melbournebudgies

Is she on her own at the moment? Maybe she is not coping with the loneness.

I was going to suggest a fat deposit. Did it only become obvious when she plucked or did it appear in an area that you had previousy seen was okay?

Sorry must have missed that, I thought she was just sitting. I'm not sure about it's use in baby birds, although I have used it on very young rodents on occasion (3-4 weeks old) with no problems. If the chick is not tiny it might be worth the risk. Otherwise if you can't find someone to do housecalls it might be time to bite the bullet and whisk her away for a quick checkup, bubs should be okay for a short time if you're quick.

What a horrible thing to happen. A person I know always says "They are only on this world just long enough for us to love them completely"

It's great, think I'll be knocking on Wayno's door later this year to get the specks :hap:

I've tried that stuff Kaz, they will chew through it.

I know it's not ideal Neat but if you can't find a vet that come out there is a broad spectrum antibiotic for birds that is available at some pet shops. It's called Avicycline. If it really comes to it and you have no other way of getting her treated then this might be of some assistance. I keep some in the house for just these sorts of situations in my birds and also my pet rodents. Should add that there is of course no guarantee that the 'infection' she has is sensitive to that partiular product but if it comes to it...

Wow, I love your aviary! Would you mind if I keep a photo of it to show my partner when we build the aviary at our new house next year? As far as placing feed dishes on walls I would place a plastic or metal (you could use clear perspex) backing in between the feeder and the wall so that the mice have nothing to grip onto. You would want the perpex to be probably a 7-8 inches wider on each side than the feeder. It won't stop the mice jumping onto the top of the feeder but they'll be stuck hen so it should deter them a fair bit.

The best bet would be to get steel sheeting and put a guard around the base of the aviary up to 50cm. I have seen both mice and rats climb wood and even verticle bricks so I doubt the wood would stop them. I am currently using a pedestal bird stand (like the ones you get for tame parrots to sit on) to feed fresh food and I also have my other feeders suspended from the roof of the aviary for flying birds. The other method for home made pedestals that kaz uses is to get the legs and pole from an old pedestal fan and get another set of 'legs' and upend this on to the top of the pole and place a large dish on top. Dealing with the quail feeding is tough and I haven't really found a great answer for this yet, I have the same problem with mine but luckily we don't get many mice around my area (touch wood)

I had the prospective parents of one of my latest babies over this morning and took them out to show them the aviary. I think there eyes nearly popped out of their heads when they saw the table laden with fruit, vegies and a bowl of soaked legumes. I spent more time preparing their breakfast this morning than I spent making the family dinner last night :(Laughing out loud): So my last available baby will be going to a lovely couple and their six year old son.

I give my babies just out of the nest a dish of seed and a little dish with a mix of grated carrot, grated apple, soaked dried legumes (peas, lentils, barley, chickpeas, etc get as soup mix from the supermarket), corn kernels and some egg and biscuit mixed in. At this age it might even be worth using seed in the bottom of the cage in order to ensure they start picking at it. If she doesn't see them drinking she could try to give them the idea by holding the babies gently around the body and gently dipping the very tip of their beaks in the water dish but make sure she doesn't put their nostrils in and only dip for just a second so that they understand, she may see them kind of lapping with their tongue as they realise that it's water. I have done this with babies and aso with sick or inured adult birds and sometimes it just gives them the gist of what you want and they are fine after that. I would only use a very shallow dish initially so that if they manage to get in there they don't drown.

I agree, but it was probably too late once they had travelled home with Smoo anyway to keep them away from him. Smoo being a baby probably shoudn't have gone at all but hindsight is 20:20

I think that was clarified Elly as the birds aren't actually in the aviary with the main flock.

Hey, that's not seed it's soup mix, perfectly good human food bought from the supermarket! If I'm lucky it will last a week or so...

It would need to be fresh leaves. I know there are a number of Eucalypt varieties that have been used in places in the US (I think near California is one but I could be way off there) They should all be fine but it will need to be a fairly large shrub size before you can use it sustainably to give to your budgies. Maybe a few of the US members might have some suggestions for plants common over there which you can feed...

Good on you for wanting to find out more Karthik. I like to avoid the potential for these problems by giving the birds as much variety in food as possible. I do have a mineral stone in the aviary but I think this is less important than a good varied diet. If birds are given lots to chose from they should be able to gain basically all the vitamins and minerals they need from their food. In captivity it can be hard to know whether they are infact getting everything they need from the food we provide which is why we give supplements, almost as a 'better safe than sorry' approach. That is they way I see it anyway, which is why I am always looking for extra things for my birds to try. Today I found out I can give them Bok Choy (asian green vegie) so that will be on next weeks shopping list I am also about to try them on dried legumes (peas, lentils, barley and chick peas) so we'll see what they think of that...

thanks heaps, this may sound like a silly question but the only stupid question is the one not asked! when you say eucaplyptus, it's not a specific type is it? or am i just safe with the "gum tree" in my back yard? I trawl the local neighbourhood for trees I can 'trim' so there is no specific type to worry about. Just make sure anything you use hasn't been sprayed with any chemicals.

I give mine tea-tree, Eucalyptus, Bottlebrush, etc. They especially like the soft young new growth

Thanks Kaz, I'll have to start looking for old fans!

Thanks!

I have a 'bird stand' (metal tray on a post with a wooden perch on top) which I am thinking about putting in the aviary as my vegie tray. The problem is I only have one and I actually use the stand inside for my baby budgies/tiels, etc to sit on while I am training them. Does anyone have any other suggestions?

I've had garlic bulbs rot sitting in the basket in the cupboard with the onions!

You after royalties Lone? If I just make one that works so that my wall doesn't need to be cleaned again I'll be happy

I am actually in the process of coming up with something similiar to that to help protect the wall from my lorikeet (flying bits of apple :(Laughing out loud): ) I like the pocket idea, I might work that into my design too.

Yikes, now I'm confused, I'll have to go hunt down some baby photos...