Oct 20, 2016 17:43:26 GMT
garethw
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 22
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Post by garethw on Oct 21, 2016 15:38:49 GMT
Hello and welcome to our forum a real fountain of knowledge, the most sane forum on the planet, sometimes. I notice you are from Sheffield, I must assume that to be Sheffield UK. Canadians are welcome just as much as anyone else. You have also been taken under the wing of our matriarch and supreme budgie keeper who's knowledge about budgie keeping is second to none. I have my serious head on for that paragraph. Thx OP. Yes, it's Sheffield UK.
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Oct 20, 2016 17:43:26 GMT
garethw
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 22
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Post by garethw on Oct 21, 2016 15:41:04 GMT
welcome to the nut house you shall learn a lot here. i know i sure have already. never seen a grey budgie before...i want one! Thank you. They choose him (which now seems to be a she) due to the grey silver colour. He/she looks very regal
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Post by milliej on Oct 21, 2016 17:01:42 GMT
Hi and welcome, what beauties (you'll hear that a lot on this forum ) my first ever budgie in 1995 was grey and he was a little corker. I trust you'll enjoy many happy years with your new feathered friends, they're adorable and I love the names.
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Post by Hezz on Oct 21, 2016 20:52:15 GMT
The Hamberly cage that jellybean has given the link for is a great cage - there is another new member, not sure who right now, who has bought this sort recently as well. These are large cages, and are brilliant for those times when the birds might not be able to come out for a fly around for a day or two. A cage can never be too big. The other thing I did mean to mention is that when getting new perches, whether that be from the tree outside or store-bought, get a variety of thicknesses and textures. This gives the birds' feet plenty of exercise and reduces the likelihood of them having feet problems down the track.
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Oct 20, 2016 17:43:26 GMT
garethw
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 22
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Post by garethw on Oct 22, 2016 9:06:05 GMT
The Hamberly cage that jellybean has given the link for is a great cage - there is another new member, not sure who right now, who has bought this sort recently as well. These are large cages, and are brilliant for those times when the birds might not be able to come out for a fly around for a day or two. A cage can never be too big. The other thing I did mean to mention is that when getting new perches, whether that be from the tree outside or store-bought, get a variety of thicknesses and textures. This gives the birds' feet plenty of exercise and reduces the likelihood of them having feet problems down the track. I am looking for a new cage, but it has to fit the dimensions of the side board and not be too high (wife's instructions). If I were to go out and get some perches from a tree, is there certain types of tree to avoid or to go for, also what is the best way to clean the sticks to make sure they are free from contamination and bugs?
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Post by samwiseg on Oct 22, 2016 9:09:47 GMT
Yes there are certain types you can go for and definitely ones to avoid - usually fruit tree branches that have stones like cheery tree, peach, apricot etc are to be avoided. Apple, willow and Eucalyptus are ok - a full list can be found hereWidth is always better for a bird cage too as they fly side to side not up!
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Post by jellybean on Oct 22, 2016 9:31:54 GMT
I usually wash mine in the bath garethw in a solution of F10, then dry them off outside (if you have a garden) or as I did, stick them on the clothes horse next to a radiator 😉
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Post by OP on Oct 22, 2016 9:42:36 GMT
The Hamberley cage will most definitely not fit on a sideboard. From my own personal experience you need a good quality cage, the best you can afford. If the budget will run to t then stainless steel is a good option. I mention this because you have a hen and the cage bar coating may depend on her chewing habits. I spent a small fortune on a few cages before getting the Hamberley purely because one of my hens (Edward) would strip the paint off the bars exposing the metal underneath. What happened to the actual paint that was liberated I have no idea. I now have another hen (Bobby) and she never bothers stripping the paint or even pining the bars, but she and the other buds climb around the bars using the beak along with the feet.
