Post by Smiley on Mar 7, 2008 5:19:35 GMT -5
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Melopsittacus undulates With permission smileysbirds.proboards26.com/index.cgi
Other names,
shell parakeet
"GOOD FOOD"
Budgies are native to Australia and in the wild, live in huge flocks that might consist of a thousand birds or more.
Commonly referred to in America as a "Parakeet"
How long do they live for?
The average lifespan of a budgie is 8 to 10 years. It is not unusual for a budgie to live to 14 years of age and the occasional budgie makes it to 20.
Budgie Sexing:
Budgies can be sexed visually, when mature. With adult budgies if the cere is bright blue the budgie is a male and if the cere is brown the budgie is a female. The "cere" is the area above the beak and surrounding the nostrils. When a female is in breeding condition her cere will be dark brown and may become rough and crusty. Some males also can do this, to hide their gender from other males. Most can be sexed visually except some coloured varieties such as albinos, fallows, Lutinos and recessive pied. Another tip is that a young female tends to be more aggressive and bites harder than a young male.
Budgies become sexually mature at 3 or 4 months of age but the ideal budgie breeding age is 12 months. You should not breed budgies until the male and female are at least 12 months of age.
Breeding:
Budgie’s boxes have a concave in the bottom, to help keep the eggs and babies in its centre. Not all budgies like nest material and will kick it all out. That’s why it’s best to use a nest box with a concave in the bottom. They usually lay between 3 to 5 eggs. Chicks will be ready to venture out on their own, anywhere from the age of 3 1/2 to 4 wks. They will not be weaned until at least 8weeks of age.
Breeding pairs should be housed on pair per aviary or breeding cage. Although if you aviary is large with plenty of room and extra nest boxes. You may house a few more. Reasoned beening, they have been known to kill other young and or other adults.
Mutations:
Dominant mutations
·Greens (All Forms)
·Dominant Pieds
·Greys
·Clear-Flights
·Violets
·Spangles
·Yellow Faces (to the blue series)
·Crests
Recessive mutations
·Blues (All Forms)
·Recessive Pieds
·Fallows
·Whites
·Yellows
·Grey wings
·Clearwings.
Sex Linked
·Opalines
·Cinnamons
·Lutinos and Albinos
·Lacewings
·Slates
·Texas Clear body (but dominant to Ino)
Cage:
Budgies need a lot of room. The minimum suggested cage size for 2 budgies is 50cm x 30cm x 48cm. The bars should be no more than 12mm apart or they may get their heads stuck or escape. Cover your birdcage at night so they can sleep in peace. The perches should be 12mm in diameter and should be positioned so your birds can turn around on them without touching the top, bottom or sides of the cage. Make sure they don't obstruct the
Feeders. Try to use natural branches for them to play and perch on. Birdbaths are essential for budgies to bathe in
Although some prefer being sprayed. This will help them to preen. They also do like to bath in there fruit and vegetables J don’t forget toys, these are vital to keep your active and stimulated.
Diet:
A good-quality budgie seed mix.
I find budgies will eat any thing you put in front of them….
Fruits: apples, grapes, guava, kiwi fruit, mangos, melons, nectarine, orange, peaches, pears, pomegranate, plums, strawberries, tangerine.
Vegetables: bok choy, broccoli, carrot, celery, chard, peas, silver beet, spinach, corn, watercress, zucchini, cucumber.
Native Food:
chickweed, clover, dandelion, grass seeds, young gum leaves.
Fresh drinking water is required daily. Also make available cuttlebone, and calcium, iodine and mineral blocks. Budgies should be offered Grit as a part of its diet, many say that it should be, and many say that this is unneeded.
AS Pets:
Budgies are tiny and inexpensive pets, so it's easy to think that they are going to be less trouble than some other pets. These little guys can get into all kinds of trouble, so protect them during their playtime from open containers of liquid including the toilet! Obviously they must be protected from cats, dogs, and little humans who might squeeze too hard or hit and grab at them.
Budgies can be wonderful and loving companions throughout their life times. Many people are surprised to see what closeness they can develop with such a tiny friend. Some have been known to adopt vocabularies of upwards of 200 words! Not all budgies will learn to speak human languages.
Health Problems:
Iodine deficiency.
Scaly face.
Bacterial Infections.
Polyoma Viral.
