I want to make a care sheet for the people that (hopefully) come to buy by baby budgies ( not there are a lot for sale after removing the ones i'm keeping ) But am stuck as to how 'simple' it should be.

 

So far all I can think to add to it that would be good is the local avian vet numbers and this website. I had something else as well but it's slipped my mind.

 

Should thinks likeclean water daily and cleaning weekly be added? I think when to clean is up to the owner to decide really.

 

Oh the other I was going to add is a list of their favourite vegges and fruit and a few others that are safe as well as the banned list.

 

So any ones with ideas on what else should be added??

Edited November 3, 200618 yr by Nerwen

signs of sickness? or first aide kit information if they can't get them to a vet that day?

I know wing clipping is a highly debatable item, but if someone is going to do it maybe its best if you gave instructions on how? same with nail clipping?

I like Lovey thanks

 

Candace I don't have any experance with wing clipping. But I could add note on the sheet if they wish to have cliped wings to be shown correctly by a vet. I was planning on tell them that but I could foget so having it on the sheet would be good.

The web address for budgie breeders Also thinking they need a big as possible cage, variety of perches and toys to keep them stimulated... also daily flight time...

info and if at all possible a picture of scaleyface? i've never heard of it till i joined this group thank the stars i havent had to deal with it...yet

Nerwen, I know this is common sense but can you put in 'remove old food daily".

Why, you might ask, is that I had a call asking me to explain the behaviour of someones bird, and after a lenghty coversation, he had left an apple that was almost rotten in in the cage as the bird was getting upset when they tried to remove it. The result was that the poor bird was drunk as the apple had fermented.

 

Also not to give birds apple seeds.

 

Cindy

When Bluey had a 'holiday' with friends while we went away last June/July I left a note about food, water, the dangers of windows and mirrors, poisonous foods, the name and phone of our vet and a tip on picking up poops with a tissue and not rubbing them in.

Cindy common sense sometimes does get over looked

 

The apple seeds will be on the 'banned foods' list.

 

Bluey - great idea on the windows and mirrors I hadn't thought of the dangers out of cage when first learning.

 

Also you guys have shown me that it's safer to add the 'silly' basics to the list for the just in case the light bulb doesn't click on and not worry if the people feel I'm insulting them.

Edited November 3, 200618 yr by Nerwen

It is suprising just how many people dont have the light bulb to turn on

Cindy

Althought I hope to spot folks like that BEFORE they walk away with one of my birds.

Nerwen, I had the same idea about a care sheet, you are welcome to read mine, may give you a few good ideas.

http://www.angelfire.com/indie/budgies/bc.html

 

my diet list

http://www.angelfire.com/indie/budgies/diet.html

 

both need some work but no one I have asked is willing to give me input.

This is what I have typed up:

**please skip over any spelling and grammer errors I have yet to go over it proof reading**

 

 

Everyday:

Water need to be refreshed each day. Make sure the empty husks are removed from the seed dish each day as well. If not your bird might not understand there is seed under them. Cuttlebone, for calcium and Mineral Blocks should be available at all times. All fresh food should only be left in the cage for a few hours in summer time and removed daily.

 

Healthy birds:

To keep your bird for filled his sharp mind need to be kept active, this can be archived with toys, which are rotated to keep interest up. These don’t always have to be store brought a small branch of gum leaves with be nibbled and shredded with glee.

Daily flights or out of cage time, once training is over your new little friend will love to spend time with you out of his cage.

Natural perches for healthy feet. Budgies can suffer from arthritis, gout and bramble foot all which can be helped to keep at bay with a Varity of different shaped, angled and textured perches so their feet are not locked into the same shape all day every day. Any native plants like gum trees or bottlebrushes are safe to use and the budgies get the extra enjoyment and entertainment of ripping the bark off.

 

Fresh Foods: There are many Veggies and Fruits that can be given to Budgies like:

 

Broccoli

Carrot

Celery stalks

Corn (milky & soft)

Cucumber

Endive

Lettuce (not iceburg)

Potato (cooked)

Spinach

Tomato

Snow pea Sprouts

Beans and peas

Apple

Apricot

Banana

Blackberry

Grape

Grenadine

Honeydew melon

Mandarin

Mango

Melon

Peach

Orange

Pear

Pineapple

Plum

Strawberries (small amount)

Kiwi

Pasta (cooked)

 

Poisonous foods: Do not feed these to your birds at any time!

 

Coffee

Any seeds from fruit (bar kiwi) Alcohol

Chocolate

Avocado

Onion

Asparagus

Cabbage

Aubergine (eggplant)

Rhubarb (including leaves)

Raw potato

Crisps (Chips) or other high salt human foods

Human Breakfast cereals containing Zinc

 

Food Treats:

Honey sticks are a treat and shouldn’t be offered more than once a week at most. Some birds will stop eating in favour of these.

Millet sprays are a high fat treat which most budgies love and should be offered only once a week. This is also a good training tool used in small pieces.

 

Signs of Illness:

Sitting fluffed up continually

Discoloration/discharge present on feathers above nostrils

Lethargy

Vomiting – This is a violent side to side shaking of the head with seed going everywhere. A gentle bobbing while singing to mirror, toy or you is normal for males.

Inability to balance

Stains or accumulated poop on vent feathers

Crustiness on or around eyes, cere, beak, feet/legs - hens get a normal crusty brown cere

 

 

Local Vets:

 

Dr A Gallagher BVsc Hons MACVSc

Brisbane Bird Vet

248 Hamilton Road, Chermside 4032

Phone: (07) 3359 2233

 

Dr Ron Woodhead BVSc MACVSc

Waterworks Road Veterinary Surgery

331 Waterworks Rd, Ashgrove Qld 4060

Phone: (07) 3366 1888

 

Dr Danny Brown BVSc (Hons) BSc (Hons)

Sun Coast Vet Hospital

Corner West Terrace and Bowman Road, Caloundra 4551

Phone: 13 17 38

 

Dr Louie Filippich

Dept of Veterinary Medicine.

University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4067

Phone: (07) 3377 2553

 

Dr Edward Layt BVSc MACVSc

Wishart Road Veterinary Surgery

224 Wishart Road, Wishart 4122

Phone: (07) 3343 6399

 

 

First aid kit:

Blunt end Tweezers – to pull blood feather if need be, pull with the growth of the feather

Cornflour - to clot blood

Cotton Wool Balls/pads

Cotton buds

General vitamin supplement (ACEhigh or Avimix)

Syringe or Eye dropper - for feeding or applying saline to the eye etc.

Emergency syringe feeding formula (for birds to sick to eat, until you can get them to a vet) Eg. Poly-Aid or hand rearing mix.

Bandages - to wrap splints to legs or hold broken wings down onto the body.

Tea towel - for swaddling the budgie, this stops it thrashing around and hurting itself further

Egg - egg white to 'splint' a leg, just brush it on and let it get hard

 

Dangers in the house:

Birds do not see doors and mirrors like we do. When training they can crash into these in mid flight, before letting the bird out cover large mirrors and glass doors or windows.

 

Teflon poisoning – the use of Teflon cookware can give off toxic fumes that will affect a budgies breathing and death soon follows. Have windows and/or doors open or place the bird’s cage away from the kitchen.

 

Wing Clipping:

This can help with the start of training because the bird is unable to fly to great heights and relies on the owner for travel. I’m not against this but I have no experience or training on how to do this. If you wish to have for birds wings clipped please see an avian vet or if nothing else a pet shop. Doing this with out any knowledge could result in permeant damage to your bird’s wings.

 

Taming:

If you wish for the bird to bond closer to humans than as a bird happy to be alone or with others don’t add a mirror as a toy for the, they will see their reflection as another bird.

Take things slowly they need to get use to a new cage, new faces and new sounds. Some have found they calm down well when they hold the bird gently to their chest first thing before being put in their new cage.

 

Ongoing help and Info:

http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/index.php?

Edited November 11, 200618 yr by Nerwen

That sounds very good.

 

Here is mine if it helps.

 

Thank you for buying your bird from Wells Family Budgerigars. We urge you to take your bird home as quickly as possible and avoid subjecting it to extreme heat, cold or noise. These extremes cause stress and stress can kill!! Ensure there is enough daylight time for your bird to orientate itself in its new surroundings. Allow it to settle down for a few days without handling it and keep it away from draughts. Try to learn as much as you can about your new companion. Enjoy your new pet.

Veterinary Advice to purchasers of Birds

Having purchased your new bird(s), there are several things you should know and do, to ensure they remain healthy. Birds are unique in how they show and respond to diseases. They can hide signs of illness until they are very ill, and can appear healthy to an owner who doesn't observe them closely every day. Stress plays a major role in the onset of bird diseases. This can be in the

form of overcrowding, poor nutrition or hygiene, lack of shelter of hiding places, sudden or extremely hot or cold weather and a change of environment. Stress attacks the bird’s immune system, making it weaker and therefore more susceptible to diseases.

For these reasons, all birds going into a new home or aviary after purchase should be kept separate from existing birds, so they can become accustomed to the new Surroundings, foods and routines. This should be done for a period of four weeks for maximum benefit. The Temptation to put birds straight into your aviary should be resisted for the health of your current and new birds as well

as developing good bird keeping methods. During their time in quarantine, observe the new birds closely, feed them the same as your existing birds and worm them in the first and last weeks of the quarantine period. Releasing birds into the aviary is best done after the morning feed.

 

Useful care and product information for the new bird owner

To keep your birds comfortable and in the best of health we suggest you consider the following Information.

 

BIRD SEED: make sure it is always clean and fresh and free of unwanted, cracked and dusty material. This especially applies to some of the ‘cheap’ mixes on the market.

FRESH WATER: should be supplied daily

BIRD WORMER: worms are a common cause of illness. Worm two weeks after purchase and than every three months.

SULPHADIM: a useful medication to keep on hand for various ailments.

SHELL GRIT: an essential digestive aid for all birds.

CUTTLEBONE AND CALCIUM BELLS: to provide calcium, mineral and beak conditioning.

EGG AND BISCUIT: for baby and breeding birds especially, and a treat for others.

 

VITAMINS AND MINERALS: a good range to suit your needs.

PERCHES: made form native trees (gum, bottle brush) will give your birds feet good exercise and help keep its beak trim.

FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES: should be supplied regularly depending on your birds requirements. Corn on the cob, silverbeet, apple and soft fruits are all options.

NATIVE FLOWERS: bottlebrush, banksia,

grevillia and gum are popular with most birds.

PROTEIN: In the form of egg and biscuit, sprouted seeds are excellent supplements and treats.

BOOKS: essential guides for the ongoing well being of your bird

Edited November 11, 200618 yr by daz