Phylly

Hi and welcome I am sure the other members will be along later to say hi and give their two cents as well Your little pip squeak is a girl and seem to be starting her moult. Depending on how poopy her bottom is (ie: not clogged up) I would say that it could be due to the stresses of moving and a new environment. She looks fairly healthy to me but just keep an eye on her bottom. And you are right with pip squeak not moving much or chriping much in the first few days. Once she is more settled in you will see and hear her make more noise and movements. Do not worry too much about not seeing her eat as she is probably eating and drinking while you are not watching. Have a look into her seed bowl/ onn the ground. Do you see husks? If so then she is eating. You've done well covering her cage, as that will help her settle better. I also notice a bell in one of your pictures, do be careful with them as often times bells have zinc in them which is poisonous to birds (and if it is attached to a mirror, I would remove it As the other members like to say on here, it "does their head in") All the best with her I am sure you will enjoy your little companion. I will let the others give their expert advice

Hi guys, I remember reading somewhere on this forum that it is possible to sex young babies using the shape of their ceres. Is this true in every occasion or does it need to be done with the overall colour of the cere as well? I am just wanting to practice my young baby sexing skills some more So lets say in this example, would it be safe to say that the white baby (bottom left corner, albino?) would be of a different sex to the baby behind it (grey feathers, NOT the yellow face)? And if so, which one would be male and which one female? I think this picture might have been taken with flash.. Hence why I am asking if it is possible to sex just based on the shape (like I read somewhere) rather than both shape and colour. Thanks! This is something I am interested in getting better at.

Sorry guys, that's the picture that the breeder gave to me. I think it is in natural light without flash. I do agree it's too bright. This is the only other picture that the breeder has of the baby.

Thanks I was thinking possibly male too... It's a pied though, not sure if it makes any difference? It's mostly yellow with blue on it's back/rump. Does that make it a dommie pied or recessive? Not sure sure if it has any on it's chest.

Can I please have some help sexing this 3 1/2 week old? Thank you so much.

Hi fordmob. It throws up over a period of time until it's next feed. And by that time, it empties it's crop.... I'm starting to get really worried about the little fellow....... It's looking quite scraggally and thin now....

bumping topic

Hi GB, Thank you for your reply. The baby is 3 and a half weeks old. Feathers on wings and head together with down and pin feathers on body, neck and chest. At first I did think it was just because it had eaten too much but it has thrown up three of it's feeds now and I am not so sure it is because of that anymore. Yes I am sterilizing between feeds and using different feeding utensils for each bird. Thank you for the lemon idea.... I will try that and see if it works. Do you have any other ideas as to why it could be throwing up? I've done a google search and seems like it can be quite a wide range of things from bacterial infection to just inproper food temperature. Thanks again.

Hi guys, I know it's Christmas so don't expect many replies but just thought I'd try. I have a 3 and a half week old baby which I am handrearing together with two others. All have been going well with the babies taking food and eating greedily until one of them started throwing up. Not while it is being fed but and hour or more after taking it's feed. My question is, what bacteria/ virus/ infection is causing the baby to throw up and what medication should I be getting (from the vet and any home remedies) for this baby. Thank you. PS: I know alot of members on here are not keen on the idea of handraising and I am not wanting to start a debate. I am just wanting to find out what medications to use (just as you would all use on a sick bird that is throwing up). Thank you

My budgie eats mealworms. It started off when I gave my quails some and she saw them eating so she tried some. Now whenever they are given some, she goes crazy and rushes down to eat them.... I would like to hear what others think about it too... as I know that mealworms are very high in protein... even quails are limited to 6 per day. And it's quite painful to watch her eat them as she hulls them like seeds!

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I got a text this morning at about 1030am (NZ time) from someone saying that they found Tanza... After trying to rings 3 times, I get a text saying that he/she is in a meeting... So I wait... After almost 5 hours, I decide to text again...... The person says that they don't have Tanza anymore... That they've LET HIM GO..... I text back asking if it's some kind of joke and to just own up if it was a lie to begin with and I would leave it at that... Then I get a text back saying that they do have my bird and that I don't have to text anymore because they won't reply!!! Some people are so damn inconsiderate!! I want to Throttle that person!!! I'm thinking it's some stupid **** kid.............. Sorry mods... if you have to moderate then pls do........... I just needed to vent...................................................