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Oct 20, 2016 17:43:26 GMT
garethw
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 22
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Post by garethw on Oct 22, 2016 10:41:22 GMT
Yes there are certain types you can go for and definitely ones to avoid - usually fruit tree branches that have stones like cheery tree, peach, apricot etc are to be avoided. Apple, willow and Eucalyptus are ok - a full list can be found hereWidth is always better for a bird cage too as they fly side to side not up! Thanks Samwiseg, that's a great list. I'm off to the pet shop in a mo to look for some more toys and bits. So I will look at what perches they have in before foraging. I usually wash mine in the bath garethw in a solution of F10, then dry them off outside (if you have a garden) or as I did, stick them on the clothes horse next to a radiator 😉 Thank you Jellybean, I will pick some up at the pet shop today. I still may forage for some perches, and swap and change them around every other month. That should bring them some variety. The Hamberley cage will most definitely not fit on a sideboard. From my own personal experience you need a good quality cage, the best you can afford. If the budget will run to t then stainless steel is a good option. I mention this because you have a hen and the cage bar coating may depend on her chewing habits. I spent a small fortune on a few cages before getting the Hamberley purely because one of my hens (Edward) would strip the paint off the bars exposing the metal underneath. What happened to the actual paint that was liberated I have no idea. I now have another hen (Bobby) and she never bothers stripping the paint or even pining the bars, but she and the other buds climb around the bars using the beak along with the feet. The wife were a little unsure on getting birds at first, but I have always loved birds. If I had the time and money, I would defiantly have a bird of prey. We once had a rescue African grey for a 3 month trial unfortunately she had to go back as she would attack my wife and daughter or any other female in the house, but loved me and other males. A few years ago we found a hatchling in my daughters dance school hall, which we think fell through a hole in the roof. As it were a warm day, we put the hatchling outside in a box. after a few hours the mother never came, so we decided to take it home not expecting it to survive, we took a rick of trying to care for it. A few month down the line, we had managed to raise and wean a little hen house sparrow that we released where we found her. That were the turning point for the wife to like birds. We had done some research before getting these 2, and had found this cage to be about right for 2 birds and right for the pocket at this moment. But tbh, I am hunting for a better cage. We have about 40cm width to play with and 120cm in length, but we don't want to go no higher then 80cm height.
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Post by Hezz on Oct 22, 2016 12:16:59 GMT
Height is not a big problem; birds are much more happy to go side to side rather than up and down. Getting a cage to fit the extremes of your size parameters might be a bit of a trick, but see what there is available.
For your perches, you do not have to bake them in your oven etc, but simply give them a good scrub and vinegar rinse, dry in the sun and they will be good to go.
My advice regarding safe tree perches is to compare a couple of websites, not just the one, as there are differing opinions, and what one will say is good, another might say is dubious. So do your homework, and compare sites.
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Post by OP on Oct 22, 2016 12:36:35 GMT
He's from Sheffield UK Hezz. It's not called steel city for its abundance of sunshine. Get baking garethw.
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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: 28,770
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Post by Marianne Marlow on Oct 22, 2016 14:04:32 GMT
Dry in the sun Hezz, this is the UK
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Oct 20, 2016 17:43:26 GMT
garethw
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 22
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Post by garethw on Oct 22, 2016 17:26:52 GMT
Sun, I've heard of that before(rofl)
SO I have spend quite a bit of the day sat by the cage, watching TV and just getting on with the day. Raisin is very funny with us going in the cage, and even if you go in slowly she does the wall of death around the cage. Rum on the other hand could not give a damn, he just sits there and chills. I even had him eat seed from my hand, step on it to eat some seed and he's stepped on it to go from one swing to the other.
I have tried them with some fruit today, melon and kiwi seems to be rum favourite. Raisin will not go down to the seed unless he goes down first, and she is not interested in coming to try the fruit I have put on the bars.
Any advice?
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Post by OP on Oct 22, 2016 18:06:30 GMT
Don't try and make sense of it.
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Oct 20, 2016 17:43:26 GMT
garethw
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 22
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Post by garethw on Oct 22, 2016 18:13:37 GMT
Don't try and make sense of it. I guess it's just a woman thing. That's probably why she just sits there very stern looking, and when ever he get close she just pecks him. Poor lad.
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