I have a pair of budgies too, I bought from Pet Wonderland. They only tell me to feed seeds. I didn't know budgies can eat other stuff too. I did try to feed fruits, but they don't want to eat. When you mentioned rice & pasta, are those cooked or uncooked? What kind of veg is suitable then?

I like to see them play. The green one is very active and playful, like to turn round and round and round upside down for many times. First time own a bird pet actually.

I do notice my budgies like to make sound follow music melody.

Last Thursday my 3 cute budgies flew away already, all because of my new careless absent minded maid didn't close the cage cover properly.

And then on Saturday I bought a canary back, love it so much, it sings a lot. Wow..I got poisioned by its singing voices. May be I will buy some more singing birds in future. Anybody had any experience in keeping the following singing birds:-

Red-whiskered_Bulbul - (Jambul)
Hwamei or Melodious Laughingthrush
Shama (Murai Batu)
Orienteh White-eye (Puteh)
Magpie Robin

My canary bird only like to sing when it is alone without any birds presence. So I wonder if I would to add additonal birds, should I separate them far far away from each other?

Merbok is also a singing bird, right? My friend's Merbok never sing at all. Is it normal?

I saw Hill Mynah in Petaling Street shop (not for sale) can talk, mimic and whistle too. Just wonder how much a Hilly Mynah worth if to compare with Cocktaoo.

Really not all Merbok sing? I always hear a lot of birds singing around my house, definitely not the same as my Canary. And always see Merbok and Mynah birds in front of my house drinking water, if they could sing, then I must try to catch them.

Hmm...looks like Mynah is really hard to maintain. But sound interesting. Cockatoo is also too expensive for a beginner like me, looks like tamed Cockatiel fits my budget and much easier to maintain.

To keep a Cockatiel, need to apply license or not? Usually when people apply licence is for one bird one licence or one licence to cover all birds?

I see. Btw, do our council limit a household can only keep how many birds as pet or not? I do not want my neighbour to file a complain to the council that I own a lot of birds (e.g. 6) in future.

I like singing birds and talking birds, so sure would be noisy to neighbours then.

Can sing or not? Cannot sing then not worth RM100 lor. Even Merbok Kampung or Merbok Siam also can get at RM50 each. Some more Merbok can sing.

LOL like red indian rythm?? Funny.... Well..if the sound not really soothing then nego with him for RM30-50 lor.

Walau, you keep 18 birds in apartment, not noisy meh?? What kind of birds collection you have?

This post has been edited by Juztiny: Apr 8 2008, 11:58 PM

Wau..that's a lot of expensive collection you have.

In your avatar picture is Murai Batu or Murai Kampung? Btw, how is Merbuk Merah looks like? Are they look the same as Tekukur?

I'm thinking of keeping Shama too. But nearby my house (Cheras area) I can't find any bird shop near my area, last time got 1 shop in Taman Len Sen Cheras, but closed down already. I know Shama and Magpie needs fresh insects (cricket or mealworms), so can you tell me where else can I get bird shops beside Petaling Street Zoologic?

Hehe..as cheap as possible. I know someone wanted to sell around RM150 - RM300. But the main problem is, if I can't find constant fresh food supplies and pellets for Shama, then no point keeping it, right? I definitely cannot find much insects within my own house, so have to get from bird shops.

Wah, that price is good man. But is it Murai Batu or Murai Kampung? Murai Batu very colourful,

RM130 good price, I want ! PM me his contact.


Last few days, I bought a pair of young male Merbok Kampung. Can sing.... but attract 4 other wild Merbok to my house daily. Pening kepala...

This post has been edited by Juztiny: Apr 10 2008, 04:44 PM

I have a normal plastic cage right now, can use for temporarily. I am looking for 2 quality bamboo/wood bird cages. In 2 weeks time, I'm going up North to Kedah & Penang, so sure can find cheaper price on those cages because near Thailand.

So, for Shama the ideal cage size should be what size?

Oh...20" x 20" is enough?? I thought need to have at least 36" in length.

Where do you buy your Shama food supplies?

This morning when I clean my Canary's cage, my Canary escape out from the cage, I thought no way I could get him back, as I was seeing him fly over the roof, thank god my maid never give up keep searching for it, and found it in 6 house away from my house, and we finally caught him back. Phew! My..o..my I thought $$$ flew away.

Immediately after the incident, I clipped its wing away. No more freedom for him.

Aha..my maid also fell in love with this Canary songbird. Perhaps she felt guilty over her carelessness last time, so now she is determined to find back the Canary for me.


Today I went to Petaling Street, the shop has a magpie baby for sale. Can't resist the temptation to own a song bird, so I bought one home. Still young and need to hand feed.

I bought the baby Magpie for Rm35. And my Canary is white in colour, I bought it for RM100. It's age is 2 years+.

The Magpie is young, the shop owner said still cannot differentiate the sex. Do you know how to differentiate the sex for Magpie?

This morning 6am found out that the baby Magpie died already. Yesterday afternoon it was still active asking for food and trying to flap its wings. We fed it every time it awakes. Last night rain heavily, the weather was quite cold, so I covered the cage with cloth actually. Not sure is it because I didn't put it under the lamp to warm it, that is why it died? I don't think it died because lack of oxygen, I did leave a little gap for the air.

I went back to Wildlife Zoologic in Petaling Street at mid noon today and told the shop owner my baby died, and I want another Magpie, this time I just want an adult will do. She discounted for me (only cost Rm100 an adult bird). I choose a bird that already saw it sang inside the shop to make sure I didn't buy a mute bird back.

On the way back home I stopped by another petshop to buy the bird pellet, as I forgot to buy more packets from Wildlife, this shop keeper told me that my Magpie is female. He said usually the male head and legs are bigger, this one is not big. I don't know true or not, because my Magpie's head colour is shinny rich black colour, and it does sing. But I don't know how to differentiate whether it is a good singer or not. Well, will post up the picture once it is more settle down.

Came back home covered half of the cage with cloth in order to clam down the bird, and feed it mealworm. Once it had settled down and able to enjoy worms from my hand.

Azrada, are all babies Sun Conure when baby times are like green and yellow? Only turn to orange when grown up? Can Sun Conure be trained to talk as well?

This post has been edited by Juztiny: Apr 14 2008, 12:22 AM

I lived in a landed property, but I did try to put my birds indoor for 2 months, thought that I could see my bird more often and interact with them, however realized that it is not a good idea at all, the dropping feathers and seeds pretty messy. Now I hang them on car porch area during day time, night time only bring them inside kitchen area.

This morning I saw and heard my Magpie sing in respond to another wild Magpie around my housing area. Cool! I like its vocal! But the wild one can sing longer tune.


Hopefully when I get my tamed Cockatiel, it is not too young to handle. I'm still learning so not good in handling too young chick.