English Budgies

The bird store I go to has a lovely, lovely selection right now. Colors I have never seen. I admit, I never paid them any mind as I am not "into budgies" but since loving and losing Sushi I had to spend a little time with hers. I was blown away by the English budgies. No, I am NOT getting one I guess I just wanted to know more about them, by someone who has dealt with them. She also had a mango colored canary warbling his little heart out that reminded me so much of my male tiel Piccolo that I lost this year. Don't know much about those little guys either.



I feel so guilty, Sparrow lost his best pal. I know he misses her, he still calls for her.

Copied this from another site - none of it is my own knowledge:

http://www.upatsix.com/chats/budgie/topic39967.html

English budgies are not as quick in flight as the American/pet budgies. Male E. make better pets. Most breeders of English breed for exhibition, so the stock they have for sale is at least 6 months of age or older. Even older cock birds can be hand tamed if the wings are clipped. These bird just don't put up as much "fight" as the smaller birds.
Some English can become sedentary and over weight. It is best not to leave treats at perch level, make the birds move around for their food/treats. If you can give flight time to your birds after you have hand trained (and their new fights have grown in) them that is GREAT.
Every bird is an individual. Each has it's own personality.

The exhibition part of this hobby is a LOT of fun! The competition and thrill of producing winning birds. You get to meet wonderful people from all over the U.S.

Be sure to ask for a pedigree on your new bird. Most exhibition breeders keep these records on their birds. They don't generally give them out unless a buyer asks for it. The pedigree with show you what colors are in the background of you bird. Though the band info, the breeder codes will tell you want aviaries the historical birds came from.

If you would like to check out a national budgie society here is the link to the Budgerigar Association of America (the BAA) http://www.budgerigarassociation.com

English budgies are bigger, not as friendly and have larger heads.they tend not to live as long as American budgies (from what I had been told) Beauty is the eye of the beholder. Some say the English budgies are more refined looking and prettier.

English budgies are.... not as friendly.....

How any bird is produced will lend to them being friendly or not. Since English budgies are bred for exhibition the chicks are handled often in the nest to get them use to humans and contact. It would never do for a show bird to flip out in the show box as the judge stopped to have a look at it.
Walking into a flight pen of most exhibiton birds, they don't go terring away to the furthest end to get away from you.

I've found English budgies to be generally calmer and easier to tame, as well, especially males. Although I've heard that at about 2 yrs. of age the female English budgies tend to get nasty - this isn't the case with my Australian female, who is 3 yrs. old, but that could just have been that I got her just after being weaned and handle her a lot.

I love English Budgies

I couldn't put my finger on it until I saw this picture, then it came to me...
Pimps. That's what I think the English Show Budgies look like.

VickiNumbers wrote:

I couldn't put my finger on it until I saw this picture, then it came to me...
Pimps. That's what I think the English Show Budgies look like.

Pimps! Hah! Love that! Except they need to be purple to really look the part!

Is this purple enough?

And do you see a resemblance here?
(Just so there's no question everyone - these budgies are CHAMPIONS. Seriously.)
BUHLER & PEARCE

VickiNumbers wrote:

Is this purple enough?

Yeah! That's the ticket!

Thanks for the info guys!

You can get non-show quality english budgies that look more "normal" and less stodgy. They're still about twice as big as the pet store american budgie.

Am I the only one who thinks english budgies are ugly?

I like half/half budgies, they're the cutest

zazanomore wrote:

Am I the only one who thinks english budgies are ugly?

So there's two of us!

zazanomore wrote:

Am I the only one who thinks english budgies are ugly?

they're adorabley ugly

I just don't understand why they have to have no eyes

GlassOnion wrote:

I like half/half budgies, they're the cutest

Hmmmm... maybe there's a market there for me!

Though I've heard that EB's are hard to breed. Anyone know anything about that? I wonder where I could get my hands on one? I could toss a little of the Union Jack into my line and offer people a little something new!

There has to be a show breeder in your area or a budgie club. All show budgies are the english variety.

Yeah, I think they're ugly too. But the one's that aren't "show quality" look more normal.

Maybe your cross bred ones will be generally less flighty than american budgies are reputed to be.

And you get a few dollars more. I paid a BIG whoppin' $10 for my english zebra finch, whereas the standard american zebra would have been $3.

patdbunny wrote:

There has to be a show breeder in your area or a budgie club. All show budgies are the english variety.

You think? I looked online and found a great big NOTHIN.

Thanks for the info guys. I spoke with the breeder who has my Junie girl and she would like to have Juniper. Since Junie has had no clutch she is willing to swap me one of her babies. Right now I am wrestling between a tiel, another gcc, or an English Budgie baby. I need something young and tame that I can train to stay away from Toogie's cage, and somebirdy to talk with Sparrow. Toogie ignores him completely. Bless his little heart. Will be taking my time and waiting until something feels right, I am in no rush.

Cockatiel.

I'd say another GCC to be honest. GCCs seem to be fun in pairs

Say hello to the newest members of my flock!

Meet Id (normal grey cock):


Erie and Electra! (on the Left and Right) (Erie is a normal grey hen, Electra is a sky blue cinnamon hen):


With a petite little American budgie right there in between them for contrast!

Id and Electra both come with pedigrees so I know exactly what their line is for two generations back. Kinda cool, huh? I expect they will add some good blood to my budgie lines!

He's so fluffy!!

Haha, stuffy was the word that came to mind for me. I was told they weren't tame but even so, I could easily catch them with my hand and not get bit while holding them. And even their bites didn't seem to really be bites,but maybe they weren't trying hard w me. .