Handling birds..

[fliptheswitch]

I popped out to the supermarket earlier, and came home with a couple of budgies (not from the supermarket).

I saw an advert on the noticeboard for someone looking to re-home them, so I phoned and went to get them.

Anyway...

They're in a large cage, but I'd like to let them have a fly around. I just went to open the cage door, but they went crazy! Am I supposed to put my hand in and take them out, or just leave the door open and let them come out as they please?

They're not babies, they're 2 and 1. The lady said they haven't been handled much, only on a couple of occasions. Are you supposed to even handle them?

I need a crash course in budgie care. Thanks :-)

[Andyvon]

Hi Fliptheswitch,

I've been trying to post a link but I've forgotten how to do it. Sorry. If I remember how then I'll post it later.

I think you are right in just letting them come out if and when they feel safe to do so. Birds often hop onto a perch if you place it under their breast. If not then you can catch them in a small fishing net but that is obviously a stress for them. Good luck.

[fliptheswitch]

Thanks Andy. I just want what's best for them, really. If they're happy to stay in the cage, and show no signs of wanting to come of the open door, then I shall just let them be. I will be upset if this is the outcome, though.

[Andyvon]

Hi again Fliptheswitch. I think I've re-discovered how to post the link. I think this works. I'll post another couple below.


C:\Users\Andyvon\Pictures\My Pictures\General\Budgie Aviary

[wildwood]

Andy, you need to submit the photo to photobucket, Tinypic etc. they host images for free and you can post a link to that here.

Leave the budgies alone for a day or two and cover half of the cage if it is the open type. Feeding/watering should be done very subdued. Hold a piece of chickweed or groundsel or silverbeet close to the wire a few times a day, and leave a tiny bit between the wires when you take your hand away. They'll be coming up to the wire before you know it and eat it out of your hand, then don't leave any behind. Next step is to slowly put your hand inside the cage with the greens and get them to eat straight out of your hand. They will soon be hopping up your hand. Once they're confident sitting on your hand the door can be left open so they can have a clamber around. You can entice them out with the greens. If they do fly around and it is time for them to go back in it should be simple to get them to hop on your finger - with a bit of green in the beginning - and put them back. After a while they should go back into the cage by themselves.

Budgies are rather lazy critters and if they don't fly around much you still need to watch their diet as they are prone to obesity and that halfs their lifespan.

[Andyvon]

Perhaps this will work Fliptheswitch. I've spent about two hours on this. The URL is greyed out on the Photobucket album so I'll leave it if not. Sorry if you couldn't see the pictures.

http://s1176.photobuc.../albums/x329/Andyvon/

[Andyvon]

Oh God! I think it's worked! That's a surprise!

[mrs.chappie]

Andy, I remember you posting the pics of your aviary before. It's fab!

Flip, please also make sure you have a fire-guard round the fire if the birds are flying free. As you perhaps know (think we spoke about this before) I used to rescue birds for many years and sadly, I know of one or two meeting a horrible end by flying into the fire.

[treetops1]

Hell's Budgie Bells Andyvon, that blue chested ones a big one. Congrats on getting your pictures on. A palace for birds.

[mrs.chappie]

^^^^Not by flying into my fire, I hasten to add.

[Andyvon]

I'm pleased you can see them now. I'd forgotten about Photobucket then I had problems sending the link. The cup of tea did the trick!

I did post them before Mrs. Chappie (for Pinkilady). We acquired another five birds this ye but we lost one a couple of weeks ago. Our first loss which upset Mrs. Andyvon. I think it must have just been old age as the budgie seemed fine, then she suddenly lay on the sand and died!

Hope you like the pictures Fliptheswitch.

[ladybirder]

So it was two hours well spent after all andyvon:-)

[mrs.chappie]

Awww, sorry to hear that Andy. Having lost lots of birds over the years, I know how the missus feels.

[hc4361]

Your birds will enjoy a 'shower' in a couple of weeks, when they are used to you.
Just gently spray them with luke warm water in a mister.

You will need to put your hand in to the cage to remove the perches for a good scrub at least once a week. Make sure they are dry before putting them back in, or buy spares and rotate.
Let them get used to you gradually, talk to them when you change their food and water.
They will soon settle in.

[Andyvon]

We hang a large coop cup on the inside of the cage filled with an inch or two of water (coop cups are circular stainless steel bowls that fit into a hanger and most pet shops have them). The birds love bathing in there. Once one goes in for a dip and a flutter the others take it in turns. They especially like the bath when the weather is warm.

