studiobird

So, came home today and hubby was home doing some work, and decided he needed to get out and about. We decided to go have a look at some pet stores to just get an idea of what we were looking for and possibly buy Well we went back to the store we were in yesterday after not liking the birds in the first store, and fell in love with one of the birds and the markings. Well after talking to the guy there for a while, we picked her out and he went to grab her gently and she went spacko. and she was biting and going nasty (and it was a her and we wanted a boy initially)... So we talked to the guy some more and then this bird jumped straight on the bars and looked at us. Awwwwwwwwh. it wasn't what we were looking for colour wise, but it was a boy, and he was cheeky, and he was showing us he was there (we had not seen him). The man said that the little one was just a babe (10 or 12 weeks compared to 4 months the other was) and so we asked to look at him some more. In his hand, he just sat there licking and nibbling rather than biting. And then he sat on his finger! And let the child touch him! That was it... he was coming home... so, please let me introduce Twitter Bird. So... I don't know anything about markings, but I am thinking he is a Cinnamon Opaline? He's got splotty yellow on his tummy I think (will get more pics later)... and blue down his tail... He's very affectionate once he gets on your finger... he's really sweet. Daughter is completely besotted. Had to have apple on a skewer just like Twitter.. hehe. Oh, it's nice to have a pet in the house again!

This thread is great! gives lots of ideas and is especially great for someone like me who's going to have a 3 year old child who will LOVE making things for the new birdie!

oh vixen. I am so sorry to hear you are grieving the passing of a loved bird fly free Lambchop.

We have a flight cage (horizontal) which we will start off with, and will then add a second level as confidence in us increases. One thing I am not short on is cages.... I have about 4 flight cages of varying sizes in our spare room, plus a million different parts of old cages that can be rebuilt to new ones. all cleaned and scrubbed and disinfected with a bit of a sunning of UV for good measure. Inside we have horizontal rope, dowel, ladders, an extra level, two water pipes, two food bowls (up high so as not to catch the feces), a swing, ladders to water, and a box for a house. I should get a photo. I think we've decided on the name Twitter. Kinda fitting for this geeky family We just need a birdie... here birdie birdie.... Mattdog, tend to agree with Pet Shop purchases... though I understand they sometimes have a place. it is a bit of a catch 22. but I am glad for the non-impulse purchase haha!

Hello everyone... it's been a while! (6 months ) Anyway, I think we have decided on getting a budgie! Not sure what type yet... thinking Male and young... We are in the process of setting up the cage (a project for my 3 year old and I) and discussing what type she'd prefer. So I am back to looking at where to get one. We had a look at a pet store today and the baby budgies were so friendly and cheeky! I was watching two do somersaults! it was sooooo funny! Made me want to get one NOW NOW NOW... but we need to get the cage ready and I hate people impulse buying pets (even though I did it lots with rats in the past!). I remember someone here said that they'd let me have a budgie on a test run and if it did not work out I could give the little chap back....? but I can't recall who that was (it was a breeder... in western sydney?? I should probably utilize the search function at this point!) Ideally we would love a yellowy/bluey/greeny one (child keeps alternating between which is her favourite colour budgie... last decided on "Yellow and Blue" ) Personally I love the splattery type colouring. We were rather taken by a grey budgie at the store, but I think she'd get more out of a coloured birdie... Anyhoo... that's the newest intro from me. going to try and hang around a little more.. (completely off topic, the auto spell check of Firefox detects Anyhoo as a word! go figure!)

I might actually recommend this to our club for the Rats and Mice to see if it can help - specifically in rat breeding - in helping keep Mycoplasma Pulmosis at bay... thanks for the reminder!

Neat, I did that and got equal pros and cons. ha. I might just have to have a bit of a think... I'll hang around in the mean time though!

i'm wishing there was a canary place as talkative and friendly as this one here as I like this community - it is like our rat one - talkative and social! I think I am leaning towards a canary, but I'm not sold either way... I am such a procrastinator when it comes to these things!

