I finally got the courage to let Charley out of his cage for the first time. I felt he was ready (or is it ME who was finally ready!!!), he steps onto my hand on command and seems to love my company. So today I first took him out on my hand, he flew around like mad (I had shut blinds, doors etc). First landing was on the floor, a little nerve wracking but he soon found a suitable landing strip, my arm and later, my shoulder. I have attached photo of him when I opened the top of his cage and he's contemplating what he should do for his first solo flight.

 

THe other photo is of his first successful landing on my shoulder. Problem is he eats my hair and I get a little nervous that he will go for the ear.. or my face. He nibbles but sometimes a little rougher than other times. I know he enjoyed his first free flight, yet he seems now quite happy to be back into his cage telling his bells and toys all about it!! This surprised me, I was afraid he would not want to be confined again in his cage but he seems quite happy. It was a lovely feeling to finally get him close to me and I will try to let him out every day.

 

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x112/tm...idenflight1.jpg

 

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x112/tm...idenflight4.jpg

Edited October 20, 200717 yr by Phoebe
picture oversize of forum requirements

How wonderful for you! What a wonderful event! Have changed your post to links, please click on my signature to see allowable photo sizes.

Dont know if its just the light conditions, but Charlie looks like a hen in this shot

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x112/tm...idenflight4.jpg

Edited October 21, 200717 yr by Phoebe

Dont know if its just the light conditions, but Charlie looks like a hen in this shot

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x112/tm...idenflight4.jpg

 

Here's another photo of him.. or her??? I thought he was a boy... tell me what you think..

 

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x112/tmkoroi/charley3.jpg

Edited October 21, 200717 yr by Phoebe

Looks like a boy in the other shot, but the light is darker in that shot too. Oh well..............

Looks like a boy in the other shot, but the light is darker in that shot too. Oh well..............

 

Thanks Kaz. I do find it difficult to get the lighting right when taking photos, I havent worked out how to turn the flash off when its not needed. Whatever he is.. he or she.. doesnt matter.. its the best little pal I've ever had, so tame and totally acrobatic! He's also starting to "talk", has a great wolf whistle and I'm starting to pick up little "word" sounds. Considering I've only had him for 7 weeks I'm very happy with his "progress"!! We initially thought he had "French moult" as he had no tail or flight feathers but it seems the breeder had clipped them, he now has the most beautiful wings and tail.

 

I have one question though.. my other budgie, Max, is a "mauve recessive pied" hen and seems to be losing a lot of her "under feathers" (the little white fluffy ones!!).. I thought moulting only lasted a few weeks, the floor around her is always messy with the little feathers, whereas Charley only seems to lose a few (although he hasnt had his first moult yet) Max is about 7 months old, Charley is about 4 months I think. Max still looks lovely, so I dont think she's losing too many feathers, i just wonder if this is normal .. or is it perhaps because they are "inside" birds?? Or is she lacking something???

 

Any hints???

Hi there,

 

I noticed that Kaz is here at the moment too, so we will probably double up with the same answers.

 

Charlie definitely looks like a boy in the second photo that you posted. I think it may have been the flash in the picture on your shoulder. His behaviour is typical of a male budgie too.

 

Fantastic response from him in such a short period of time. Great that you have him coming out on your hand too. Budgies generally love their cage. It is their 'safe space', their home. So they usually are fine about going home.

 

As for Max, it sounds like he is having a fairly normal moult. During the moult every feather on their body is replaced. In the wild if they moult too quickly they would lose their ability to fly, and therefore get away from their predators. Their feathers can fall for 5 - 6 weeks, with all the feathers regrown in approximately 8 weeks.

 

I'm looking forward to watching your progress with Charlie. Budgies have such amazingly great individual personalities and make fantastic companions!

 

 

Feathers.

very awesome pictures and wonderful progress

:ygbudgie: Sorry, had to change them back to links, just a little bit oversize.