Hello again! :sad:

 

I had budgies as a child, and spent all my pocket money to buy a book about them from the petshop which had very little info on them. Now that I have children of my own and budgies again, WE WANT TO KNOW EVERYTHING!!! We would love to breed budgies one day when we know a lot more. Please give plenty of advise!

 

1. We are worried that our two new budgies Sky and Cloud have both had some changes to their ceres. Sky's cere has become a lot darker - more dark purple than blue now and his beak was always a little bit flaky at the tip. Cloud has got some slight light tan flaky bits on his cere. I'm worried if one has given the other something contagious, or if they are both lacking something in their diet? We checked out Sky's relatives at the pet shop today, and they all looked healthy as far as I can tell. I've read every post that might give me an answer, but I'm still confused why they are changing.

 

2. Also, Cloud makes funny noises like a noisy-minor or magpie chick and bows down as if he is begging to be fed. Does this mean he is young? We got him from a pet shop and don't know his age, we assumed he was young because the first time we let him out, he did'nt seem to know how to fly!

3. Sometimes Sky gets sick of Cloud's begging, so he puts his foot on Cloud's back. Sky feeds Cloud, and they groom each other, so seem to be happy together most of the time. Is the foot thing okay or will I need to seperate them?

 

4. I put some worming drops in their water soon after getting them, I give them Eucalyptus branches and bottlebrush and sometimes carrots to chew and feed them Trill seed. We got Sky first (he has a green band on his leg), then Cloud from a different pet shop (no band). We let them out to fly around and tame a couple of times every day.

Is there anything we need to be doing different?

 

P.S. Here are some pics - no flash used.

 

http://i399.photobucket.com/albums/pp78/2b...pg?t=1226732632

Edited January 17, 200916 yr by Neat
image turned to link due to being over sized

1. We are worried that our two new budgies Sky and Cloud have both had some changes to their ceres. Sky's cere has become a lot darker - more dark purple than blue now and his beak was always a little bit flaky at the tip. Cloud has got some slight light tan flaky bits on his cere. I'm worried if one has given the other something contagious, or if they are both lacking something in their diet? We checked out Sky's relatives at the pet shop today, and they all looked healthy as far as I can tell. I've read every post that might give me an answer, but I'm still confused why they are changing.

He is out of condition and/or has a hormonal imbalance - he also looks to have the beginning of scaly face.

 

 

2. Also, Cloud makes funny noises like a noisy-minor or magpie chick and bows down as if he is begging to be fed. Does this mean he is young? We got him from a pet shop and don't know his age, we assumed he was young because the first time we let him out, he did'nt seem to know how to fly!

 

He is flirting and being a boy. boys head bob and sing all the time. that is part of their normal character. he is possibly mimicking other birds which is common too :sad: - as for his age... not sure, he doesnt look all that young to me but it can be hard to tell after their first moult

 

3. Sometimes Sky gets sick of Cloud's begging, so he puts his foot on Cloud's back. Sky feeds Cloud, and they groom each other, so seem to be happy together most of the time. Is the foot thing okay or will I need to seperate them?

 

He is trying to mate with Sky. the male will put a foot on the back of the female and mount her back and wrap his tail around under the hens.

 

4. I put some worming drops in their water soon after getting them, I give them Eucalyptus branches and bottlebrush and sometimes carrots to chew and feed them Trill seed. We got Sky first (he has a green band on his leg), then Cloud from a different pet shop (no band). We let them out to fly around and tame a couple of times every day.

Is there anything we need to be doing different?

Diet sounds good. there are so many vegies, herbs and leaves you can add to it. The list is huge. there is some info in the FAQ's about diet

Sky having a green ring, is most likely an 07 bird so she is 1-2 years old

Edited November 15, 200816 yr by **Liv**

Thanks Liv,

 

Will have to treat both for scaly face

 

Is it normal for a boy to try and mate with another boy, or is it because he has "sexual health issues" ? What can I do to help his imbalance? Does Cloud's cere and beak look healthy to you?

 

I'll read as much as I can about diet.

 

We used to have a beautiful Alexandrine boy, but sadly he escaped about six months ago and despite ads and posters everywhere, we didn't get him back :sad: . I'm sure someone's claimed him, he was such a great bird! He ate more food than the rest of us! If we were busy and not paying him attention, he'd throw his fruit and veges at the wall - the cheeky boy!

 

Thanks for your help!

Boys can be randy little things and will try and mate with anything including their perches, toys and YOU if they are tame

 

I cant remember the treatment for the hormone imbalance... they possibly need more dark sleep hours. do you have them up late at night?

It is possible that Cloud is begging for food, that is what babies sound like. Is he eating by himself at all?Budgies will put their foot on the other budgie's back as a dominance thing or to mate. If it is not proceeded with head bobbing then it will be dominance. Do not worry about that they will be fine together.

What is the wormer you are using? If it is ivermectin, then it is ineffecive in water and I suggest you give it another way.

Is Cloud the one with the pink cere? Cause that would indicate he is young as well as his barring is very low.

Budgies will flirt with anything that moves as well as things that don't move! If the other budgie reacts how the boy thinks a girl would react then he will try to mate with it. They also mate with inanimate objects too. It is normal.

Edited November 15, 200816 yr by Sailorwolf

Gross! Maybe too much "nature" for the kids - old man trying it on with a baby boy!

 

Wormer is Avitrol Plus - Active Ingredients: Praziquantel and Levamisole Hydrochloride. I got it from the vet for my Alexandrine, but was told it was fine for all kinds of birds.

 

I also have "Tracemin" Soluble Trace Minerals & Amino Acids from the vet which is supposed to be for all birds, should I give them some to pick up their health?

 

Cloud is the one with the pink cere, we got him only a week ago from a pet shop in Tweed Heads.

Cloud is the one with the pink cere, we got him only a week ago from a pet shop in Tweed Heads.

 

Oh, he really should be quarantined from Sky for 30 days.

Follow the directions on the wormer then.

On the Tracemin minerals, I guess if it says it's for all birds then you probably can give it to them. I have no idea what it is though.

It's too late now but if you got him only a week ago from the pet shop they should not be together, as he should have been quarantined. Pet shops are a hotbed for all sorts of nasties as birds go in and out all the time, it was a big risk putting them straight in together. Keep a close eye on both of them incase they get sick

Late Nights - guilty as charged I've made them a really flash cage cover with sparkly stars, will put it on much earlier!Too easy, thanks! :blush:BIG OOPS!I'm learning fast thanks to you guys! :reading:

Late Nights - guilty as charged I've made them a really flash cage cover with sparkly stars, will put it on much earlier!Too easy, thanks! :blush:BIG OOPS!I'm learning fast thanks to you guys! :reading:

 

I think Sky is a recessive pied which means the cere will be naturally pale pink even as an adult. Maybe it's a clearbody. Time will tell. Sounds to me like Sky is a young bird and the begging behaviour towards an adult quite normal. The other behavioural pointers Sailorwolf mentioned are right on. Tracemin is a harmless supplement at the recommended dilution. I actually use it even more dilute than recommended. Whatever you do to correct any hormone imbalance will not happen overnight, so be prepared to persevere. It may start to correct but might not be obvious for a while. A stress-free environment and healthy diet may be all that is needed. Cock birds go through fertility cycles naturally anyway and a change in environment/life style can disturb the hormonal balance. It is usually self-correcting as the bird gets used to its new circumstances. I think if you haven't quarantined either bird it's too late now to worry about it. Jaz

Thanks Jaz!

Your questions have been answered well :reading:, I just wanted to stop in and say welcome