Catherine

If a double yolker were fertilised, would you get twins?

What a beautiful, little bird! I just love the colours. From the photo, I would not be convinced either way about the sex - due to light etc.. The behaviour certainly suggests a cock to me.

So sorry to hear of your loss.

Front to back perches enable flying across the cage. Perches running across cages tend to make the birds sidle along them. Thank you.

They love bunches of millet spray. You can get it much more cheaply from a seed merchant. To store it, hang it in a warm, dry place.

I clipped my indoor budgies' wings at first on vet's advice. I've let them grow back and don't plan to clip again. Pros: They love to fly They always go back to their cage by themselves and I can catch them from there Cons: There is a greater risk of escape - you have to be careful about open windows and doors You can't put them away quickly if they are not in the mood

Why?

Me, too. Plus hot water and sun drying.

I hope s/he is a very loving, comforting birdie for you. Of course you could not stand the silence. It would have been too awful.

Ah, goody ... a mathematical thread. Shall we go to Off Topic? You have to have more than 100% when you have more that doubled your money on a deal, don't you. Do you have to express it in decimals if you are not allowed to say per cent? Or, are you allowed to say 110% as a little bit of hyperbole, in the same way you say I ate a whole half of the pie?

Yes, it's probably what you mean by a pretty lady whistle. The sort of whistle a girl will get if she walks by a building site. The whistle consists of two blasts - the first rises in pitch and the second falls. My tiel can actually do two different wolfwhistles - the more genteel (I like to think) one I taught my budgie and a real builder's site one that I can't do. I think he'd probably whistled at so many people going past my house, that someone started whistling back to him on a regular basis to show him how it's really done.

You are welcome. I was thinking particularly of you and dek21 when I posted it.

Me too.

:rofl:

Yes, try the wolf whistle. Don't give up whistling something you would like them to learn. When I got my first budgie, he was the only bird I had for six months. All the time, I tried to teach him to wolf whistle and got nothing from him. Then I got an injured baby cockatiel. I stopped bothering about whistling after that. When the tiel had recovered, he sat on my lap one day and wolf whistled! There was only one place he could he could have learnt that. Even today, I have to sneak up and not be seen by my little male budgie. The times I have been successful, I have heard him whistle almost every tune my tiels know. I find I only need to teach my cleverest tiel a new tune. He will teach the others. So my message is, they may already be doing things you don't know about.

I agree. When you nuzzle them, you always have a sniff because they smell so good. Mine like me to give a little warm puff into their feathers when they are having a cuddle.

That is great! The clean up is worth it for the fun he had. I went down the road tonight to collect some fresh bottlebrush for mine to have in the morning.

Oh, I am so sorry. The rain last Tuesday night and Wednesday was appalling. That was an awful thing to happen and a terrible shock. My sincerest condolences.

My birds love bottle brush. It is perfectly safe. Check it for creepy crawlies and get rid of those. Wash it thoroughly. My tiels and budgies enjoy stripping everything off bottle brush, including the bark. It makes a mess, which is easy to clean up. The birds really focus on wrecking it and enjoy themeselves.

Oh, that is so sad. It is such a hard decision to take, even when you know there is not a choice. My condolences to you and Oliver.

You brilliant, creative lady. Those pots are wonderful!

This is so exciting. I am very happy for you. Well done.

It is sad to hear of someone losing a loved bird or any other pet, for that matter. We all know what it feels like. The tradition of writing verse about the death of a bird is ancient. The Roman poet, Catullus, wrote "Lament for Lesbia's Pet Sparrow" in around 45 BC. I have joined that tradition. I wrote some verse this evening and hope it may help someone. I loved your warmth and optimism Your happy little ways. But has it come to this, my sweet, That you’ve used up your days? I cannot bear to think about The truth that you are dead. I need you on my shoulder, Love, And to stroke your feathered head. I wrap your silent, perfect form In the most precious cloth I own. I mark your grave and realise You were only here on loan. I make a conscious effort To overcome despair And fix upon the debt I owe For the joys of love and care. So, thank you, maker of my bird, For his loyal, little heart. It was a privilege to share his life Before we had to part. Take care of him on my behalf And make him very glad That he has flown to be with you And I’ll not be so sad. Author: Catherine L

Oh, my dear, I am so sorry.

I'm no expert but, since student days, I've tried many makeshift solutions. What about a short length of that garden edging stuff? You know the stuff that is little rectangular shapes of wood joined by wire links. You could put it at the base of the heater and affix it to the skirting board on either side of the heater. You could thread some tacks or drawing pins through the bits of wire at each end and then bang them into the skirting board. It would not stop creepies coming in - they come in anywhere any time. However, it might stop beloved creatures slipping through. It would not be airtight, so if ventilation for the heater is required, it is still available. When some clever, handy person visits, they will be horrified at how huckery it looks. Then they can do an expert job. P.S. If your heater gets hot to the touch, it would be a bad idea. The wood might burn.