New big cage for Avis

[parsnipstew]

After Avis telling us off for his cage being too small, here's his new set up. He's so happy now! Still hasn't figured out that clear plastic exists and cannot be walked through though.

This is my first proper cage setup, so any constructive criticism or advice is welcome.

The floor is kitchen roll with bell balls, and feeders with seed mix, herb mix, and water. The millet is in there as he doesn't know millet yet and I want him to learn how good it is so we can use it as a training aid (drug pushing first one's free?).

Got rid of the old plastic perches, the only plastic ones are the Hagen ergonomic perches, with plenty of wood and rope for other textures.

[Hezz]

Okay, there are a few things you need to do. Firstly, cut off any tassels as short as you can, cable ties in front of the knots reduce the likelihood of the knots coming undone (I have not had one yet). Watch those bells that come with all the toys; they are not stainless steel and can rust really quickly. Rust is a bird-killer. If (when) you get another bird, that coconut will need to come out if there is a hen in the mix - she will see it as a nest.
You might want to take out some of the things in that cage as I don't see a lot of room for Avis to fly from perch to perch without running into things. He needs to exercise, even if he does get heaps of out of cage time.

I don't know these cages personally, so will leave that to others who do.

Below are a couple of stickies that you might want to read through, if you haven't already:
budgerigarsforum.proboards.com/thread/13493/essential-budgie
budgerigarsforum.proboards.com/thread/13365/budgie-safe-toys-equipment

[parsnipstew]

Thanks, I'll keep an eye on the bell for any signs of deterioration and get the tassles trimmed down.

All the toys are located at the edges of the cage, though it's quite hard to see with the bars, leaving the entire center as flapping room, should that be sufficient? He's very much a climber and seems to like having lots of things to practice on

Aye we'd considered the coconut as being potentially nest like. If we get another bird it's going, but for now it's there as a little hideaway- I read up on those cosys and can see why you hate them so much (how are they still on sale???)- so I repurposed an unused hamster toy we had instead.

This is all super helpful stuff, you guys are great

[Hezz]

I do understand that photos don't necessarily show empty space, so will take your word for that. Remind me, Avis is very young is he not? Or is he the little fella who had his wings clipped? In either case, he will start flitting about more as he gets older.

I suggest you save your pennies, and start looking at getting a supply of stainless steel bells; they are an expense initially, but once you have them you will never have to replace them, if they are the real deal. I know they are hard to come by in the UK, the proper little liberty bells. I think I have bought about a dozen of them over time and I have never seen an degradation in any of them, over a good 12 years. If you attach the bells to stainless steel key rings, you can easily switch them between toys, when you change things over.

[parsnipstew]

Yes, he's my only bird and he is clipped. Currently he can right himself when he falls off, fly up to maybe ten feet away and a few feet up. Am i right in thinking he'll gradually regain his flight over the next few months as individual feathers moult? He has his two outer primaries and all his secondaries intact.


That's a good shout about bells, especially then being interchangable, I hadn't considered that

[starlingqueen]

Very nice cage and set up. Have we seen a close up of Avis? The reason I ask is that from the very limited view we have so far it looks possible that it could be a hen. In which case the coconut hide would be best removed as they can lay eggs regardless of having a male around.

[parsnipstew]

Jan 26, 2017 10:46:47 GMT starlingqueen said:

Very nice cage and set up. Have we seen a close up of Avis? The reason I ask is that from the very limited view we have so far it looks possible that it could be a hen. In which case the coconut hide would be best removed as they can lay eggs regardless of having a male around.

Thank you!
He's still very young, only maybe 14 weeks old at this point, so I don't know if the wattle has colourised yet.
Here he is close up:

[starlingqueen]

Is the cere purple? It's hard to tell from the picture.

[Hezz]

Looks like a boy, there ...... love his little pink feet!!!!

Who's got a thing for pink feet? Is it rose??

It might take 12 months for all the cut feathers to be replaced, but it won't take him that long to get flying properly again. Once he replaces a few he will be back in the air again, and it is good that he has some flight; at least he will still try, and won't crash when he does try.

[rose]

Jan 26, 2017 20:23:39 GMT Hezz said:

Looks like a boy, there ...... love his little pink feet!!!!

Who's got a thing for pink feet? Is it rose ??

Well little pink feet are amazingly charming but I'm not sure I've actually got a thing for them! Is it sweetpea ?

[sweetpea]

Jan 26, 2017 20:31:18 GMT rose said:

Jan 26, 2017 20:23:39 GMT Hezz said:

Looks like a boy, there ...... love his little pink feet!!!!

Who's got a thing for pink feet? Is it rose ??

Well little pink feet are amazingly charming but I'm not sure I've actually got a thing for them! Is it sweetpea ?

There was a confession on one of my threads, from lupin - "I am an absolute fool for pink legged budgies".

[rose]

Jan 26, 2017 20:53:09 GMT sweetpea said:

Jan 26, 2017 20:31:18 GMT rose said:

Well little pink feet are amazingly charming but I'm not sure I've actually got a thing for them! Is it sweetpea ?

There was a confession on one of my threads, from lupin - "I am an absolute fool for pink legged budgies".

That was it! But let's be frank, aren't we all absolute fools for pink-legged budgies?

[Hezz]

My next guess was going to be lupin. But those are the pinkest pink feet I have ever seen!!! Don't let Lupin spot you, Avis .......

[parsnipstew]

I am so happy right now at the amount of love Avis is getting here

His cere changes colour between pale purple and pale pink depending on ambient light, time of day, gods that have been given sacrifices...

[Hezz]

..... and whether all planets are aligned properly ...... nod, nod .... we know the one.