Forum Rules Updated

[Dave]

With the addition of several new features, including social groups and thread tags, the forum rules had to be amended to account for these new features.

The new permissions have been added to the Signature Guidelines section of the forum rules (http://talkbudgies.com/showthread.php?t=3) (second post) since it was already divided up based on usergroup. That section has obviously been renamed. Note that none of the signature permissions have changed. I just used that section since it was convenient to do so.

These changes will mostly only affect new users (under 10 posts). The changes to that usergroup are as follows: cannot customize profile page, cannot create social groups (but can join others). Nothing else has really changed. I'm just making the permissions public so everyone will be on the same page.

Please re-read the forum rules so you can familiarize yourself with the updates. If you have any questions, please let me know!

[Dave]

A new rule has been added regarding outside photos. These types of photos, as well as any photos where your budgies are put in a potentially dangerous/risky situation, are no longer allowed. For the comfort of others, we ask that everyone please stop posting these types of photos. Thanks.

(This rule was added under Level 3 rules, for your reference.)

[atvchick95]

is it okay if they're wearing a harness or flight suit but outside?

[tstmard]

You'd still be exposing them to the dangers of diseases.

[atvchick95]

that is true but you can do that also just by having your window's open.

[Dave]

is it okay if they're wearing a harness or flight suit but outside?
As with all the other rules, we will handle these types of situations on a case-by-case basis. We'd prefer no outside pictures, but of course there are always exceptions. When the staff come across an iffy picture, we will deal with it as needed.

[clifff123]

I agree with Dave on this!
But my personal opinion is budgies should not be in a harness or flight suit.
Budgies can get plenty of exercise in house and if I'm not mistaken harness and flight suits are for larger birds who need to fly outside for exercise. No way would I put my beloved budgies into a harness or flight suit.

[keet_tweet4]

I agree with Dave on this!
But my personal opinion is budgies should not be in a harness or flight suit.
Budgies can get plenty of exercise in house and if I'm not mistaken harness and flight suits are for larger birds who need to fly outside for exercise. No way would I put my beloved budgies into a harness or flight suit.

I agree budgies are too small for harnesses.

[Pippin's mom]

I also can't imagine putting my Budgies in a flight suit or harness..it would probably feel like a straight jacket to them. I can imagine how uncomfortable they would feel physically and mentally.

[keet_tweet4]

Would photos of your budgies in a locked cage outside while being supervised be ok?

[Pippin's mom]

Would photos of your budgies in a locked cage outside while being supervised be ok?

As Dave mentioned we'll be making decisions on pictures on a case by case basis. I would think though that a bird that is outside in its cage under supervision would most likely be okay.:)

[tstmard]

Would photos of your budgies in a locked cage outside while being supervised be ok?

I think it should be aloud since there's people with outside aviaries.

[Zippi]

I am so glad to see this implemented....:D

I also think it would be downright cruel to put a budgie in a harness or flightsuit!! :eek:

[stacey101]

good thing i never bought one :P

[Ollie'sMama]

Sometimes I bring Ollie's cage out on my deck for fresh air and sunshine, which I thought was good for him....am I inadvertently exposing him to potential diseases? I didn't know that could be a danger....please advise.

[Pippin's mom]

What you're doing is fine Dani.:)

[BUUZBEE]

Sometimes I bring Ollie's cage out on my deck for fresh air and sunshine, which I thought was good for him....am I inadvertently exposing him to potential diseases? I didn't know that could be a danger....please advise.

just my opinion, being outside in a cage supervised is perfectly fine. What a lot of people have a problem with is birds being let up in trees, around the lawn etc. If birds are in their cage on the patio table or hung from a hook etc. on the patio, they are not being exposed to *****, pesticides etc., so there wouldnt be a problem, but by letting them play in the lawn or in the trees thats when they are being exposed. Also, if they are in a flight suit (any type of bird) have them on a play stand, cage or shoulder, not a tree etc. If you are going to put a flight suit on any bird, make your own "tree" to let them perch on... get a good sized branch, clean it and let it dry. You can get a large tin can, like a paint can, mix up some cement and place the end of the branch in it... let it harden and you will have a sturdy "tree" for them :)

[atvchick95]

when i asked about flight suits I wasn't specifically speaking of budgies, (since the post was birds outside i assumed it meant any bird), and since we do use flight suits and take our quaker and tiels outside, I just wanted to make sure those pictures would be okay.

