Hi, new to board and budgies

[budgiegram]

Well, not so new to budgies. I've had a few in the past. The main man was an albino named Snookie who we got when I was 6 years old. He passed at the ripe old age of 10. What a great bird. Then I had one when I was first married, but had my grandmother birdsit when we went on vacation. She fell in love and I didn't have the heart to take him back from her.

I've had lots of experience with larger birds. My husband and I had an African Grey and a Cape for several years. Then my daughter had babies, separated from her husband, and moved in with us. We just felt we couldn't risk little fingers so we found wonderful homes for both birds with dedicated bird folk. It broke my heart because I really loved those birds. With two little kids running around the house I didn't have the time for them that I used to devote to them, either.

Well, 5 1/2 years later, my daughter and her kids have their own place once again and the children are older and even though they are over here a lot, they are not so prone to putting fingers in places they don't belong. My granddaughter just had her birthday and she had been asking for a parakeet for about 6 months so we decided to go for it.

We bought 2 of them. I think both are males but their names are Yoshi and Princess. My granddaughter insists hers is a girl, but that cere looks likes it's turning blue to me. Anyway, they are so darned CUTE!!! They are slowly getting used to us. We talk to them all the time and have the children do the same when they are here (almost daily). We put our hands in the cage and just hold still, they don't freak out anymore. When we put our faces down near the cage the come over now.. They are obviously listening when we speak and whistle, especially Princess, he seems very interested in the sounds we make.

We have a large screened porch and we have been moving their cage out there every day. They watch and "talk to" the birds who visit our feeders and bird bath. The past few days we have put the dogs and cat in the house, locked the porch doors and let them out. They seem to enjoy it and it really wears them out. We will continue to do this until it gets too cool, then we'll let them out in a room with a closed door.

I am trying to introduce new foods to them, mixing things like slightly steamed carrots, finely chopped raisins, etc., into their store bought food. So far they are managing to pick around the good stuff and come up with all the seed. I took pics of them today, beaks covered in carrot mush, but chomping on those seeds. Silly birds. I'll just keep offering it.

Does anybody know of any favorites for budgies? My Grey and Cape used to like apple wedges, carrots, big chunky stuff, but off course these little guys can't handle anything like that.

Well, that's it for now, I guess. I am glad I found this site. I used to post on another board but it seems nobody really goes there anymore. The newest posts all were pretty old.

Laurie

[USAmmasChickie]

Well welcome to Bird Board!! I hope you like it here.

[hsmoscout]

Have you been able to take them out of their cage yet?

[LovelySydney]

Hi & welcome! It sounds like you are doing a great job with the new little ones, baby steps are very important - it will strengthen the bond with you and the birds down and the road and its a good positive step to getting them to trust you. Congrats!

[budgiegram]

Thanks to you both. They really are cute. Right now I can get them out of and back into their cage using their feeding dish. They'll go anywhere and put up with anything for that seed. My husband had them both standing on his fingers and they didn't even realize it because they had their head so far into their food.

Blessings - Laurie

[Ashling]

Welcome to BB! Sounds like you really love your budgies and spoil them like they deserve. Have you tried feeding them millet seed. They'll go nuts for it! Also grass seed but make sure it isn't treated with any chemicals- I pick some from my backyard- it grows everywhere. My budgie doesn't mind being held as long as she has grass seed!

[RXK]

Hi Laurie,

welcome. it's nice that you can join the community. i can't really offer you advice on what fruit and veg budgies like as my brother's budgies never touched the stuff. so, all i can say is to keep offering and hopefully one day they'll start to eat it.

Best of Luck :)

[budgiegram]

Yes, we have been taking them out daily. I get them onto their feeding bowl and whoosh, out the door. In order to get them back in, I put a little fresh food in their bowll. Once once goes in the other follows.

[Emmilyy]

Welcome to birdboard! it sounds like you´re spoiling those little guys! any chance we could see some pics? ¨:P