Lizzie (formerly Gizmo) hatched on 22/5. She was the youngest of 4 and the only surviving chick of that clutch (cold snap). Mum laid more eggs while Lizzie was still in the box and Lizzie was fully-feathered, but clumsy when she finally came out. She won't climb, except up a ladder. She perches on a low perch (about 10cm high), but won't venture to higher perches.

 

I've put her in with 4 juveniles (about 14 weeks), in a large cage/ aviary (about 6 feet by 2 or 3 wide and 2 deep, no nestboxes of course!) in the hope that she'd get the idea and have room to practice.

 

2 weeks later- nothing. She's included in cage life. They come down to eat from the floor and low bowls with her and feed her or just sit with her. She seems to have the same posture and baring as the others. Her wings look strong, no feathers missing. She hasn't been sick, that I can tell. She just flaps and flops, quite heavily.

 

Is it just something that takes time for some, or should she be well and truely flying by now?

If she is a weak chick, such as from lack of calcium, she may not have the strength to fly.

She may have underdeveloped muscles.

She may be too fat to get lift...

 

Hold her on your hand and quickly move your hand down to make her flap. do you feel lift??

 

Photos????

Edited July 27, 201014 yr by **Liv**

I will read with interest.

 

My little male can't fly, this is one of the reasons why I have him.

I have tried him on my finger and moving my arm up and down, he flaps like crazy but no lift.

He is a great climber though.

Liv- she wasn't fat, but she seems to be getting fat because of this.

Our birds all get fresh veggies every day, especially the breeders. The parents and her at weaning have corn, spinach, broccoli, celery and egg and biscuit.

 

I tried what you suggested. I'm not exactly sure what I'm feeling for, but she flaps, but feels anchored firmly to my hand. It that a 'no' to lift?

 

okay, photos- Please bear in mind that it's feezing outside and she's fluffed up a lot, so looks somewhat chubbier.

 

 

 

 

Wing all present and correct (I think)

 

 

 

Other wing

 

 

 

While I'm here, what colour is she called? Can non-flighet Budgies breed (because I'll tame her if not). And do female budgies talk (I'm pretty sure it's a hen).

she could just be a slow starter

not conferdent i had a bird that would not fly for till it was two months old

She looks like a Lutino. What colour are her eyes? What colour are her parents?

 

She could be a slow starter, like mentioned. But yes, she would be able to breed I think.

I moved her into a smaller cage inside yesterday so I could watch her more closely. She has been climbing and trying to fly but flopping instead.

 

Her father is a lutino, mother is mid-grey with white accents. Lizzie is a shade lighter than dad. Her eyes are black. One of her siblings had red eyes. What does that mean?

Still no flight. She's a very sedentary Budgie, which saddens me when I see her slightly older peers so active. She reminds me of our cockatiels- staring into space all day. I've changed her perches to smaller ones, which she seems more comfortable with and she seems content to sit on my finger. She has a toy (i decided to introduce one at a time), which is a bushy-looking fan thing. She hides under it, but doesn't play.

 

Honestly, I keep expecting to find her deceased when I uncover her cage in the mornings. Should I get her a companion or just be her compainion? Or both? Or just accept that she's just a different Budgie and that's okay?

Maybe she needs a vet check up.

I've thught of that, but we have no avian vets in the area.

 

We have taken a bird to the vet before. They didn't have the first clue what to do with him. Luckily, he'd only bruised his heel and was soon better. I can't imagine they'd have a clue with a serious bird problem.

Edited August 5, 201014 yr by Mirren

Just a quick chick update.

 

She is a he, Hurcules. He got given some vitamins and virtually overnight went from dozy to chirpy. He had his first flight on Friday, from my shoulder and across the room, much to my amazment. He is now living with his 2 younger brothers who are being kept for breeding. Once the youngest is old enough, they'll move into the big juveniles cage together. He is moving around a lot better, although more climbing than flapping. he may need a lot of ladders and perches to get around a breeding cabinet, but he's loving having company and in just a couple of days with the boys, he's even more perky and happy.

 

He will need to go the vet for a beak trim shortly, but otherwise is coming along nicely.

I will read with interest.

 

My little male can't fly, this is one of the reasons why I have him.

I have tried him on my finger and moving my arm up and down, he flaps like crazy but no lift.

He is a great climber though.

 

 

Same here as by budgie Molly has never been able to fly ethier and trying this method she has no lift, again that was my reason for getting her also I felt sorry for her I guess all by herself

Liv- she wasn't fat, but she seems to be getting fat because of this.

Our birds all get fresh veggies every day, especially the breeders. The parents and her at weaning have corn, spinach, broccoli, celery and egg and biscuit.

 

I tried what you suggested. I'm not exactly sure what I'm feeling for, but she flaps, but feels anchored firmly to my hand. It that a 'no' to lift?

 

okay, photos- Please bear in mind that it's feezing outside and she's fluffed up a lot, so looks somewhat chubbier.

 

 

 

 

Wing all present and correct (I think)

 

 

 

Other wing

 

 

 

While I'm here, what colour is she called? Can non-flighet Budgies breed (because I'll tame her if not). And do female budgies talk (I'm pretty sure it's a hen).

 

Glad to hear he is better Mirren...

 

Yes female budgies can talk.

 

He looks all Yellow with no other colouring?...To my knowledge all yellow budgies are either one of 3 mutations.

 

Double factor spangle - Iris rings - and brown or blue cere.

Lutino - Red eyes

Dark eyed clear - Black Eyes - no iris rings.

 

Without seeing mum and dad it is hard to determine which one he is....but I must say he's a sweety... :sadsorry: