Choosing new babies???

[heletia]

Hello,

I will only be able to buy from my local pet shop. Is there anything special like particular markings/characteristics/health issues I need to look for when choosing my 2 new babies, please???

NOISE::
I will have to be careful they are not too loud being in a unit block of 12 (even thou many others have them inside too). I guess in the pet shop all i can do is try to listen and separate the ones that sound softer?? Do they change or get louder as they grow up? Or if I choose the quieter ones will they remain that way??

Many thanks
Helen xo

[avinet]

All male budgies will end up similar as adults regarding noise - the only thing that would make an adult budgie quiet is if it was being dominated by another male. A group of males will be chattering away a lot of the time - but in the location you have I doubt that the noise will be a problem - it looks well sheltered and a good weatherproof location. Also I understand your idea now about putting the aviary in a tray so just one tray will be the best way to go.

Choosing a baby budgie from a pet shop depend son the shop - I owned one in Mooloolaba for 20 years and there a good and bad shops. Basically look for a clean shop with clean cages not too overcrowded, and with fresh seed, water and vegies provided. Hopefully a shop who know something about birds!!

Look for an active baby - don't pick the quiet one sat in a corner looking sleepy. It may just be quiet being young but it may also be getting sick. The bird should have clear bright eyes, again a dull eye is a sign of early illness. The nostrils should be clear with no sign of discharge. Often minor discharge results in a brown colouration to the feathers immediately above the nostrils - avoid those birds.

Check it has all it's toes but the absence of a toe isn't important as long as only one is missing. However it should be a reason for a reduced price. Make sure it hasn't been clipped- in an aviary such as you will have it needs to be able to fly. Finally have a feel of the chest area while the shop assistant is holding the bird - there should be a nice covering of muscle on either side of the keel bone, the keel bone should not feel prominent and sharp.

Finally sexing the baby - note that some female baby budgies can have a bluish cere, which will later turn brown as the bird matures. A male's cere will be a stronger blue all over but a female will have the paler blue cere tending to white at the margins. I have heard tales of shops that couldn't sex budgies telling customers who returned in a couple of months complaining that the supposed male was a female telling the customers that young budgies often changed sex as they matured

cheers,

Mike