Gout.
Chronic egg laying.
Melopsittacus undulates With permission smileysbirds.proboards26.com/index.cgi
Other names,
shell parakeet
"GOOD FOOD"
Budgies are native to Australia and in the wild, live in huge flocks that might consist of a thousand birds or more.
Commonly referred to in America as a "Parakeet"
How long do they live for?
The average lifespan of a budgie is 8 to 10 years. It is not unusual for a budgie to live to 14 years of age and the occasional budgie makes it to 20.
Budgie Sexing:
Budgies can be sexed visually, when mature. With adult budgies if the cere is bright blue the budgie is a male and if the cere is brown the budgie is a female. The "cere" is the area above the beak and surrounding the nostrils. When a female is in breeding condition her cere will be dark brown and may become rough and crusty. Some males also can do this, to hide their gender from other males. Most can be sexed visually except some coloured varieties such as albinos, fallows, Lutinos and recessive pied. Another tip is that a young female tends to be more aggressive and bites harder than a young male.
Budgies become sexually mature at 3 or 4 months of age but the ideal budgie breeding age is 12 months. You should not breed budgies until the male and female are at least 12 months of age.
Breeding:
Budgie’s boxes have a concave in the bottom, to help keep the eggs and babies in its centre. Not all budgies like nest material and will kick it all out. That’s why it’s best to use a nest box with a concave in the bottom. They usually lay between 3 to 5 eggs. Chicks will be ready to venture out on their own, anywhere from the age of 3 1/2 to 4 wks. They will not be weaned until at least 8weeks of age.
Breeding pairs should be housed on pair per aviary or breeding cage. Although if you aviary is large with plenty of room and extra nest boxes. You may house a few more. Reasoned beening, they have been known to kill other young and or other adults.
Mutations:
Dominant mutations
·Greens (All Forms)
·Dominant Pieds
·Greys
·Clear-Flights
·Violets
·Spangles
·Yellow Faces (to the blue series)
·Crests
Recessive mutations
·Blues (All Forms)
·Recessive Pieds
·Fallows
·Whites
·Yellows
·Grey wings
·Clearwings.
Sex Linked
·Opalines
·Cinnamons
·Lutinos and Albinos
·Lacewings
·Slates
·Texas Clear body (but dominant to Ino)
Cage:
Budgies need a lot of room. The minimum suggested cage size for 2 budgies is 50cm x 30cm x 48cm. The bars should be no more than 12mm apart or they may get their heads stuck or escape. Cover your birdcage at night so they can sleep in peace. The perches should be 12mm in diameter and should be positioned so your birds can turn around on them without touching the top, bottom or sides of the cage. Make sure they don't obstruct the
Feeders. Try to use natural branches for them to play and perch on. Birdbaths are essential for budgies to bathe in
Although some prefer being sprayed. This will help them to preen. They also do like to bath in there fruit and vegetables J don’t forget toys, these are vital to keep your active and stimulated.
Diet:
A good-quality budgie seed mix.
I find budgies will eat any thing you put in front of them….
Fruits: apples, grapes, guava, kiwi fruit, mangos, melons, nectarine, orange, peaches, pears, pomegranate, plums, strawberries, tangerine.
Vegetables: bok choy, broccoli, carrot, celery, chard, peas, silver beet, spinach, corn, watercress, zucchini, cucumber.
Native Food:
chickweed, clover, dandelion, grass seeds, young gum leaves.
Fresh drinking water is required daily. Also make available cuttlebone, and calcium, iodine and mineral blocks. Budgies should be offered Grit as a part of its diet, many say that it should be, and many say that this is unneeded.
AS Pets:
Budgies are tiny and inexpensive pets, so it's easy to think that they are going to be less trouble than some other pets. These little guys can get into all kinds of trouble, so protect them during their playtime from open containers of liquid including the toilet! Obviously they must be protected from cats, dogs, and little humans who might squeeze too hard or hit and grab at them.
Budgies can be wonderful and loving companions throughout their life times. Many people are surprised to see what closeness they can develop with such a tiny friend. Some have been known to adopt vocabularies of upwards of 200 words! Not all budgies will learn to speak human languages.
Health Problems:
Iodine deficiency.
Scaly face.
Bacterial Infections.
Polyoma Viral.
Gout.
Chronic egg laying.