Nov 5, 2011 9:53:52 GMT
avocet
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 20
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Post by avocet on Nov 5, 2011 10:08:10 GMT
We've had a budgie now, for about 3 months and I'm not sure all is quite right with him!
He eats reasonably well, (seeds like Trill), but has resolutely refused any fruit or vegetable matter whatsoever since we've had him. We've tried apple, pear, strawberry, cucumber, dandelion, lettuce etc and he shows no interest in any of it. He can also "take or leave" millet (I thought they were supposed to go nuts for millet)? He weighs about 40 grammes (and has done ever since we've had him), and his keel bone (I think that's the right word - the one in his chest) feels quite prominent if you stroke his tummy.
He flies well, most days, when we let him out of the cage, chirps and screeches occasionally, and will perch on your finger (if he likes you)! He drinks plenty of water, and looks "ok" - as far as I can tell.
He plucks feathers out - probably about half a dozen very small white ones a day. A few of them have a slight greenish tinge, but they're mainly white down feathers - he doesn't pluck flight feathers.
Lastly, he absolutely refuses to have a bath - won't even "paddle" in his bird bath, but occasionally drinks from it.
Should we be worried?
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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: 28,855
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Post by Marianne Marlow on Nov 5, 2011 10:18:55 GMT
Hello and welcome.
Would you be able to post a photo of your little bird?
Might help people to help you!
Thanks
Marianne
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Post by barrieshutt on Nov 5, 2011 10:20:02 GMT
A bird will eat the foods its parents eat which it appears inclused not fruit and veg, mix grated carrot and EMP egg food and try that.....................mist your bird a couple of times a week in the morning , use tepid water
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Nov 5, 2011 9:53:52 GMT
avocet
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 20
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Post by avocet on Nov 5, 2011 11:25:45 GMT
Hello and welcome. Would you be able to post a photo of your little bird? Might help people to help you! Thanks Marianne Hi Marianne, I'll have a go!
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Nov 5, 2011 9:53:52 GMT
avocet
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 20
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Post by avocet on Nov 5, 2011 11:26:54 GMT
A bird will eat the foods its parents eat which it appears inclused not fruit and veg, mix grated carrot and EMP egg food and try that.....................mist your bird a couple of times a week in the morning , use tepid water Ta Barrie - I really am a complete newbie! What's EMP egg please? Also, what's "misting"?
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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: 28,855
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Post by Marianne Marlow on Nov 5, 2011 11:36:33 GMT
What a beauty. A girl I think!
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Post by BudgiesBuddy on Nov 5, 2011 11:37:12 GMT
Yes a lovely female
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Nov 5, 2011 9:53:52 GMT
avocet
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 20
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Post by avocet on Nov 5, 2011 12:25:25 GMT
er, like I said.... ...COMPLETE newbie!!! They said it was a boy at the pet shop! We wanted a boy because (apparently!) they are more likely to talk than girls! Our six year old (that's him in the photo) has been campaigning for a pet for a good while now, and after some pretty tough negotiating, we settled on a budgie (he wanted a penguin originally)! He's fed up with it now anyway because we've had it three months and it can't talk yet - I suppose that explains a lot... Could I ask if anyone has an opinion on likely age, by the way? (It'll be just our luck that when we said we wanted a young one, we've got a 10 year old one? I think the head bands and almost no irises suggest quite young? The cere does look a BIT bluer than the photos suggest. It (can't quite say "she" yet!) got a bit miffed at the camera flash, so it's not speaking to us at present.
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Oct 7, 2011 19:59:02 GMT
ianb
Normal Green
Posts: 410
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Post by ianb on Nov 5, 2011 20:17:15 GMT
How old did they tell you it was?? it's leg ring looks like 2010 to me in which case you may not get it to talk as to it's age.
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Oct 8, 2011 14:18:45 GMT
ruthpaton
Normal Green
Posts: 364
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Post by ruthpaton on Nov 5, 2011 21:29:00 GMT
Welcome to the forum!
Oh my,what fun you would have had with a penguin in the house! :-) That's a cute little budgie you have there. It's a shame if s/he turns out too old to learn to speak but it should still be possible for him/her to play with your little boy. They love to throw things like balls down for us to pick up again and s/he may still learn to do little tricks like ring the bell for you if you give small treats when he does it. Don't give up on the talking though if you've already started - jusst keep repeating a word such as the budgie's name over and over in the same tone of voice. Not all budgies take a bath, I think Barrie meant spraying it with a small water spray bottle. If you spray it a bit above the budgie's head it will fall like mist and they seem to love it. I'm not sure what EMP eggfood is myself to be honest! Check out the feeding thread,I think it may tell you on there how to make eggfood yourself,or you can get it from various places online.
Ruth
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Post by Hezz on Nov 6, 2011 3:00:13 GMT
EMP is the brand, I am pretty sure, egg food is a protien rich feeding supplement. Check this out: www.manorfarmbirdseed.co.uk/emp-superior-egg-food-25kg-1289-p.aspAs Ruth mentioned not all birds like to bathe, but a NEW spray bottle or one only used for water, is a handy addition to budgie's box of tricks. Just make sure that the water isn't cold and he has time to dry off and preen himself beautiful again before it gets dark and cold. As for his weight, he sounds fine. Someone else asked the question a day or two ago and apparently 42g is the average. And s/he looks fine, a little beauty!
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Nov 5, 2011 9:53:52 GMT
avocet
Brand New Budgie
Posts: 20
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Post by avocet on Nov 7, 2011 10:38:24 GMT
Thanks all - really useful stuff. I'll procure a spray bottle and try "misting"! I'll also look into the egg food link - ta.
Ruth, thanks for your post. I'm sure the kids would love to "play" with (him/her), but one of the big puzzles is that it doesn't seem to LIKE playing? The bird doesn't seem at all unhappy - quite alert in fact. The other day, it sat on the back of an empty dining chair watching us all eat lunch, and seemed perfectly at ease. The big problem is that we can't "reward" it with anything when it does something we like, because there doesn't seem to be anything IT likes as a reward! It just seems a reasonably contended (but curiously detached) sort of bird.
IanB, is there a standard coding on the leg rings? I could try and have a look for the rest of the letters / numbers and report back. The pet shop were vague about how old it was - "under a year" was the closest we could get.
All: Are we pretty convinced "he's" a girl then? Are there any other things I can do to check?
TA!
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Post by Hezz on Nov 8, 2011 1:20:11 GMT
Even though "she" doesn't seem interested in veges, don't give up on her. The more you offer, the more chance you have of her trying some one day, especially if she sees you eating the same thing.
Also, if she was over 6 months old before you got her, she is going to be more wary of you and take longer to show her true personality, take longer to relise that you are her flock now. She was no longer an impressional youngster, but an older more independant soul. Most of all, don't give up on her - give her lots of attention, talk to her, have her out heaps and you may see a change for the better.
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