ima.snowbird

Kaz wrote a great article on sexing very young babies, where he discusses nostril size. It's at http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/index.php?showtopic=22804

Thanks, Nerwen. That reassures me, that I'm doing the right thing for her.

Gracie LOVES carrots! I bought some organic carrots, with the tops still on. I trimmed the top, and washed them (the tops), then stuffed them down through the roof of the cage, so they hung near the perch. Gracie had a blast with them! I don't know if she was eating them, or just playing, but I think she did eat some. She treated them like vines, and climbed, hung, twisted, turned. I wish I'd filmed it! Next time I'll be ready. Then I scrubbed the carrots themselves, and steamed them in the microwave. These were mostly for myself, but I set 1 piece aside, and when it cooled, I broke it into pieces, slightly mashing some. Gracie went right after that too. I guess she's my non-picky eater. Hope she'll teach the others to try things.

She's too young to breed, but she IS in breeding condition, already was when I bought her. Her cere is brown. I've been worried that she might start laying, nest box or no.

That's what I use for their perches, they haven't tried chewing that. Maybe if it's at an angle where they're not sitting on it?

To some extent, regardless of the gender, you will lose some of Benny's attention. It's only natural that he'll bond more closely with members of his own species. That doesn't mean that you can't have a good relationship with both of them though.

A boy at that age would have a pink/purple cere. The white on her cere says girl.

I wasn't thinking about chewing bringing the hen into breeding condition... or maybe I was subconsciously! Now is definitely not the time. I noticed yesterday that she doesn't have eye rings, so she's probably less than a year old. I'd like to wait at least until next summer for babies.

I need some CHEAP ideas for chewing materials. I purchased a really neat Bird Kabob, http://www.petco.com/product/109263/Wesco-Bird-Kabob-Toys.aspx, I think it was about $5USD. That was Thursday. Today is Sunday and it's half gone! Well, not gone, all over the table and floor. I never dreamed it would be such a great hit. But I can't afford to keep them supplied with these. What else is safe for them to chew? Did I see something about paper towel rolls? Toilet paper rolls? Seems like I saw that someone had covered in peanut butter and rolled in seed? But I can't find that post now. I am going to my boyfriends this afternoon. Will take my pruners. He has mullberry trees that I can take some cuttings. According to my research they're safe. I think Sugar Maples are safe too??? I'm not thrilled with the bleaching/baking process to be sure I don't bring anything into the apartment, but I guess that's what I'll have to do.

I realize I may be a little biased... but I think Twitter is just the cutest little guy. Tonight he was trying to get to the food dish. The other birds had pretty much taken all available space. So Twitter ran around pulling tails until space opened up for him! I caught him playing tag with one of the other young budgies, the 2 of them running around on the floor of the cage. And tonight he's on the perch that's about 5" off the floor (he had a hard time getting on it before). He's singing to himself, biting at the toy rings hanging there and doing the Budgie Bop with his head. He still looks like he preened with an egg beater, but his behavior is progressing so nicely.

Twitter has joined the chorus this morning! I heard a some chatter just a bit different than the others, and looked over to see who it was... and there's Twitter, singing right along! He's made some chirping sounds previously, and he's really good at 'mad budgie' if someone gets in his space, but I think this is the first I've noticed him chattering with the rest. I interpret this as progress!

He finally turned the other eye to the light, and there is a ring. But it does sound like he's split for recessive pied then. That's cool.

Did I read somewhere that birds that are split for pied have a clear spot on the back of their head? And I think I just read something about the iris ring - that it's not unusual for a split bird to have the ring on one eye and not the other? I'm going to have to look in good light tomorrow, but I think he has the iris ring on the left, but not on the right. What I can't remember, is if that was for dominant or recessive pied? I guess I'm not clear on what the dominant/recessive refer to... normal color?

Gracie is on the right. I think she's a double dark factor. She's an olive green, tail is blue, not black. Does that sound right? Her barring on the back of her head is not the clear lines that George, on the left, has. Does that make her an opaline? I've also just realized that she has no eye rings yet. Only the pieds do not get eye rings, right? So if she's not a pied she must be under a year old? Thanks everyone for your help.

thanks BJ

I'm just trying to give them a healthy variety.

Thanks Nerwen. I'm sure trying! I picked up groceries today. I think I bought more for the birds than for myself. Brown rice, (black) beans, quinoa, cornmeal, a couple vitamin supplements, and cod liver oil. I also ordered the Herb Salad from The Lady Gouldian website. I'm going to get the little guy healthy or kill him trying!

I've seen several recipes using dried beans, soaked overnight, cooked and added to soft food. What variety do people use? If I remember right from nutritional studies for humans, the dark red kidney beans have the most protein? I didn't see them today, so I bought black beans. (I don't cook for myself, but I'm going to for my budgies. What does that tell you?)

Twitter is doing really good today. I've been greatly encouraged by posts in this forum and another I joined. I have added a treat cup by his low perch, and filled it with molting food. After he pigged out on today's budgie salad, he went to that treat cup and has been merrily eating away. Reading in the FAQ's, I'm going to get some cod liver oil and wheat germ oil and soak his seed in it. I think it will supply some badly needed nutrition as well as some high fat calories. I have to put some weight on the little guy. And with the weather turning colder I'm sure he can use the calories. (He does still have access to the heat lamp.) Fortunately, that treat cup is in 'his corner.' The other budgies don't go there often. I'll keep watch and if they do, I'll move him and his treat cup to another cage for dinner. He seems content to perch on my shoulder, and even munched on some millet there yesterday. He's so darn cute it makes me sad that he's struggling so hard to get a handle on life. On the other hand, maybe that struggle is what makes him so special. Whether I breed him or not - I will get him to a vet and if it's French molt he'll be a pet -- regardless he's a very special bird.

Welcome to the BBC. I'm quite new as well. Had my first budgie in the early 70's but just got back into it in a big way starting the end of September. I'm hoping to breed them. Budgies make awesome pets. My first one thought he was a dog, and his best friend was my toy poodle. I'm sure Nugget will make a wonderful change to your lives.

Oh, Finnie, once again, you've thrown me a lifeline! I didn't think he should be sleeping this time of day, but I guess if he's trying to build strength that would make sense. I have found a certified avian vet, listed on aav.org. And not far to drive. But money is an issue for me right now. (I spent it all on the birds!) He's out of the cage at the moment. I was hoping for some quality time with him. I will put him in the hospital cage where I can monitor his eating and pooping.. I guess there's hope for this little guy yet. When I surfed your website,Finnie, and saw what you have, and what you charge... I'm kicking myself all over the place for not waiting.

Twitter is huddled in front of the heat lamp, head tucked in, standing on one foot. This is the worst I've seen him. I'm going to move him to a hospital cage, and away from the others... I don't know anything else to do for him. Is it cruel to let nature take it's course or should I try to get him to a vet?

When I added my 4 new babies to a relatively new pair (male and female) they told me to rearrange the cage, if even slightly - that it would help with the territorial issues. I was surprised no one suggested that. Is that just folk lore?

Thank you so much! You've given me some badly needed reassurance. Nerwen, your comment about French Molt, send me Googling... I think you may be right on target. In addition to the tufts on top of his head, he has a stripe that is unfeathered along the top of each wing. You can see it in this picture. He also has one of the shorter tail feathers that is at a funny angle. I noticed it today and took hold gently to see - it WAS still attached. This could really explain a lot. I've noticed, too, that he seems week. I realize that with clipped wings he won't be able to fly, but he doesn't have nearly the strength that the others do. One perch is about 5" (12.7cm) from the bottom of the cage and it usually takes him several attempts to flutter up to it. The article I found didn't have much to say about helping this baby, except that he MIGHT grow normal plummage when he molts at 6- 8 months... I put the heat lamp back up, pointed toward one end of the perch I've set low for him. He has moved right over to that end, so I think he appreciates the extra heat. (I'm sure my home is cooler than he's used to, so that's not helping.) The article suggested animal protein and supplements for breeders... would that help him at this point? I did give them all a hard boiled egg today, which he wolfed down with everyone else. Any futher suggestions would be greatly appreciated. He's learning the 'step up' cue, and becoming quite comfortable around me. Today he climbed up onto my shoulder and chewed my hair. I'm really attached to the little fella.

Thanks, Nerwen. I guess I'm going to be looking for a couple hens! Unless they were as wrong about Tweet as they were about Twitter. If we have sun tomorrow, I'll try to get a natural light picture of Tweet.