We have a new pet budgie and are reading up and learning fast.

The petshop we bought him (?) from said it was a very young healthy male, about 12 weeks. Looking at the pics, can anyone tell if they were right?

 

 

 

 

 

He stayed on the floor of the cage for about three hours, and I just kept talking gently to him, then he suddenly found his confidence and got onto the perch, started chirping, and is now eating and drinking too. He's lovely!!

 

How soon can we try to tame him, and get him to come out of the cage? any other tips/advice would be appreciated.

I think that store was a bit off on his age.. It looks as though he is over 4 months because his head bars have receded. But it doesn't look as though his cere (above the beak - with the nostrils) has changed yet.. is it purplish or has it turned bright blue? I'm not certain.. but I think he is a male. Right now he is settling in to his new home.. so I wouldn't try taking him out.. but you can start to talk with him (not too much eye contact at first) and maybe after a few days get him used to your hand on or in his cage depending on how he reacts to having you nearby.

I agree, I believe over 4 months because of the bars, I see the blue cere in the first picture.

He definately looks like a boy to me but a bit older than 12 weeks - he's gorgeous. He's actually the spitting image of one of my budgies - Levi. When I got Levi he looked just the same as your budgie, he'd already lost all the bars on his head and his cere had changed to blue. I've now had him for 4 years and he very tame and is the friendliest little budgie! I'm sure your little guy will turn out to be just as wonderful - just keep spending lots of time talking to him so he gets to know and trust you. Best of luck!

 

PS - Has your budgie got a name yet?

its a boy becouse he has a blue crere he is just so cute!i have the same cage as he has only 40cm long

Hello, Welcome to the forums and congratulations on your new little budgie

Cheers :beer:

Una

yeah welcome and congrats!

 

he looks older than 4 months as his baby bars have disappeared. but not to worry - budgies being the great little birdies they are, are relatively easy to tame regardless of age. im sure you'll have a lot of fun together!

 

whats his name?

Hi and welcome to the forum. He is older than three months. He has already moulted and looks fine. As for the proper age, you need a better shot.

Thank you all for the welcome.

 

Just to let you know he's settling in really well and seems to be getting used to us.

 

My son has named him, he's called Halo (after the XBox game! )

 

I'm not really surprised he's older, the petshop man seemed as if he was guessing and he obviously thought I'd definately want a young bird. I will give up on any hopes of getting him to talk as he's probably much too old, and will just try to get him as tame as possible, this forum is great to read the tips!!

 

I will post again with some better pictures, don't want to scare him too much with the camera though.

Edited February 3, 200619 yr by happydays

Halo is a cute name (and a good xbox game) (Laughing out loud) wish id thought of it

Never give up If you talk to him HEAP he still might talk but even budgies that get talked to at the age of 6 weeks might not talk. Use a simply word and get all the family to repeat it each time they talk to him, walk past, handle him and he might happily pick it up he might not.

 

Good luck with the training

With ages on young birds especially thoughs that you get from the pet stores.

 

A chick starts to fledge (comes out of the nest) at about 34 days. Thats 4 - 5 weeks. He will usually stay with his parents for another 7- 14 days. Thats 6 - 7 weeks. He then be placed into a hilding cage to make sure he can feed himself. This is for another 2 weeks. We are up to 9 - 10 weeks. Now is the time that breeders sell the chicks. Some breeders will wait till the first moult to see if the chick is worth showing or keeping for breeding before they sell. Now the chick is 3 to 4 months old before it gets to the shop.

 

Some shops can quarentine the bird for maybe only a week. Some don't and put the chick straight up for sale.

One reason to quarentine when you get a new chick or bird.

Well, he looks much older than he was said to be and is defiently a male. He's gorgeous! Anyway, it will be harder to tame him at the age he is, but just try closing your eyes and blinking slowly, it lets him know that you're comfortable with what's going on around you. If he binks back, you're doing a terrific job! Repeat this for around a week and he will come to realise you mean no harm. Then you can try putting your hand in the cadge..... but that's a different story.

 

Good Luck!

 

 

 

Thank you all for the welcome.

 

Just to let you know he's settling in really well and seems to be getting used to us.

 

My son has named him, he's called Halo (after the XBox game! :budgiedance: )

 

I'm not really surprised he's older, the petshop man seemed as if he was guessing and he obviously thought I'd definately want a young bird. I will give up on any hopes of getting him to talk as he's probably much too old, and will just try to get him as tame as possible, this forum is great to read the tips!!

 

I will post again with some better pictures, don't want to scare him too much with the camera though.

 

 

Never give up hope, he really isn't that old still a baby really. Figuring budgies live to be 10-15 years old. The time you spend talking with him, working on taming him, is the most important things you can do. You can purchase a younger budgie who may never talk, and not be as tamed. It is all in the personality of the bird and the consistancy with your taming. You have a fanastic opportunity here, my next budgie will be a rescue I have decided :budgiedance:. So you have a lot of time with this fellow!!

Yes, as everyone said, don't worry that he is just a little older. You should tame him the same way, just spend a lot of time with him. Be patient and don't pressure him. Don't chase him around the cage holding food in your hand. I think taming is much quicker if you hold the food further away and let him gradually decide to come to you.

 

Now that he knows what millet is, take it out of his cage, and just use it as a treat when your hand is in the cage Goodluck with the training, the more time you spend with him, the faster he will be tame

 

Try not to be tempted to let him out of his cage until he'll hop onto your finger (or at least a "training perch") happily, otherwise getting him back in the cage can be quite traumatic for him, and he is likely to try to escape again next time you open the cage, ignoring your hand. It's all worth it in the end. You'll do great

Yes, as everyone said, don't worry that he is just a little older. You should tame him the same way, just spend a lot of time with him. Be patient and don't pressure him. Don't chase him around the cage holding food in your hand. I think taming is much quicker if you hold the food further away and let him gradually decide to come to you.

 

Now that he knows what millet is, take it out of his cage, and just use it as a treat when your hand is in the cage Goodluck with the training, the more time you spend with him, the faster he will be tame

 

Try not to be tempted to let him out of his cage until he'll hop onto your finger (or at least a "training perch") happily, otherwise getting him back in the cage can be quite traumatic for him, and he is likely to try to escape again next time you open the cage, ignoring your hand. It's all worth it in the end. You'll do great

 

Great Advice.. I couldn't have said it better myself