what's your opinion on a new budgie for Khloro?

[annieones]

Is it time to get another budgie to keep Khloro company. Poor wee boy is glued to his mirror since we lost Thala 3 weeks ago ( gosh it only seems like yesterday - we are both still so sad). He has not been his usual self and hardly comes out the cage. So assuming I should, and i think we should what do i get? Another female or a male? Younger or older. He has also been such a scardy cat since and doesn't jump onto your hand any more. So i was thinking a baby, just old enough to leave it's mum and hand rear it so that he can see we are not evil. ( i think he is frightend now because he saw us catching Thala to give her meds, and he heard her squeak when she didn't like it! The next problem would be does anyone know a good breeder local to me, here in South Lanarkshire? All advice welcome. Ps i'm sorry not been on as much, broadband been up and down (changing providers this wed) so hopefully i'll get a better service. Thank you

[Rachael Kellett]

Hi Ann, I think that is a very good idea How old is Khloro? Budgies don't tend to worry about the age of their friends so age shouldn't be an issue but if you get a young budgie around 8 to 12 weeks then they will be more open to taming than an older budgie. I need to ask though why you want to hand rear one? Its better for a budgie to be raised by its parents than by a person because its mum and dad will teach it all the things it needs to know such as eating, playing, and just being a budgie

[Moogie]

Im sorry for your loss i really cat give you much advice on this as my budgie is my first but im sure if you feel its time too get little khloro a new friend then im sure it will all be fine,go with your heart
Khloro im sure will build his confidence up again as it must be quite a change for him at the mo as it is for you but in time things start to heal and get better...If he is wary due to having to give Thala the meds then again im sure the fear will pass,when i had to give my Elf meds (TWICE FOR A WEEK EACH TIME) he was not impressed and it took a while for him to trust my hand again but now he is totally fine again so please dont worry to much about that...x

[Rachael Kellett]

Forgot to add that you will need to quarantine the new budgie which will mean putting him or her in a separate cage in a different room for a minimum of 30 days. This is to make sure that they have no illnesses that they can pass onto Khloro. This will also give you plenty of time to start to bond and tame the new budgie ;D

[Bird Junky]

Hi my deepest sympathy for you loss.Can I just say that although
Khloro may be missing Thala. & now uses the mirror as his
companion. His supposed sadness is more likely to be a reflection
of your own. Birds are sensitive to their owners vibes, demeanour,
call it what you will...& they react accordingly.
A new bird would obviously make you happier for him. But to him
it would be a stranger he has to get used to, share his space, food
& your affection with etc.. & you don't know hew he will react, or
if they'll be friends. I would suggest more interaction between you
& Khloro... You still have each other....B.J.

[annieones]

Thank you all for your advice and sympathies. Rachael, Khloro will be about a year.We rescued him and were told he was 10 wks. I wasn't thinking of taking a baby away from it's parents, just thinking ( due to my inexperience) that it might be a good idea to get one very young, when it was just leaving it's parents so that it wasn't yet afraid of us humans. Just because Khloro has become such a scardy cat. I try to spend lots of time with him during the day but he is only interested in his mirror unless he is hungry. He will take one seed at a time from between my fingers but is reluctant to sit on my hand again. He sees it as " the bad hand who hurt his Thala". Would another female or male be best? At the moment we are struggling to get a breeder.

[Deleted]

i always say a cock bird every time ..... .

[annieones]

thanks Mick

[Hezz]

Ann, if anyone is able to suggest a breeder, why not contact the breeder beforehand and ask that he/she handles the chick from a young age so the baby isn't afraid of humans? This way you get the best of both worlds. A chick is best feed and reared by its parents not only for learning how to be a bird, but also building its immunity system - just like breast-feeding a baby. So a handled chick, parent-reared should give you a quieter, more responsive young bird with a healthy immune system to boot.

[Deleted]

Oct 28, 2012 1:06:21 GMT Hezz said:

Ann, if anyone is able to suggest a breeder, why not contact the breeder beforehand and ask that he/she handles the chick from a young age so the baby isn't afraid of humans? This way you get the best of both worlds. A chick is best feed and reared by its parents not only for learning how to be a bird, but also building its immunity system - just like breast-feeding a baby. So a handled chick, parent-reared should give you a quieter, more responsive young bird with a healthy immune system to boot.

i have to agree with hezz about contacting the breeder before hand....100%... .

[annieones]

Thanks that's a great idea. Didn't think of that. Now just need to find a breeder.