I have been somewhat hesitant to write this article because I foresee one of reactions; pity or anger. This should not be the case. People who have seen my two handicapped budgies in the flesh were also first appaled, but seeing how happy they were, soon came to the realization that I had made the right decision to let them live. I couldn’t kill a creature anyway. But other folks who have no idea about caring for animals come out with crap like “That’s cruel, how could you let such a bird live” or “Nobody will buy that bird, why do you continue to feed it”. Because I love my budgies very much and although the two birds (Hinkelbein and John Silver are their names) have obvious deformities they have adapted to their disabilities and live totally normal lives. Do we condemn people to death because of handicaps?
Hinkelbein has both legs pointing out at 90° from the side of his body and sleeps either in a special nest which I have built for him or on the ground and he is very cosy…thank you very much! John Silver has the same quirk but just with one leg which points out at a 90° angle in the air, while he sits on the perch with his other leg, hence his moniker. Both birds are male and are horny at the moment so they are feeding and trying to mount the females in the aviary. Oh Yeah! Did I forgat to mention that all 7 other birds are totally fit. John Silver is competing for the position of “King of the cage” so it’s obvious he can’t be too badly off. Hinkelbein has no interest in such petty politics and observes with a slightly bemused glint in his eye.
I have included a picture and a video for you to inspect the birds and wish to let folks who have no idea about birds know that even though the birds may look odd they are totally happy and I intend to keep them and any other disabled budgies which may arrive in the future…..
I don’t see why someone would think this so awful. They are simply very flexible, like my budgies are acrobatic and like to hang upside down
Hey, this is a great blog, buddy! Thanks much.
Question though, do you make your own food for your baby budgies?
Hey there,
We let the mamas nurse the babies in the nest so it is more important that the papas have enough food to deliver and that he gets all the nutrients needed to do this tough job! This builds a stronger bond between the birds….
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Hey! I just got a budgie myself…I was wondering if you had any tips for me?? at the moment he is just staring at the towel that I put over his cage a little bit. He is also opening and closing his beak and breathing heavily…is this because he is nervous? Thanks
Yes…the heavy breathing is when they are nervous or anxious…it also takes them some time to get used to new environments. If you give them plenty of love they will eventually lose their fear and be cheeky little budgies. ;o)
The legs stick out at 90-degrees because the infants were not given the right conditions in the nest — this is a preventable and, if caught soon enough, treatable condition. Having ‘handicapped’ home-bred birds is not a sign of care but of neglect. Sad.
My budgies are very well treated and as I say they were like that from birth but since you seem to be a big “know it all” then there is nothing more to say!
Also, how dare you imply that my budgies are “sad” they are extremely well treated and love me very much….
hey i think this is a great article, it is about time people realised that just because these birds look different there is no reason they cant live normal lives. i too own a splayed leg budgie, both of his legs go out to the side (he looks exactly like your budgie in the forst picture). i was wondering if you could maybe help me, i am reaching out to all bird lovers not i have a baby budgie with a damaged top beak, it is loose and i fear it is going to fall off, it is damaged right to the cere. i am just wondering what soft foods i could feed him if his beak does fall off that he will be able to eat on his own (i am still handrearing him 3 times a day even though his sibling was weaned 2 weeks ago)? is it possible that his beak will grow back? any help will be greatly appreciated,thanks
email me at dlouw101@webmail.co.za
I have four budgies. I want to get them to have babies, but it has been about four months and nothing has happend. Don’t they still have thier nateral instincs to build a nest? They even have a tarrariam to build it in, with palm leaves and sand. How long do u think it’ll take fo them to have chicks? do u think it’ll happen at all?
Hi Jessica,
Budgies don’t build nests but you need to get a nesting box from the pet store….make sure to ask the store assistant for a “Budgie” nesting box because you can also get them for other birds but they need to be a specific size….or you can make one….http://www.ehow.com/video_4951846_build-nest-boxes-budgies.html
Then make sure that it is nice and cozy inside…I recommend some cotton wool…just a little on the floor of the nesting box…
The female will instinctively know what to do and will check it out. (But budgies are fussy about which partner they breed with but hopefully they will “feel the love” when they see the new sexy love pad!
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that bird is soooo cute! he looks like a cloud, or even better, fluffffffy!
They do that fluffy feather thing when they are happy or looking for love…..
That budgie is so beautiful, and he has a great personality! Great videos.
Thanks a lot I really appreciate your kind comments!
Hi does anyone know if there are any virus going round? One of my two budgies died last week, he was not ill, Thursday he was his usual self and Friday he went down hill. He was a tamed budgie, so when he was on the floor he came up to me before passing.
That is so sweet, isn’t it? Not that your budgie died but that he said goodbye. In all my years of breeding this happens so often…they come, say goodbye and pass on. They are a shining example to us humans. As for a virus, I haven’t heard anything recently but hope that there isn’t one on the loose.
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Hi. I need some advice for my budgie, please. He recently lost his left leg a few weeks ago. He has been amazing in trying to adapt, and I’ve been doing my best to try and keep his spirits up. He comes out every day and flies with the other birds which seems to cheer him up, but he gets tired very quickly. Trying to stand on one leg ALL the time and balance obviously is tiring and frustrating for him sometimes, especially when he wants to go to bed and sleep. He has good days and bad.
I kept him in a separate cage for a while away from his two budgie friends, but yesterday I put him back so he’d have their companionship again. I’ve put a towel in the bottom, have set low perches for him and got him a cozy tent which I KNOW would help him sleep at night if he’d just go in it. It would help him balance and he could rest and be all warm and comfortable. But he won’t go in it! Do you think he will figure out it’s good for him? Should I leave it? In a way it’s an obstacle and adds clutter to the cage, but I really want him to use it. Any way to entice him to go in? Some parrots are reluctant to go into enclosed places, but do you think he will try it in time? He’s sat near the entrance, but so far that’s it.
Any tips for modifying his cage more to help him? Thanks for any advice.
Hi Lenoir,
I am terribly sorry for my late reply but it has been a struggle this year.Is he still alive…I would imagine he is as they are very adaptable. It sounds like you are already doing a good job. The only advice I could give is that he has easy access to food and water…preferably at ground level. We use a small (radius 2 inches approx.) hay dispenser for guinea pigs as a nest and our handicapped budgie sits in it like a nest but more often that not likes to sit on the floor of the cage. Budgies are very intelligent so they adapt and learn quickly. Has the tent worked out? I imagine not as I could only see a female using it as a nest, but I have been surprised by budgies in the past! LOL We also have some small old twisted branches in the corner for him to try sitting when he wants. Also, one of those small mirrors on a weighted ball that always stand upright (like those kids punching clowns that always get back up) are great to play with. But basically they will adapt by themselves. Just keep an eye on him and if something seems to be making life difficult just adjust it or remove it as necessary.
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I think that it is great that you decided to keep the budgies alive.
As you said, we don’t kill handicapped humans.
As long as you can care from them right and they are happy I see no reason to disciminate against them.
You seem to really care and love your budgies and that is fantastic.
Hi Alex,
Thank you for your kind words…one of the birds got married few months and is very proud…he will be making babies this year. The other has a male partner who feeds and cleans him constantly so he is also very happy. I love them to bits!
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