Lilysbudgie

Thanks Neat Maybe I should have explained myself better. He is eating seed but from a dish on the floor of the cage (don't worry i am removing any poo I see in it, that has only happened once) Are you saying if I just put a little seed on the floor and put the rest up into the holder in the side of the cage where it belongs, he will find it ? Same with water ? Yes I will show you some picture's. I have taken so many photo's of him :hap: Michelle

Hello fellow Brisbane-ite :hap: I have no idea but will be very interested in the answers you get. Our Jack's cere looks just like the one you have in your first photo. Are you enjoying your budgies ? Aren't they just the most beautiful little birds :hap: Michelle

Hi Thanks for all your lovely comments about Jack. He is such a cutie :hap: The feeding is fine. I have watched him many times eating seed and we are trying him on some vege's. He LOVED the red capsicum I gave him. Is there a particular way I should be giving him his veges ? Should I grate carrot, apple etc ? Or is it okay to give a tiny piece and let him peck at it - that's what I did with the capsicum. I actually have a couple of other questions that have popped up also. How or when should I expect him to eat seed from his seed container in the side of the cage. At the moment I have the wire floor removed and have lined the tray with paper. Sitting on this is a little dish with water and another with seed. I have also put water into the container on the side of the cage in the hope he will learn that it's there. I did have the seed one in also but took it out yesterday as he was "bathing" in seed and had it everywhere :hap: :(Laughing out loud): The other thing I need to know is when should I put the wire base back in. Seems a bit mean to do it yet. He seems to like sitting on the bottom with his head hiding under the edge of the water dish and having a snooze. (no he's not sick) The rest of the time he is perching or climbing around the cage singing and "talking" to me. I gave him a swing yesterday - very funny, poor thing. He seems to have the hang of it now though. Last question - how long should I cover him for at night ? His cage is in a room where the TV is. I don't usually go to bed until late so either the TV is on or at the very least the light is on. Tonight I covered him earlier than I have been and turned out the light. Do budgies have a minimum amount of time they should be covered for each day ? Sorry this turned into such a mammoth post, I'll repay you with some more cute photo's tomorrow (Laughing out loud) :hap: Michelle

They are all lovely but my favourite is "smoo". That one looks just like our Jack.

KAZ All your birds are beautiful but my favourite are the babies They almost look like they are smiling. Michelle

Well I sprayed Jack this morning with the mite spray, and have washed everything really well. Lucky I had a spare cage here. I can tell you That Jack was very unimpressed with being sprayed. not happy at all. I notice tonight that he is still doing a bit of preening so was wondering if I assume this is normal preening or should I retreat him again tomorrow morning. I don't want to overdose him but at the same time I want them all gone. It does not give a time frame for re-treatment on the bottle, just retreat if necessary. Michelle

I can' t see any pictures

Yes. I can't believe what a beautiful colour he is. A very pretty lilac almost.

We are not sure yet if he is a he or a she, so I will call him "he" for now. We bought him as a "he". Some more for your enjoyment, and because he is so cute I want to show him off

Thought I would show off my little guy. Everyone has been so helpful at this site. Thanks We have nicknamed Jack, " Jack the nipper" due to his current state of trying to nip anyone and anything that comes near him :(Laughing out loud):

Thanks again. I usually like to avoid pet shops anyway, so will just head straight to my produce guy. I take it I probably should worm Jack in the very near future as well. I will do the lice business and then worm him in a weeks time. If this isn't the right thing to do someone please let me know. Michelle

Oh my goodness. I love the photo's of the babies with very few feathers. You certainly are not helping what is looking like becoming my new addiction Michelle

Itch itch itch scratch scratch scratch :(Laughing out loud): thanks again. For future reference is it wise to treat a bird when you bring it home just incase it has mites ? Who knows,in the future I may decide to get another budgie Also does it make them feel miserable ? Jack has been spending more time on the bottom of the cage tonight than on his perch. Or maybe it was the 3, 6 year olds who wore him out this afternoon. (Laughing out loud) :(Laughing out loud): Will I be buying the mite spray or insecticide at a pet shop or should I just head straight to my produce place ? Thanks again to everyone who takes the time to post. I really do appreciate it. Michelle

Thankyou. Pleased I'm not the only one itching (Laughing out loud) They are only a week old :hap:

Thankyou so much. What will be the best way to clean the cage and perches ? Is there something special I should do or use ? Also is it safe (as in lice migration ) To leave him inside with us overnight ? Michelle

I am after any advice. I noticed today that Jack had been preening himself alot. When we had him out for a play this afternoon he was still doing it so I thought I would just give him a good look over. I was holding him against me and rubbing the back of his head down his back which he seems to enjoy. To my horror several little (as in appron 1.5mm long and flat) wrigglers came out from around his neck area. Yuck. What do I need to do ? Is there anything I can do tonight ? We have had him 1 week. He has been near no other birds. He is living inside the house in his cage. I have taken him out on the deck quite a few times in the fresh air when I am around to keep an eye on him. Please tell me what to do. I can't stop itching (Laughing out loud) :mellow: Michelle

