Hi as promised, I am back with two adorable new budgies. It turns out that I got them WAY earlier than expected because the other day, I was just looking for a bird cage that would be suitable for my home and a parakeet, and I found just the perfect cage (sorry Illussive I didn't buy the Hagen Vision cage from ebay because it didn't accept the credit card :() Except that when I went to go pick the cage up, the guy said that the cage also came with two birds. They were so adorable and appeared to be in good health, and it seemed like a shame to separate them (sorry illussive once again, it seemed so sad to separate the pair because they had been living like that for a whole year, so i just took both of them back home ) Unlucky for me, the previous owner didn't actually hand tame them so they were really freaked when I tried to change the food and water in their cage, but now, they "trust the hand"... kinda... I'm definitely letting them take it at their own pace, and so far they seem to be doing well. I had to put up a couple of new perches inside the cage because it only had one before. (don't worry the perches were bamboo from my garden and are non-toxic) I'm planning on buying/making toys for them. The last owner also didn't give them cuttlebone so their claws and beaks are a little long, so I'm working on that too. They don't have names yet, but I can't seem to find any that stick. They did get used to my home quite easily, surprisingly, because the last owner also kept them outside. I put their cage in my room and constantly talked to them the whole day and in the end, I even got them to eat a little spray millet from my hand!Here is a link to a picture but I'm not actually sure if it works. Please help me find names! http://www.wineintro.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/newpost/Board/10 ... Just in case the link doesn't work, one is a yellow female with a greenish tail and some black spots, and the other one is a blue male with white/grey wings. (I'm so excited !)

I couldn't see the pics. How did you end up with a cage that came with two birds? Did you look in the classifieds or at a pet store? I think you will have your work cut out for you hand training them but it sounds like you have time to spend which is good. Mine are still somewhat hand trained but not nearly as friendly or affectionate as some here. Thats because I didn't buy from a breeder. They are great though. Good luck with your new friends.

Oh yeah... I looked at the classifieds. They are actually about a year and a half old, and are definitely adorable. Although I think they are doing fine in their new home. (I hope) Except I think I might have messed up, because when I wanted to remove the rest of the apples from the cage, I accidentally brushed the yellow one's belly and they both started freaking out and started flying around the cage like maniacs, luckily, I managed to calm them down with some music. Yes, I definitely have my work cut out for me, but this morning, I was able to reach my hand inside the cage and everything with them just looking at it and staying still

I think I'm going to name the yellow one "Butter" because she loves preening herself and is all shiny and stuff . I wanted to name the blue one "Pecan", but I don't think that's a very good idea because he's actually blue... oh well...

Holy moly! That WAS fast!
Go to buy a cage and find it FULLY stocked eh?
I too think you have your work cut out for you..but take it sloow and be very patient and you will reap the rewards of loving budgies

Mind if I ask a few questions?
How big is the cage they are in?
Just how long is long when you say their beaks and nails are long?
I ask this because overgrown beaks can cause serious health issues if they get so long they can't eat properly. And nails? They can get caught up in things and cause foot/toe problems if they are so long that the foot doesn't sit properly.

You probably should get some cement/oyster shell perches to help with keeping things trimmed. Like these
http://www.petco.com/product/106805/PETCO-16-Cement-Perches.aspx
If beak and nails are ALREADY too long a trim by an avian vet may be needed.

Sorry to say that if you don't want breeding and babies, you will have to cage them separately afterall.
I know it sucks..but it is what it is with male/female pairs.

Are you SURE you have a male and female? Did the previous owner mention anything about egglaying or breeding in the past?

Annnyway..Congrats on your new friends
Take it slow...even where naming them is concerned. LOL A name will pop in to your head eventually once you get to know them and their personalities a little better

Pics would be niiice *hint hint LOL (I couldn't view the pic with that link either )

Open and account at photobucket.com
Upload some pics and copy/paste the IMG code here in your post
Might even help us determine gender and whether or not you have a nail and beak issue going on there

No no the cage wasn't fully stocked. I already had most of the supplies ready except for the toys and some extra perches. The nails aren't actually that long and I think the beak should be fine too (I was just actually worried at first, but I think it should be fine) They are eating normally and actually I don't think the nails will be much of an issue here, I have a bunch of different natural perches for them and I am planning on getting one or two extra cement perches. I'm just missing toys. Well actually I'm not really sure if they are male and female but the yellow one's cere is tan/brown and the blue one's cere is light blue/purple so I think so. But! The previous owner said that they have never actually nested for the one and a half year they stayed with him and were kept in a cage with a third parakeet. They LOVE when I play the radio for them and their cage size is as follows : 30x18x18. I was told that it would be better to have a cage that was longer so they could fly a bit. I don't know if its too small though. I think it should be fine, they look like they have plenty of space and when I manage (hopefully) to start and finish hand taming them I'll let them out into my "bird-proof" room. Here's a pic: http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n628/ILikeCurryAndApples/DSCI1146.jpg and another http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n628/ILikeCurryAndApples/DSCI1145.jpg (hope it works this time )

i dont understand why ebay didnt take a credit card unless your over drawn on it...never heard anyone having that issue.

good luck... but i think you jumped into the very thing you were explained too when you asked all your questions, that you should not do as a first time bird owner...especially seeing how these birds **maybe already have some possible beak and toenail issues...that tells me the previous owner did not take the proper care and you could end up with having biten off more than you can handle right away...

and i dont believe if the previous owner had issues with egg laying they will say anything kk...but it would be good to check..

hope you have a Avian vet lined up and a vet fund set aside...if not thats the very next thing you need to do.

good luck anyway and that link for pictures did not open

UGHH I know the link never works for some reason! Yeah I know that I shouldn't have taken both but they were living together for almost two years so it seemed like such a shame to separate them. I know i know but anyways their nails aren't very long, i will get them cement perches and bring them to a vet soon. They are eating properly and are indeed looking quite healthy. (They are active, their nose isn't running, they arent sneezing, their feet aren't sclay or anything, they are eating properly and hop around a lot. They don't seem very excited with the idea of having a human hand inside their cage changing their food and water but thats as far as I will be going for another week till they get more used to their new home. I think it will indeed be a lot of work.

Nope now I looked at them together and I'm pretty sure they are both male. wOw that was surprising. (Wait I'm still not sure) Both of their cere are blue/purple (oh wait I can't really tell....)--

sounds male for both but cant tell without pictures and we would all love to see pictures and you didnt mention the size of the cage an i just hope its metal toxicity safe as well.

anyway as i said wishing you good luck...and if they have been housed together that long and are both male there wouldnt be a need to separate unless there ends up some dominance issues.

but without pic's cant tell about any of it here from this point lol