Nove

I've kept him in his cage for the past few days, just talking to him and keeping him safe. I guess it's working, because I haven't seen him do his swallowing motion at all. I'm not sure when to start getting inside again, physical contact and all. Maybe after offering treats. Anyway, I thought you'd appreciate the update. Thanks heaps, C.

Yes! An Avian vet I was referred to in Knox City. Very kind. We're thinking that maybe the swallowing motion is a sore throat of some kind. The swallowing motion sort of looked like regurgitation, but up until a week ago or so there was no evidence of any kind that he was bringing anything up. He did it when he was outside of his cage, or around people. We didn't know what to think! A lot of others didn't either. The seed is definitely coming up. Sometimes he shakes his head and seed flies in all directions, and other times a large clump roughly 6-7mm in diameter comes out of his mouth which seems to be 'gooped' together. All in all, it doesn't look right. There's no real spreading of wings, but definite panting. I don't actually do that much. He sits on my shoulder, he sits on my finger. Not a whole lot. He's very happy walking around on the ground - I'd go as far as saying he sort of skips about. Other than that, we don't do anything together. I don't really feel I can tame him unless I feel close enough to him, or sure enough that he trusts me, and I can't do that either when he physically cannot take being outside of his comfort zone/cage. I've had him close to a month now, I'm sure of it, but I'm also sure my approach hasn't been consistent. It's a real shame.

He doesn't have cankers. He doesn't have worms, or mites. He's being tested for Chlamydia! Swallowing motion -> sore throat, perhaps. Regardless, Paddy just can't hack it. I haven't been able to spend time with him enough because as of a week ago he's started vomitting and panting heavily whenever we have him outside of his cage in hand, with or without the other birds close by. How's that for a compliment? My vet says that it probably isn't a sign of affection as he's not mature enough. I'm not keen on taming him unless he's well enough to do so, or at least willing. I really just want to keep his best interests at heart! For the time being, I suppose he'll stay in his cage. Ah well. Thoughts?

I'm pretty transparent in that respect, I suppose. ! I guess I'll check around the website for shop information to get these sorts of things. I hear there's also some good websites to order off of? Thanks for the rope-wire idea, it's a good one.

Very true! Some excellent points. However, I'm faced with a bit of a problem! A picture will do justice. Obviously I'll need to get some rope happening, and some toys. Wednesday drawth near! Also, sidenote, the information on my left isn't correct. I'm female, not male. Any idea how to change this?

You have excellent taste, if I do say so myself.

Wahey! It's the Padfoot! It kind of looks like he's sitting on Sudan. :doh: xx, C.

They're absolutely shredded! I felt so guilty holding him, he's started stepping up and he's a lot more vocal these days. I've definitely seen him eat, and drink. I guess I'll try that method!

Um, so does anyone know any tips for syringing? Because my hand is torn, my middle finger is bleeding, and a full syringe is still sitting on the table. Argh! He just won't bite on the plastic! I might give AV a call but I don't want to put her out.

His droppings have changed! They've returned to normal, which is fantastic. The regurg movement still occurs, which is worrying. He's slowly getting used to his surroundings.

This one looked like my old bird, Louis! He was so precious. Lovely colour! Wow.

I suppose I'll have to wait until I get paid on Tuesday/Wednesday before I can venture off to an avian vet. He's been exceptional today. It's only the regurgitating movement that makes me really nervous!

It is also a sign of megabacteria and canker. It is irresponsible to just say it is a sign of affection. Unless diagnosed it could be anything When things are posted on a worldwide forum like this you have to be careful what you say. Oh my gosh, is that serious? Ah!

I hope so! He seemed to like you two very much. He's still doing the regurgitating motion still, but nothing has come up as of yet. Good sign I suppose? Thank you again so much for your help, I really do want to make that cake! Haha. Should be good.

Sorry! Updates pending now. CRISIS AVOIDED. Angelicvampire and Pippi came to the rescue of little Padfoot, medication in hand and a pair of scissors. If either of you are wondering, yes, you left your scissors here. You're welcome almost anytime though, I enjoyed your company despite being a bit shy. Hum! It was very nice to meet you both. Also, are you a fan or dark, milk or white chocolate? I've got some definite cake plans for you, something I'm actually good at. I gave some of the pro-biotic this morning, but I wasn't sure how much to give. I gave up to about 10 on the syringe/squirter that they gave me. He's been a lot more vocal, and has been preening quite frequently. He's still fairly sleepy at times, but Pippi and AV assured me that he's still very young. Not even past his first moult. He was very bitey while I was trying to give the medication, only not onto the plastic, but on my hand. Whoops! I've seen him eat more and I'm going to pick some of the bottlebrush and gumleafs soon to invite him to eat some new types of food. I think Cherp, my girl, needs something to peck at as she's furiously scratching at the wooden block holding up her perch as well. I'm not sure what to do with the white powder stuff in the small jar! I stared at it trying to remember but I just couldn't remember. Is it for all of the birds? Will Padfoot have it with that droplet medication in his water after 10 days? Wah, I really should write these things down. Many thanks! xx, C.

