[la di dah]

I know one of these budgies - I don't know which one - is named Mr. Smith. Right now I'm calling the other one The Other One.

I babysat these birds once about two years ago, but they are back and might be staying. They belong to DH's Nan, who is looking at going into a nursing home and is in any case in the hospital at the moment.

She has been very careful to always feed/water the birds (she has Parkinsons and I think getting out to their cage and putting seed in it is sometimes an afternoon's activity...) but they haven't had much interaction aside from with each other, or any toys, just a perch and food and each other.

And their cage is aaaaamazingly filthy.

They are living on our balcony (which is covered and on the south wall, so not in blazing sun but bright) and seem okay out there, as they lived outside on her veranda anyway. Last time we had them in the house, but that was before we had cats.

I only watched them for a few days before. Is there anything I have to know beyond obvious birds-need-water-and-food type stuff? I've never had any type of pet bird.

Is it possible to tame them if they are adults and wild-ish? They aren't particularly tame even for the person they know, they don't come out of their cage ever or perch on fingers or anything like that.

And how do I clean this cage?

[HollyOllyOxenfre...]

It's been a while since I owned birds, but cleaning the cage shouldn't be too bad. You should be able to pull the bottom tray part out and give it a good scrub and put down new paper or grit sheet. Or if it's really, really bad, maybe buy a new cage. Is the filth on the wire sides and stuff too?

Taming probably isn't going to happen. I never tried, but I always heard with budgies that you need to train the from babies or it's not going to happen. Someone else might be able to give you some pointers though.

If you can get some natural perches they'll be great rather than just the store bought ones. Just some sticks you pick up, even with some leaves and stuff attached. They'll be able to strip the twigs and play that way.

Have you got a cover for them? Most birds I've had like to be covered at night whether they live inside or outside. We always used to have a little spray bottle of water for really hot days to give them a little spray. I know you live in an apartment, but is there anywhere inside the cats can't get to where you can put them at night? Summer wouldn't be too bad, but I know from when I lived out near where you are that winter gets really cold.

You can pick up some toys pretty cheaply. Most birds I've had have loved mirrors and bells. They might take a while to get used to it if they've never had it, but it can't hurt to try.

[la di dah]

We may have to buy a new cage. I'm not sure it has a tray that's seperate from the rest and I'm kind of afraid of breaking it.

It doesn't get real cold here. There are wild galahs and lorikeets locally and they seem okay? I dunno. These two never lived inside except for the couple of days they were here, DH laughed at me the last time we brought them in because I'm used to parakeets being inside pets (it gets REAL cold back home) and he said "...budgies are Australian...?" and treated me like a crazy person.

We also, uh, don't have heat. Of any kind. Because I am never cold here. So maybe I'm skewed? I don't want to hurt them though.

I'll get them some sticks. Are there any kinds I should/shouldn't get? The last thing I want to do is give his Nan's budgies a poisonous stick.

[JustBeige]

LDD, budgies are amazingly resilient little birds (not like canaries or finches) however if they do get sick they do usually pass really quickly

They will survive outside if they are sheltered from bad heat and coldness.

Cover them over at night with a couple of towels and make sure the towel covers all the sides. - this will help stop them singing at sparrowfart. In winter add a heavier cover.

Food - commercial budgie food is great and the best. Get trill or even the coles brand one as it has quite a good mix of vitamins etc, They also love some fruits - apples, peas, corn etc. Do NOT give them lettuce particularly iceberg as they get the squirts and it its too bad it can kill them, Also a cuttle fish bone is vitally important for them. Also millet stalks. Just not too many as it makes them fat.

Paired budgies will not tame to your hand. The best you can hope for is not freaking out when you change their food and water. They do like small toys.

Clean natural branches (australian natives) are also good for keeping beaks and claws trimmed. They also love love love to climb. As they are paired, if there is a mirror in the cage take it out. It makes them focus on the mirror and they seem to become a bit brain dead and not focussing on the world around them I have found.


Vitamins - must. You can get a few that you mix with water. My birds hate it, so you can actually just sprinkle it over their seed. It may take them awhile to get used to but they will eat it.

