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Hi Art. Gee, you're a long way away in Iraq. Your little bird is a handsome wee fellow. How about calling him 'Garfunkel'? If you can get a stainless steel bird kabob thing you hang from the top of the cage, try skewering thin rounds of carrot, apple or raw beetroot on it. He might start tearing it up for fun, then eventually start eating it.

If you're REALLY having trouble getting a natural perch, you can look on here. It's the Parrot Rescue online shop in Queensland. You can order them all made up, both natural branches and cholla cactus ones. I'm in Sydney too, but in the middle of the city, and getting anything decent for birds from a pet shop around here is IMPOSSIBLE. I have to source everything online. http://www.parrotrescuecentre.com/ubg/shop_sub_prod.php?subcat=17&cat=5&subcat_name=Perches

Hi G, Whoops a daisy. How's he doing now?

Hi there Vicky. He/she is gorgeous. With the flapping about when you put the cover on, leave the cover open enough so some light gets through. When they are little like that, they quite often get 'night frights' where they suddenly get scared and start flapping around in the dark. It's like they are having a bad dream and scare themselves ***less. Mine did it for a while when he was a baby, but fortunately grew out of it after a couple of months.

I understand where Pops is coming from. I wouldn't have done it myself. But I understand it. Since I was a little kid, I never liked zoos, circuses, cages or anything. And I kinda grew up on Born Free. I was upset the first time I saw an elephant tethered up on giant chain when the circus came to my small town. My little bird is a rescue, and I wouldn't have bought a bird to put in a cage. However, I wouldn't let the little guy go off on his own out in the big wild world, because he's no longer wild and it's highly unlikely he'd make it on his own. He also lives a pretty charmed life here with me, as he's barely ever in his cage. Anyway. Now you've got them free, I hope they are happy, Pops.

Just another thing, Don't think you need to keep things quiet to make the little guy less scared. They prefer a bit of background noise...tv, radio, music, dishwasher, coffee grinder, whatever. Whenever I go out, I put the radio on for mine. Silence makes them anxious, as it means a predator is around and all the animals are on the lookout. You can try playing this to him and see if he likes it. There's a sample track on here of happy wild budgies in the Australian outback. http://www.listeningearth.com/albums/35HappyBudgies/35HappyBudgies_Album_Info.htm

Hi Goldman,My budgie has been with me for four days, still not chirping or running around. Four days isn't very long. When I first found my baby budgie, I left him next to me in the cage for around that long, just to get used to his new home. I want to physically play with my budgie. Whenever I attempt to pet him, he backs away juuuust so slightly, yet he is fine with my hands. Patience is a virtue with these little birds. You have to remember, it's not really natural for a tiny prey animal to make friends with a big predator. Be patient. And above all, never do anything to betray the trust you are building up. Also, I believe most budgies, though not all, don't like being touched around their head or their wings. Mine is now very tame, but he doesn't like me messing with his head or back. He'll happily preen on my finger, chat away on my shoulder, and he loves getting kisses on his beak. But he doesn't like be stroked much. I'll put him on top of the cage, and he runs back inside. He eats from my hand, and it doesn't seem that he cares for millet. What is recommended to get him to start: 1) chirping 2) being comfortable out of the cage 3) being social Just keep teaching him the 'step up' command on your finger, in the cage and out of the cage. Just do it for a few minutes, but regularly during the day. Keep his cage next to wherever you spend most of your time. Talk to him whenever you can. I think it's a case of gradually building a bond through trust. It just happens, bit by bit, over time. Later, the next problem you'll probably face, once he gets comfortable out of the cage, is trying to get him down from the curtain rail, and getting him to go back in his cage. Later again, at around 4 months, they go through a biting phase, like little kids in the terrible twos. That too, passes.

