Are hand reared budgies really that hard to find..

[blundey]

Hey all, curious, are all your birds for show? Or do you have them as hand able pets? Ie are all yours hand reared? I really loathe to go in a pet shop and buy a bird that I'll struggle to bond with. Ive been looking now for weeks for somewhere at least in 25 mile radius of me that breeds and tames there birds so that the new owner can handle and start off that awesome bond so many desire with another animal..

Any tips on where I should be looking for something tame and fairly local? I've tried preloved, gum tree, bird trader etc..

Regards

Lee

[skysmum]

Hi Lee, true hand tame budgies are quite far and few between and many are quite expensive because of the work involved, the breeders usually do the rearing and feeding of these chicks. A lot of larger breeders will hand tame for you as well if they have very young and you ask them for a couple of weeks before you collect but these arn't always as tame as the hand fed babies. Have you looked on www.birdtrader.co.uk

[ANDY MAC]

My flock of 8 are not hand tamed, but the bond they have with me is very strong, I sometimes think having them tame is not always a good thing as its not natural to them, some might say I'm wrong.

[Hezz]

None of mine have been hand-reared, ie raised by the breeder as opposed to raised by the parent. I wouldn't go for a hand-reared bird - I think they miss out on a lot of the essential foods and immunities that only a parent bird can pass on. A lot like mothers breast-feeding. But a parent-raised chick, handled in the nest is a whole different story. As Skysmum has mentioned, if you can find a breeder who is prepared to do this for you, and many will, and you put in the time initially, you can almost guarantee a beautiful tame budgie will be the result.

[Nicola]

Hi Lee Not sure if this will be any help to you as you may not live in Australia, NSW, but if you do, I had a look on gum tree and I found lots of handtamed baby budgies up for sale. Most I found were $25-$30. They were a range of colours.
Hope this helps!

Nicola

[BudgiesBuddy]

I know a few ladies breed, hand feed and raise budgies in US and sell them between 100 to 200 US$. It's a form of home employment for them.

[Gaile]

hand reared babies are not always the healthest budgie, as its best to get a one raised by parents and homed at about 7-8weeks old.This is when the owner can then bond and tame thier baby budgie!

[rachel]

Feb 8, 2013 1:35:29 GMT Hezz said:

None of mine have been hand-reared, ie raised by the breeder as opposed to raised by the parent. I wouldn't go for a hand-reared bird - I think they miss out on a lot of the essential foods and immunities that only a parent bird can pass on. A lot like mothers breast-feeding. But a parent-raised chick, handled in the nest is a whole different story. As Skysmum has mentioned, if you can find a breeder who is prepared to do this for you, and many will, and you put in the time initially, you can almost guarantee a beautiful tame budgie will be the result.

Totally agree with Hezz.
I recently hand reared 4 budgie chicks from the age of 3 weeks because mum was attacking them and dad wasn't feeding them. These 4 birds are not tame at all because I didn't handle them much. On the other hand I have one pet budgie inside my house that I bred. I handled him daily from 3 weeks and brought him in at 6 weeks of age, now he is the most beautiful, tame, friendly, talkative little munchkin. My suggestion is go to a breeder or contact a breeder in your area.
Also, beware of fraudsters selling 'hand tamed' budgies that have their wings clipped. I see it all the time on gumtree.

[sarah*glittergirl2212]

I agree that parent fed is best unless there is good reason for stepping in to feed the birds as Rachel said above.
Where do you live Lee?

[blundey]

I'm in the uk, bedfordshire. Maybe it's not hand reared I'm after, just puppy dog tame.. Can this be done at 8 weeks? I see a lot of 8 week chic going but I question the effort involved..

[Gaile]

8WEEKS JUST RIGHT!!!

[outnumbered]

I got my darling Skittles when she was 8 weeks, not hand raised and I have never knew a bird could bond with me like she does. She loves to come out and just sit and preen me. Some days I cannot get away from her lol. If you get a good breeder then i do not see any problem just buying an 8 week old baby, they are still very young and you can tame them as you are their only friend. I must admit sometimes i don't know if it's a good thing that Skittles is soo bonded to me but that is the way it is and she seems happy. i know what it's like trying to find a good breeder I was soo lucky with Skittles.

Good Luck and don't give up you will a lovely budgie sooner or later !

[helenmat]

I got my bird from a breeder, who although leaving the chicks with their mother until 7 weeks, handles them every day so they are not scared of the human hand. I think this is a great idea as the chick is still getting the vital things he needs from the parent but having human interaction at the same time. My bird is still only 7 months old and is so tame, he talks and follows us around, cant get rid of him some days. If you find a good breeder who cares about his birds I am sure you will be fine.

[blundey]

Thank you for all the advise so far! I'm just worried I'll end up with a budgie and no bond. As sad as it may seem to some, I envy the relationships others have with there pet budgies and want just that. :-)

[mizloco]

Even though I have not yet managed to get either of mine to jump on my hand we are still very bonded. You will get the budgie bond it's contagious!

Sent from my HTC One X using proboards