dek21

Hi there everyone, I've just got Zaffi back from the vets after her being in hospital for 3 days with a bacterial infection. It's probably a silly question but should I apply a 30 day quarrantine for her even though she's back on the road to recovery and she was living with the other birds when she got sick. None of the other birds are showing signs of illness at present. But I am keeping my eye out for anything out of the ordinary. I have separated her but not sure on how long I should do it for. Also is it possible for birds to pass on the illness to people? My mum was going on about keeping sick birds inside with my kids but I didn't think it was all that troublesome. Don't want to sound like some paranoid freak but I thought I'd ask as I've never really thought about it. Thanks

Hi and welcome, look forward to more photos of your flock.

Thanks for the link, it's a very good read. And now I know that I'm not in charge, there'll be a few major changes around here now. Hopefully armed with that fantastic knowledge I'm going to become Oliver's bird boss....ha ha ha! Thanks

Oliver gets covered between 6.30-7.30pm to 6.30-7.30am so he's getting enough cover time. I've just removed his favourite toy, it's a ferris wheel type with plastic balls with bells inside. I have noticed he gets very intense with anything shiny so I have learnt to remove bells and things. But I didn't think the little bells in the balls would make a difference, maybe I'm wrong in thinking that. I did notice a couple of weeks ago that he had head pin feathers but I can't see them anymore, does this mean he's finished his moult otherwise how long does moulting last? I've included some photos as I can't tell if he's still moulting or not. Thanks

I did not realize that your had many more females than males. I am in not position to tell you what you should and shouldn't do, I was just stating that I too had these very same thoughts for the very same reasons but was advised against doing so. I have 10 keets and my females out number my males also. Right now, I have three breeding pairs, two females in a separate cage and a young hen and cock (3 months old) in another cage. I probably could have the four non-paired birds together, but my one female is mature and wants to lay again and I didn't want aggression from her on my young male. I by all means am not criticizing you for your set up. Everyone does what they feel is best and good for you to prevent un-wanted breeding. I was just asking if your logic was the same as mine and thought that someone with more experience could explain the disadvantages of separating flocks. I'm sorry if you felt offended. I in no way felt offended Chrissy...I, like you, am learning and anything that anyone else says I will take on board as the more info that I have the better budgie owner I'll be...hopefully . But for the time being I think I'll leave the girls by themselves as the cage they're in has some wood shelf like pieces that I'm sure would encourage Billie (she's my only mature female in there) to lay. I've attached a photo. I think if I remove them it will weaken the structure so until I have something better I'll go with what I've got. I think, as much as Elmo might enjoy having his own harem, he will just have to cope getting to know us better. I think we will take advantage of trying to tame him a bit more as he is not too people friendly at the present. Thanks for everything

Hi there, okay then...my house budgie Oliver is being nasty and biting. He's also trying to mount everything that moves and even things that don't. He used to be friendly and loving and just adore being with someone or talking up a storm. Now no one wants to spend any time with him as all he does is bite. What can I do to get the friendly Oliver back or is this just a stage all bugies go through? If it is how long will it last? He is now 7 months old. I don't want to resort to getting him a friend as I want him to spend time with us. Thanks

okay then, yes I have separated them for the reason that I don't want any unnecessary breeding as I have read that even without a nesting box they can still breed and these budgies are too young. But if you can keep 1 budgie as a pet without any other sex as company what is the difference in keeping several of one sex together to prevent breeding. I have 4 girls in the outside aviary and Elmo is now by himself. My house budgie Oliver is by himself as well and he is doing beautifully without friends, so what's the difference if I keep the sexes separated until ready for breeding. The girls seem happy, though Billie is grumpy as heck since her partner escaped. But again they seem happy and healthy. If it's not good keeping them separated then I'm only too happy to correct my mistake. If I mix them and put Elmo out with the girls what will happen...4 girls against 1 boy? Am I going to be asking for trouble especially with Billie as she is busting for more babies! Will she not get territorial with the younger girls (2 of which are her babies)? I just don't know what to do, I only want what's best. Any advice will be much appreciated. Thanks

I don't want these two mating together so I'll be moving Casper out to the girls aviary tomorrow. But in the future when they're of age and I want to breed them will they have to have birds the same size as themselves or in the bird world does size not really matter? Thanks

