Douwe's Training Journal

[Tushkoo]

I hope I'm not making this thread too prematurely, as Douwe and I haven't really started any proper training yet!

For starters the name Douwe is something my parents and I came up with last night - it's another brand of coffee (Douwe Egberts) so fits with Kenco perfectly. It also means dove which is really cute, I think :).

However, my only worry that Douwe is actually a girl - and then I'm not really sure how appropriate it is haha.

Anyway enough rambling about names; last night we appeared to have made some good progress because Douwe was quite happily munching away on his millet in front of us. Which was really lovely to see!

I'm a little concerned that he's underweight, as I can see a crease down his breastbone :(. So I guess some millet treats will be in order for a while; I don't think Douwe will be complaining!!!! :D

[FaeryBee]

I think it's just fine to begin your training journal now! :)

Do you have any pictures of Douwe that you can post (other than your Avatar)?

If the crease you are talking about looks like the one in the picture below -- then Douwe is not underweight.
Have you had him/her in for a vet checkup since you got him?

This link will take you to a thread with a "sticky" that explains how to upload pictures to the forum.
http://talkbudgies.com/showthread.php?t=2535

Looking forward to following your training journal!
:wave:

http://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l584/faerybee/Pictures%20for%20Talk%20Budgie%20Members/Normalweightbudgie.jpg

[Tushkoo]

Thank you, FaeryBee :) that's very reassuring that Douwe isn't underweight.

I haven't taken Douwe for a vet check-up no, only got him/her on Tuesday. Would you recommend I do so asap?

The bird in my avatar is my 3 year old budgie Kenco :). The main reason I bought Douwe is to keep him company, as I'm going to be working long shifts from next summer.

This is Douwe - I'm aware that his/her feet are turned in :( but s/he can perch and I felt I would be able to provide Douwe with a pretty good life from now on :) (in large part thanks to all the knowledge I have gained from this forum!!).

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc269/Tushkoo/CIMG3139.jpg

[Tushkoo]

After a very long 13.5 hour shift I went to see "little bird". Contrary to the above picture, I'm pretty sure we actually have a "she" on our hands. As such, I'm on the hunt for another name, although Douwe is still a strong possibility.

So, I spent ages reading to Douwe, which really relaxed her! She is still so nervous her breathing gets very laboured when we're around her, but I managed to calm her right down :).

We were also doing lots of blinking together!

By the time I left, we were blinking at each other and she was beak grinding for the first time that I've heard! :) :) :)

Very happy with this progress. Will be going to see her again tomorrow.

[Tushkoo]

Just a very quick update -

Douwe is now named Rosy Lee (cockney rhyming slang for cup of tea) :). Her cere is also very pastel pink/white, so I'm pretty certain she's 100% girl!

Rosy's doing very well; she doesn't go crazy when I change her food over anymore! I've started millet training, but she hasn't felt brave enough to take a bite from it yet. She does appear interested in it though, so I'm hoping to see some more progress soon :).

[Tushkoo]

Rosy ate millet from my hand today :) :) :) I'm a very happy budgie-mum lol.

[Armando]

Thats great! I know how you feel.Although, my new budgie Hook is settling faster than any other budgie I have read about. I got November 24th and the next day, he was already eating when we were out. The next day, first thing in the morning he ate in front of us. Later that day, he ate millet out of my hand. The next day he ate his veggies the first time I put them in his bowl. Today, he ate millet out of my and my sister's hand and and a ton of seeds and pellets, about to give him his veggies for the day.

ANYWAYS... sorry about the long comment about my budgie. Great luck with yours!!! :)

[Tushkoo]

Awwww, that's fantastic!! Sounds like Hook is settling in really fast :). I have to admit I have found it quite tricky at times with Rosy, as my first budgie Kenco was getting on my hand within a few days and never flapped around the cage etc. Reading what you've said though I think "hey, she's not doing too bad" - she also eats, preens and sleeps in front of us :) - but she doesn't move much haha. Bless her, we'll get there!

[Armando]

Awwww, that's fantastic!! Sounds like Hook is settling in really fast :). I have to admit I have found it quite tricky at times with Rosy, as my first budgie Kenco was getting on my hand within a few days and never flapped around the cage etc. Reading what you've said though I think "hey, she's not doing too bad" - she also eats, preens and sleeps in front of us :) - but she doesn't move much haha. Bless her, we'll get there!

HEHE, yea Hook is getting into a bit of a rotation: I remove his blanket, he sits on the swing (what he usually sleeps on), stretches his wings and legs for about 5-10 mins, then flies straight down to his food bowl, hops inside of it, and digs in for about 10-15 mins. Then sits on wither the rope perch or wooden perch and does his beak 'clicks'. :D I can tell he's gonna be a load of fun once he's comfortable here. Anyways, what you said, that's pretty impressive about perching on your finger in a few days. Hook will sleep, preen, and eat in front of us but doesn't move around much (only to eat) but and hasn't played with any toys, or chew on his cuttlebone or calcium perch. But he does like looking at himself in the mirror on his favorite swing that he sleeps on.
Anyways, keep me posted on your progress :)

[Tushkoo]

Miss Rosy is getting a lot braver about taking her millet now! She's also chirping over and over and over (flock calling)..... not sure if this is because she wants to be let out :S. Going over to see her this afternoon to assess the situation :).

Oh and I let Kenco listen to her calling through the phone, and he just sat there looking perplexed LOL. I think next month is going to be interesting.

[Armando]

Miss Rosy is getting a lot braver about taking her millet now! She's also chirping over and over and over (flock calling)..... not sure if this is because she wants to be let out :S. Going over to see her this afternoon to assess the situation :).

Oh and I let Kenco listen to her calling through the phone, and he just sat there looking perplexed LOL. I think next month is going to be interesting.

That's great. Yea, Hook is only hesitant about that first bite, but once he gets that in, there's no stopping him :giggle: Right now I'm tryna type with one hand 'coz I'm on the stage of keeping your hand in there cage to get him used to my hand. Today he ate almost all his veggies. I'm very proud of him! :giggle:. I think he is getting used to my hand 'coz he ate with my hand in his cage and is now doing his clicks and preening. He also (I think) is calling for his siblings (he was with them at the pet store) but when he does, i quickly go and talk and whistle to him. Anyways, keep keeping me posted :)

[Armando]

Today, Hook took a step forward in the hand training process as he go onto a perch that I was holding. I was very impressed because he did it after only about 5-10 seconds of me holding up the perch. I also started a journal here: http://talkbudgies.com/showthread.php?t=81748
Let me know how your training is going :)