This is a “budgie baby page” — we put one of these together for each round of budgie parakeet chicks so our adopters can ooh and aah over all the cuteness while they wait to bring their feathered friend(s) home. If you’d like to be added to our waiting list for a chick of your own, please read about our specialized breeding program for details!

3/4/12 UPDATE: These babies have all gone home with their new families (scroll down for an adoption day photo). The personalities and temperaments in this round of 8 chicks are outstanding — they are curious, bold, and super sweet, just like their parents! Summary: All of this round’s babies are English-American crosses and white-based in color: blues, violets, grays; some with yellow faces; some dominant pieds. Scroll down to read recorded color and mutation information on each individual chick. 2012 Round 1 began in early December 2011. These chicks will be weaned and ready for new homes in late February and early March 2012. It is our expectation that we’ll raise 8 chicks from 2 breeding pairs.

NEW PHOTOS ADDED 3/4/12 — scroll down to see! Bookmark this page and check back for progress updates and new photos as they grow!

3/4/12: After enduring my “Budgie 101” schpeel, adopters had the opportunity to get to know their new feathered friends before taking them home.

2/21/12: Clockwise from lower left corner: Delfino, Addison, Wisteria, Amelia, Charlotte.

2/21/12: Pretty sisters! “Amelia”, left, a double-factor dominant pied skyblue. “Charlotte”, right, an opaline skyblue.

2/16/12: The babies are doing well with their “step up” training. “Wisteria”: single-factor violet normal (left) and “Scavo”: skyblue dominant pied (right).

2/16/12: I love her big baby eyes! “Addison”: gray normal.

2/16/12: “Scavo”: skyblue dominant pied (left) and “Sheldon”: skyblue double-factor dominant pied (right). Sheldon is white all over except a skyblue patch on his back.

2/8/12: What a soft fluffball! “Cooper” #81: Yellowface gray normal English budgie x American parakeet cross at roughly 1 month of age. By Sigmund x Rain.

2/8/12: Another little powder puff! “Sheldon” #82: Double-factor dominant pied skyblue English budgie x American parakeet cross. By Sigmund x Rain.

2/8/12: Sittin’ pretty! “Wisteria”: Single-factor violet normal female English budgie x American parakeet cross at 1 month of age. By Freud x Rain.

2/8/12: The slow eye blink indicates a relaxed budgie who is telling you he is your friend. “Scavo” #80: Male skyblue dominant pied English budgie x American parakeet cross at 28 days of age. By Freud x Polly.

2/5/12: The older babies are starting to eat solid foods on their own. “Delfino”, combination pied skyblue male (left) and “Wisteria”, violet normal female (right) at roughly 4 weeks of age. By Freud x Polly.

1/30/12: Two clutches, eight chicks, and a rainbow of colors.

1/30/12: The pin feathers are starting to open up. “Cooper” #81: Yellowface gray normal English budgie x American parakeet cross at 24 days of age. By Sigmund x Rain.

1/30/12: The pin feather stage. Charlotte #84 Opaline skyblue female English budgie x American parakeet chick at 18 days of age. By Sigmund x Rain.

1/30/12: How is it possible that these pink little aliens grow into such gorgeous creatures? Amelia #85: Double-factor Dominant Pied Skyblue English budgie x American parakeet chick at 13 days of age. By Sigmund x Rain.

Polly x Freud Clutch

(Desperate Housewives name theme)

“Freud”: Yellowface sky blue dominant pied male English budgie. Possible: split cinn? split opaline? 2T-08 11 by Terry Travis; brother to Sigmund.

“Polly”: single-factor violet blue greywing female American parakeet. Possible: split recessive pied? Clearwing? Related to Hydrangea, Lilac, AquaMan.

Breeding Outcome Expectations:

Type: Cross English x American
Colors: blue, violet
Mutations: yellowface, dominant pied, dark factor?
Splits: greywing or clearwing (100%), possibly recessive pied
Possible: 50% of females cinnamon
Name ideas: Wisteria, Susan Mayer, Mike Delfino, Lynette or Tom Scavo, Bree or Andrew Van de Kamp, Gabrielle or Carlos Solis, Mary Alice Young, Edie Britt, Orson Hodge, Karen McCluskey
Note: I will keep a violet (normal/yellowfaced/dominant pied; 50% possible).

Outcome: 6 eggs; 4 fertile; 3 hatched. First egg laid 12/16/11; last egg ~ 12/26. First chick hatched 1/5; last hatched 1/10/12.

1. RESERVED for JoAnn G… “Delfino”: #78. Gender: M. Color: white and skyblue. Mutations: recessive pied (might also be dominant pied). Split: greywing or clearwing. Markings: few spots on wings; white tail, chest; blue rump. DOB 1/5/12. $95
2. RESERVED for Jen, breeder. “Wisteria”: #79. Gender: F. Color: violet. Mutations: normal. Split: greywing or clearwing. DOB 1/7/12. $105
3. RESERVED for Ben Miko… “Scavo”: #80. Gender: M. Color: white and skyblue. Mutations: dominant pied. Split: greywing or clearwing. Markings: blk saddle; blue: typical pied spots. DOB 1/10/12. $95

Rain x Sigmund Clutch

(Private Practice character name theme)

“Sigmund”: Yellowface gray dominant pied male English budgie. Split: Opaline. Possible: split cinn? 2T-07 11 by Terry Travis; brother to Freud.

