Sunny Hollow Aviaries, Minnesota
Hand Tamed Budgies and Parrot Toys
Frequently Asked Questions
On this page, you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions. I hope this proves usefull, it covers the basic questions I am asked most often.
Please use the provided menu to navigate this page easily:
Concerning our Aviaries
Unfortunately, No. We are a closed aviary, in order to insure our birds and everyone else's birds are safe from illness. Anybody who has a bird can pass a virus to another bird just by being in the same vacinity as it! You are even advised to change your clothing when you get home from a Pet Store, or anywhere that has parrots. Therefore, I am sorry but no strangers are allowed to visit the aviaries.
Why don't you hand-feed your Budgies?
We will begin to offer hand-fed babies as an option in our Spring 2009 clutch, but to get a tame baby, it is not required that it be hand-fed... The interaction that is given to the bird while being hand-fed is what counts to make the bird tame & appreciate human handling.
How long will it take until my baby is ready?
The weaning process can be lengthy, but it is vital to the well being of the bird that it not be rushed! [I do NOT force wean.] It varies for each individual bird, so I cannot put an exact date on when your baby will be completely weaned and ready to go home with you. It usually takes about 5-6 weeks from when the baby hatches for the baby to wean completely and be eating on his own, and then we transfer him to the "big bird" cage where we monitor his eating & behavior for a week and evaluate whether or not he is ready to go home at that time.
What are your health guarantees?
We offer a 100% money back Guarantee for the first 48 hours on all babies hatched at Sunny Hollow. If you take your bird to an Avian Vet within 48 hours of purchase, that guarantee is extended to 30 days. This guarantee covers the death of the bird.
What are your Sales Policies?
We reserve the right to sell only to homes we see fit. We do not accept deposits. Payments for babies can be made through Paypal or cash, upon delivery. To be placed on the waiting list, you must first fill out a Budgie Application. Every clutch has a waiting list, so reservations are recomended if you're thinking about purchasing a baby from us.
If you fill out an application and are placed on the waiting list, and later decide you no longer would like a Budgie from Sunny Hollow, PLEASE inform us as soon as possible so that we know how many people are on the waiting list for each clutch.
Once we do have babies for the clutch you're waiting on, we will try to contact you by email or phone. (Whichever you provide on your Application) If you do not respond within 7 days, we will assume you no longer are waiting for a baby, and you will loose your spot in line.
Concerning the care of your new baby
You can refer to the 'Parrot Care' page of this site for information regarding housing, grooming & toys. Refer to the 'Budgerigar Info' page for information regarding Budgies suggested diet & diseases. But to sum it up, varieties of toys from the foraging, snuggly, noisy, destroy, intelligence categories as well as the largest cage you can afford! Preferably rectangular with 1/2" bar spacing, horizontal bars, about 3 feet long, 2 feet wide and 2 feet tall. Also a variety of playgyms for them to explore while out of the cage. Syptic powder, or a full blown First Aid kit, if you plan to clip/file your birds wings/nails on your own. Also, Sandpaper perches are a No-No as they can cause sores on the birds feet as well as discomfort. (Let it be known that Sand perches are beneficial, as they're said to file toe nails naturally as well as beaks. It's the sand PAPER perches that you're avoiding!!) Also, mirrors are a horrible idea as well, since birds become very bonded to their own reflection, thinking its another bird. Also a travel kennel equipped with sturdy toys that won't smack into them when they're moving and water & food dishes and a few low, comfortable perches for bringing them to the vet, on walks, traveling, etc.
Should I take my bird to the vet, even if it doesn't appear to be sick?
I would reccomend taking your bird to the vet just for annual (yearly) checkups! During which you can get your birds' bloodwork done to see its' 'normals,' I.e. White blood cell count, etc. can differ from bird to bird as well as change when your bird gets sick, and can help your Avian Vet determine the underlying cause if your bird then becomes sick in 2 months. Birds hide illness VERY WELL! This is called subclinical illness; when your bird is sick; but doesn't appear to be so. It is an instinct, seeing as they are prey animals, and if they appear sick, they make an easy meal. Birds can be vaccinated nowdays for Polyoma Virus, but only if they are younger than 6 months old. This is only reccommended for birds in an aviairy setting, but I would do it anyways just for my pet because I love my pets. Certified Avian Vets can be hard to find and more expensive than your dog/cat vet. since their feild required more schooling and whatnot.
Concerning the pick-up of your baby
What if I cannot make it to our scheduled meeting for picking up the baby?
If we have pre-decided on a meeting place & time, and something comes up and you cannot make it, I understand. But PLEASE LET ME KNOW AT LEAST 3-4 HOURS IN ADVANCE. I also email about 3-4 hours in advance to confirm that you will be there, if I do not recieve an email back, I will not go. If you email or call me saying that you WILL be there, and you do not show up; I will revoke the ownership of your baby.
How should we pick up our new baby once it's ready?
You can pick your babies up anywhere within the city of Andover, MN or here at Sunny Hollow Aviaries for free. If you cannot make it to Andover, you will be charged a trip fee. We provide a small travel box to transport your new baby to it's new house. If it's trip will be longer than an hour; we will also provide small dish of watery vegetables to act as a water source, and reccommend that you upgrade to a plastic travel cage (pictured below) for $10.00 which will make his or her journey more comfortable and less stressfull.
Carrier is reusable for trips outside, to the vet, to a friend's and much more! Wiring snaps off for easy cleaning and retrieving your bird.
Your baby is also sent home with a "Sunny Hollow Aviaries: Budgie Care Pack" which features Hatch Certificate & a Budgie Information Packet.
Concerning the payment of your baby
What are your payment methods?
We accept cash, PayPal and checks. All payments must be paid in full, and all checks must be cleared with the bank at least 3 business days before baby can go home. We do not require deposits to hold a baby during weaning.
Concerning Budgie Ownership
Which are better as pets: Male or Female Budgies?
Companion-wise, beauty-wise & temperment-wise, there is no difference between males & females. Both make equally as great pets! Females are the dominant sex in Budgies, so if you are planning on adding your new Budgie to an established flock, I would go with a female. They are basically not sexually dimorphic, meaning you can't really tell the difference between them based on their outward appearance. As far as feathers and size go, at least. (Meaning females will be just as pretty as males, which is not typically the case for birds other than parrots.) The only difference between the two is that during breeding season, (Our spring-summer) the females may get a bit nippy or stubborn, and some may even lay infertile eggs. (Birds do NOT need a mate to lay eggs!) This situation should be avoided at all costs, if you don't have an unrelated male, because captive birds of all kinds tend to not get the correct balanced diet and excersize that they would in the wild, resulting in the hen becomming "egg bound."
Egg Bound= "refers to a condition in laying hens where a hen is unable to pass an egg that has formed. The egg may be stuck near the cloaca, or further inside. Egg binding is a reasonably common, and potentially serious, condition that can lead to infection or damage to internal tissue."
What should my Budgie eat?
- 60% Live Sprout Seeds, soaked to acvtivate the nutrition, supplemented with
- 20% Fresh Vegetables
- 10% Regular "Parakeet Seed"/Spray Millet
- 10% Bird-Safe Tablefood items.
Many people believe that organic pellets are the best choice for all companion birds. This is true for most other species of parrot, but those pellets are too rich in nutrients for a Budgies' system.
Genders of Budgies can be determined by looking at the cere of the bird. The cere is the fleshy area around a Budgie's nostrils. A blue cere means a male bird, and pink-tan cere means a female. For a more in depth reading about telling genders in Budgies, please read my "Sexing Budgies" article on the Budgerigar Info page.
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