ima.snowbird

Welcome! I just figured out how to add pics... What I was missing on the photobucket page, you have to be in your Library. There you'll see one picture featured, and thumbnails of the others. Click on the one you want to post, so it is featured. then look toward the bottom on the right side of the page for the "Image Link"s tab. Click to open it. Then find "IMG code" in the list. Just click on it. It will automatically copy the proper code to your clipboard. THEN you can use CTRL V to paste that in your post here. I hope that makes sense. I think photobucket changed their page layout since the instructions were posted. It took me several days to figure it out.

Someone said they thought Twitter had splayed legs. His stance seems a little wide, and he's very pigeon toed (the cage he was in at the store had no perches.) But pics I've seen online seem much more drastic. I'd like another opinion, and thoughts about still trying to correct. He's about 8 weeks old.

BEAUTIFUL babies! I am in SO much trouble! I want one of each! Do you suppose the apartment complex might have a problem with that?

Twitter is a paler yellow than my other pied, and the 'green' is a very soft grey-green. Very pretty even with the new feathers sticking out everywhere!

I think I finally figured out the picture thing! When I bought Twitter, they said they THINK it's a girl... about 8 weeks old, sound right? Poor thing has feathers poking out everywhere. I'll post in the mutations thread for your thoughts there... Diana

I'm SO glad to hear more confirmation that I can hand tame my budgies and still breed them! And even more to know that there are TWO Dianas... not just in the forum, but both in MICHIGAN! What a small, small world!

I have my pics in photobucket, but I cannot find the IMG CODE. Am I looking for that in photobucket or the new post? (Some days are more blonde than others.) Diana

Some Screenshots: Here Take a look at it at this link and if you want to download the 200 max record trial version (doesnt expire, just alows a max of 200 records of budgies) you can get that here :ygbudgie: The link did not work for me, but I found the software here. https://sites.google.com/site/thebudgerigarprogram/home/8-0-download-evaluation-copy

Aw... links to DIY Toys and Setting up a cage/aviary don't work. Are those pages still available?

This thread was encouraging to me. I've been saving small shallow trays from frozen dinner entrees and using them for my canary for water for drinking and bathing, and for his fresh food for the day. Today, for the first time, I placed one of those trays in the budgie cage, with nothing but a shallow layer of seed in it, just for something different. At least 1 bird took to it right away. I'll get them used to finding seed there, then start adding fresh food (they seem unfamiliar with food other than seeds) and buttons, marbles, beads and things as have been suggested here. THANKS!

I had my canary's cage in front of my sliding glass doors so he could get nice light... a hawk saw him, and apparently was in a full dive to get him, when he realized there was a glass window, and pulled up from the dive. I saw him flapping back away from the window when he was within a yard of the glass. (I was SO glad my windows were dirty from the sprinklers!) Cages are away from the window now, and I'll be buying the full spectrum lights to put on them. I heard a story of a partridge going through a plate glass window, sending pieces flying. That could have killed my canary, and could well have injured me, since I was sitting near the window.

Am I reading correctly, that the hen's cere will change back and forth from chocolate and crusty to lighter and smooth? If so, Gracie is ready to go... or maybe beyond, but with the stress of a new home, I'll definitely wait for the next cycle. When might that be? Diana

I'm getting the horrible feeling that I'm racing off in the totally wrong direction. I have 4 budgies now, 2 male, 2 female. 1 pair each, blue and green. The green are older, the blue quite young. That's about all I know for sure. None are banded, and all come 'breeders' that I know little or nothing about. The 2 babies came from a pet shop, that breeds some of it's own birds, and buys others from a local breeder. They seem healthy, but are not hand tamed, or are just totally traumatized by being chased around the cage in the pet store, stuffed in a little box, then dumped into a cage with an older pair. Because of their age and similar color, it's occurred to me that they could be siblings and not suitable for breeding. I'm going back to the pet store tomorrow to see if I can find out for sure. Reading this post on considerations, it occurs to me that, at a minimum, I need 1 more pair! That came as quite a shock. I am going to buy a breeder cage that's 72" long x 36" high x 18" wide. Would that be large enough for 3 pair? It can be broken down into 2 36" cages, probably better to keep 2 pair separated. So maybe I need a 3rd cage that's 36x18x18? One cage for each pair? The same pet store has some hand raised English x American cross budgies. I was drooling over them, but they were more expensive than the ones I got. Should I get 1 or 2 of them, and pair with the 2 blue babies I got, thereby separating the 2 that could be siblings? Should I find yet a 3rd source for another pair that I can pair with the young blue ones? Or should I put the 4 of them in the big cage and just not put down nest boxes? Forget breeding all together. How many chicks am I going to have to find homes for if I have 2 pair? How many for 3 pair? I think my reasons for wanting to breed are sound. I LOVE animals of all kinds. I trained dogs for years just for fun, and I studied operant conditioning/clicker training, and have tried to adopt it as a lifestyle. I want to start with the clean slate of newborn babies, and train them to be hand tamed, happy, well adjusted pets, suitable for families of any age. I'm frustrated by pet shop birds that freak when you walk near the cage, and want to offer the public an alternative. In the US we have 'Craig's List' where I can list the babies. (I appreciated the article on staying safe when advertising. I don't have an aviary, but I do live alone in an apartment, and would be concerned about strangers coming to look at the babies. So it gave me something to think about.) As I've read, I've learned that it is not unusual for the pair to have back to back clutches. How many do you let them have? And how do you stop them? George and Gracie, the green ones seem old enough that they may have already had chicks. How long should I wait before allowing them to breed? I suppose, if I need 3 pair breeding at the same time, the answer lies in the time it will take for the young birds to mature. THAT begs another question, how long does George and Gracie have before they'll be to old to breed safely? Guess I'm off to read about breeding age, and how to estimate their ages... As you can tell, my head is SWIMMING! ANY help will be greatly appreciated. Diana

