12 week old budgie

[midge]

Hi all. I have recently purchased a 12 week old baby budgie. Suppose to be an albino but not sure, not fussed either way as twiglet is too cute to even care.


Have a look and see what you think?


The thing I would like help with is perches. At the moment twiglet has basic wooden cage perches, are these any good for twiglet long term? I'm playing on hand training twiglet, he/she seems to be use to touch and people which is a good thing, she isn't bothered when you touch the cage, talk or even if there is loads going on. Twiglet ignores you basically. And when you put your hand in twiglets cage, he/she doesn't try to run away as in scared or anything but twiglet is a nervous and does try to get away from you. Doesn't try to bit or fly though.

Any help at all anyone can give me will be greatful!

Thanks you

[birdguhl]

On the perches question, budgies need a variety of perches in terms of texture, angle, size (within limits) to make sure their feet and legs get proper exercise. If they are always on a smooth perches of same diameter, their weight will always be on same parts of foot and also their claws won't get worn down. Natural perches are best if they are clean and come from budge-safe wood. Depending on where you are you might be able to collect and your own or you can buy them.

Sounds like you are starting off from a good place to start hand training!

[Hezz]

The dowels that come with cages are not good for a bird's feet long-term. Get natural branches if at all possible, otherwise you may need to buy some. If you can source your own, DO NOT remove the bark. Let the bird do this if it wants. A perch cannot be too wide, (it can be too thin if the same diameter is used all the time) and try to find different types of branches for different textures under the feet.

You don't need to go through a rigorous cleaning routine with the branches, if this is what you can collect. A scrub down in hot soapy water (dishwashing detergent) is fine, rinse off in dilute vinegar solution and allow to dry, preferably in the sun.

[adf]

Dear Midge, your beautiful feathered friend is not albino but double factor spangle budgie (in my opinion). Albino has red eyes (I see black ....). If the photo or more precisely the colour is skewed and the eyes are red in reality then you are right .
As Hezz said above. Get some natural branches of a variable diameter (use only safe wood).

[Hezz]

Actually, if you click on the photo and enlarge the second page that opens, Twiglet's eyes can be easily seen to be red/plum. So, in my opinion, Twiglet is most definitely an albino.

[midge]

Yes, twiglets eyes are red and so is the skin, you can see it when twiglet grooms. I have one natural branch, one sand perch, one rope perch and a calcium perch. Is that all ok?

[blue48]

I've read on here that sand perches can be quite bad for their feet so I'd maybe wait and see what the experts say.

Twiglet is gorgeous

[Hezz]

I see a dowel rod for a perch; they're not good for feet as they are too uniform and too smooth, no texture to give the bird's feet any exercise. Sand perches can cause bad sores on the bottom of the feet (bumblefoot) which can be very hard to cure, rope perches are only okay until the bird starts to chew on them. They are also too soft and can result in the bird's feet becoming soft and unused to any sort of texture. The calcium perch is okay. Use the rope perch sparingly and get rid of the other two. Get some normal tree branches, and plenty of them, of differing diameters and textures, none so small that the toes go right around the perch, but anything bigger is good, go as thick as you want. Whittle down the ends to fit between the bars after cutting slightly longer than the cage width. I've already given directions on cleaning them initially.

[midge]

Jul 18, 2020 1:07:21 GMT Hezz said:

I see a dowel rod for a perch; they're not good for feet as they are too uniform and too smooth, no texture to give the bird's feet any exercise. Sand perches can cause bad sores on the bottom of the feet (bumblefoot) which can be very hard to cure, rope perches are only okay until the bird starts to chew on them. They are also too soft and can result in the bird's feet becoming soft and unused to any sort of texture. The calcium perch is okay. Use the rope perch sparingly and get rid of the other two. Get some normal tree branches, and plenty of them, of differing diameters and textures, none so small that the toes go right around the perch, but anything bigger is good, go as thick as you want. Whittle down the ends to fit between the bars after cutting slightly longer than the cage width. I've already given directions on cleaning them initially.


Ok will the perch that picture is taken on isn't in the cage any more, that was when j got twiglet. So what branches can I use? Some people say they chew at the wood so I don't want to get the wrong type if I go to the forest to pick up any old branch for example. Does it have to be fallen branch and dry or a branch cut from a tree?

[Hezz]

Jul 18, 2020 8:26:22 GMT midge said:

Jul 18, 2020 1:07:21 GMT Hezz said:

I see a dowel rod for a perch; they're not good for feet as they are too uniform and too smooth, no texture to give the bird's feet any exercise. Sand perches can cause bad sores on the bottom of the feet (bumblefoot) which can be very hard to cure, rope perches are only okay until the bird starts to chew on them. They are also too soft and can result in the bird's feet becoming soft and unused to any sort of texture. The calcium perch is okay. Use the rope perch sparingly and get rid of the other two. Get some normal tree branches, and plenty of them, of differing diameters and textures, none so small that the toes go right around the perch, but anything bigger is good, go as thick as you want. Whittle down the ends to fit between the bars after cutting slightly longer than the cage width. I've already given directions on cleaning them initially.

Ok will the perch that picture is taken on isn't in the cage any more, that was when j got twiglet. So what branches can I use? Some people say they chew at the wood so I don't want to get the wrong type if I go to the forest to pick up any old branch for example. Does it have to be fallen branch and dry or a branch cut from a tree?

Google bird safe plants. There are plenty of sites on line to help you decide what you can and can't use. Your profile doesn't say where you live so we have no idea what might grow in your area. Best to find out what you have locally and what is safe to use. Cross reference a couple of different sites as they don't all agree. Personally I find fresh live branches the best to work with rather than fallen branches unless newly down do to wind gusts etc as these still have their bark on, but there is no reason for you not to use old dead wood if you know what tree it came from initially.

It is a good thing if your bird chews on the perches, this keeps beak trimmed and boredom at bay.