summer

She is lovely and looks very sweet!

FYI-About the cats...they are both pretty geriatric or I never would have them out at the same time. Baby Blue must have practically walked into Sunny's mouth. But huge wake-up call to me! I'm very grateful and lucky and BB came out completely uninjured and seemingly untraumatized. I won't make that mistake again.

I know. It's a big house we have. That's part of the problem. It's an old house with high ceiling and these (in a parakeet's point of view) wonderful mantels over the windows and doorways. They got up there and run around. Upstairs they don't have that stuff and I can get them in no problem.I've never clipped Shelfie's wings since they've grown out. She will stay with the other birds. I'm guessing Pretty might too.But the boys like to fly from room to room. And the girls follow. Summer I know they love flying. It's been amazing the see the change in Pretty since she grew her wings. She is so much more confident. She climbs all over now. The cons are big for us though since we have an old house without screens in the windows (it's getting warm here). I really worry about forgetting a window and losing them. In this climate they couldn't live through winter outside.Also we have two cats so I have to get them inside when I need to leave. Our first cat has no interest in them. In fact Shelfie use to to to "explore him" and would chase in across the floor. But we adopted a second cat this year. He's an old guy too but he wants to eat them. He already caught Baby Blue once. Amazingly BB was fine. But his wings weren't even clipped and I was watching them (and TV) and there goes our kitty with a patch of blue in his mouth. That was huge wake-up call so I only let them out when I can really watch them.I'm just torn about it.Summer

For the first time since I've had these guys they all can fly. They are suddenly so wild. In January I clipped Baby-Blues wings since he was new and Dave's too since he was getting really hard to catch and put in the cage. They've all grown back and Pretty's too. Took her 7 months to grown new wing feathers. Her's were clipped when I got her. Anyway, it is taking me 10 to 15 minutes chasing them around to catch them. Sometimes they still will step up and play on me. If I don't clip their wings they will need to spend more time our guest bedroom where I can let them out to fly more safely. Now they are in the dining area and I more them to a smaller change at night and they come to the family room with us. Bottom line they are where were are and they come out of their cage a lot. Maybe they would be happy with less time with us and more by themselves? I'd like to cut their wings so they will be more hand-able but I feel bad because they love flying. Oy. Any thoughts? Summer

lol-'doh! They are the same! I call it Freet Frill. I'll keep working on it.

All right then. I'll keep it up. Um...what is a wolf whistle exactly? I was trying the "pretty lady" whistle. I can barely whistle. Thanks!

I've given up hope that one of them might one day talk. But I did notice when BB was introduced (he came from an indoor aviary with 30 birds) that he had a cool click noise. Soon, like 3 days latter 2 my birds were also "clicking". I thought I could teach them a whistle. While they look at my when I do it. None ever try to repeat it. Can they learn songs/whistles when in a group? Thanks, Summer

How long do they stay in breeding condition?

What cute guys you have! How long does it take for you to get pictures of them like that? I mean including their training? Summer

Very cute! Hats off to you and your budgie!

He's gorgeous!

LOL. I wonder that too! My daughter is a bit challenged that way too. The funny thing about Shelfie...although she's in everyone's face. If anyone is stuck on the floor (due to a wing clipping) she is there with them until I get them off the floor.

Awesome! I can't wait to see pictures of your new girl. I had no idea that one of my "girls" was tearing the house apart looking for nest. Summer

They are so cute!

I had no idea. Baby Blue is the popular one now. Even Dave loves to hang with his bud. I feel a little bad for Dave though. Used to be Pretty and Shelfie were both nuts for him. Now no one will nibble his head. Thanks.

Shelfie and Dave used to feed each other, preen each other, and even almost mate (have sex). Now she spends tons of time bobbing with Baby Blue, feeding with him. I haven't see them preen. But they are almost mating. She gets into position he puts his foot on her back. Now she ignores Dave. Dave doesn't seem bothered by this new development but Pretty (BB bond) does. If she comes over and gives BB the eye he ignores Shelfie's advances. BB and Pretty still preen each other regularly and feed each other. What's going on? Are Shelfie and Dave "over"? Thanks for reading. Summer

Anyone else have birds do this? Anyone....? Anyone..........?

Shelfie does this to the others sometimes. She even does it to me sometimes. Is she playing or fighting? Play fighting. She'll decide she wants to bob heads with someone and they'll chase her away and she'll just fly back and kinda land on them or swoop repeatedly. I swear she has no social skills. She just doesn't seem to be able to read their behavior. She's such a strange bird. Here she is in action. Summer

What awesome photos! Beautiful birds! Thanks for sharing.

They are all so gorgeous! Welcome! Summer

Handsome!

What a beautiful bird! Sounds like he's coming along well. Shelfie was a bit like that when I got her. She never played. I gave her 3 months and made very little progress. I got her a friend and she was a new bird. It took her 3 months to eat from my hand. The new bird ate from my hand in 2 days. Anyway they are very happy. I continued to work with them both. They are as tame as the want to be. Sometimes they hop on me and nibble away. They all step up when pressed. But they have a merry old time by themselves.

I love flying shots of budgies. They look so different in flight. Very nice. Summer

Thanks. This brings me to my next question. What makes a good quality seed? I can't tell the % of the seeds from the labeling. The rescue woman feed them Lafeber's NutriBerries and Avi-cakes. I got those for a while to help BB adapt. The other birds liked the nutri-berries but they are so expensive. When you read the ingredients they have the same stuff as any other seed mix. And I was always crushing berries because that's how they liked them. Is there a brand of seed you recommend? Thanks, Summer

Baby-Blue, my 4th and final budgie, came from a rescue center. The woman who ran it feed them mostly whole foods and took phenomenal care of them. He was just an egg when she took in his parents. Was it his super healthy diet and loving environment that made him bigger, more vibrant and softer with more dense feathers than the 3 I got from a pet store? Or is it just his genes? I can never get over how soft he is. He flies super fast. He's just strong. He's the only one that gets really excited about his veggies. I've tried to get them all on a better diet. They get veggies and Harrison's organic pellets but they mostly eat seeds. I got three of them off seeds but the 4th just wouldn't do it. Offered the choice the others eat the seed of course. But I do mix in crushed hard-boiled eggs and grated apple or carrot. Summer