Oct 5, 2016 17:46:14 GMT
teejay
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 9
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Post by teejay on Oct 5, 2016 18:10:41 GMT
Heya, guys! Just gotta slip in a quick thank you for this forum, first! I've been snooping through for a while, and there's a wonderful community feel going on here! Awesome stuff! =D I bought myself a 12 week old hen from a pet store a while back, and I've been trying hard to stay consistent with training and taming, since she settled into her new home and got comfortable with her surroundings. I noticed that I've got two very different scenarios going on. During the day, especially mornings, when I try to stroke her, she won't even let me breath near her without flailing around the cage like my hand is a litter of starved cats. However, the few occasions when I've had sleepless nights, and I've tried stroking her at 3am, she's been totally fine with my stroking her chest, and she'll calmly put up with it for a very long time. At first, I thought maybe she was just too tired or busy sleeping to care about whether my hand is a feline armed with a salt shaker or not... But I've just today realised, that my home is surrounded by wild parakeets in the trees, and they're noisy, especially in the mornings. Over the years, I've got so used to them that I pay no notice of them, but today I've realised she's responding to them consistently, and I'm starting to think this is what's holding us back from bonding during the day. I'd love to know if anyone here has had similar experiences, along with any suggestions for me to try out over the next few months. Apparently tying a cat to each tree isn't an option, so that's me out of ideas.
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Post by OP on Oct 5, 2016 18:37:56 GMT
You will just have to learn to make birdy noises. My buds have taught me how to whistle and squawk so that they understand. A hen will understand and learn whistles better than talking.
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Post by jellybean on Oct 5, 2016 19:43:54 GMT
Hi teejay, welcome to the forum. Budgies don't usually like to be stroked or touched, apart from head and cheek scratches, and it's a lucky owner who's budgies allow even that 😅 If she is allowing you to stroke her at 3am, I'd say this is because she is in a sleep state and is probably too tired to protest very much, these little buds need 10/12 hours sleep a night, so I wouldn't disturb her during the night. The taming will come with patience, and you'll certainly love the rewards. Good luck. Would love to see pictures of your little girl.
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Post by starlingqueen on Oct 5, 2016 20:21:30 GMT
At night birds go into a state of torpor so she wont react as she would during the day. This is why they find the highest spot possible to sleep as it's also the safest when your senses are not at full capacity.
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Oct 5, 2016 17:46:14 GMT
teejay
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 9
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Post by teejay on Oct 5, 2016 21:16:15 GMT
Thank you for all the replies, already! I still haven't decided on a name for her. People keep asking, and my response has always been "Erm, her name's... Budgie" and everyone seems happy with that, except perhaps Budgie. Right, so notes to self; No poking Budgie in the small hours, and learn to whistle. Got it. Oh, and at Jellybean's request, here's Budgie.
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Post by jellybean on Oct 5, 2016 21:28:08 GMT
And isn't she a little beauty. What happened to her tail feathers teejay.
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Oct 5, 2016 17:46:14 GMT
teejay
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 9
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Post by teejay on Oct 5, 2016 21:47:04 GMT
I wasn't aware that anything had happened to them. Are they looking abnormal? Oh gosh, they do seem very short, don't they? Or, almost non-existent? She certainly hasn't had any fall off here, I'm sure I'd have noticed entire tail feathers laying around. Is it possible that they haven't fully grown or something? She's only about 16 weeks old. I'm paranoid now. Or.. Worried. One of them two! Thanks, Jellybean.
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Post by starlingqueen on Oct 5, 2016 22:00:16 GMT
She is beautiful She needs a pretty name Missy or Lady something simple but elegant. She does appear to have her 2 tail feathers missing. How long have you had her?
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Oct 5, 2016 17:46:14 GMT
teejay
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 9
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Post by teejay on Oct 5, 2016 22:08:36 GMT
I've had her for just about a month, now. You've got me curious... When I was in the store, picking out a budgie, she didn't look any different to the rest of them. All of them had tails the same length as her. There were eight budgies in all, but only two were ready to go that day. I've just taken another snap of her from the side. I'm wondering if the angle of the last snap just made it look non-existent... Either way, this is also teaching me that it's time to consider a new camera...
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Post by starlingqueen on Oct 5, 2016 22:21:14 GMT
She definitely has her 2 primary tail feathers missing. She should have 2 long dark feathers that come about 2 inches beyond the secondary ones that you can see. Like the ones in my picture. You can only see one as the other lays under the top one. Don't worry too much when she has a moult they will probably grow in.
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Oct 5, 2016 17:46:14 GMT
teejay
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 9
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Post by teejay on Oct 5, 2016 22:34:28 GMT
Yeah, I figured that as soon as Jellybean asked what happened to them, I scrolled through some Google images and was like "Oh, yeah... How'd I not notice that for a month?" ... None of the budgies had any in the store, at all. Next time I'm there, I'm gonna want to ask about it. It certainly hasn't stopped Budgie (or Missy, or Lady, or something simple but elegant) from flying around the living room with grace and glee. Oh, wow... Starlingqueen... Simple but elegant? How about Grace?
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Post by OP on Oct 6, 2016 7:19:42 GMT
Nice to see you Grace. It is perfectly possible that the store had a budgie in their flock that liked to pull tail feathers out. I have seen that sort of thing in my daughters budgies. She has four in a cage and only one has long tail feathers the other three have had theirs pulled out. No guessing which one is the culprit. I don't know if they are essential for flying perhaps one of the other more experienced members will be able to tell us.
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Post by Hezz on Oct 6, 2016 7:23:21 GMT
They are not. The times when a budgie has lost both long feathers due to what ever it might have been - accident, or wilful damage - the budgie left short is still able to fly perfectly well. I am sure those two feathers are not just there for good looks but they certainly are not necessary for flying.
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Post by OP on Oct 6, 2016 7:34:31 GMT
Thank you Hezz.
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Post by Shirls on Oct 6, 2016 9:49:05 GMT
Do you remember my little 'policeman' Hezz, Oscar, (in my avatar) he had a very short tail and he couldn't fly very well, JoJo was the same, they couldn't maintain altitude, so I think having a long, or normal, tail does help with flying. Just love Grace, she is a beauty. Welcome to the forum both of you!
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