I had my canary sitting in front of my sliding glass doors... well shaded, so that was not a concern. Suddenly, one day I caught movement at the window, looked up to see a small hawk flapping backward... I think he was pulling up out of a dive after he suddenly saw my dirty window! He was WAY too close for comfort, could have smashed the window. My birds have to do without the sunlight now. I'm going to get full spectrum lamps for them. I don't know how Luciano felt, but it scared me half to death! Diana

Step 1 are you really putting the fresh food on TOP of the cage? They climb up to eat it? I've been taking a piece of apple and putting it right under their beak... George doesn't like this technique, he hasn't forgiven me for moving him from one cage to the other... but Gracie will usually bite AT the apple, then realize it's tasty and take a few nibbles. Today I added 2 new ones... and everyone is pretty flighty. I'll have to back off for awhile. Give everyone some time to settle in. The food on top of the cage might be the solution... Diana

I never go near my bird cages without making kissy sounds, tsk tsk, or talking softly. It does help. I've had my first pair about 2 weeks now. Lots of changes in that time, I no more than got them, and we packed up and headed to the Smokeys for vacation. But they are calming down now. Today I stirred things up by adding 2 more. Everyone (but the canary) is giving me the evil eye! There's always a radio or TV going for sound. I learned that with my canary.

Someone told me that if I hand tame the birds they'll bond to me rather than each other. Today I bought a pair from a woman who says she's been breeding 30 some years, and has never had a problem. The pair I bought today are quite young, and would easily be tamed. Would love opinions from the group. Thanks Diana

Finnie! Unless there are 2 states with a Muskegon and a Kalamazoo, I guess we were neighbors! What a small world! Thank you all for the warm welcome and GREAT info! I took pics, but the flash bleached Gracie out so she looks more green than she really is. I'll post when I get to a faster wifi. Her tail is definitely darker than George's, but when I get good light on it, it has a blue sheen, so she must be olive green. Cheek patches are blue as well, They are settling in a bit now. I've seen them chewing on some of the toys I've presented, and Gracie sometimes eats apple from my fingers. I clipped organic carrot with tops to the side of the cage, and they play with the stem, I've adjusted hoping they'll actually taste the tops. The other night George and my canary, Luciano, did an amazing concert for us. Perhaps they were competing for Gracie's affections? She was totally unimpressed. LOL As for budgies being just the start.... I live in an apartment, so I think I have sufficient restrictions in place to maintain control. (I hope!) Of course I have to admit that I'm already thinking of getting a blue pair... The rules count the number of animals by the number of cages... So if I get a large breeder cage... I can shift them temporarily and be okay. Would I be crazy to cross the green and blue? (If that's how they decide to pair up that is...)

Well, I found your forum, 'How to PROPERLY Breed Budgies' after I bought a 'breeding pair.' So, now I'm trying to figure out what to do. George and Gracie, were sold as a 'breeding pair.' I'm not sure if they're proven... or just boy and girl. for what I paid I can't complain. Both are green, Gracie is more olive, while George is a brighter green. How can I tell if Gracie is 'grey factor' or 'dark factor?' Not knowing their history, I'm not rushing to breed. I have them together in large cage, but have not added a nesting box. I'm mixing hard boiled egg with FortiDiet Moulting and Conditioning food. I'm reading everything I can find, trying to learn more. Any suggestions? It's been hard, so much that I've read is from Australia or UK, and many of the products recommended are not available in the States. Also, it seems these birds didn't have much in the way of fresh foods or toys... they've pretty much ignored everything I've put in for them.