New Budgie Arrives Home!!!
The birdie is snug in its new cage. I decided to go with the Casbah style cage, the one that looks like a giant ice cream cone. I read some reviews of it that said the birds living in it loved to fly back and forth at the top,
The new birdie's name is Patrick. "P" sounds are fun and easy for a parakeet to say when it begins to talk, and the bird can be called Patsy if it turns out to be a budgie hen. Also, I can't help but think of St. Patrick's day when I see those beautiful green feathers covering budgie's tummy. The name was my dad's suggestion.
Patrick has been settling in very well. He came out tonight and worked on flying. He is so young, I don't think he's had much practice. From the beginning of the session to the end, I could see improvement in landing and strength. He has also been making some sweet little baby budgie chirrups and chortles. He lets my husband and me do scratchies on his head and neck and stroke his little green belly as well. He's doing very well on "ups" with the perches, but with the finger, it's still tricky. His little nails are too long, and I will have to trim them soon. On the other hand, after all the bonding we've been doing, I don't want to have to grab him up in a towel right away. He gets caught on fabrics and gets frustrated trying to step up when his toenails catch. Despite this small hang-up, he is an eager, curious little bird that is fast becoming a bright (green) spot in our lives!!
Aren't budgies the most miraculous little creatures? :-)
Stay tuned for more news and pics!
Patrick has begun his first molt, and continues to develop as a sweet little creature with quite a personality. I thought he would begin the molt weeks ago, but time has brought things along now. If Patrick was 6 weeks old when we bought him, he would be about 17 or 18 weeks now. We still dont' actually know if Patrick is a 'he.' His cere remains a bright baby pink, but perhaps that will be changing soon with his new set of feathers. Patrick is very vocal now. He wakes up about 7 every morning and starts chirruping only after we uncover him. Then he has to have something to eat, feeds his mirrors, and begins his morning frenzy. This consists of throttling every bell in his cage, bopping and billing every toy surface, then flying back and forth and back and forth from his two top perches. He usually starts screeching then, too, just to get it all out of his system.
When Patrick comes out, he flies around a few times in the den, then settles up on top of the cabinets to view his domain. He loves showers. He has one about every three days. He comes in the shower with us and sits on the towel rack inside, waiting for his spray bottle to be filled. He loves to be a sopping wet bird! Patrick also still loves to be scratched all over his little feathered being, but especially his head and under his wings. This is my husband's favorite bonding activity with him.
