Mar 30, 2012 14:11:08 GMT
bobsie
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 11
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Post by bobsie on Mar 30, 2012 14:34:56 GMT
Hey guys i'm Rachel, 22 and live with my husband Steve 30 and we're expecting our first child in September. About 2month ago my nanna took ill and suddenly passed a few days ago, we have been taking care of her budgie for the 2month and now we've inherited him I know this budgie did have another budgie with him but died around 5years ago, this budgie is 10years old ( i know this, because we bought him ) he's in VERY good health since living with us. I've bought him new toys and he's started talking again ( my nan was very ill and didn't really care for him, her carers did and I did when i vistited ) He's getting lots of stimuli from the new toys and mirrors but i'm sure he needs more? i'm going to list all the things I do for him and have for him so please feel free to direct me. - he has 2 metal dishes attached to the bars one for food and one for water - He has never been out of his cage but i've been putting my hand in alot and he feeds from my hand now, can old budgies learn new tricks? - His cage is 45cm length / 30cm depth / 60cm high is this large enough? - I have put those grit tubes over 2 perches that he jumps to sharpen his beak and the other 2 are "normal" - Can i use natural braches from the tree in our garden? I've heard i might have to put them in the oven to kill bacteria ( i do this with my chameleon ) - Are there any special food mixes i need to buy, we get the normal pet shop seed but is there a better healthier mix? - as treats he loves eating fruit, mainly apple he only has a little nibble but makes him tweet more and i hand feed this. - I clean him out every 2/3 days, change the bottom sheet and wash out his water/shake off eaten seeds and clean his fave mirror. i'm fully committed to looking after him well so any pointers will help! Thankyou!
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Mar 30, 2012 14:11:08 GMT
bobsie
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 11
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Post by bobsie on Mar 30, 2012 14:48:31 GMT
i forgot to add i'm a childminder so the budgie will have me for constant company ( poor bird ) lol
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Feb 29, 2012 21:44:11 GMT
Bird Junky
Normal Green
Posts: 458
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Post by Bird Junky on Mar 30, 2012 15:14:20 GMT
Hey guys i'm Rachel, 22 and live with my husband Steve 30 and we're expecting our first child in September. About 2month ago my nanna took ill and suddenly passed a few days ago, we have been taking care of her budgie for the 2month and now we've inherited him Hi Rachel,
I know this budgie did have another budgie with him but died around 5years ago, this budgie is 10years old ( i know this, because we bought him ) he's in VERY good health since living with us. I've bought him new toys and he's started talking again ( my nan was very ill and didn't really care for him, her carers did and I did when i vistited ) He's getting lots of stimuli from the new toys and mirrors but i'm sure he needs more? i'm going to list all the things I do for him and have for him so please feel free to direct me. - he has 2 metal dishes attached to the bars one for food and one for water Those tube drinkers are more hygienic
- He has never been out of his cage but i've been putting my hand in alot and he feeds from my hand now, can old budgieslearn new tricks? Yes he can, Why not let him out? - His cage is 45cm length / 30cm depth / 60cm high is this large enough? Yes, as long as he get some out time - I have put those grit tubes over 2 perches that he jumps to sharpen his beak and the other 2 are "normal& Don't like them have been known to hurt feet. - Can i use natural braches from the tree in our garden? I've heard i might have to put them in the oven to kill bacteria ( i do this with my chameleon ) Budgies chew wood only use Willow of Fruit tree branches
- Are there any special food mixes i need to buy, we get the normal pet shop seed but is there a better healthier mix? Feed lots of fruit/veg + Really hard boiled egg once a wk
- as treats he loves eating fruit, mainly apple he only has a little nibble but makes him tweet more and i hand feed this.
& a regular budgie seed mix
- I clean him out every 2/3 days, change the bottom sheet and wash out his water/shake off eaten seeds and clean his fave mirror.
Nice one
i'm fully committed to looking after him well so any pointers will help! Thankyou! Don't forget he's an old man in budgie yrs. so don't expect to much. Yours B.J.
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Post by skysmum on Mar 30, 2012 15:21:57 GMT
Hi bobsie, it sounds as if you have everything covered, he should be one happy little chap. One thing, PLEASE get rid of the gritty paper on his perches, this can make their feet very sore, the best thing to use is as you say, natural branches of different thicknesses to exercise their feet. Cuttle fish bone will help with the beak and an iodine block is good for them. If you are around most of the time and there is lots of activity he shouldn't get lonely and if you do have to go out for any length of time just leave a radio on . Any pics would help, we love pics.
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Mar 30, 2012 14:11:08 GMT
bobsie
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 11
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Post by bobsie on Mar 30, 2012 15:53:01 GMT
ok i'll take those things off the perches, I will get a cuttle fish bone next time I go to the pet shop.
I did buy a tube water thing but he doesn't know how to use it and completely ignored it.