Worming - must. Get one that you add to their water. easiest thing to do. All my birds love the Worm-Enda Plus.

Cages - Biggest possible. They do like to fly. and yes they should be kept clean (just dont look at my 3) The best way to do that is to add newspaper UNDER the grate in the bottom.

Do you have boys or girls???

PM me if you want any more info.
I have had budgies all my life and also now have parrots, finches and canaries.


Oh, they really do love company, so the more time you spend interacting around them the better.

Far out - most importantly. Do NOT feed them wet seed. They do like it wet but it starts to go off after a few hours and if you dont remove it, it can turn rancid really quickly and kill them.

This post has been edited by JustBeige: 07/12/2012, 10:24 AM

[la di dah]

They have a box of Trill and a bag of Coles'. Will probably last us a while.

They've never had fruit/millet/nuts/cuttlefish bone (the food is grit-added) as far as I know, at least not for years. I am a bit scared - having never had birds maybe paranoid is the right word - that any sudden change at this stage of the game and they'll die. Is there a way to introduce that stuff without traumatizing them or me?

How do you sex a budgie? (first person to say "candy is dandy but liquor is quicker" is getting smacked)

I do not think anyone really knows their sex. Mr. Smith is called that but I have no particular faith he's male.

They're both blue. One is gray blue and the other brighter blue. That probably doesn't matter for gender at all, does it?

This is the picture of the exact birdcage they've lived in several years, except its not bright yellow. Just a pic I found online, but the same exact looking thingIt says transport cage? My DH has already mentioned getting them a nicer cage at some point if we keep them but am I to conclude this is way too small for 24/7 living for two birds?

EDIT to add: is it safe to give them tomato? I have a bunch of extra tomatoes.

This post has been edited by la di dah: 07/12/2012, 11:24 AM

[Oriental lily]

With budgies the bigger the cage the better.

That cage is to small for one budgie, cruel for two.

If they were free range and spent the majority of the time outside in a safe enclosed area it might be passable.

But for two birds full time?

Nope.

So a new cage four times ( or larger) that size is needed.

Budgies don't need grit but they love to shred natural branches.
Heaps of fruit and veggies.

I currently have a large aviary with six budgies ( used to have more but don't have the time so slowly getting new homes) and I live in colder Melbourne.

They are perfectly fine in both the heat and cold as long as they have heaps of shade and protection from direct winds.


Budgies are sweet little birds with real character to them. You will be able to ame them with enough interaction and time.

I recently gave two adult boys to my nieces and they are now sitting on fingers and becoming more and more friendly.

[Oriental lily]

Tomatoes are fine.

Mine go giddy over Brocolli

[qak]

I think boy budgies have a blue cere (bit above the beak)?

[la di dah]

I don't think these two would know what to do with a big cage. I've gone out and checked on them a couple times and they mostly just sit. They can't walk on the bottom of the cage. They have two perches but I've only seen them on the higher one.

They move around and flutter if I come near, completely unimpressed with me. Don't even make much noise, I remember more chirping last time.

I do think his Nan cares about them, but I don't know that she's up to taking care of them, or from the sound of it ever really knew how to? I think budgies and little inexpensive cage pets don't always come with good instructions?

Ironically a bigger aviary would have been easier though, I think, as far as less poop/seed debris per inch.

If I were able to scratch up money for a bigger aviary... how would I move them? Laugh if you want but they hate me, are scared spitless of me, and have never really been out of the cage. I'm not sure of how to move them.

I'm off to find a stick to chew/perch on and chop up tomatoes. I expect that even if I do, they will continue to hate me. lol

[Kay1]

Don't give them banana or avocado. Its toxic.

Mine used to love some wet leafy spinach (or basil was a fav) put through the top of the cage and pegged there. Bath and snack in one. Broccoli is a good one to start with as it has little 'seeds'. I wouldn't give tomato but I'm not sure about that one.

Its highly unlikely they'll take to eating this stuff at this late stage anyway and the leafy bath may terrif them if not introduced gradually.

While they're settling in or when you move them to a new cage a towel or blanket covering three sides of the cage will help them feel more secure.