Hezz

Mine nibble at my watch or rings, earrings etc. Materialistic little blighters!!! ;)

Hi Nowbudgie, I'm no expert, but I think if you have no antiseptic cream for birds, Savlon can be used. (one of the british breeders recommends using it for soothing small abrasions etc). It's something most of us have. I'd give the leg a good wash off and then try the cream. Have you treated him for mites? Nothing is really going to help of course until the mites problem is treated. No one else is on so I'm trying my best to give you some help, but certainly no expert in budgie wounds:unsure: And you aren't going to find yourself a vet of any sort on a Sunday around St George. Someone else will be on later in the day with a bit more knowledge than me. Just found another post with the same problem - suggestion was betadine watered down (with boiled water) and try to soak the leg with it. Good luck

I totally agree, Cheeky. I am going to back my own gut feeling and stick with seed but will give the canary mix a look in too - probably mix the two up. They get as much fruit and vege as they will eat, there is always leftovers, with branches of eucalypts once or twice a week, depends how often I remember to stop and steal! :P

Thank you from me for the tip with seeds Nerwen. Smudge has the "cleavage" and it doesn't seem to be getting any less. Although I would have thought her diet was quite good. Vet recommended getting my other budgie onto pellets too, thought to start with it had worked but now that it is mixed with a bit of seed, the pellets don't seem to be getting any less!:( Does Possum have a little "cleavage" on her belly? You will know what I mean if she has. Have you weighed her? Although I have read so many different opinions on what is the correct weight range for a pet-type budgie. Should add also, that while I will give the pellets a go, I will never ever give my birds only pellets. What on earth is that beak for if not for cracking seed??? I'm going to give it another week and then give it up (regardless of if the volume of pellets starts to fall.

Greeting Banjo! And of course Pandapaws too>

Oh, oh, does that mean you will have to watch her with the next batch of eggs? Good luck with the little pinkies you have, hope she doesn't decide at this stage to be vicious.

I'm pretty sure it is Sunday. There is usually an ad in the pet section of Sat's Cairns Post classifieds. One ran last week so would be fairly sure it will run again this weekend. Do you sell your budgies at Mareeba markets? Have seen ads for budgies at rusty's on a Sunday but thought that was a little too hit and miss - anyone could sell you anything - well me anyway!!

Hi Cheeky and wee (or not so!!) Oscar, I can only recommend more flying time, cut the millet if he gets it, more fruit and vegs. If the worst comes to worst I suppose you would have to restrict him to a set amount of food for the day, but that would be at the say-so of your vet. I've been trying to get my little hen to exercise more, but don't think she appreciates being turfed off my hand and have to fly home!!! She doesn't fly nearly as easily as my other bird and can't at all when she's wet! Didn't the vet give you any tips to get him moving more?

Yeah, there is a list somewhere. Avocado is a no-no, most fruit is okay, but usually they'll just have a nibble, asian greens are good (any) and don't forget the snow peas!! Think there is a list in FAQ's. Try there first

Ahh, both Mum and Dad to see the "birth" aint that sweet!!! Can I have Mum when she is too old to breed!!! (Sort of only kidding)

Hi again Mark. Are you going to be at the "big bird sale" at the Cns show grounds weekend after next? Not sure how that all works but went along with my son a few years ago and were totally overwhelmed. Got the feeling you had to know what you were doing and who to talk to to get anything out of it. (We both remember the bigger parrot that escaped and spent the time flying around the ceiling with some frazzled officials running around with a net!!!) :P It would be great to talk to someone and know that the person was all they say and not just have to accept their word only. Was going to PM you but think you have to have a certain number of posts before that is okay (for other forums anyway) Cheers, Hezz

Hey Mark, Good to see another FNQ on the forum. So, now I know where to go for my next H-R budgie !!! The pet budgie has to be my favourite - I'd hate not being able to see their eyes!!! :huh:

Happy, happy, happy and content little budgie. :P He feels comfortable enough with you to not be worried, so don't you worry!!!lol:D

Sjh, I think we all at, the time of a member losing a precious pet. feel a little of the "there but for the grace of God, go I". We all know it is going to happen sooner or later, and we would all much prefer the later. but sometimes things are not in our control and we lose our beloved pets. I feel for each and every person who posts on this part of the forum; there is nothing but time to help the sorrow we all have to go through but it is really nice to know that there are other people out there who understand that he/she wasn't "just a bird". I hope you do decide to take up your friends offer for a chick - it won't replace your little Pistachio but would be another part of your life altogether. Good luck, and be happy with the decision only you can make.

