I have a 10M budgie named Opal. He has been a bit of a late bloomer in everything he does.
I got him at 3M and he was a go getter from the start, strait onto my finger, chirping away and is now fully hand trained.
I have offered him fruit and veggies for as long as I have had him and he would turn his noes up at them, until a month ago when I started hanging then from the roof of his cage! Now he will eat anything apart from banana. ( He Squawks at it)!
Again with the bath, I offered it for months before he finally went in it (I’m pretty sure he fell into it when drinking) and now he loves a bath.
He didn’t loose a single feather till he was 8M and now he hasn’t stopped. Tail feathers, down feathers you name it he’s dropping it! He’s not plucking them as I am with him 24/7, I work from home and we have been on lock down! He has grown a much more vibrant set that look healthy and clean. Everything Iv read says they malt for 3 weeks maybe a month and he’s been going 2 months! I know he does everything back wards but is there something I might be doing wrong!
He gets 12 hours in a dark quiet room
Eats, seeds, veggies and fruit
Takes a bath every other day
Spends 8 hours out his cage a day (with access to go in and out as pleases)
He’s had millet 2 a week
Some downy feathers will be lost on a regular and continual basis. I have 6 budgies and there is never a day that doesn't have feathers flying around the room and on the floor.
Full molts where the bird gets pin-feathers and loses flight feathers and tail feathers generally take place twice a year.
Opal looks to be in good health and from what you've written, you are doing well.
Some budgies will talk and others only want to "speak budgie". Start with a simple word or phrase and repeat it over and over with the same tone and inflection. "Pretty Bird", "Whatcha Doing" or "Cute Baby Bird" are some easy ones you might choose to begin with. Say the phrase 4 or 5 times and then stop for awhile. Do this repeatedly throughout the day. If Opal is going to mimic you, over time you'll probably see the beak start moving as if your budgie is practicing before actually saying the words.
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Truly, the very BEST advice anyone can offer you is to take the time to read ALL of the stickies throughout the various Talk Budgie forums as well as the Budgie Articles we have posted.
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If you have any questions after reading through everything, please be sure to ask!
While there is no guarantee your budgie will talk, there is hope. My boy is a rescue from a very neglected situation. He was over a year old when I got him and he didn't talk at all, and I was told to expect he never would. Now, by talking to him all day about anything, he speaks a lot! He has many phrases and particularly likes "Whatcha doing?" "Sweetie Baby Bird" and "Handsome boy!". Obviously they are going to repeat whatever you say to them most, so be mindful.
Opal is gorgeous You've been given great advice above by FaeryBee and it's great to have you with us.
Please be sure to read through the links provided so that you're up to date on everything! If you have any questions after doing so please feel free to ask as we'd love to help.
Hope to see you around!
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~StarlingWings~
and Princess Mallorn!
Thank you to Deb for her wonderful Faery magic
Malting since Dec
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