Diamond Fire

I want to thank everyone who replied to my plee. I am so grateful that there are people out there so willing to help. I am making contact with some of them and I am hopefull that next time I post it will be to gloat about my newfound knowledge of these beautiful birds. Again thank you all soooo much.

Does anyone know of anybody in the Greenbank / Jimboomba area of Brisbane that would be willing to help me with the understanding of budgies - have read books and blogged, but sometimes it is better to meet and talk with someone and be shown what I would like to know about budgies. Whew - hope that all makes sense.

I would like to know what i did wrong - I feel that I have wasted a very precious life

I am so sad, I came home from work to find one of my budgies "Charlie" on the bottom of the cage, she looked at me with such pain - I picked her up and wrapped her in a tea towel and immediately rang the bird vet to be greeted with a message that they are closed and if it is an emergency to contact the emergency animal hospital. I did this only to be told that they do not handle birds and to contact the number that I first called. I told them they were closed and the message said to call this number. She apologised and suggested I contact them first thing in the morning. Needless to say, my poor angel died within the next hour. I am heartbroken, I don't know what was wrong with her, I couldn't get any help and the thought that she suffered for goodness knows how long tears me apart. She was looking a little fluffed the day before, but I put this down to the cold weather (stupid me). I have 3 birds left and I fear that my lack of knowledge will endanger them too. The male partner of little Charlie looks as devastaded as I do. Sigh.

Hi guys, could you please advise me if male or female. I would really appreciate your opinion. And I am not sure if you can tell what age etc?(p.s. - I think i have logged this twice - so I apologise if you have already responded)

A Big thank you to everyone for their advice, it is so good to speak to others with the common goal, the care of the budgie, and to get realistic advice and encouragement. I feel I will be spending a lot of time here.

Thank you very much - I will remove the box and eggs straight away (will she pine?) - I will upload a picture as soon as I can to to help resolve my problems.

I have recently acquired some beautiful budgies and a cage through a place that was holding a yard sale. One of the budgies died a few days later (I took the bird to the vet after i noticed it was limping badly). Not wanting to leave the other bird lonely (I assumed it was a female, hard to tell as she is an albino and apparently it is hard to read, but as the other was a male and the couple were sold to me as a breeding pair). My daughter and I purchased another 2 young birds (again was told by the shop owner, too young to tell what sex). As I have had them now for nearly 2 months, one is definately a male and the other a female). The female began to get extremely close with the original budgie (which I was still asuming was a female) - the young female took up residence in a breeding box which was in the cage and then started to lay eggs. I thought she was way too young, but again told by the local pet shop that they do start young. My delima is that the eggs have now been there past the 22 days and nothing has happened - I am sure they must be infertile - but I don't know what to do now? Do I take away the eggs? do I remove the nesting box? is the original bird a male? will she continue to lay eggs that are not fertile? is it bad to leave the box in the cage or worse to remove it? Please help - I don't want my inexperience to cause my beautiful birds that I am just getting to know any health risks or needless grief. I really need to talk to someone who knows as I have the feeling that the pet shop people only know how to sell. I am in situated in the south of Brisbane.