I'm sure you'll love your birds Fliptheswitch. I'm amazed what time-wasters they are! It's easy to spend ages watching ther antics and each one has their own little personality and character. They also have an heirarchy which sonn becomes apparent. If you want any more advise on budgies then I'll keep my eye on Pets and happily answer any questions if I can.

Andrew.

[fliptheswitch]

Wow! Thank you for all your brilliant answers... and the pics, which are amazing! :-)
Seeing those made me look up at my two in their "standard" cage, and feel pretty awful. Don't get me wrong, they seem happy enough (though what do I know?) but I can't help but feel bad that they're stuck behind bars in a cage.
The reason I answered the advert, was because it was clear the person didn't really give a toss about them... which was confirmed when I went round to see them.
Their house was full of pets, some old but mostly new... a puppy, two kittens and two baby lizards/dragon-type things.
They were all happily living in the lounge, whereas the poor budgies (who didn't even have names at 1 and 2 years old) were stuck out in a back room, which was quite cold. I asked why she was looking to re-home them, and she said she didn't have time for them, now that she had all the other animals.
I knew then that I had to "rescue" them, so I paid up and put them in the car. The woman couldn't get rid of them/me fast enough! :-(

Anyway, I covered them over with a blanket last night, as I remember my Mum doing this with our budgie when I was a child.
They went very quiet within a few minutes, and I didn't hear much from them all night.
As soon as I lifted off the cover this morning, they were back to being their noisy, "happy" (I assume they're happy) selves.

I had to put my hand into the cage, to top up their food... which they didn't seem to like. They both went a bit mad and quickly flew to the top of the cage. They were clearly quite flustered by me entering their home.

I sat and chatted to them for a while, like a crazy woman, and they are now both perched on their swings and tweeting away.

I'm a bit confused about the "holding food near to the wire", as they obviously have food in there already, and they've also got a few other bits too.
There's some kind of bell made from seed, a long grainy thing (think it's called millit, or something?) and there's also a chunk of something attached to the side bars, which looks like kettle fish... again, I'm guessing on the names here from distant memory.

So should I leave all that in there, or take it out and try and feed them with it myself, gradually?

With regards to the fire comment, I don't have any open fires. There's just an electric one in the lounge, which is never on, and the rest of the house just has the original Victorian fireplaces, which are more of a feature, than actual working fires.
I've had a good look around, and tried to spot anything that could be dangerous, but I can't really see anything that would pose as a threat to them.
I do sometimes open the windows slightly, but I've got wooden blinds on all of them, so I don't think they'd be able to escape through the gaps... although I obviously don't plan to leave the windows open when the birdies are out.
Hopefully that should stop them flying into the windows, too.

Er, I can't think of anything else that I need to ask just now, but I'm sure there will be loads along the way.

Oh, the "shower" bit... would that not frighten them to death, seeing as how they appear to be quite nervous?

Thanks :-))

[rowanwitch]

block up the chimney holes if they are not covered

They like plantains from the garden (the long seed types) and dandelions

also bunches of grass seeds especially the soft lawn grass type

Cuttlefish 'bone' to wear their beaks down and for minerals....

[fliptheswitch]

Lol cuttlefish, that's it... not kettle fish! :D

Thanks for that Rowan. Good idea about blocking up the chimneys! I guess newspaper will do the job?

[divegirl]

Well done you on re-homing this pair! I have just become Mum to Dave a Blue fronted Amazon, he's out of his cage all day but that's more down to the act that he's was hand reared and is still only 14 weeks old.
So a couple of tips from me....
If they seem to want to be cage birds, have a look on Ebay you can pick up second hand cages really 'cheep'....An indoor aviary doesn't have to take up that much space. for example.....

http://www.ebay.co.uk...s&hash=item2a144a1848

Have a look around the web for dedicated Budgie sites/forums as you will find a wealth of info on them.

Dave likes his dry mix diet, bit loves his fresh fruit and veg [ he has also pooped directly on my 'f' key and I have just has to go back and fill in all the places that it didn't work!!!!!!!]

Have lots of fun with your new birdies!

Lisa x

[divegirl]

Missed one....'' that's more down to the act that '' should read '' that's more down to the fact that '' Bless him!

Lisa x

[divegirl]

[IMG]http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k631
/divegirl1211/Davethefoosandpartyon049.jpg[/I
MG]


This is Dave with my nephew.....bet it doesn't work :0(

Lisa x