If you ever find a dead/half dead one again, pick it up by the scruff of the neck like you would a cat/kitten - but really tight. If it is still alive, if can't swing up the tail to bite. The grey plastic safety traps work better than most traps I have found... We had the pest man here a while ago and the mice went too... but now they are back. Not happy. Joys of having a 3 year old who drops crumbs everywhere!

melbournebudgies.... not going to happen here... We went through all of that when I had rats... (Owner/Breeder/Exhibitor). The room I am moving the studio into was my old rat room... a dedicated room to my pets haha... but then they all got sick with a virus and died.. and then I became highly reactive to them and allergic.. so no more ratties... instead now I judge and help run the club Neat... I will do! as long as you don't go posting pictures of beautiful chicks that need homes in the next couple of months I'll be sure to have an easy chance of making a balanced decision!

Oooooh.... neal.... I just had a look at some of your babies... *be still my heart!* how cute are they!! I heart Mac and Princess... Kaz... a crested red canary is the type of canary I would love to get. It would be my pick if I decided to get a canary.. or a yellow crested... or a plain red.. hahaha... Oh, I suck at making decisions...

Haha... True.. but if I use a white cage I can justify a new one... I already have a black flight cage haha! Though I might get a new one anyways regardless... I only want one bird though... it's just deciding which one... I'd get two if I got finch... but other than that I really only want one.. and seeing the pretty colours of all the budgies make it very very exciting... (though Red canaries just make me burst with excitment....) I'm having bird decorations put up in the studio (wall art/decals) so having a real bird is a bit exciting

Trish, Gouldian finches are one of my favourites!! Liv... what type canary is he? Cage size is covered... I have a small flight cage (60 x 40 x 35 I think) which I will use (though, to be honest, will probably buy a new one because I want white instead of black hahaha! to match the new decor!) Toys are no problem for a budgie... does your canary play with toys? I am thinking the canary may be more low maintenance, am I right? The idea of listening to canary song is beautiful... though the chattering of a budgie... argh.. I am going to do my head in. I am really drawn to the colours of the budgies, and the fact it can be trained to sit on my shoulder etc.. . decisions decisions... I have not been able to find a canary specific forum to talk on. found another bird forum for all types, but this one was good for budgie specific...

I love finches too... argh..... ! at least I have a bit of time!

Hi Trish Yes, it was yours that caught my eye... I love the back view! That colour is amazing.. and actually... all your new birds caught my eye! the colours are beautiful! You're post actually got my attention because you got the birds from Portland/Hamilton. I'm a local from that way originally! (Sydney now) Thank you all for the welcome. I like the idea of a canary just sitting there and not needing as much interaction... but at the same time, the ability to have a bird step up and sit there and play with me is just as alluring! I am not sure if a canary would be easy to get in an out of a cage though after a lot of flight time, whereas, I think a budgie would be easier on that front... there are so many fors and againsts!!

I'm new (as stated by my post count!) and I thought I would join these forums to learn more about budgies and whether or not they are the right bird for me to get. I am doing up my office/studio at home and I want to get a bird when I have completed the task (early 2009) The bird will have a smallish (not tiny) cage that will be open all day for flight around the studio, and closed for roosting at night. the room/studio is not huge - 3x4m roughly - so not a huge space to get lost in. My concerns with a budgie are the 'bits and pieces' I will have in a studio... and whether a budgie is going to be hunting down my sparkly beads and picking them up (risk for swallowing??).. I like the trainability of a budgie compared to other birds (other consideration is a canary)... And I like their colourways... (Yellow Face Opalines are beautiful! and the TCB I saw in someone's post! wow!) I know some people will Tut Tut, but the colour/look of the bird is important. I actually prefer the overall body shape of the canary and their singing voice, but I love a lot of the quirks of budgies too... So I am trying to work out whether or not a budgie (or canary) is right for me... I plan to buy from a breeder rather than a pet store.