Are my budgies ok?

[mrlurch]

Hello, I’ve had my budgies for a month now, and I’m just wondering if it’s still normal for them to be quiet? Now and again they’ll make a bit of noise and have a little play, but other than that, they just quiet and sitting there majority of the time. Could it be that they’re still adjusting? How can I help encourage them to sing? Play? Move about? Fly more?

[Hezz]

They will usually have times of activity and noise and other times of peace and quiet. Do they get to sit in the sun at all? If no, then it might be worth investing in an avian UVB bulb to give them the artificial version. I've never had to use one but a number of members have them and use them regularly. Some people say their birds are much more active and noisy when they benefit from the lamps.

[Shirls]

Do your budgies have any stimulation i.e. toys? Do you have a radio on for them or is it just quiet all the time. Budgies are a little fearful of quiet and a background noise will help I'm sure.

[mrlurch]

Hi, thanks for the great advice, they now have a lamp! So hopefully that helps them! They do have toys and stuff but don’t seem interested in them! Same with their block and cuttlefish bone

[mrlurch]

I’ve notice my hen’s cere go from brown, to looking like this (Not my budgie or photo but is exactly like this photo) is this normal?

[Shirls]

When a hen bird comes into breeding condition you will find her cere changes colour. It can go brown, scaley and really look quite disgusting sometimes, but it is nothing to worry about. It will change back to it's normal colour. One of my hens used to get one 'nostril' dark brown and the other quite a normal colour sometimes and occasionally the whole cere just went scaley brown. They are all different.

[Hezz]

It just means that she has moved out of breeding condition.

Regarding the cuttlebone and mineral block, the birds will use it if and when they feel they need it. They self-medicate so while they might not touch them for ages, they are necessary to keep in the cage for the times when the birds do want to have a chew. Some hens will become obsessed with pulverising their cuttlebone, whether they actually need it or not is another matter, and they're not telling.