I've decided to put his cage in the other room where the other birds are. I don't care if he's not going to be tame, I just want him to be safe. I might try in a week a so but until then it's his wellbeing that comes first. Again, thank you all for your help. I'll update/PM when I get the chance. xx, C.

So as most of you know, I purchased a budgie last week and picked him up yesterday. His name is Paddy. I was worried about the sort of treatment I was meant to give him, and the stuff I couldn't afford. I thought maybe he was sleeping excessively yesterday because he didn't have enough when he was at the pet store. However, he is often closing his eyes even now after a very long period of sleeping last night. In fact, he's sleeping right now. His faeces also seem to be very dark, and very watery. Diahorrea? He hasn't ate anything, I've checked the box. I wish I bought the sulfide-aid.

Thank you all for your kind words! Yes, it's true. I did pay $25 extra for the wing clipping. All up Paddy himself cost $55, around 25-30 dollars more than any other bird I've ever owned. The cage, which I had no choice but to purchase, cost $72. That's a lot of money for a girl who works casual at Coles. Burwood would be closer, yes. I live down around the Lilydale area, albeit not quite as far. I'd be ecstastic for any of you to take a look at him. I just want him to trust me, and people in general! After training up Coco, my cockatiel, it's hard to remember him being just as frightened. Although I've had some practice in taming, I never quite got the hang of it I suppose. Coco was a bit of a fluke, as he's scared of the budgies and therefore feels he's more a little human than a lutino cockatiel. He pretty much taught himself to talk, and maybe I just got lucky in that he likes to whistle. It's a bit of a habit of mine to sing 'Twisted Nerve', the tune the nurse in Kill Bill whistles. He's also very fond of "Fly Me To the Moon". 'Big Bird' http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v347/Che...icture13341.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v347/Che...icture13361.jpg I'm not sure I'm able to keep him in a dark room for much longer. He's calmed down considerably, but he's also been moved several times into the room the other 3 birds inhabit. This wasn't actually my decision, a family member moved him, so I don't know my chances at making Paddy the tame budgie. Hm! xx, C.

Thank you! He (I'll just say that from now on) looked quite animated in the store but now he's quite timid. Do I keep him in the room for a while or should I take him out? There's nothing in his cage right now, as I couldn't afford to buy any fancy toys or anything. I've never had any experience with clipping wings, so I'm not sure what to do. Is only one wing meant to be clipped? >.> xx, C.

Sure! As you can see there, his wing.. xx, C.

First and foremost, HELLO. I'm a newcomer, I've looked around the site and I've come to find some really great information on budgies. It's been a real help! You're all doing such a wonderful job. Now, down to business. I am finding using this information in practice a little daunting. For my whole time I've ever had budgies, around 13 years or so, we've never once taken them to the vet until very recently. We've never wormed, mite-killed or given any special consideration to their seed-only diet. We've given a lot of love and support, and apparently that's been working a treat. But now I want to do more! I feel like it's my duty as an owner to really cater to their needs. It has been a bit overwhelming trying to figure out what food to try and phase into their diet, and what kind of instruments I can incorporate as toys in their cage. I had a budgie pass away last November. Fortunately, we knew what was coming and I kept look out on him until he finally closed his eyes to sleep while resting in my hands. He was quite old, around 11 years or so, and he was our last green budgie. Since then, there's been a bit of a 'hole' left in the cage, as he was the largest of our 3 budgies and a mate to our only female. So today I got a new bird from a local Pet store. Beautiful colour, a yellow on the head, and a mixture of blue/yellow feathers which equate to a greyish sea-foam sort of green. My sister an I have named him/her Paddy, as the colour reminds us of a rainbow paddlepop. Nickname? Padfoot. Cute, yeah? I'm struggling with keeping him/her (unknown, young) relaxed as I couldn't afford this sulfide stuff that they kept telling me about. I really started to get worried when Paddy was making a strange head movement. The sort you'd expect from a regurgitating cat. I know Paddy is stressed out, and he/she is currently sleeping in a dark room as I speak, but I don't know what I can do until then! I gave a bit of a mist spray because I thought maybe Paddy would be a bit warm. I'm just freaking out a bit! Padfoot's wing is clipped on the right, but not the left - and if I do say so myself, quite ROUGHLY. Will this affect how he/she feels towards humans for a while? Also, at what point do I start trying to train and give fresh food? This is kind of scary! I don't want the first bird I've bought from a store to be ill. xx, C.