in the painting. It's paint by numbers without the mess or fuss. YOU can add your own favorite pictures to be changed & let us all paint by number your birds. I like this ... its mindless fun when you don't feel like doing much. Nick http://www.segmation.com/SegPlayLaunch.asp?pat=bir04 Let's hope this works !

OH NO .... **LIV** .... please please tell me my hen is a hen. She has a dark brownish reddish cere. I thought that was the only way to know. Yes ... she sings ... SINGS her face off ! She sings & calls & has little vocal budgie blathering conversations with me, showing me me "BUDGIE ATTITUDE" all the time. She is funny & smart ! But not loud & annoying such as the Weebil. Oh please don't tell me she is a he .... (Laughing out loud)

Hi Elly, thanks to you & your friend for the brain storming of my Weebil. The Weebil is about 1 & a half years old. He screeches all day & any time of the day. He does not screech at me because I am talking to him or I am close to him. He is just screeching. I try not to go near him when it occurs. I have tried to talk to him quietly & get his attention. He just screeches away. The screech doesn't occur when I go near him. He just starts on his own when he gets out of the cage & starts his day. He isn't calling me back to the room with this call he makes ... I know that call. The hen makes that call to me all the time when I leave the room. I've had other budgies in the past that call me to come back in the room. I know most of the budgie calls. It's this annoying screeching WHEEP that he does at all times & any time that makes me nuts & I have no idea why he does it. Thank god he sleeps a few times during his daily routine.

( IN A PEPE LE PEE-U VOICE ) " HALLO BAAAYBEEEEE ! KISSS KISSS KISSSS ! MYYYY LOVVVVEELY ! KISSS KISSS KISSS ! " Ah ... I see dat you play zee hard to get, No ? You show me your saucy back & all I want is too love zee red lips that hide from me in de front, YES ? " ROCK & ROLL BUDGIE HOOCHIE KOO ! The Blue Bird of Happiness wants to show you how to Shake yer Tail Feathers !

Great advice from all & I thank you in advance. Tomorrow ... I will try the mist with the spray bottle. I will also let them sit for a little longer in the cage under their cover. See if that helps & or ... rattles them a little. Changing the routine makes sense. I hope ! I hate to say it ... but I was happier when he molted. He stayed in the cage & was moody & quiet & didn't sing or relate to anyone. It was a quiet time for about 3 weeks or more. I forgot the screech noise during that time. Although its sad that he was so down & out when waiting for new feathers to come in. Not a nice time for any bird. My hen is more vocal that him. She sings insanely all the time. But it is nice & melodic to hear. I love the different noises that she makes & they are never loud & hard on the ears. What a difference between 2 birds. I've had budgies before & never have I heard this wheep wheep screech sound from any of them. But thinking back ... I do recall the sound cockatiels make & this sound Weebil makes is very much like a tiels calls.

You know ... there might be some truth to that Liv ... Learned it from a cockatiel ? He came from a place where there were tiels & many other strange birds. Unfortunate for me & the neighbors ... he likes that annoying "WHEEEP" sound the best.I don't know if I would try to spray him with a mister. He sees me as a threat most of the time. I don't want to make him more afraid of me. I have tried to make him do other things. He likes to bath daily so I encourage that. As well as leaving him foods he loves. I thought the snapping of my fingers or the clapping of my hands while near him would help. I learned it didn't. I would never shake a cage or hurt a bird.I am at a loss of what else to do. Could my little green boid be pretending to be a big ole cockatiel to impress his hen ?He & the hen don't pay alot of attention to the window. They don't really go near it. I'm in the middle of a busy city & there are not a lot of birds here.He will just sit on the cage & screech. I am not near him. There are no other animals in the house but him & his little woman. So there is nothing to threaten him.I know he does not like the stereo or loud sounds .... coughing or clearing my throat can make him scream. He just lets er rip.There is nothing going on when this happens. I can't hear the neighbors. The neighbors have a baby that cries & I don't hear it. But they can all hear this bird.I have been out on the street 4 houses away during the summer & talking to a friend & can hear this little bird screech. The friend was laughing saying he hears that call all the time from my place.That gives you an idea of how loud he is.

They go to bed each night at 7pm, that's when its dark here. I cover their cage up & make it darker for them. They sleep till 7:30 - 8:00 am. Then they demand to start their day. They want out of the cage in the morning because they know they will get their fresh foods fruits & veggies which they eat on the top play center. All day long they come & go in & out of their cage any time they want. They fly around & exercise & do their thing in this giant room. I am usually in the room working. I am never far away from them. But during this time of freedom, the male starts this screeching ! I can't just walk over to him & toss a cover over him. He is free & on top of the cage. When I walk over to him he runs from me as it is. I can't make him more scared of me by trying to throw a cover on him when I know he can just fly away. If I had a hands on relationship with him I could just put him in the cage & cover him till he settles down. But I can't get him to respond to me. I've tried for months to get him to come to some sort of trust with me. But he was too badly stressed & damaged when I got him from the Humane Society. There is no hope for me ever getting him to trust me. All I would like to do is try to curb the insane noise that comes out of this little green bird. This is not the type of call he is calling to get his lady to come back to his side. I know that call. She calls me when I walk out of the room. The hen & I are close. But what he is doing is ALARM Calling. It's a full out sounding screeching alarm. Much like a fire alarm sounds. The strange thing is ... nothing is close to him or near him that is threatening him. He is just screaming. Oh ... this screeeching screaming ? It happens allllllll dayyyyyyyyy !

Everything you say makes sense Elly. The problem is ... he is out & free when this happens. The birds are out of the cage & doing "their thing" at 8:00 am every morning. They spend most of the day on top of the play center eating fresh foods & running around & playing & ( HIM SCREAMING ). So I can't cover them. I don't have a hands on relationship with him. He is a skittish mess. I don't dare spook him by trying to put a cover over him when he can just fly away somewhere else in the room. Today my neighbor complained about the noise. I closed the blinds on the window & covered the window with a dark sheet. It did help after a while. But not soon enough.

My boy ... the "Weebil" screams. It's the most annoying high pitched " WHEEEEEP " that you could ever imagine. It's so loud & annoying it wakes up people in another apartment. Not good. So you can imagine how bad it is in person in my apartment. In the morning. VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING ! He freaks out & starts this screaming the moment his lady flys around & leaves his side. He screeeeeeches & won't stop. She can be a foot away from him & the continuous WHEEEEEP will go on & on & on. I have no idea how to make this stop. I talk to him. I plead & beg with him. I've clapped my hands loudly & snapped my fingers at him. NOTHING. WHEEEEP WHEEEEP WHEEEEP ... I am at the end of my rope. I actually like it when he is molting. He stays quiet & stays in the cage being mopey. ANY IDEAS HOW TO MAKE THE BOY HUSH UP ??????????????????? Before I get an Eviction Notice for Disturbing Other Tenants ?

I got a good look at the Weebil this morning. And they are there ! He does have the white iris rings. So cool !!!!!! I guess I really didn't notice with the darkness & the light of our winter. Not much sunshine in Ontario these days.

Very nice ... I will look forward to seeing the change happen for the Weebil. When does this occur ? Roughly how old before the eye begins to change with white ?