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Feb 29, 2012 21:44:11 GMT
Bird Junky
Normal Green
Posts: 458
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Post by Bird Junky on Mar 30, 2012 16:05:47 GMT
Hi Leave him to it he'll soon figure it out. Yours B.J. PS.Take out the old bowl
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Post by skysmum on Mar 30, 2012 17:31:04 GMT
I use the water tube with the little finger dish that pokes through the bars he will have no trouble with this and will get used to it, they dont drink huge amounts especially if you are giving him fruit and veg. I have seen some people use the water tubes like the rabbits have but ive never used these. They also love a bath, you can get the little baths that hook onto the cage doors.
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Mar 2, 2012 20:28:29 GMT
zo
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 40
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Post by zo on Mar 30, 2012 20:02:53 GMT
- He has never been out of his cage but i've been putting my hand in alot and he feeds from my hand now, can old budgies learn new tricks? A lot of people will debate about this. With some birds, it's possible. With others, not so much. If you're patient with him (remember he's been set in his ways for most of his life) you may get him tame enough to bring out, but he's unlikely to ever become affectionate. - His cage is 45cm length / 30cm depth / 60cm high is this large enough? Sounds fine to me. - I have put those grit tubes over 2 perches that he jumps to sharpen his beak and the other 2 are "normal" I agree with skysmum. They do a very good job of selling those things, but it's like us spending our days bare-foot on sharp gravel. Ouch! - Can i use natural braches from the tree in our garden? I've heard i might have to put them in the oven to kill bacteria ( i do this with my chameleon ) As far as I know, you can only do this with certain types of tree, such as fruit tree. Best do your research. - Are there any special food mixes i need to buy, we get the normal pet shop seed but is there a better healthier mix? Most people use Trill. It's balanced, with added vitamins and minerals.Good luck, he sounds like he'll be a joy to own! And congratulations on the baby
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Post by stace on Mar 30, 2012 23:32:29 GMT
I'm glad the old boy has found a new home with someone who cares enough to ask questions. He's doing pretty well to reach 10 yrs old.
If you can, post a pic of your cage set-up and we can critique it (in a helpful way of course).
What's his name?
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Post by Hezz on Mar 31, 2012 3:51:21 GMT
"Can old budgies learn new tricks"? I presume you aren't actually meaning tricks, but more change his habits? In which case, yes, definitely. It seems he is a person-orientated budgie and the more time you spend with him, the more he will give back to you. Try taking him out of the cage on your finger. He may allow you to, he may not. But budgie-proof the room before you try in case he decides he loves it and wants to have a good fly around. You can do this in a small room (easier to catch him and return to cage, if he decides he wants to stay out and leave yourself plenty of time to get him back in the cage too. If you are in UK, willow and apple are great branches to use. Any eucalypt is good too. There are plenty of sites on the internet listing safe and un-safe budgie trees, so just check first. They don't need to be baked in the oven, but given a good scrub and a dry out in the sun will remove most germs. For other fresh foods, if you want more variety in his diet, have a look here: budgerigarsforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=budgiefeeding&action=display&thread=509And lastly, Welcome to the forum!
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Mar 30, 2012 14:11:08 GMT
bobsie
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 11
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Post by bobsie on Mar 31, 2012 18:18:27 GMT
Thanks for the info,
i bought a water tube with the little tray bit that sits in the cage ( non rabbit like ) we had it for around 3 days but didn't drink but this was within the first 2 weeks so maybe now he's settled I will try again.
We have an apple tree so I will do research on this.
the can old birds learn new tricks was just satire, I was meaning able to learn new behaviour such as becoming "tame" which i guess is going to be a suck it and see thing, but so far he's gone from sitting quite in the corner to jumping around his cage and eating from my hand, i'm thinking its a time thing. As a childcare practitioner i'm thinking the bird has been influenced by environmental factors rather than innate.
I will post pictures! His name is "beauty" however my nan ( god bless her ) had 2 budgies....Joey and beauty but one died around 5 years ago which my nanna obviously thought was Joey. I will call him beauty still since thats what my nan called him.
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Mar 30, 2012 14:11:08 GMT
bobsie
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 11
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Post by bobsie on Mar 31, 2012 18:30:52 GMT
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Mar 30, 2012 14:11:08 GMT
bobsie
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 11
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Post by bobsie on Mar 31, 2012 18:32:52 GMT
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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: 28,858
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Post by Marianne Marlow on Mar 31, 2012 19:07:21 GMT
Beauty certainly is a beauty I don't see an iodine block. I'd get one of those. Also from your photo I cannot work out how many perches he has? As other have said, definitely get rid of the sand coverings.
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Mar 30, 2012 14:11:08 GMT
bobsie
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 11
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Post by bobsie on Mar 31, 2012 21:05:58 GMT
He really is a pretty bird so things I have to do or planning to do - Get rid of the coverings on perches - look into some apple tree branches of different lengths and thickness - get an iodine block - remove the water dish and see how he goes with just the tube - He has 3 perches.... 2 going across and 1 i made that goes in the corner high up but when i get branches he'll have a corner one and 2 going front to back and i thought maybe a long one going left to right? - I will make some of my own toys for him in the section i found here,he loves shiny reflective things! 1 more question, what do these bired have as substrate? is it basic news paper or those grit sheets or sand? Today i tried placing my finger up to his feet but he shuffled to the other side of the perch so thats a working progress i'm going to read up about
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