first ever budgie, still just a baby. can you tell the sex y

[katiebabie]

Hello. Here is my new baby git him today. Very friendly hand raised. He eats on his own now but I haven't seen him drink. Will he drink on his own?

Would really love to know the gender so I can name him/ her suitably.
Thanks.

[katiebabie]

Hmmmm. Cant work out how to upload a pic.

[starlingqueen]

Upload the picture to a site like photo bucket and then paste the code here.

Welcome to the forum and the world of budgies.

[katiebabie]

does this link work?

fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/t1.0-9/10371409_10154123997675156_941005598225565143_n.jpg

[starlingqueen]

Yes the code worked. I think it's a male. How old is he and where did you get him, pet shop or breeder? Does he have a tail or wing feathers? could you post a picture from the back?

[katiebabie]

My aunty answered an add on the internet (I am from Australia). I didn't get to speak to the owner directly so not really sure how old. Only just started eating on its own.

[starlingqueen]

May 14, 2014 13:32:47 GMT katiebabie said:

My aunty answered an add on the internet (I am from Australia). I didn't get to speak to the owner directly so not really sure how old. Only just started eating on its own.

Sorry, I must have been editing my post as you were posting. Could you post a picture of him from behind so we can see his wings and tail?

[katiebabie]

fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/t1.0-9/s526x395/10345852_10154124252415156_4948858912762216967_n.jpg


Here is the side on pic.

[starlingqueen]

I can't work out if he is a very young bird or in poor condition or both. His right foot doesn't look good, it seems swollen and if he's old enough to leave his parents I would think he should have better feather coverage than that. Lets see what other members think. Hezz and BudgiesBuddy

[katiebabie]

I know he is young. My guess by what I was told is 4-5 weeks. He wasnt with his parents for most of that time I dont think and they told my aunty he wasnt fully feathered yet.
As far as his condition goes I have know idea. I hope he turns out ok! Any advice appreciated.

[Hezz]

BudgiesBuddy is the real expert on baby budgies, but at 4 weeks I would have expected him to be more uniformly feathered than this. But maybe he hasn't gotten the best nutrition from the parents, and is a bit behind developmentally.

Although he may well be cracking seed on his own, I would still be feeding him either chick formula or egg and biscuit made into a mush. At this age they can take forever to feed; the egg and biscuit will make sure he continues to put on weight and it also makes for a great taming tool - the little fella will come to associate you with all good stuff.

As for drinking he will be capable of drinking but budgies often don't drink in the first few days of a new home. In this little one's case, this is another reason to give moistened, mushy egg and biscuit - it will help keep his fluid levels up. Dehydration can quickly kill a chick.

[BudgiesBuddy]

[BudgiesBuddy]

It's hard to say for sure from just one picture, and a video should explain a lot more. But I can think of a few reasons which can cause this.

She is under 30 days, hence the missing feathers.

OR

It's a feather condition.

OR

Poor hand-feeding formula, lacking essential nutrition.

OR

An inexperienced Hand-feeder spills the formula around budgie face and neck. It becomes hard like cement. And than those feathers get pulled out one way or the other.

OR

Chicks plucked by hens get an uneven feather growth.

[starlingqueen]

Is his right foot swollen BudgiesBuddy?

[BudgiesBuddy]

May 15, 2014 9:39:14 GMT starlingqueen said:

Is his right foot swollen BudgiesBuddy?

I thought about it a few times but can't decide. It just maybe the angle of the picture.