*Esme*

[Pavlor]

So I bought a gorgeous young albino hen budgie yesterday and brought her home and put her in her new home, which also has some quails (2 Japanese and one Chinese painted). As people who replied to my introduction know, Esme is my first ever budgie, so I am completely new to all this, but because I have a very keen interest in keeping pets, and have quite a collection myself and consider myself a hobbyist, I'm not entirely oblivious to taking care of animals. Anyhoo, I was wondering if anyone here could have an educated guess at her age as the woman in the pet shop only knew that Esme is from Sweden and nothing else. She's small, and this is what makes me think she is a young'un. Also, when I came home today, she was on the floor with the quails pecking for food. I was worried about only having one budgie, but it does seem that she is comfortable around the quails and the quails have accepted her - will the quails relieve her of any possible boredom (even though I try to spend at least an hour a day with the animals pottering around etc...)?

Pav

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[Pavlor]

More pics!

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[Pavlor]

I'll try and get more pics later to post!

[Pavlor]

Just been up to put everyone to bed and I must say, Esme seems not to mind my hand being near her. I gave her some greens (mixed leafy salads - lots of wild rocket and other types of dark leafy lettuces that I have no idea what they would be called in English or Finnish...), and she tried to nibble at it so, as you can imagine, my fingers were pretty close. If I make a sudden jolt, which I *try* not to do, she looks nervous and looks for somewhere to fly; I suspect this is normal, all things considered.

Also, when I near the cage, she has started to cock her head more and look at me and then beak her way to the swing, which is quite close to the nearest side of the cage. I put my head up very close (there's maybe two inches between her and my face, poor thing *lol*) and she just looks at me, but doesn't look nervous at all. Progress, maybe! I still find it difficult to believe in hand-tame budgies as I've never experienced anything like that in real life and find it hard to imagine tickling Esme behind the neck... =/

[Hezz]

Just don't stare at her, Pavlor. She will see that as though you are eying her up for lunch, and you don't want that. Also not all budgies will allow you to scratch them. It's an individual thing.......some do, some just don't. But that's just their nature, and doesn't mean they won't allow contact in another way. It seems Esme has settled in well, and I am sure you will be friends in no time.

[Pavlor]

So tonight, Esme landed on my hand twice. I take it this is a very good sign. In the beginning, she was nervous and flew to the other side of the cage, but after a few minutes, she kept eyeing up my hand, then flew to it. It didn't seem "by chance", but I'm not entirely convinced she "wanted to", either Still, progress from yesterday, at least! Also, she tried to nibble the greens I was offering her in my fingers but she didn't seem how to do it, so didn't eat any. I'll keep perservering!

[Marianne Marlow]

Sounds like you are doing well with gaining her trust

[Pavlor]

I just find it all amazing... A tiny little bird gaining my trust! =)

[Hezz]

Definitely keep persevering with the greens. She does need them and it may take her a while to get used to them but keep trying. The fact that she was interested in them suggests to me she will be eating them very quickly.

[Pavlor]

She'll have them every day. I give my rabbit and guinea pigs greens every day so she'll get some of what they have.

[Hezz]

Mine too. Every day, I mean, not the rabbits bit.