Hi there, my albino budgie Casper was sexed as a boy a while ago but in the last week or so I've noticed that his cere has gone a brownie colour. Is this normal in an albino or is HE becoming a SHE? I'm sorry about the photo quality but it's the best I could do as unfortunately Casper is not only camera shy but people shy as well and continuously kept turning his back on me. I know this has nothing to do with gender but could any one tell me why there is such a difference in size between Casper and his cage mate Elmo. As far as I know there is only a few months of age between them and they're unrelated. I know show birds are bigger but I don't think Elmo is a show type bird I thought he was just a pet type budgie but the difference is mind blowing. I didn't notice it until they were put together after quarantine to keep each other company. They seem to get on okay but I'm concerned about Elmo being so large that he might dominate Casper too much. Thanks for any info

Thanks so much, I'll remove the box and try again later. I'm glad to hear she's of age anyway. How long does it usually take for her to come back into breeding condition, is there like a set amount of time between conditioning or does it just happen when ever she feels the need? And Neville thanks for your answer, but they are not really isolated, there's another cage probably 5 metres or so away from them and they can hear the inside birds as well as quite often through the day they all chat together. Maybe not isolated enough...ha ha.

The pair I am currently trying to breed have been together for about 2 weeks now. They seem to be happy together and Samuel has been trying to do the right thing. The hen, Opal, doesn't seem too interested and I'm wondering if maybe the lady I got her from has mistaken her age and maybe she's a bit younger than the 12 months she told me. I've included a photo in the hope that someone would be able to confirm her age. And this is Samuel and Opal's breeding set up. It seemed Billie and Oscar had no trouble with it and it was thoroughly washed before putting Samuel and Opal in it. It just seems to be taking them some time to get their act together, is this normal? Thanks

Hi there, just another question about the iris ring. When I was transferring Billie and Oscar to the retirement cage yesterday I happened to notice Oscar's eye and was wondering if I would be right in thinking he has an iris ring...or am I just seeing things in my ignorance. No biggie if it's not just wanted to work on my 'how to tell the difference' lesson. I hope this photo shows it properly. If I am right what exactly does that make him as he was classed as a greywing? Will any of his and Billie's babies develop it?

Hi there, can someone please confirm the sexes of these two please? I thought hen, but she seems to have a bluish tinge! But then again I don't know what I'm talking! And this following one I know is a cinnamon wing but is it also a pied of some sort as her pale blue colouring only goes half way up her chest? I thought hen also for this one. Sorry about the picture, if you need another photo I'm happy to post another, just let me know. Thanks

Thanks for the pics, I can see the difference really well now. I'll keep an eye (no pun intended) out for the iris ring. They told me when I bought him he was only young so going on that I should have a few months before I see anything, is that right? I'll update when I can.

Thanks heaps for your replies. Actually AV he's starting to grow on me now (I didn't think he would) . But way too pretty to be a boy. Very quiet though...hoping he'll get a bit more active and noisy as the kids play with him, but he is settling in okay. Not leaping about the cage whenever we go near him so badly now.

Hi, hope this photo of its cere is better. This bird will not sit still for a photo and unfortunately this is the best I could do. Is it a boy or girl? When I first bought her I didn't realise she had red eyes as they are not bright red like my lutino. So I didn't realise she was an albino. I'm not sure I like her yet, but my daughter certainly does. I'm hoping she'll grow on me. One more thing how old do you think she is? When I got her I was told she's under 6 months.

Just an update on Mocha. She's back home now. She lost a toenail but she seems to be doing fine. I've not put her back in with the parents as I'm too worried they might hurt her again so she's inside in a smallish kind of cage so we can care for her. I also brought in her big sister Zaffie (the lutino) as she was the one that was protecting her against her parents. They don't seem to like the little cage and are not settling well at all. Should I put them back out with their parents? They're eating okay and the older one seems to be teaching the little one what to do. They're eating the normal seed but I'm also giving them baby mash and soaked seed. Though they pick at it, they don't seem to eat a lot of it. And they're hyperactive for some reason, they wrestle with the newspaper as if it's a fight to the death. And continually try to climb the front wire. Is it because they've been traumatised by leaving their parents so young. Mocha is only just gone 4 weeks and Zaffie just 5. What should I do as I don't want to raise budgies with personality disorders. I only want to do what's best for them. Thanks

