Hi! Started with 2 budgies, and already obsessed!

[RaeKling]

Hello everyone I'm Rae, 36, in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. I've always wanted birds but only got my first pair of budgies last month. I'll be uploading pictures later

I'm already in love with my little ones, even though they are not very tame. I have Skyler and JJ- the person who I got them from said they were 10 months old, but the nail trimmer said 3-4 months. Based on my research, some of their genes could interfere with determining age by eye color and bar regression, so their age is a mystery. At this point I figure I will know in a year what the truth is.

They were not well socialized, but they are still such little characters. I only wish I had gotten into this sooner...

This forum has already been so massively helpful to me while I was doing research before I got my babies and when I had new questions I never even thought of before I brought them home.

 

[bug_n_flock]

Hello sorta neighbor. We are in Eastern Kentucky.



Parakeets are suuuuuuper addictive, I just adore their little bodies and huge personalities! Basically the perfect bird if you ask me. And I am toootally not biased, you can trust my opinion that budgies/parakeets are perfect.



What genes do your little ones have that complicate telling age? I can try to take a guess if you would like.

 

[LaManuka]

Welcome aboard to you Rae and little Skyler and JJ!

Budgies are brilliant little characters and I think much under-appreciated. It's certainly no surprise to me that they've stolen your heart already! There are many budgie aficionados here who will be only to happy to help you with any help or support you may need.

Looking forward to see baby photos of your little ones!

 

[bigfellasdad]

dont budgies only get the cheek dots at a certain age too, maybe another way of aging them... Budgies rock!

 

[itzjbean]

Hello and welcome to the forums!

I only have cockatiels but am waiting for the right color budgie to come my way, I would LOVE to breed them....I caught one at my work last year that someone lost and just fell in love. Their noises and interactions are so sweet.

A certified avian vet will be able to look them over, make sure they are healthy and can also tell you the age of these birds without having to guess at it -- they're professionals!

 

[Flboy]

Welcome! Amazing how they burrow into your heart!

 

[Scott]

Welcome aboard Rae, Skyler, and JJ!! Thanks for joining and sharing. Fair warning, you may be susceptible to MBS; Multiple Bird Syndrome. Pace yourself, there is no cure!

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

Welcome! Can't wait to see pics of your budgie's..they are awesome little creatures. :07:


jim

 

[Laurasea]

Welcome!! Awaiting pictures!!!

 

[RaeKling]

And here are pictures, as promised.
Skyler and JJ

Skyler

JJ

Cage Setup

Regarding the age issue, based on my research, Skyler is a recessive pied and their eyes stay dark instead of lightening with age, and since their markings aren't the standard you can't go by the cap feathers.

I got her from a bird "rescue" and the lady had quite a few birds... based on her craigslist posts she has to have had them at least 2 months. And I don't understand how she could have been so wrong on the age. I'm leaning more towards 3-4 months personally.

 

[LaManuka]

I agree with you they’re pretty young, they still have the barred feathers on their foreheads. They should moult them out after about 6 months of age and be a solid colour above the cere.

Thanks for the photos they are very pretty babies

 

[bug_n_flock]

Yup, they are babies, definitely under 10 months of age. My Hima is a recessive pied too; I just love her cute little baby-eyes. Such sweet looking babies you have there.

 

[RaeKling]

I'm really glad to hear that- it's been only a month but taming them hasn't gone as well as I'd hoped, but it means more time to work on them before I have to worry about them breeding. I was worried the only way I could make progress was if I hand-raised their offspring... not something I want to do. They like me, that I am sure of, and they trust me to a limited extent, but hands are still terrifying.

Skyler is such a brat and I adore her. JJ is so named because I sang to them a lot in the first days (it did seem to help) and "John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt" was the first song to get a beep from him; his name is officially John Jacob Kling. Skyler is in charge- when anything new comes in the cage she beeps at him to check it out first, and if he likes the new thing she will shove him out of the way for it. :18:

She likes when I watch her eat Well, she likes when someone is watching her eat. I first saw her beeping at JJ for it- she would eat and if she looked up and saw he wasn't watching she would scold him. To me she'll hop down to eat while I watch, but if I stop she'll hop back up (I don't get scolded ); she'll even eye the food and then me like "you gonna watch?" Best I can figure is she wants someone to watch while she is vulnerable and I am so honored she trusts me that much.

JJ is, well, there isn't near so much going on in his head. I imagine he is a himbo- pretty, obedient to Skyler, but otherwise empty. I still adore him though. He's more outgoing and curious than Skyler... but I think a good bit of that is because she makes him.

Sorry, but you are the only people who can understand how much personality they have so I am gushing a little.

 

[Scott]

Beautiful pics, thanks for sharing!