Ratzy

Not a good idea to buy another budgie if she might be sick.

Check out the diet section! Most beginners have absolutely no idea that budgies need a balanced diet of cereals, veggies and fruits as well as the usual seed mix.

Hi there! You have two females, not males! They are both beautiful! Whitish blue is a young female or adult female out of breeding condition. Young males have pink or purple ceres and blue with no white when adult. Some mutations keep their pink ceres as adults. There are a lot of helpful members on here, they would be glad to help you with your set up! Welcome!

Wow, nice birds! Does the hen in the second picture have a green tail?

I'm sorry to here this I have my hens in a different cage now ( actually, I halved the cage horizontally ) and since they've moved they have been fighting a lot less, even feeding and courting each other! I hope Bessie pulls through.

What happens if the poor thing does survive? That looks very painful

Their beaks are warn down by using them, like eating, playing, preening and chewing.

There are a few breeders on here that might take him. A few are show breeders, though. If you wanted him to go to a good home, you can actually freight him if you know of a good home. Good luck.

I have that cage. I have put mesh across the middle bit so they get more flying. Mine is 60 times 100 times 150cm. It would be 180 with the roof and counting the grid. It's great and has 5 budgies in there!

Nice!! Looks like a double yolker?

Thanks Finnie! Budgies are separated, I have had no more eggs ( though Marigold still looks eggnant ) after the first. The chicks are almost 8 months old now. I am planning on breeding with Chubba Chubs in June-July 2011 and Marigold in January-February, so I skip the moult ( Marigold will be put back to Skye then in June-July to Chubba Chubs ). I have done the measurements of a possible aviary.

Hi, ishtarsands. Do any of her chicks have green tails? I have a green tail, but he is too young to breed.

Could be dominant and the green tail is the df version? Like spangle? I think it is probably recessive though. I think Marigold may have laid an egg in the food dish, she's been sitting in that a lot. Going to separate the budgies now.

No more nest boxes for this year for her. I will talk to mum in the morning. As I said, from tomorrow onwards she is going to be in an all-girl cage so hopefully no more eggs. Poor Marigold must be confused. Thank you for taking the time to write that out, Finnie. It doesn't seem at all harsh to me. Next year I may breed Marigold again, I'll see. Next year I might get more serious in breeding, and upgrade my cages before the start of next year ( fingers crossed for an aviary ) and buy a mate for Chubba Chubs, to see if I can possibly breed another green tail. The chicks will be a year old in mid February, so I may play around with the green tail after they've moulted ( April ?). Marigold will have about a 6 month rest, so she may have another chance at rearing young in February-March. Thanks for everybody's help.

Thanks. Egg and nest box removed, I've decided on keeping the divider in the cage. I will have one part for females and one for males, so if any eggs pop up in future I don't have to worry about them being fertile. Dad's given the go ahead with the cage I was planning on buying. I have 5 birds. My cage is 100 times 60 times 150cm. Divided the two parts are 100 time 60 times 75cm. Marigold is my only female breeder. I have the perfect frame for a small aviary, it just needs a clean, some wire and a back.

Thank you Squeak. No, it isn't offensive at all, I needed it.

While I was out mum put the nest box and egg back in . When I went to remove it the egg was warm so I left it. Do I just chuck it out?

I agree with you. As I was putting the nest box away in the shed today I took the lid off.... and found an egg??? It isn't deformed at all? I'm not sure of what to make of it. She still seems 'eggnant', though less than yesterday.... What happened!? When she was in the hospital cage she never dropped an egg? I got out the possible future frame for an aviary today. All I need to do is put wire on it, thoroughly clean it and add a back. Should be the perfect job for my dad. Almost got enough for the cage I've been saving up for. I've already got a quarantine/hospital cage and two travel cages. I'm going to get some calcium stuff to put in her water today and some toys.

I have almost saved up for a bigger cage and I have a wooden frame that would be perfect for a small aviary that I need to get some proper wire for. My current cage is 100 times 60 times 150cm. I have divided it up so they get more flight (100 times 60 times 75cm ). I'm feeling terrible, I didn't know that internal egg laying was when there was an unformed egg. I thought it was where a hen didn't lay because of no nesting space. I should have thought it through really and asked you guys first. I have a LONG way to go.... Off to a store tomorrow to look at a great cage there and that calcium water stuff ( calcivet?). Would that help? Marigold is pretty good with her weight now, even maybe a tiny bit on the thin side. I don't blame you guys for being mad at me, I would too.

Thank you. I'll remove the nest box. Is there anything I can do?

Well, I'm not sure if it is the right thing to do, but I couldn't find any info on internal egg laying. I'm having no luck convincing dad to take her to a vet, so mum suggested giving her a nest box so she could pass the egg. I did, and I've never seen Marigold look so happy. I separated Marigold and Skye from the rest by putting a barrier in. The barrier is mesh with NO gaps and newspaper covering it. I'm wondering if it is the right thing to do?

Awwww, I want one!

Could I have some info on internal laying, please?

Until recently, Marigold has been in he hospital cage as she seemed to be 'eggnant'. I was forced to move her out with the other budgies as we were going away and she wouldn't be fed if she was in the hospital cage. Now I've noticed that she still seems 'eggnant' but hasn't passed any eggs. So now I'm worried about tumours. I asked dad to let me take her to a vet for a check up if I pay, but as budgies are 'disposable', according to dad, I'm not getting anywhere. Mum is more persuasive, she might. The lump is squishy, but looks really nasty. Poor girl. I'm trying to get to a vet. Is it a fatty tumour? Or internal laying? Picture shortly.