And since i'm planning on getting flight suits for my lovebirds so they can go outside with us as well, and I'm camera happy i'm sure there would be pictures of this too.

if budgies aren't meant to be in flight suits/ harnesses - why do they make them specially for thier size?

[keet_tweet4]

I don't trust the budgie sizes personally. They probably do it for more money. IMHO I think budgies are too small.

[BudgieFinder]

Wouldn't it be a better idea to try and convince those who let their budgies outdoors without any contraints that it is a bad idea, rather than to simply remove the pictures? That doesn't really solve anything, except make others more oblivious to the fact others are letting their budgies outside without any constraints. I just think removing pictures alone is a bit against the overall aim, which is to inform budgie owners to make a better decision (unless that's not the goal lol I'm not sure what the real goal of the forum was meant to be ;))

But, just my opinion, and I probably stand alone with that opinion. :o Feel free to ignore me :p lol

[Pippin's mom]

Nope you're not alone Budgiefinder!:) We can try to convince people who put their birds at risk, but we can't make them stop doing it so we're doing what we can to not promote the idea that its a good, safe thing to do. Not allowing and removing the pictures is one way of accomplishing that goal.:)

[Budgietom]

I like this new rule :)

[aka.pody]

I like this new rule. :thumbsup:
Discouraging certain behavior might make people take a second look at themselves and maybe even realize that everything is not cool.

[Will]

if budgies aren't meant to be in flight suits/ harnesses - why do they make them specially for thier size?

For money. they sell all kinds of dangerous items for other animals. Such as harness for hamsters.

I've seen a pic somewhere (not here) of a cockatiel at a outdoor wedding in a fight suit. i think they're neat but dangerous. what if the suit somehow came off? indoors it wouldnt be much of a problem but when outdoor they'd fly away. plus i imagine the suit would ruffle the feathers underneath it.

[DeBree420]

i have a harness for each of my tiels, and my green cheek conure...
we use them frequently, and their feathers are fine
i also have a harness for the budgies, one of the budgies, the one that likes the cockatiels and me, comes out with me sometimes to town, sometimes with a tiel on my other shoulder... she LOVES it... i dont have flight suits, as i wouldnt trust the velcro in it, but my harnesses are attached by a metal clip...
its safe, the birds are perfectly happy and i dont see why anyone could say that a budgie size harness is made only for money...

as far as outside disease goes, my windows are always open with screens, there are more wild birds in my backyard than there are in town... anything from town i am ultimately going to bring home on me regardless of weather a bird is with me or not... i dont let them interact with other birds, apart from my friend who used to live with me, and has 4 tiels...
i wouldnt take them to a 'bird fair' or anything like that because of disease, but that is because it is usually a place that is crammed full of birds from god-knows-where...
i dont put them down on surfaces that birds could have been on...

so i dont see why a picture of a bird on a safe harness outside should be removed...
just my oppinion

[clifff123]

Just my personal opinion:
DeBree420 thanks for your opinion on harnesses. I think most of our thoughts about harnesses not being used for budgies is how fragile they are and unsafe for inexperienced budgie owners. You seem experienced with using them. I personally wouldn't use them as I would be so scared of hurting my budgie. I feel allot of younger budgies owners buy a budgie for a toy and amusement and with that we wouldn't want to promote harnesses for budgies.

[DeBree420]

i still dont particularly agree with not showing any harness pictures, but i totally understand the point of view, so i am fine with not posting them...