Hi! Started with 2 budgies, and already obsessed!

RaeKling

New member
Jan 14, 2020
6
0
Cincinnati, Ohio
Parrots
Budgies- Skyler (F) and JJ (M)
obtained Dec 9, 2019
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 :D

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

Well-known member
Jan 2, 2018
1,371
207
Isolated Holler in the Appalachian Wilderness
Parrots
B&G Macaw, Galah, 5 cockatiels, 50 billion and a half budgies. We breed and do rescue. Too many to list each individual's name and age etc, but they are each individuals and loved dearly.
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. ;) :p



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

LaManuka

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Aug 29, 2018
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Queensland, Australia
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Fang ({ab}normal grey cockatiel), Valentino (budgie), Jem (cinnamon cockatiel), Lovejoy(varied lorikeet), Peach (princess parrot)
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

New member
Sep 21, 2017
925
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NorthWest England
Parrots
Enzo - adopted Female CAG circa 2004. A truly amazing young lady!
dont budgies only get the cheek dots at a certain age too, maybe another way of aging them... Budgies rock!
 

itzjbean

Well-known member
Jan 27, 2017
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Iowa, USA
Parrots
2 cockatiels
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!
 

Scott

Supporting Member
Aug 21, 2010
32,673
9,789
San Diego, California USA, Earth, Milky Way Galaxy
Parrots
Goffins: Gabby, Abby, Squeaky, Peanut, Popcorn / Citron: Alice / Eclectus: Angel /Timneh Grey: ET / Blue Fronted Amazon: Gonzo /

RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
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

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Apr 14, 2015
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Connecticut
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Amy a Blue Front 'Zon
Jonesy a Goffins 'Too who had to be rehomed :-(

And a Normal Grey Cockatiel named BB who came home with me on 5/20/2016.
Welcome! Can't wait to see pics of your budgie's..they are awesome little creatures. :07:


jim
 
OP
R

RaeKling

New member
Jan 14, 2020
6
0
Cincinnati, Ohio
Parrots
Budgies- Skyler (F) and JJ (M)
obtained Dec 9, 2019
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #10
And here are pictures, as promised.
Skyler and JJ
McKW0BY.jpg


Skyler
MPp8Xqn.jpg


JJ
4WL0yHp.jpg


Cage Setup
uIJaHU1.jpg

X7ChlSL.jpg


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

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Aug 29, 2018
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Queensland, Australia
Parrots
Fang ({ab}normal grey cockatiel), Valentino (budgie), Jem (cinnamon cockatiel), Lovejoy(varied lorikeet), Peach (princess parrot)
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

Well-known member
Jan 2, 2018
1,371
207
Isolated Holler in the Appalachian Wilderness
Parrots
B&G Macaw, Galah, 5 cockatiels, 50 billion and a half budgies. We breed and do rescue. Too many to list each individual's name and age etc, but they are each individuals and loved dearly.
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.
 
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RaeKling

New member
Jan 14, 2020
6
0
Cincinnati, Ohio
Parrots
Budgies- Skyler (F) and JJ (M)
obtained Dec 9, 2019
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #13
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 :confused: 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 :D); 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.
 

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