Bea

More likely that he is scared of being handled. Clipping is painless and when done correctly doesn't prevent flight but slow it down and prevent a bird from gaining too much height while flying meaning that he can't get to hard to reach places. I'm not saying you must clip him, just trying to give you a proper understanding of what the term "wing clipping" means. The flight feathers grow back during the next moult so it's not permanent either.

No i'm not. I take it your budgie isn't tame. First thing is that budgies don't like being petted and cuddled most of the time, so you shouldn't be trying to do that, it will stress him out and make him more afraid of you. Have you considered getting his wings clipped to help with taming? If you live nearby i could show you how to do this - otherwise an avian vet can show you. I think it would help as having a tame budgie that you can handle easily makes bringing them out to play much easier and as he's already set in flying up high it could be difficult to teach him not to do this.

OMG!! Can you seriously get a "leash" to go around their leg?? That's so bad!! Who would make something like that?

They can live into their teens if you look after them correctly.

I'm sure he wishes he could meet Skittles, he might have more luck with her than Cookie.

As far as i know you can't buy budgie harnesses in Canberra. You can buy something called a flight suit which has a leash from a dealer in NSW but it's like $50 for the harness and leash which seems excessive to me.

cockabudgie....budgietiel.

Haha!! That's so cute!

I just love the first one!! So cute!

Akala laid her second egg today, it was a little bloody but she looked okay so hopefully there's nothing wrong. In the other breeding cage not much is happening - Gherkin is spending all his time being the hen and hanging out in the nest box while Tiki hardly ever goes in. I'll give them another week or two to look interested then i might put a different pair in the cage instead. ....and i'll get to those photos eventually, (Laughing out loud).

The odd thing is until this flirting session Blinkie's totally ignored Cookie... :hap:

(Laughing out loud)!!! Blinkie has decided Cookie is flirt-worthy although i'm not sure how keen Cookie is about all this attention from Blinks. And here's a short video for you to laugh at too - if i'm not mistaken Blinkie wanted to mount Cookie!!! Eek!

Looks purply pink to me which would be boy...girl would be very white looking.

You need to mix the food with some warm water so that the mix is about room temperature - you don't want it to be too hot though. At 4 weeks old the food doesn't need to be too runny either. If they aren't seeming too interested you can also mix in a little apple baby food, this makes it taste really yummy for them. I've had to hand rear 4 week old chicks before too and it is not easy, at that age they don't seem to want to take to hand feeding. But don't give up. Also you should put some millet sprays and just some budgie seed around the floor of whatever you've got them in because at this age they can begin to crack seeds (though they wont be eating on their own for probably another 2 weeks.

OMG!! What a little cutie! Looks like a boy to me.

It looks like the forum the instructions were on no longer exists.

I'm a school student too but my budgies get 4-5 hours out a day.

I'll post some photos tomorrow - it's getting kinda late right now. :dbb1:

Pet boys are great - as usual. :dbb1: Akala laid her first egg today, i'm very excited.

Zee's a cinny. She's really cute.

Mr Blinkie has discovered "the ladies". First night the newbies arrived he and Ozzie flew up to my room to see what was happening. Since then if i forget to shut my bedroom door Blinkie loves visiting them (naughty boy). I've been getting less forgetful but tonight i left the door open. I heard him fly up the hallway so went after him. Found him sitting on the babies cage and i asked, "found the ladies have you?" and in his cutest budgie voice he said "kiss"...no joke. He's such a little flirt. :glare:

I've been sprouting wheatgrass seeds for the birds - they are of course a massive hit. I know that wheatgrass is really nutritious and i've read it should only be fed once or twice a week - does the same apply here with the sprouted seeds? At the moment i'm just sprouting them in a container using the soak for 12 hours then drain and leave them for a couple of days till they start to sprout (rinsing them several times daily of course). I would really like to actually grow some in a container of dirt - is there a particular way to do this? Would i still need to soak them first? I'm wanting to end up with something like Le Grass Cafe by Beak Appetit - for those who have used that product are the seeds planted in dirt or something else? Also, what are some other types of seed i could easily get from a health food shop that would be good for sprouting?

They'll always be "your" little babies. :ausb: It's a good thing we have the forums so you can keep an eye on them. :glare:

Here are some photos i took of Stink and Moz today: Blinkie's not in a very good mood - he's worried that his pin feathers are destroying his ultimate sexiness And turns to sexy peg for comfort :glare:

Looks male to me - so cute!