Birdy Buddies and Millets

[Mothi]

First off, Birdy Buddies, that fuzzy thing you put in their cage to cuddle up against. Good or Bad?

I got one for my GCC because he was still young and no longer than siblings to cuddle against to stay warm. But now I wonder if he is getting too attached to it. He has a night cage (a small critter carrier) and a day cage. I had a birdy buddy in both but after watching his response to having one in his day cage when he was just learning to spend time in it, I removed it. (Not wanting to be taken out of his day cage or showing interest in interacting with me.) So now he only has one in his night cage. He is almost to the point of obsession of his night cage. When he can, he makes a mad dash for his night cage and reacts excitedly when he gets into it. He loves practicing flying in his night cage too. He doesn't do it so much in his day cage the way he flaps his wings in his night cage. He doesn't act protective of it or anything and I can remove him from his night cage without any fuss and he still enjoys interacting with me, but his bonker attitude in his night cage vs his day cage has me wondering. Time to remove his birdy buddy from his night cage? He has a lot more feathers now so getting cold is no longer the issue. Anyone here have a birdy buddy in their birds cage with no ill effect or wacky behaviors?

Okay, now onto millets. Is millets something you give to your bird or leave in their cage at all times? Or should it be more of something that is occasionally given such as once every other day or a few times a week or for training only? I have so far left pieces of millets in his day cage all the time, along with the bowl of pellets, dish of various yummies (veges, grains, or whatever else I offer that day), and water bowl. He is not weaning yet so it is all about providing different foods to test. He does like millet and dried apple bits from his Zupreem entrees. I guess after those he likes multigrain bread, warm corn, and cooked brown rice. When he is an adult, do I only offer millet occasionally or do I always have some in his cage for a snack?

[homebird]

I don't have a lot of experience with the comfort toys
- I think they all need some place to be private & cozy – a Cuddly Bird Buddy sounds really nice - after all we like to get cozy at night too. The fact that you can move it & he isn't worried may stop him from getting territorial later on. Laker has a number of toys he talks to & cuddles against. I thought of getting a Cuddle Buddy but didn’t act on it & probably won’t get one. Probably different breeds have more need – I just don’t know.

As for the millet
- Laker had it in his cage all the time when I got him. I wanted to give it to him after every out time as a reward & something to look forward to - but my husband loves to keep him stocked up with millet & his little 1 1/2" piece is always replenished. My bird is already seed dependent & I'm working on changing that - the millet may also have to go out during 'fresh' food times - another member helped suggest that the 2 in the cage at the same time defeated the need for the fresh food.

[bb100]

I only give millet to my parrotlets on the weekends. Usually, I put it in after they have been out scooting around like "road runners" all day. They just expend so much energy that I try to fatten them up with Millet afterwards. Just be careful your not putting in too much that they ignore their pellets/seeds/veggies.

Never used a fuzzy buddy so I can't comment.

[Sally]

Here is Chipper with her fuzzy hut. She snuggles with it. She has a fuzzy buddy, but likes the hut. She also sits on top a lot. The 2nd photo is what she does when I sing at night, before she goes to sleep.

[Sally]

I forgot, I keep millet in Chipper's cage all the time. She eats it once in a while. She is a good eater and eats many veggies, beans, etc. So, it depends on the bird. Some might just eat millet.

[Tiki]

Most birds love millet as a treat but I only give it after they eat their veggies.

I never used the bird buddy, but I do have a happy hut for my Quaker, she loves it!

[mizbirdy]

Bud's not crazy about the happy hut, but LOVES his birdy buddy. I've went thru 2 of them with him so far. It's so cute when he goes to bed, I'll put him on his perch & he'll go right to it & start snuggling with it. I think it's his security blanket!! (maybe we should change his name to Linus.... )

[Tiki]

I did give my little Princess Parrot, Manikay a toy to snuggle up with when he was young (Dec 2005). He quickly outgrew it though.