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Post by msdani1981 on Jul 24, 2019 20:09:46 GMT -5
Well, I did it! I got a budgie!
Yesterday Zach and I were price checking all of our animals' food and necessities because the two stores where we used to shop both were destroyed by fires in the last 5 months. Hohl Feed and Seed was set on fire accidentally by a transient who was trying to get warm during a cold snap. Clark's Feed and Seed caught fire a week ago. The two stores were next door to each other. So, we had to find which stores sell what, and where we can get the best prices.
Yesterday we were at Petco and Zach kind of fell in love with a pure white dark-eyed budgie. We had a bunch of other places to go, so we didn't buy her. We also really prefer males over females.
Today we went to Petsmart to say hi to a friend who works there, and I couldn't help looking at the budgies. They're all males, and three were absolutely gorgeous. One was powder blue and white with light gray banding. One was pastel green and yellow. He was really beautiful. The one we brought home is light yellow with dark gray banding on his back and upper wings. His primary feathers are light yellow.
We brought him home and I wanted to clip his wings, but he got out of my hands and got really stressed flying around our office while Zach and I tried to catch him. Finally Zach grabbed him and I put him in his cage to relax. I'll try again tomorrow or Friday. 😊
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Post by cnyguy on Jul 25, 2019 20:17:33 GMT -5
Hmm... seems to me somebody recently said they weren't going to add any more birds to their flock.  Welcome to your new feathered friend.  |
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Post by msdani1981 on Jul 25, 2019 21:57:18 GMT -5
I know, I know!!!!! I also said I don't buy from pet stores..... LOL
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Post by msdani1981 on Jul 26, 2019 0:06:18 GMT -5
Hmmm....I think "he" might be a "she". But she's so freaking adorable!!!! She's really settled down a lot today, and is chatting away with Taz and Chewy, running all over the bottom of her cage and playing on her swings. 😊 Attachment Deleted |
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Post by Caseysmom on Jul 26, 2019 10:18:22 GMT -5
yup, that looks like a girl, they have the circles around their nares and she looks to have that, boys ceres are a solid pink colour when they are young. Budgies are very active and chatty She will be fun!
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Post by cnyguy on Jul 26, 2019 20:15:29 GMT -5
Budgies are pretty hard to resist. It's tough not to want to bring all of them home. |
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Post by biteybird on Jul 29, 2019 5:03:14 GMT -5
Congratulations! I've never had a budgie, so know nothing about them, but I've always thought they are really cute. She looks adorable. I bet you are trying to think of names now. |
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Post by msdani1981 on Jul 30, 2019 15:46:58 GMT -5
After a lot of thought, we named her Lily! I haven't had an untamed parrot in a long time, so I totally relate with new owners who just want their bird to like them! LOL I'm being patient and reading "Guide to the Well Behaved Parrot" for the millionth time (it's such a great resource!).
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Post by msdani1981 on Jul 30, 2019 21:53:13 GMT -5
Going slow is paying off!! I can't touch her yet, but I can get my hand next to her. I was going to catch her and clip her wings today, but not with the progress we've made. I didn't quite realize how far she's come. Clipping her wings can wait. 😊🐦
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Post by msdani1981 on Jul 30, 2019 22:03:15 GMT -5
Oh my gosh, biteybird I adore budgies! In all honesty, of all of the birds I've had, budgies and Parrotlets are my favorites. 😊 |
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Post by msdani1981 on Jul 31, 2019 0:00:03 GMT -5
OMG, OMG, OMG!!!!!!!
She tasted a chunk of seed stick while I was holding it!!!!!! YES!!!!!!! 🎉
I knew we were making progress and she actually likes me because she stretches to greet me every time I go in the room. 😍
Then I got my hand with the treat right next to her on her perch while I was sitting calmly with my head down. We've been doing little dances where I move closer and then when she moves her feet, or before she moves I pull my hand back.
Then I was able to get the treat right next to her foot and held it there. Then pulled it back. All of this is done with my head bowed, just barely able to see her. Then she was comfortable enough to play with a toy while my hand was resting on her perch.
Finally I raised the treat to just below her eye level and put it right next to her and after a few minutes she reached out and tasted the treat. Twice. I decided that was enough and put the treat in her seed dish.
I'm so excited!!!!! 💕
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Post by cnyguy on Jul 31, 2019 21:28:53 GMT -5
You and Lily are making great progress! |
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Post by msdani1981 on Aug 1, 2019 9:21:11 GMT -5
What a little flirt I have! LOL We are making great progress, but now she's started to play games.
I know for a fact that she isn't afraid of me. She plays hard to get. LOL I'll get my hand next to her on her perch and she jumps over it and flies to the other side of her cage. LOL
She won't take food off of my hand, but she will take it if it's right next to my fingers on the bottom of her cage. Such a stinker, but she's so cute I have to laugh. 🤣
I might have to clip her wings in order to keep moving forward instead of playing games. What do you think I should do? 😊
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Post by msdani1981 on Aug 1, 2019 9:27:53 GMT -5
Last night Taz was sitting on my shoulder, preening me and talking and whistling to me while I was working with Lily. It was pretty cute. 😊
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Post by msdani1981 on Aug 1, 2019 18:17:49 GMT -5
Poor Lily (and Zach)!
We decided to go ahead and catch her and get her wings clipped. I couldn't catch her, so I asked Zach for help.
Zach got bitten, but he did catch her...then she got free. Bilbo thought it was grand, watching Mama and Papa running around like lunatics, trying to catch the little thing that landed on the floor a couple times. He was fantastic and just sat there watching. 😊
So Zach caught her and we ran into the office where he got bitten again...she locked on and wouldn't let go, swapped towels (when she did let go Zach put her into the towel I was holding) and I held her while he clipped.
We finished up and I released her back in her cage. I have honestly never seen anything like Royally Pissed Off Lily. She was holding her wings out and her expression said "I dare you to come near me!" It was kind of funny, just because she's so tiny. I have no doubt that she would have drawn blood if we tried to touch her, though.
We covered her up (I'll uncover her in a bit) and will start over tomorrow.
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Welcome to your new feathered friend. 