Hi guys.. Thank you so much for all your support and suggestions... It really means a lot.. So far, I've: 1) put 200 mailbox flyers 2) advertised on every online website that I could find (think there was about 6 or 7) 3) rang every vet in town, even the ones on the outskirts of town 4) put up 6 larger posters on trees (I wasn't sure if I'm allowed to do this so that's why I didn't put too many.. don't want to get into trouble for that. I've placed them mostly on the "outskirts" of my mailbox flyer area.) 5) put his open cage outside... I've also placed several dishes of food around the garden Thanks again, Kaz for reminding me about feed stores... I will do that first thing in the morning. I'm just worried because there's actually a lot of places that I couldn't cover...... there are 4 fields/ parks (sport clubs etc) in my neighbourhood and a huge field (research centre) near our house...... Once I've done all I can do, I'll just have to sit and wait and hope that all those areas that I couldn't cover are covered by the online adverts and the vets in other areas.... I also tried to keep a look out for any aviaries in the neighbourhood but couldn't really "hear"/ see any... And Ratzy, I'm in New Zealand

Thank you, Kaz.... And thank you, stace... That really helped.. cause I missed out calling the vets... Will do that first thing in the morning.... I've put out individual flyers (into mailboxes) around the neighbourhood.... how big an area do you think I need to cover? I think we've done about 3-4 blocks? Have also done all the online websites I could find..... I've put up some posters as well... will put up more tomorrow... I really hope someone finds him....... I miss him so much......... I'm trying really hard not to burst out crying whenever I see his cage... and I don't think that it's supposed to be uninterrupted cuddle time with him at the moment.............. and how cold he is out there......... I really need him back........

I know there aren't that many New Zealand members on here but I thought that there wouldn't be any harm in trying..... MISSING PURPLISH BLUE (Violet) BUDGIE NAME: Tanza COLOUR: Purplish blue AGE: 6 months MISSING: 10th March 2011 (11am). Around OLD FARM ROAD, HAMILTON East/ Hillcrest, Hamilton DESCRIPTION: Has a blue cere (nose), normal black wing markings, talks a little, no legring. Dearly loved pet. Need him back but any info, whether dead or alive, is appreciated. Please look out for him. Please, please PM me if anyone knows anything...... I am so worried about him and really mad that he got out as it was totally my fault..... I really need him back....................... Thanks for reading.....

I would try and find the "ingredients" of it and maybe do a google search. And be especially careful about the product "anticholinesterase" that nubbly was talking about.. And then also wait for the experts on here to comment

Hi guys, Thanks for all your replies. Before I started this topic, I did a google search on pyrethrins and found out that some breeders/ people use it directly on birds as a spray (but at a lower dosage than what the AIS contains). Hence, the reason why I started the topic as I wanted to know if anyone has had any personal experiences of AIS. Thank you again to all who have replied. I tried looking for a bug zapper in my area but could only find the larger ones (perhaps I was looking in the wrong place), so as I already had the AIS from previous summers, I decided to buy a refill and set it up... So far I have had it up for almost two weeks now and there doesn't seem to be any side affects on the bird. So, this is just a little note just in case others would like to do a search on it in the future. I am using Raid (natural).

Hi GB, Thank you very much for that! It's good to know and to have another option at getting rid of insects Looking forward to your update Thanks again

Seems like this is an old topic that has been started up again I was wondering though, what do these filler seeds look like and how can you tell if the seeds you buy have them? Thanks

Hi Didn't know they had smaller bug zappers like the one you posted, S_C I was thinking of those large rectangular ones that I've seen being used outside. Thank you both... I'll try looking for one like that that can be hung indoors... Cheers

Hi Kaz Yes, I forgot to add that the insects are indoors... And that a moth/ bug zapper would be out of the question as we live in a rented property (so wouldn't be able to put one up) and the budgie would be allowed free flight (supervised of course) so this might prove more hazardous to it... Thank you for your reply as always though Anymore suggestions by you and other members would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

Hi guys, With it being summer now where we are, the insects are out and about (especially flies)by the millions. I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with automatic insect sprays (AIS) and what they know about them being safe with birds??? Would anyone be able to recommend any other bird safe insect repellants/ eliminators? Apparently the Raid brand AIS uses natural pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide as an insecticide synergist. The company claims that these are safe for humans and pets but I wonder if they only mean dogs and cats as these are apparently highly toxic to aquatic life.... Any thoughts and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.... Also, would sprays/ toxic fumes kill birds instantly or do they happen over time? Thanks in advance.

Hi Sunnie and Anne, Thank you so much for your input.. It's really nice to hear about other people's experiences. Thanks again!

Thank you Dean and Kaz That is really interesting.. Would you say that this is also true for weaned babies as well as young birds (before first moult)? So there would be those that will not immediately fly away when you approach their cage, would be brave enough/ willing to stare at you when you approach or look into their cage etc? What about catching these young babies from the aviary (or would they not be in an aviary at that age?) ? How rare would it be for a non tame baby to be willing to step up on your finger/ let you hold them? I'm just really curious All this info seems to have been gotten from years of careful observation and experience with birds... Something I definitely do not have but would like to learn more about... More opinions welcomed! Thanks again!

Hi, Have just been wondering lately, are there signs/ behaviours to look out for regarding a young bird/ baby who would be a better candidate for taming? I know all budgies should tame up with time and patience but I was just wondering as I have heard several people say now that like most animals, some budgies just take to taming much more willingly/ quicker. How would you be able to tell the difference between a budgie who was scared stiff being held/ handled and a budgie who has "good character"? Would they be blinking, looking around if they weren't scared? Enjoy being stroked (ie: closing their eyes? etc)? All opinions welcomed Especially those who deal with budgies often or handtame them. Thank you very much in advance.

Hi