“Rain”: Skyblue dominant pied female American parakeet. Split for greywing. By Mellow Yellow x Mostly Cloudy.

Breeding Outcome Expectations:

Type: Cross English x American
Colors: blue, gray
Mutations: yellowface, dominant pied (sf and df), 50% of females opaline
Splits: 50% split greywing, 50% of males split opaline
Possible: 50% of females cinnamon
Name Ideas: Addison Montgomery, Peter Wilder, Naomi Bennett , Cooper Freedman, Charlotte King, Dell Parker, Sheldon Wallace, Amelia Shepherd, Jake Reilly, Sam Bennett, Violet Turner
Notes: I might keep a yellowface blue (normal/dominant pied; 50% possible)

Outcome: 6 eggs; 6 fertile; 6 hatched, 5 survived. First egg laid 12/19/11; last egg ~12/29. First chick hatched 1/6/12; last hatched 1/16/12.

1. RESERVED for Ben Miko… “Cooper”: #81. Gender: M. Color: yellowface gray. Mutations: normal (gry dwn). Split: maybe greywing. DOB 1/6/12. $95
2. RESERVED for Sage Swin…”Sheldon”: #82. Gender: M. Color: white and skyblue. Mutations: DF dominant pied (wht dwn). Markings: white tail, wings, chest, cheeks; blue rump. Split: maybe greywing. DOB 1/8/12. $95
3. RESERVED for Sage Swin… “Addison”: #83. Gender: F. Color: gray. Mutations: normal (gry dwn). Split: maybe greywing. DOB 1/10/12. $75
4. RESERVED for Brandi Holl…”Charlotte”: #84. Gender: F. Color: skyblue. Mutations: opaline (wht dwn). Split: maybe greywing. DOB 1/12/12. $85
5. RESERVED for Brandi Holl…”Amelia”: #85. Gender: F. Color: white and skyblue. Mutations: double-factor dominant pied. Markings: white tail, wings, chest, cheeks; blue rump. Split: maybe greywing. DOB 1/16/12. $95

More Budgie Parakeet Pages:

Colorado Hand-fed Budgies and Parakeets!: Our family raises, hand-feeds, trains and adores budgies and parakeets. Learn more about our selective breeding program and view our gorgeous, tame birds.

Inside Our Aviary: See where our birds live — flight enclosures, breeding room, play gyms.

Our Flock of Adult Budgie Parakeets: Take a peek at our gorgeous feathered friends. Lots of photos!

Pictures of Our Hand-fed Babies: Come ooh and aahh over all the cuteness and watch them grow up!

Pre-Adoption Questionnaire: If you are interested in adopting one (or more) of our budgies when they become available, please respond to these questions.

Budgie Baby Waiting List: I know how hard it is to wait when you’re excited but I promise you, the wait is worth it!

FAQ (frequently asked questions): What is a budgie parakeet’s personality like? What are the differences between American parakeets and English budgies? How do you tell a male from a female? Should you keep one, two or more? How long do they live? Where did the species originate?

How To Care For Your Pet Budgie Parakeet: Learn about housing, cages, homemade aviaries, cleaning tips, health, safety, nutrition, exercise, playtime activities, toys, and more.

Bird Nutrition and Food Recommendations: Malnourishment is a leading cause of premature death in pet birds. We provide lists of healthy foods and tell you how to grow your own sprouts.

Training, Talking, Tricks: Entertaining video demonstrations and informative tips.

Colors, Varieties, Mutations, Genetics: Budgie Parakeets come in a rainbow of colors. This page has beautiful photos and variety descriptions.

Bird Playgyms, Stands and Perches for Sale: Learn how to make your own — or order a custom one from us.

Budgie Parakeet Supplies For Sale: Organic food mixes, cages, toys, play gyms, perches, cuttlebones, more! We offer these essential and favorite bird supplies as a courtesy and convenience to our budgie parakeet adopters. Pick up is at our home by appointment only.

Homemade Aviaries and Flight Cages: How to converted used furniture into large flight cages and beautiful indoor aviaries.

Hand-Fed Baby Budgies and Parakeets — Our Adoption Procedure:

1. Respond to our pre-adoption questionnaire.
2. Email your responses to: Jen @ puppies are prozac . com (remove all spaces in the address first).
3. Upon approval of your questionnaire responses, I will add your name to the waiting list.
4. As soon as we have 3 week old chicks in the brooder for hand-feeding, I will email you (in the order of your waiting list date) and request a $15 (each chick) non-refundable deposit to reserve your hand-fed baby.
5. While you’re waiting for your parakeet(s) to be hand-fed then weaned onto solid foods, please read our parakeet care information page, prepare a cage with the specifications outlined on that page, and purchase some appropriate budgie parakeet food.
6. Most parakeets are weaned and ready to move to new homes when they are about 6 weeks of age. Sorry, no shipping. Pick up is in Fort Collins, Colorado.