before poly passed away if i opened the box she would screesh and do everything to get me awayi had to use a spoon to get the duds out but with penelope she just sirs there and watches as you pick the chicks up but she knows your going to return them

 

Don't worry Bea. Bailee's just trying to show Cookie he's boss and she should trust him. The lunging at you is normal. Just do as you would normally and ignore it. Cookie will do the same at first when you open the box to check on her. The hens acctually do his fluffe up rocking back and forth thing followed by a hiss and a fake bite. Give her some head scritches and talk to her and she'll calm down right away. They won't acctually bite you when your hand gets near. Cookie will even do it to Bailee when she start laying the eggs but more along the lines of a married couple. One minute she's nice, the next she's annoyed with him. Oh, and it helps if you're the only one checking the box. If anyone else tries it might be a different story.

 

They won't acctually bite you when your hand gets near.

Bailee bites like a menace when i put my hand near when he's on guard duty. He could crunch my bone the way he's going. He seems over protective of the nest box, he won't barely let Cookie in it. When he's in there doing whatever it is he does and he sees Cookie look in he charges her down and snaps his beak at her till she's completely off the perch. She has done some sneaking around today and managed to get in the nest box a bit, and when she does that Bailee doesn't seem to care at all. Hopefully he settles down a bit soon. Cookie's butt is looking a bit round today, so maybe there'll be an egg in a day or two.

 

He's super protective then. I know they won't let the girls see the box until they've finished preparing it but I guess he won't let you see it either..hehe

 

Well i'm big enough that i'm going to peek even if he tells me not to. He's arranged the material into a little concave. I guess he's done his job. They're mating right now by the sounds of it, so little eggies should be on the way if one isn't already.

 

Well i'm big enough that i'm going to peek even if he tells me not to.

Must be funny to see him acting all big and bad when he is such a mummy's boy

 

i no when poly had her first clutch if i opened the box she would come charging and screeching at me till i closed the box

 

I does sound like eggs are on the way I guess Bailee thinks he is a big tough guy now

 

Bea, he may still be protective of her entering the box because he hasn't finished doing what he has to do to it yet. When the male is ready for the hen to enter the box, he will start singing from inside, whilst tapping his beak on the sides of the walls. Then the hen usually goes in.

 

Well the roles have been reversed now, Cookie goes in the nest box and Bailee stands guard looking very happy with himself. I put them both on my shoulders while i cleaned the cage and they seemed happy with that. I'm going to get everyone out for a little while after lunch, i'm sure i'll see my sweet Bailee back then.

 

Best of luck mate I know you will get lucky, and am hoping for the best! Im so pleased you have decided to let them breed, I knew you had it in ya hehe

 

Both Cookie and Bailee are spending lots of time in the nest box. Bailee is still super aggro around the nest box, but if i approach him armed with my secret weapon - sunflower seeds - he goes all sweet again. Cookie definitely has an egg butt, and after seeing the monster poop she just aimed off the side of the budgie cage i would say we'll see an egg tomorrow or the next day.

 

lol you just got to love it when they do that

 

Hopefully that sunflower seed will work when your trying to take a picture of the little egg can't wait to see some pictures

 

Congrats Bea.

 

Wish them luck and give Cookie some extra headscritches...that egg should be on the way!

 

A cute little egg is on the way Good thing you have you secret weapons ready

 

Good luck bea. I'll be waiting to see pics of the eggs

 

Just my ultra maturity showing here, but Cookie did a poop so big that it made a fart sound on the way out. :lol: Have to say that's the first time i've heard a bird fart. On the topic of poop though, not only do Cookie and Bailee not want to poop in the nest box, they also seem like they don't want to poop in their cage in general. Cookie held from 1:30pm - 8pm. I know this because i got everyone out at 1:30pm and she did a whopper of a poop off the side of the budgie cage, then nothing for the 2hrs they were all out, and then there was nothing on the fresh paper in their cage when i got home from school. Isn't 7.5hrs a bit long to be holding. Bailee's doing the same.

 

Bea, they old it in, and just do a couple of big ones a day. I forgot what it is called exactly.. Bugger, i wil try to find some more info for you.

 

hehe...a birdie fart Bea? They are pretty big though so I know what you mean.
I noticed the same things as you-there realy hasn't been any poop in the cage here either. Ziggy holds his too but not as much as her. He will go in the cage but it seems that he goes in one spot in the second cage (away from the box) and Baby comes outside to poop. Good thing I have the plastic mats under their cages because they're huge!!! It's ok for them to hold it like that as Phill said.

That's a good sign though-egg #1 for Cookie should be here pretty soon! Put a little bathing dish in their cage too. Baby likes to sit in it and get her belly feathers wet sometimes-something do with the humidity level.

Anyways, I hope all goes well!!!

 

Put a little bathing dish in their cage too. Baby likes to sit in it and get her belly feathers wet sometimes-something do with the humidity level.

I had heard about that, i was planning to just offer her mist baths more often but i might try putting a shallow dish on the cage floor to see if she'll bath that way.

 

From everything I have read its perfectly normal for them to hold it that long, sounds like it won't be long now

 

LOL... that sure is a funny thing to hear... and I thought I was the only one.....the only one that heard that not made that LOL....

 

Who thought a bird could toot I heard a shallow dish of water in the cage for them is a good idea. That way they can decide when they need it

 

No eggs yet, but i thought you might like a pic of Cooks in her nest box.

And one of Bailee who i strategically had out of the cage while i was taking the photo. He gets cranky when i look in the nest box and he's in the cage, which in turn stresses Cooks out.

 

now that is one gorgious tiel

 

Cute pictures Bea