I really love the greens, probably because they are closer in colour to the original colours of the traditional budgie. Enjoy!!

If you don't get any info from the breeder/pet shop before hand, take a shoe box or bird box (make sure it is secure) punch out some air holes, take it with you. That way if the place doesn't provide you with a box you have something to transport your new friend home in. Box is probably a little less stressful, as the bird is confined and not rattling around all over the place, is slightly dark and more confined.

Amanda, I'm a little worried by your turn of phrase "let a bird go". Not physically I hope!!! Birds bred in captivity should never just be released into the wild. That's a death sentence!! Why not put the two budgies in the bigger cage and the love bird in the smaller??? Should solve the problem of the mix up but just moniter the feather plucker for signs of it doing it to the other budgie.

Blue has discovered a shiny bit on the mouse where he can see his reflection and gets annoyed with my hand whenever I have to use the mouse. Hops only the back of my hand and gives it a little peck!! Not enough to hurt, just enough for me to get the message!!! ;) Mine are out on the deck, by the way. I know the problems with butcherbirds and while they do show interest sometimes, they have to come in under the roof too far and too close to the house for them to EVER be a problem. Most of the time they aren't even game so sit on the rail. It's much cooler there as they get a breeze most of the time, rather than cooped up all day inside. The house can get very hot if it is shut up for a while - I'll take the (in my case) small risk of a butcher bird rather then an over-heated bird.

I agree with Stace. Usually its only a scared budgie that will put up with being stroked - it's too terrified to do anything except sit still. And I think a lot of people mistake this for compliance.

Hi, moglet. Kaz beat me to it, that's what I was about to add (with the head-bopping thing) - I realised after I had sent my post last night that I was probably being misleading but my hubby was standing over my shoulder wanting to use the computer to pay bills (of all things, as if that is more important than talking budgies!!!) :rolleyes: Mine come out to play for a couple of hours each day and have a lovely big flight cage (I call it the penthouse - some-one suggested I could start charging rent!! ) and a fair few toys that I rotate each week, so I feel better about them not flying free. At least with me they don't have to worry about predators so can lead a ffairly stress-free life. I can just imagine how embarrassed your daughter would have been - you just shouldn't take your parents some places!!!, - I can just see her hiding under the dash in case there happened to be someone she knew in the neighbourhood. I had to have a lough at your expense!!! :D Take care

The head-dipping is a readiness to mate, from what I can gather, so all head-dippers, go, go ,go!!! :D Yeah, my babies are 15 and 11 and when my 15 yo was 10 decided he wanted a pet bird. I've always loved birds but my Dad wouldn't allow birds to be caged, so was a no-no as a pet for me as a kid, so jumped at the chance to dip my toes in the water with the budgies. I've been very restrained and only a year ago got the original budgie a friend - sure Bluey thought he was human (and a bloody good one at that) until I introduced him to the Hen-from-***, Smudge. She hasn't left him alone for a minute since, and I think thepoor old darling is still in shock!!! Hope you find an great mate for Cosmo in the near future.

So, so cute!! I couldn't pick up the word you mentioned but the volume is quite low. Bluey used to do the same thing to the mirror in the bathroom. Fridays, bathroom gets a clean, clean pile of towels on the vanity so Blue would sit on them so he could see straight into the mirror. Always took me twice as long to get out of the bathroom that day, I hated to interupt his fun!! Had to choose whose towel was going to be on top!!! He has taught Smudge to say Hello and Give us a kiss too. But she only talks to herself!!!

Sounds like you've got everything sorted out pretty well. And I love your son's way of thinking!! Da boyz have to have time to be boyz!! Sometimes I think they are worse than babies for making time fly!!

Sorry Luce, would have to see the budgie babies to start, and as for the gelding, our taffy coloured mare was called just that: Taffy!! How boring, but she was a mongrel anyway.

I'm pretty sure it's one of those teenager things - still feeling his way in the world - and if you refuse him your toes he'll just find something else. Like stace's did - watch out for your mobile!!! Bluey didn't try again after getting the message the first time, so good luck with Dalek.