Hi there guys, like a lot of people I don't usually buy from pet shops, but yesterday I saw this little bird and couldn't help myself. Though she does have the red eyes (not a very bright red like my lutino), but when I look at her closely I think I can see very slight spangle type markings on her wings. Is she still an albino? And is she a she? Thanks

Hi there everyone, I have big problems with my current breeding pair. I want to retire them as Billie is over 4 years of age now. She had a clutch several weeks ago, and the youngest she has just attacked and booted out of the nest box (he is barely 4 weeks old). I've had to take him to the vets as she has done some major damage to him. From what I could see the baby has lost a toe and heaps of blood. (major cleaning to be done in breeding cage). Billie and Oscar are currently holed up in the nesting box but I intend on removing it this afternoon (I think Billie has gone baby crazy...don't know if this is normal or what). The other two babies are still in with the parents but they seem to be holding there own. The lutino was actually protecting the youngest from the parents. I want to put Billie and Oscar in another avairy/cage but I want to know will they still try to breed even though no boxes. And if so what can I do to stop them. And can I keep other birds in with them without them attacking them. I don't know what to do with them otherwise as I am fast running out of room. Please help!!!!! Thank you

Thanks Neat, I'm only breeding those two as they are the only two available to me of age at present. Billie and Oscar (the parents of the spangle you saw with Samuel) are going into retirement as she has reached her maximum breeding age. And now that I've started I don't want to stop. Ha ha ha. I don't know Samuel's heritage, so you never know, I might get one heck of a surprise. Does it mean I'll only get greens no matter what I breed him with. Oh well, we'll soon find out and I'll let you know when they have some babies. Thanks for everything.

Thanks for your replies everyone. It's nice to know that I'm actually learning something. Well done to a brilliant website and fantastic people located on this forum. Thanks Neat, but if I wait to pair the spangle with the violet opaline I'll have to wait till next year as he is only coming up 6 months of age. Maybe I can find him a gorgeous girlfriend in the time I have to wait for his coming of age. So you don't think Samuel and the violet opaline would make a good match? If not, what would? As I am very interested in breeding Samuel. Any other opinions would be appreciated also.

Thanks for your replies everyone. It's a learning curve for me with every word I read. Just another question...What is with the white iris ring? I don't quite understand what you mean and I'm definitely not sure what to look for. Does someone have a picture in comparison to a normal eye and does it mean the pied bird is only young if he doesn't have it, if that's what he is? Thanks for your patience with my ignorance. I had another look through the mutation guide to see if I could see a difference but I'm not sure what I'm looking at so it was a useless endeavour...sorry! And Neat...yes, the baby in the nest is one that I bred. Her parents are in the back ground with the lutino.

Hi there, I was told by someone (not from this forum) that my Samuel is a normal green, but after going through the mutations guide I think he might be some sort of spangle. Could someone confirm this and if so would he pair up nicely with the violet opaline in my other topic and what sort of babies could I get from that pairing.Thank you Sorry about the photos he just does not like being photographed. Oops, sorry I did edit them all but for some reason the last one didn't work.

I picked this hen up the other day and though the photo doesn't show it clearly she is a bright violet/purple colour. Can you tell me what she is please? Sorry about the photo she is not crazy about being photographed. I will try and get a better picture when she calms a bit more. I also picked up this little boy. After looking through all the colour mutation topics I think he might be a dom pied something or rather...I'd appreciate being corrected. I also have some babies that I'm not sure of...I think this is a lutino hen? Though you can't see it in the photo she does have red eyes. And I think this little one is a something cinnamon wing. Please feel free to correct me as the right info is always preferred. Thanks

Hi there neat, I was so disappointed that her true colour wouldn't come out. But that's okay maybe I'll get a better shot later. If I wasn't so in love with her I'd send her your way...but I can't. After her quarratine I'm hoping to pair her up with Samuel. I think he's a normal green but not really sure. Maybe the pairing will suprise me. I can only hope.