Oh Yeah (but don't tell my husband ! ) I am so in love with this little bird, and him with me just quietly. My daughter loves him as well. Already he loves sitting on her table while she is drawing and amuses himself with whatever Barbie toy she decides to give him. Yesterday it was Barbies sunglasses. Jack had a great time flicking them around. The most amazing thing about him is his beautiful chirping. I had no idea it would be so musical and so beautiful. He is such a little character. I think I can see lots of his future personality coming through. Here are the latest photo's Jack with his crown. He loves sitting inside this. And finally he has been hiding under my daughters hair and going to sleep. Hilarious and very cute

I have not long joined this site and only came accross this thread tonight. I am shocked, saddened and very angry. Those poor birds, and poor Katie. What a dreadful introduction to buying a budgie. I hope her and "Sexy" are getting along well. Michelle

I wouldn't like to hazard a guess either way but just wanted to tell you I think your bird is absolutely beautiful. Very pretty. Michelle

Thanks Feathers. Yes he survived the day without me. When I came in the door this afternoon he went crazy. :(Laughing out loud): Chirping and climbing up and down his cage sides really fast, coming to the front where the door is and looking at me, generally "showing off". Very funny. Michelle

Wow I am new to budgies and this is an amazing story. I am so sorry the mother died. I am thinking you should call the baby "Valentine" Michelle

okay back again to bore you all with my little man (I live in hope it's a boy !) A closeup. Sorry it's a bit blurry, had to crop close to see the detail. Things are going well. He is occasionally using his beak and claws/legs to climb up the cage. I actually thought I had lost him the other night but he was hiding in the top corner. He perches for a while then has a rest. He is still spending most of his time on the bottom of the cage. It is so lovely to hear him chirping when he hears other birds flying past. I think we are really startiing to see some personality now too. He will go to sleep in my daughters hand when she is nursing him and stroking the back of his head. He loves to have cuddles. He even sat on my finger this afternoon for about 30 seconds. I hope I am not doing the wrong thing at night though. I am covering his whole cage but he looks so lonely and exposed just sitting on the bottom that I have put an old face cloth in the last 2 nights and he has been snuggling up into that. I take it out in the morning. It is starting to get cool here in the mornings and I was having trouble sleeping thinking about him all on his lonesome in the bottom of the cage. He is so gorgeous when he snuggles in and goes to sleep with his head turned to the side. Have I said how gorgeous he is and how much we love him ! I am a bit worried about him tomorrow because I have to work and my Husband will be in charge. I am sure he is sick of hearing all the instructions. (leave the radio on when you go out, don't leave the door open if there is a wind, I don't want him in a draught etc etc etc) I feel like I am leaving a baby with someone (Laughing out loud) About the lady we got him from. It was very interesting setup you could say . She had about 4 cages on her front verandah and goodness knows how many in her house."Jack" came from inside the house. The noise was deafening with all the birds screeching, chirping and that little baby bird high pitch screaming. This was in her house ! She showed us 2 big tubs that would have had a good 8 -10 baby sun conures in them. They were so young they were still bald My husband asked her what time the birds started to make noise in the morning and she said it is like this all the time. How on earth they sleep I will never know. Anyway I guess she gets the babies from someone else and then handraises them to sell. All a bit sad for me. I felt so sorry for the little babies and what about the mother birds ? Surely they miss their babies when they are taken away ? Anyway that's all. Sorry to be so chatty tonight, but just wanted to let you know that Jack is seemingly doing well and we are extremely happy. Michelle

I am in love ! My little Boy (finger crossed) is just so beautiful. He is starting to sit for extended periods on his perch, he is trying to climb around the cage using his beak and claws, and best bit is he has started to chirp. He sounds so lovely. This is a better photo I took yesterday. I will definetly tell the story about where he came from, just need to make some time (Laughing out loud) Michelle

I can't thank you all enough for your help. You are lifesavers. I have to rush to organise a 6 year old birthday party now but will come back in later tonight and tell you a bit more about the "home'" our little one came from. You will be horrified I am sure. My husband and I were and we are not even "budgie people" If you know what I mean. I am a bit embarrassed to tell you actually. Lets say that a pet shop would possibly have been a bettter option - even though I am so against them Chat later, and thanks again Michelle

Thanks KAZ. I have felt the breast bone and it feels padded. Ihave checked the bottom and there is not too many feathers. There is a covering of short soft downy feathers. Bottom does not look pooey. Flight feathers - there is feathers on the top of the wings but the under line of feathers have been cut back on both sides. What angle photo would be best for you and I will try and get one. I have seen him eating and standing and walking around. I just assumed the cloth would be good to hide in because he is so used to being in a cage with lots of other little ones. The woman I bought him from said they all snuggle together on the bottom of the cage. I am a bit sad that I bought him from this woman to be honest but at the time I knew no better. At least I know in my heart that he will be very well looked after and spoiled with us. I will still call him a "him" for the time being just for ease (Laughing out loud) Michelle