It's all new to him, Goldman. Strange cage. Strange person looking at him with big scary eyes. He'll get used to the noise. Especially the first week or so, they're uncertain about what's going on and whether they should be concerned or not. Just talk to him, and take it easy. Leave the radio, tv or music on during the day as well. Continuous background noise makes them feel safer. No noise means a predator is around. Keep this filed, and read through this on taming. http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/faqs/index.php?action=artikel&cat=3&id=155&artlang=en

Hi there, I found these. They might help you on the crop feeding. http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/index.php?showtopic=18640 http://www.drrossperry.com.au/videos/birds...-croptubing.ph

From memory carrot and sweet potato have the highest Vit A content. Maybe grate some carrot up and some mashed spud in the bread as well, or substitute.

The Fez is famous in England, I think because of this revered old comedian, Tommy Cooper, who wore one as his trademark on stage. You'd be way too young to know of him, Jabberwocky. It's probably why the Doctor wore one on the TV series. Here's an old Tommy Cooper sketch about his budgie, Albert.

Hi, Just an update. The neighbours returned from Thailand with their little girl, and they LOVE what i've done to the cage. I was just a tinsey bit worried they'd be insulted. But they are really nice people, so I shouldn't have worried. They say Benji seems much much happier with the new natural perches and gum leaves I'd strung up. Next move is to see if I can turn the cage on its side so it's wide rather than tall. I'll have to get some new clip on food bowls though for that. They are not bad pet owners. Just unaware of what the right thing to do was. Their little girl is gorgeous too, and she likes the bird. She doesn't speak any English yet, but that will come.

Maybe Possum is just big-boned

You're doing such a good job, Ericson. It must be a bit daunting for a first timer by yourself like that. Good feeling though, I'm sure. Your pictures are just great, too. He's like a cute little dinosaur in your photos. Hope it all goes well for you and your unexpected baby. When is your friend back?

So very sad. I'm so sorry. It's only because of the joy others' lives give us, that we feel so sad when they're gone. You're new little blue boy sounds lovely though.

Have a really good read through this from the FAQ section. http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/faqs/index.php?action=artikel&cat=3&id=155&artlang=en Also, when you are trying to tame two birds at the same time, it's more difficult. Try removing one, and just concentrate on taming one bird at a time.

How about trying to get them to come to you on command. I trained mine to come by making a loud clicking noise, like you'd use to giddyup a horse.

Wow x 2! That many budgies you'd have to be spreadsheeting those babies. How many budgies before you stopped giving them names?

Handsome little Romeo. Does he have a Juliet?

Such a cute shot. I like the idea of Tiberius 'going boldly'. AS for the greens, also try some raw beetroot. Someone on here put me onto it, and mine just luurrrves it. Lasts for quite a while in the fridge too. And carrot. As many different veges as you can when they're still young and open to new things. If they don't eat it at first, they probably will later.

Lovely photo. Such a beautiful new life. Popcorn looks like a tropical pink sea anemone.

Alla, if these people see a hen, it's pretty likely it's a hen. They are pretty good at their stuff. Me. I don't know what sex it is. But she looks cute nonetheless.

hmmmmm. I haven't had a problem with that, but see your point.

The gum and eucalyptus branches are great. Have a scout and see if you can find ones of different thicknesses, and with nubbly bits on them. If they've still got bark on even better to chew on. They like to scratch their heads on knobs as well as talking to them in my bird's case. A small cage-size branch and leaves is also great for the cage. Just give it a really good wash (I put some cheap white vinegar in a small low tub of water and give it a good swish around and soak, then rinse.). You never know what wild birds or possums have being doing on it.

I have one small perch in the cage that's got calcium and iodine in it. It's made of the same stuff that those blocks are that they munch on, just in perch form. For a domestic situation, I quite like it. It saves me hanging up mineral blocks or bells, and kinda complements the mainly natural perches I have. Absolutely not necessary if you prefer to hang up a calcium and iodine bell though. Anything with sandpaper on it should be trashed. It can do terrible damage to their little feet.