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Post by mintysowner on Oct 23, 2014 11:13:53 GMT
After losing my little Minty, as he's the only budgie I have owned I was wondering - is it ok to get two baby budgies together? Would they be ok together? And also is it just pot luck in discovering you may have got one male and one female, because I'm not in a position to breed or for one to fall pregnant (!) so erm, how do I go about preventing this if I decide to get two ? Would they not bond with me as much because they will have each other? Sorry so many q's Thank you! xx Having two together is not a problem, even if they do end up being cock and hen; most budgies will not breed unless you give them somewhere they would regard as a place to nest, so that wouldn't be an issue. So two babies, normally you would be getting them from the same place, so they would be fine together, and normally I would encourage people to get two, particularly if they spend time at work during the day - one budgie on its own for hours at a time can get very lonely. But, given your circumstances, Becca, this is one of the few times I would advise against getting two. Two can be right little fiends, imps, naughty brats, and you are correct that they are much more likely to bond with each other strongly than with you. To build the bonds with two youngsters at a time does take a lot of effort on your part, a lot of patience, a lot of persistence. You really would need to be on top of your game. If you really did want to have two, I would suggest getting one first off, build up the bond there for a year or so and then introduce another only when you have a good connection working with the first budgie. Some people say that they have lost a bond with the first on the intro of the second; I have not found that for myself. In fact I have found that the first has made the second more trusting of me by showing that I am not a scary monster. But they are all so very different that there really isn't any answer that is 100% guaranteed to be the right one. Thank you Hezz it makes more sense me getting the one for now to bond with it given how much time I can give it. I guess I was being greedy they're so hard to resist and if I was well enough I would have an aviary. I'm looking forward to choosing another and understand it won't be another Minty but that's ok, I'm looking forward to getting to know another little bird. When they are so young though is there a way to tell their sex, Hezz? I mean it doesn't hugely matter I don't mind having either but I just wondered. Thanks again
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Post by skysmum on Oct 23, 2014 18:26:33 GMT
Lovely to here about your plans for a new bud, they can never replace our lost ones but once they get under your skin there is no going back . I would try and get a male, i think they are easier to tame and although some females talk the boys are the best at it, they don't bite half as hard as a hen either . A nice bright blue cere will give you a male and make sure he is lively, bright eyed and bushy tailed .
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Post by Hezz on Oct 24, 2014 1:26:59 GMT
skysmum, I think Becca was talking about when the chicks are young, as in 6-7 weeks of age, when going to buy a new bird. Becca, I don't have the best track record with this, but I would suggest you go along to the breeder, take some photos of the ceres of the ones you are interested in if this is okay with the breeder and post the photos on here. The breeder should be able to help you out as well, but some don't. If you go through the threads in the gender section you should be able to get some idea of what to look for: when they are this young the cocks usually have a mauve/purple coloured cere while the hens have a very pale washed-out blue cere with whitish rings around the nostrils. Also, I think it is easier to see the colours in a photo sometimes, so go through the gender threads and practise guessing the sex; it will give you more of a clue what to look for when the time comes.
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Mar 1, 2015 17:52:06 GMT
sweetiebird
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 7
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Post by sweetiebird on Mar 9, 2015 8:41:40 GMT
I have just adopted Sweetie from an elderly friend who is unwell and she thinks she will have more companionship with us. I don't know how old she is (Sweetie that is) as my friend also took her on from someone unable to look after her. Sweetie was very nervous and is a little bald over her shoulders. She doesn't like to come out of her cage. Just wondering if getting another bird would help. She doesn't seem to want to bathe and doesnt appreciate having a spray of water as I know this helps.
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Post by suesbird on Mar 9, 2015 10:46:59 GMT
Hi Sweetiebird, sorry I can't help, others will be on later who can help. Just wanted to welcome you, it is very quiet here at the moment.
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Post by budgiebudgie on Mar 9, 2015 19:11:28 GMT
When I am talking to my young, four-and-a-bit month old hen (Bimbo), who is on my finger or very close by, and when we make clucking and kissy noises together, she is regularly regurgitating barely digested seeds (plural - often there are several) right into or onto my mouth.
I gather it's a sign of her bonding with me, and it is lovely - I don't discourage it - but is it normal?? She has done this every day for the last four days. It's becoming a daily habitual occurrence. I hope she is retaining enough food for herself!
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Mar 20, 2015 18:53:15 GMT
rae
Normal Green
Posts: 369
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Post by rae on Mar 28, 2015 22:39:40 GMT
When holding Basal he has started to preen while on my hand. Could this be stress or him getting comfortable with me?
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Post by suesbird on Mar 28, 2015 22:48:07 GMT
Definitely comfortable
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Mar 20, 2015 18:53:15 GMT
rae
Normal Green
Posts: 369
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Post by rae on Mar 28, 2015 22:57:31 GMT
Yay! I expect him to still be quite skittish since it hasn't been too long. Is there a way to get him to go to his lower feeder? He has two, but never comes down, or to his water. I'm sure he knows they are both there because he will watch me put my finger (clean) into the water and he'll drink the drops.
Sorry for all the questions. I actually volunteer with the bird staff at the zoo, but it's quite a bit different than having a companion bird.
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Post by Hezz on Mar 29, 2015 1:47:30 GMT
Budgies take a while before they will drink in front of you. It is a very vulnerable time for them, drinking, as they can't keep lookout for predators. Usually they would have someone keeping lookout while the majority drink and then swap over. I would be sure he waits until you are out of the room before having a drink. When you see him drink, then you can be happy with the knowledge that he has settled in.
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Mar 20, 2015 18:53:15 GMT
rae
Normal Green
Posts: 369
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Post by rae on Mar 29, 2015 2:00:24 GMT
Thank you so much for your reply. If it's okay I would like to ask one more small, general question. I've read about tail bobbing, but is that like an obvious bobbing? When he breathes and you watch him carefully there is a slight tick up and down as he breathes. Nothing exaggerated, not fast, and he doesn't seem to be struggling. He breathes at a steady pace that I would call relaxed for such a small body, but given they try to hide illnesses I don't want to catch something too late. Currently he is chattering to himself and fluffing his face. I'm talking softly to him and we are about to call it a night.
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Post by Hezz on Mar 29, 2015 2:05:13 GMT
That's fine. A slight movement is perfectly normal.
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Mar 20, 2015 18:53:15 GMT
rae
Normal Green
Posts: 369
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Post by rae on Apr 3, 2015 13:05:51 GMT
Hey Hezz, or anyone that cares to answer. Basal has been on the quiet side by starts chirping and chattering softly at times, so far. Am I discouraging this if I start talking softly back to him? Sometimes he stops and sometimes he continues.
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Post by Hezz on Apr 4, 2015 1:10:17 GMT
It isn't a problem either way. Mostly they do seem to shut up while you talk back to them - they are very polite like that. That, or they just wish to goodness you would shut up and go away so they can chicker on to themselves in peace! Please yourself and he won't be affected by your input or lack of it.
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Mar 20, 2015 18:53:15 GMT
rae
Normal Green
Posts: 369
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Post by rae on Apr 6, 2015 18:05:34 GMT
So when cleaning Basal's cage I have to put him in another holding. We haven't gotten to where he's fine with this, but is it going to set things back too far in training? I have to clean the cage and all the perches, I can't just leave it. He isn't fond of coming out yet and I can't let him have free reign yet. I would bring him into the bathroom while I wash the cage and contents but I'm afraid he would get into the tub with bleach water. Rambled a little, but again, does this ruin the trust he's given me so far?
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