BYTEMAN

Hi, I don't know what you mean by "cool" but as some contributors to this thread have pointed out, UV produces vitamin D in the skin. Prolonged UVB is dangerous and affects the eyes - direct sunlight should be avoided. There's enough UVB coming from the rest of the sky to satisfy this - atmospheric dust scatters it. Indoors you need an artificial source. I use a PHILIPS face tanning lamp bounced off a warderobe mirror which is on 6 hours a day. (the glass attenuates the dangerous short wavelenghs). It also sterilises the air. I used to breed budgies in an attic and had a lot of sickness. Since using this lamp I've had none. The lamp emits UVA and I have found this to be safe and effective. Any artificial source which emits strong UVB should be avoided. BYTEMAN http://www.avian-world.net/

LIV: They certainly have a sophisticated communication system and no doubt understand more than they let on. If you've used the needle previously, "word" probably got round to what the procedure entrails and they've taken the hint. I had an egg tweet at me just before I was going to discard it. It was a day over and I assumed it had adled. I got it out and fed it but sadly it died the next day. BYTEMAN

If I had a budgie that was sick and near death and can't fly I would put it in a hospital that I made (which is fairly easy to construct) and invariably they recover (at least in my case). But maybe they'd rather decide themselves when to die - who knows?!! Find out more on http://www.avian-world.net/ BYTEMAN

okay I took the budgie for a walk - I tucked him in the top pocket of my Jacket with the chick at the other side. He'd never felt the wind or seen the sky or trees. After an initial nervousness he relaxed and began to look around. The chick didn't pop her head out of the pocket. The walk was along country lanes and lasted about 20 minutes. I did this because he was spastic and never flew. He had more chips on his shoulder than in silicon valley and he used to wind me up. After his outing he changed. He became calmer and seemed to be accepting his limitations. I got the feeling he appreciated what I did for him which surprised me. Has anyone else been pleasantly surprised by a budgies' reaction? BYTEMAN