*Nerwen*

I was thinking the same thing Rainbow. But there are girl names that can be shortened to Mac.

Yes Karen why didn't you think to do that while we were all there, all thoses extra hands I can't wait to see some of the outcomes of these pairs.

((HUGS))) Karen I loved it that day just chatting away with the bird singing and having fun themselves. You're lucky I didn't sneak Zeuss away ( love the name too) Lin how is little Punkie liking his new home? seeing all of your wonderful birds made me call home later that day to check on mine Rach loved Macey Grey loved her colours and Crystal.

very cool

i have my fingers crossed.

okay thank, I know what it's like I"ve taken pictures of my violet girl and had them make her look sky blue! so it's hard to get the right colour in pictures sometimes. With the dark cheek spots there is a chance but I can't be 100% sure.

oh no Sorry I can help with info about this, haven't heard much of this in budgies. let us know what the vet said.

Much better piccies. Yes your spangle is opaline like Cheeta is saying, you have to remember that the spangles don't have the black in the middle of the feather to change to the body colour, the fact that the thing lines are blue and not black mark him as opaline. It looks to be like the other two are hens, that dark blue one might be a violet too.

I agree with Cheeta. No 3 Is a hen that looks to be out of condition for breeding or is still young. She is a recessive pied (Harlequin) No 2 is clearly a male and look to be a dilute. No 1 is another male this is the one you where told was a Harlequin, could I see a picture of his back/wings? No 4 looks to be as a young hen ( under 6 months and so not ready to breed yet) No 5 is a hen and in breeding condition, she looks to be a clearwing. Boy numbers are confusing with birds, do they have names?? A bonded pair like one and three will mate at any time to keep the bond strong, but to breed this hen now would put extra stain on her body. Wait until her cere looks like no 5's does before giving them a nesting box. Remember this is if only you want to breed them, the birds can live happily as a flock with out breeding, there can be some fighting between hens when they are in breeding condition but normaly if there is nothing to be seen as a possible nesting site they behave. What do you feed them? Just seeds is not a well balanced diet for them ( I was sure you stated what they were given but I can't seem to see it now) Start offering them fresh food like carrot, brooccli, apple( no seeds), pears, sprouts, mung beans and bocchoy or any other dark green leafy veg. If they havn't had it before they will take a while to eat any, but once one is brave enough to try then will all fight to get a bit. Even soak their seed until it sprouts is good for them. Mixing some boiled mashed egg is also good for them it gives them heaps portein. This is a really good to give them daily when breeding and raising chicks. I'm sure there is other stuff to give but someone here will remember I'm sure

just remember to be paitent folks can't always get on every day I don't think he is violet, looking at those new piccies, in fact in the last he doesn't even look cinnamon. So that leaves a normal cobalt yellowface. Of cuase you can tell us if he looks truly brown in real life.

yep, as long as you know you havn't sprayed for weeds in that area. Give them a good wash and the birds will love them.

First moult is around the 3 month mark, and you will see heaps of pin feather pop out all over her head. Is there a chance of any pictures?

Welcome I'm glad you feel ready to come out of the woodworks and join in the fun :bluebudgie: Milly looks a darling you lucky to have one that didn't outgrow the head scratches! I think you have a darling little angel there, look forward to hearing about her more.

The joys of two hens :(Laughing out loud): All 'flocks' have a top bird and it seems like Sheldon is it in this case, the standing tall is a domanace thing, the birds sizing each other up if one wasn't willing to back down a fight will break out. I would make sure there are two seed and water dishes in the cage (i believe they are sharing one?) so one will not be blocked from eating by the other, and when giving vegges offer on two small plate or two dishes to hang on either side of the cage, of cuase then they only want to eat out of the one the other is. :bluebudgie: What toys to they have? Try and swap them around once a week as well as changing the lay out of the cage often. As the the training/playing with buttons - what is wrong with doing this with the other bird at the same time? If buttons is still willing to be with you, as in sit on your finger, then Sheldon should start to see you as a friend as well and join in the fun. Treats of millet would help too. It does seem as if you know the key to sexing budgies but are you sure you have two hens? Some males depending on their mutation will have a baby pink cere all their life which can be mistaken for a hen. Just wanting to cover all bases here.

very cute, Bruce looks a lot like Ringo

buster is a cutie, any chance you can take some more shots and make them bigger?? Try in sunlight with out a flash that seems to help get close to their natural colour. It did the trick from my purple girl Thistle. Yes Cinnamon will dilute the body colour a bit. and in this picture his wings do look brown. Is buster still a baby? If not a later picture of him would help to tell if he is type 2 or type 1 yellowface. Type 2 get more yelllow washing into the body colour as they grow up to give them a green look. Type 1 only has yellow on the face.

welcome Lisa, Have you had many thought on what colour your hoping of getting, or just keeping an open mind??

:(Laughing out loud); That's CaspersRose

yeah I thought that was pricless

Hi welcome to the place, with that last shot you showed he is clearly a boy. I love that little extra blue spot on his left leg If you want ideas on training head over to that area and read read read :(Laughing out loud): Or ask and there will b plenty willing to share.

great birds I like the cinnamon Violet

Yeah I was trying to work out opaline or not with the shots But I agree.

aww the poor things, did you tell the breeder they had this problem before buying?? I can't really tell with the ceres becuase of the mites but the green one looks a bit henny to me. I can't see the dark blue's cere in these pictures.

Sounds like you have a girl. Is she tame at all? or are you starting from stratch? If the second then I say be slow and gentle, talk all the time while you are putting your hand in the cage, use millet a a treat to let her know that hands are not a bad thing. The bird sees the cage as 'her space' and your hand as a preditor (sp?) she needs to understand you will not hurt her. Also try not to react to the bites, when you pull your hand away this is letting her know that behaviour is working in her favour and she will continue with harder bites.

Yeah that's why I asked, a vet would be able to do many test to see if what cuased this is likly to reaccur or contagious!