Jul 21, 2012 21:03:21 GMT
rkayne
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 8
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Post by rkayne on Jul 21, 2012 21:12:20 GMT
Brought home my first ever budgie this morning and he only seems to want to eat the seeds that have fallen on the floor of the cage.Should i worry about this? His seed dish is near enough a perch that he should be able to reach it but he hasn't shown any interest. Do I need to move it? Or should i just give him a couple of days to adjust?
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Oct 6, 2011 7:41:27 GMT
Marianne Marlow
Administrator 
George, Daisy, Iris, Billy, Peter, Chipper, Dinku, Barney, Ayla and Rocky
Posts: 28,851 
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Post by Marianne Marlow on Jul 21, 2012 23:40:56 GMT
Welcome
How old is the budgie?
Advice for new budgie owners is usually to scatter some seed on the floor of the cage so that the budgie can find it easily and acclimatise to his/her surroundings.
Marianne
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Post by BudgiesBuddy on Jul 22, 2012 1:11:24 GMT
Hi and welcome to forum  He will start eating from the seed dish as he settles in his new environment. Some do so in hours and some in days. It is usually because they are not used to eat from a similar seed dish in their previous home, the cage setup was different and so on. But as Marianne said it also depends on the age of the budgie. |
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Post by samwiseg on Jul 22, 2012 7:43:01 GMT
AS Marianne & BB have said, your bird just needs to get used to his new surroundings. We had the same with our first bird and she sat on the bottom of the cage for a few days. Just as long as you put some seed and water there they will soon come round. You will find that they wont' drink in front of you as it is a risky business doing that in the wild! But once they settled and are up in the cage and about and drinking you will know they are feeling a lot more relaxed. Let us know how you and your birdie get on, would love to see pictures once he as settled in  |
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Jul 21, 2012 21:03:21 GMT
rkayne
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 8
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Post by rkayne on Jul 22, 2012 7:55:54 GMT
Ok thanks that all makes me feel better. Funny about the drinking - I didn't see him drink at all yesterday but by the time I went down to see him this morning his water was empty! And he's chirping a bit so that's a good sign, right?
He's 16 weeks - we were aiming to get one a little bit younger but this is the one my son decided he loved.
Will post a photo when I figure out how!
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Jul 21, 2012 21:03:21 GMT
rkayne
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 8
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Post by rkayne on Jul 22, 2012 7:56:45 GMT
Meet Cammy Attachments:
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Post by samwiseg on Jul 22, 2012 8:02:49 GMT
Oh yes he is lovely! And it is def a good sign he is drinking AND chirping - they dont do that unless they are feeling better already as it is announcing they are there if you like! Any more questions don't hesitate to ask, we will help as much as we can  |
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Oct 6, 2011 7:41:27 GMT
Marianne Marlow
Administrator
George, Daisy, Iris, Billy, Peter, Chipper, Dinku, Barney, Ayla and Rocky
Posts: 28,851
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Post by Marianne Marlow on Jul 22, 2012 8:03:02 GMT
Assuming you didn't use a flash, I would say Cammie is a girl. Looks younger than 16 weeks to me too.
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Jul 21, 2012 21:03:21 GMT
rkayne
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 8
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Post by rkayne on Jul 22, 2012 8:09:17 GMT
Of course no flash. Why would you say you think it's a girl? Everything I've read says that if the bit above their beak is blue it means they're a boy - is that wrong?
Could be wrong about the age. The place we bought him has some very knowledgeable staff and I've been in a few times over the last few weeks to research and ask lots of questions. But when we actually went to pick him out yesterday, the two people who really know about the budgies weren't in. My son was so excited to get one I didn't want to make him wait another few days and I knew this place would only have young, healthy birds so we just went for it. But it means the girl who ended up helping us might have got the age wrong as she didn't seem quite as well informed.
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Post by samwiseg on Jul 22, 2012 8:10:28 GMT
Hey good spot Marianne, think you are right! Light blue with white round her nostrils and she still has her baby bars (smooch smooch)! ;D
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Oct 6, 2011 7:41:27 GMT
Marianne Marlow
Administrator
George, Daisy, Iris, Billy, Peter, Chipper, Dinku, Barney, Ayla and Rocky
Posts: 28,851
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Post by Marianne Marlow on Jul 22, 2012 8:11:13 GMT
The white rings around the nostrils would indicate female.
Dark blue or purple for a boy (unless lutino,albino or recessive pied then it gets complex)
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Post by Hezz on Jul 22, 2012 10:08:25 GMT
There are a few feathers standing up there on Cammy's head. Is she beginning a moult? They aren't clear enough to say for sure they are pin feathers but could be the first few starting to come through. If so then 16 weeks could be right. (I assume this the age the breeder gave you???) Cammy will be a little beauty and very smart (I am biased, just a tiny bit - my older son is Cam, Cammy, Cameron ) |
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Jul 21, 2012 21:03:21 GMT
rkayne
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 8
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Post by rkayne on Jul 23, 2012 8:18:23 GMT
Well Cammy seems to be settling in nicely - he's found his food & water dish and is quite active and vocal and we all just love him.
Can you tell me about moulting? What happens and do i have to do anything special?
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Post by stace on Jul 23, 2012 8:22:52 GMT
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Post by Hezz on Jul 24, 2012 1:31:36 GMT
Just give him a spray or misting with tepid water when the new feathers are coming through. New feathers are itchy business, they have a keratin sheath over them to help them pop through the follicles and this then peals off. Mostly the budgies will take to rubbing their heads on any and everything to rid themselves of this sheath. The water spray helps soften this and makes it easier to remove.
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