budgie question

[Coby's Mom]

I posted a budgie question in the budgie section of this board on Wed. but no one has answered. So I hope there is someone here who knows about budgies and can answer.
The young bird in the picture is Peedee -- I have had him for about a month -- he/she should be about 10 weeks old in this picture. My question is -- this bird eats well and is normal in everyway but he/she is fairly quiet. Is this normal? Is it just because he/she is so young? And anyone want to make a guess on the sex?
Thanks for your knowledge!

[jessicaboyer89]

Well, I don't know anything about budgies, but your little guy/girl might just be trying to acclimate to its new surroundings. If I were you, though, I would take him to a vet for a check up. When I brought my parrotlet home I took her to a vet and she had a parasite and bacteria infection, probably from living with so many other birds and a weaker immune system cause she was a baby.
Just a thought...Tiki gets chatty only at a specific time during the day (in the afternoons) or when I play Frank Sinatra. She's pretty quiet otherwise.

Well, I hope someone with more knowledge gives some insite. :)

[Joel]

I'm no budgie expert but I believe way too young to tell the sex for sure. From the pic, the breastbone looks like it could be sticking way out. Feel that area and make sure not sharp like the keel of a boat or ship. Should have a lot of flesh/meat so to speak on both sides of chest bone. If sharp, either sick or not eating enough. MAKE SURE you examine CLOSELY the seeds to make sure they are in fact hulled and the bird is just not mouthing them and then dropping, therefore giving the appearance of eating but not really. Give wide variety of foods to include pellets if ya like, seeds, fresh veggies, unsaltd crackers, millet sprays etc.......Give some well scrambled egg or well done (10 min.) boiled egg a couple times a week also.

Sorry for missing your prior post. If that ever happens again, feel free to pm me and I may notice it quicker. Good luck.

[Coby's Mom]

Thank you both! I will make a vet appt. and try the eggs. Peedee does seem to eat well, normal poops etc. But maybe it is the Frank Sinatra that is missing!! I am more of a Beatles person, but who knows what Peedee will like!

[Beaks]

from the looks of the beak it is a male, Dark blue or purple for a boy and light colors purple, skin tone or white for a girl.(depends on the bird but i really need a better picture)

Some budgies lose their color after they mature (around the nares)

Your bird is underweight just by looking at the picture the keel is sticking out with very little muscle mass on either side.

Also budgies can be paired with either sex so you can get him a friend without the worries of egg laying.

John

[Coby's Mom]

Hi Beaks,
Thanks for your reply. Question about pairing -- will I still be able to have budgie friends that will ride around on my shoulder and spend time with me if I get another one? I work at home and really look forward to a pet -- not just birds in a cage. If so, should I get an older one or another baby? The breeder I got Peedee from has a tame male I can get, but he is about 1 yr. old.

Here is a picture of Peedee taken yesterday on my husbands shoulder.
Thanks for your help!
Carol

[Beaks]

Yep that is a female for sure no way around that.

That picture leaves no doubt

John

[Coby's Mom]

Well, I gotta tell ya I am disappointed! I was told to "get a young bird" get a hand fed bird from a breeder -- after MUCH searching I found a breeder in our area with hand-fed babies-- she felt fairly certain this was a male.. Of course I wanted a male -- a friend has one that never stops jabbering -- also now talks. I did everything except DNA sexing before purchase! At my local bird store they put Peedee in a little box, closed it up and it didn't make a peep -- they say females always protest, boys stay quiet. Also Peedee is very sweet, doesn't bite. :?

:?: How can one pick out a baby boy ??? And now if I get another bird - a boy hopefully -- they will bond to each other - not us.

Well I guess I have ranted enough! Thankyou all for listening to a newbie to the wonderful world of birds!

[smallonion]

Nothing to add except that yours is about the cutest budgie I've ever seen! What a sweet face.

Michele and Humph

[LtlWngdAngl]

WOW!! Looks like we might have an up-and-coming budgie expert on our hands!! I have a new-found respect for you Josie!! :D

Carol: you do have an awefully cute budgie! And the reason it is so quiet could be a simple issue of "just because." In my experience, males of any species are not necessarily louder or quieter than it's female components. You have to remember that every bird (especially the ones that are decendents of other hand-fed/domesticated birds) are individuals, just like people. Though some males or females will have tendencies for certain things, it's never certain that that is how it will be.