Just a quick word of warning to anyone with a young(or old) budgie. Took Buster, 6 weeks old, out of his cage for the first time last week, all was going well as he explored the room for the first time, climbing up the laundry basket, ploppng around and enjoying himself immensely since he's still learning to fly. But then.. disaster struck!!

He tried to land on the radiator (fortunately switched off) and fell down the back! I couldn't reach him to get him out from any direction! Luckily he slid down far enough so I could just about reach him with my finger(lying on my back on the floor by now extremley worried) and guide him out the other end after much screaming which sounded very distressing.

He emerged from the other end a little dusty but seemingly none the worse for his ordeal - I put him straight back in his cage - I thought he may go into shock - where he went straight to his millet and scoffed the lot - comfort eating perhaps! I was a bigger mess than he was as it turned out, I thought it was curtains for the little chap. :angel1:

I was shaking and almost crying! And felt v. guilty for not having surveyed the room properly beforehand( I'm still kicking myself) - I have read you should do this but figured it wouldn't happen to me....

Anyway, he's doing fine now, been out again a few times since ( radiators well covered now) and is quite happy to jump from stick to hand chirruping with much gusto when praised for his accomplishment - ahh bless!

So to recap ,if you've got any furniture with gaps against the wall that a young ( or old) bird could fall behind BEWARE!! Move it back to wall or stuff up the gaps with something robust!

Good warning YoYo,thanks for that. Good job the radiator wasn't on too.

Julie

Oh, the scary memories that brought back! An an excellent point to remind us of forgotten dangers. I had exactly the same thing happen to Teapot as a baby. I now place a tightly rolled up towel at the back/top of the radiators, so theres no way my birds can slide down the back of a heater again. Thankyou fpr bringing that to our attention, its a danger that can be quite easily overlooked!

Anne

One question obviously living in Canada is a setback becasue well in my house I have heaters that are glued to the wall already and even if they weren't they are 3 inches tall...so like i don't have to worry maybe those heaters are the best if you are worried about budgies falling behind...

Hi all

Immotive, I am very wary of any heater (esp. now!!) when my other bird is loose in the room as they nearly all have shiny metal bits on them - BIG attraction for budgies! - even when hot! So I never turn them on when he's out of the cage. Anyone know where you can get a large fireguard by the way? Needs to be around 3ft highx3ft wide - my carpentry skills are sadly lacking and it's been Brass Monkeys here the past few weeks!!

YoYo

Well living in the land of down under we don?t have this problem just the opposite ceiling fans and budgies don?t mix to well.

As you can imagine it?s a quick way to make a feather duster.

Glad you did not have them turned on crickey it makes me shudder just to think off what could have happened.

 

 

 

This is one of my show Budgies

Even pedestal fans can be dangerous, with or withpout the guard as their little feet get caught.

:(Laughing out loud): Even fish tanks, tweetie went for a swim while i was cleaning the fish tank, did not bother her but the fish were not to happy

Cindy

When i had 4 budgies the 2 oldest ones Lemonpie and Scrabble used to love dive bombing the fishtanks when ever i was cleaning them. Luckily the fish weren't bigger enough to eat them!!

Well living in the land of down under we don?t have this problem just the opposite ceiling fans and budgies don?t mix to well.

As you can imagine it?s a quick way to make a feather duster.

Glad you did not have them turned on crickey it makes me shudder just to think off what could have happened.

 

 

 

This is one of my show Budgies

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

He certainly looks a splendid fellow! My pair are more your average "runts" !

I think all budgies are beautiful in there own special way each having its own personality.

You must remember most show budgies came from runts and anyway mine are not best in show but to me there the best.

hommer, is your budgie grey or mauve? I can't tell from the picture. He is a big fellow!

I agree with you there hommer, what they seem to lack in terms of desirable show qualities is multiplied in terms of their personalities. Before I got Buster, my new baby, I had visited a breeder and picked out a young albino, he was really different looking, perhaps not for everyone - a dirty yellowy white colour with big red eyes and pink feet, but so cute - to me anyway. I was going to collect him the following week but unfortunately he died. :angel1: I wanted him because I thought nobody else would choose him!

As long as they're healthy and happy, I think that's the main thing.