To: Budgiemom / How's he/she doing

[dlaura]

Hi Budgiemom,
I was just catching up reading posts from over the weekend and came across yours asking for help for your sick budgie. It was very touching how much caring and advice was given in return for your plea for help.
It would be really nice if you returned in kind and let us know how your budgie is doing. Even if the news is not good, all of these nice people were and are here to offer support and shouldn't be left to wonder....................... so please keep in touch and be part of this wonderful caring family.
This happened before, where everyone poured their hearts out to someone who was going to get rid of his current bird (a Jenday conure) and get a Blue and Gold instead. As bird lovers, a lot of the thoughts were stern and reprimands.......but later the same bird lovers reached out again with caring advice and explanations as to their initial reaction. All of this and just silence from the party who first asked for advise. It leaves me to wonder if this person was only asking for advise on B&G with the underlying motive being a fishing expedition to find someone to sell the conure to ...................???????????? Who knows.......maybe now we will hear from him .................most likely in reply to this paragraph...................................let's wait and see.

[dlaura]

P.S. - I would welcome the back up of other members here!

[Mrs.Birdy]

Yes dsimko:

I agree with you. However, it seems that some members are quick to post then fall off. Others, I believe, are so busy on so many different boards they probably don't have the time to respond to all.

I am now on this board exclusively because I get so much from it and the members seem to appreciate my input as well as the input of others here.

[Mrs.Birdy]

Yes dsimko:

I agree with you. However, it seems that some members are quick to post then fall off. Others, I believe, are so busy on so many different boards they probably don't have the time to respond to all.

I am now on this board exclusively because I get so much from it and the members seem to appreciate my input as well as the others here.

[Amanda]

dsimko & MrsBirdy ... I agree with you both 100%.

[jackie]

ditto. but i do agree sometimes people post only a few times then leave....this is the first board that i've stayed with just because i feel comfortable and know that all the questions we have can be answered.

[dlaura]

Hi Mrs. Birdiy Amanda and Jackie,
Thanks for the support, I agree that this is a great site and I feel comfortable here also. I wonder why some people post only once and leave never to return..............

I guess you could say that it is really their loss.............

Hopefully we will hear from budgiemom - even if the news is not good - she would be comforted and strengthened at this board.

I still have hopes of hearing from Northstar about his success on finding a home for the Jenday conure and how he is doing with the new B&G. HEY NORTHSTAR.................ARE YOU STILL OUT THERE SOMEWHERE?

[birdygirl]

I admit I have fallen off of quite a few boards and now I two reliable ones that I post at. I can get an answer at either within an hour. So I am grateful. It is their loss. I hope Northstar has found a home for his conure and is doing good with his macaw.
I hope budgie mom's budgies are doing well. Even if the news isn't good she could be comforted here because people here care about pet birds. They also have people who have lost birds and can share the same expeirence.

[dlaura]

Hi Birdygirl,
I also only post on two boards, but must admit that I like this format the best and usually always return here first.

I too hope Northstar has been successful in whatever he decided to do. It is best for all if both were unhappy - that the Jenday found a new start in a loving home. The reason I keep calling out to Northstar is because I was hoping he would allow us all to assist him in being successful with the Blue and Gold. It is sad to think that he may be feeling like he failed with his first bird....................when it may have just been a lack of knowledge / research and with more support from others with experience he could be rewarded with wonderful lifetime companion. Don't get me wrong - not saying he won't succeed without our help - just saying that it is always helpful to have somewhere to turn when unsure how to proceed or correct a problem.

Diane

[birdygirl]

I agree It is always helpful to have a place to go. I love this board and think it is great.

[JSimko]

I also only belong to two boards.

[sleeepy2]

This is my only board, but since I recently returned to work ( out on injury for 2 months) I don't have nearly the time I had before. This is also stressing Cleo- I used to be able to spend 5+ hours a day with him, now I'm lucky to have 60 to 90 minutes with him (on weekdays). I spend as much free time with him as I can, but I think I may have spoiled him too much.:(

[Mrs.Birdy]

Sleepy2:

I hope cleo will adjust to your schedule soon. Quality time is more important than quantity time. Do you leave a radio on while you're away? He might like that.

[dlaura]

Hi Sleepy2,

I am sure Cleo is missing the time you spent together. I like Mrs. Birdy's suggestion of a radio - maybe you could put it on timer instead of just leaving on all day - all day of the radio noise may be too much.

Is it possible for you to visit on your lunch hour? This may sound crazy - but if you have an answering machine - call up and talk to Cleo once or twice a day. You could also make a tape for Cleo of things you say to him/her (?) and set that on timer to come on sometime during the day.

I think I remember that you inherited Cleo from your grandparents - who were probably around a good deal of the day. So, not only is Cleo adjusting from losing them, now he may be worrying that you are gone too because he is used to you being there. So, have patience and try to spend as whatever time you can with Cleo.

My son purchased a collapsible dog crate from a local pet store and takes his bird out with him whenever he can. He secures the cage in the back seat via a seat belt and Taz (B&G) perches/clings to the cage bars while in transit to where ever they are going. You could try that also. For instance, they may go to McDonalds for a bite to eat. They also go to the drive-in and Taz perches on the top of the seat and enjoys the movie. Taz also accompanied us to a back yard party a friend had last week.

[JSimko]

Yes, Taz will go just about everywhere with me. He also dances to music when we go somewhere.

[Mrs.Birdy]

Dsimko:

Those are great ideas you gave for sleepy2 and cleo. I plan on taking Marcel with us a lot this summer when we go visiting or for car rides along Long Beach Island (have you been there). Once we have his flight suit, I will walk along the beach with him on a warm, not hot, late afternoon.

He loves to be out and about......and seems to perk up once he's outside in the sunshine.

P.S. Taz continues to amaze me....what a wonderful bird. Tell Angel I love her, too, so she won't get jealous, lol.

[dlaura]

Thank you Mrs. Birdy. I know how Sleepy2 feels, as I feel guilty when we are busy and can't spend as much time as I would like with our birds. At least they have each others company.

Sleepy2:
One other thought: I have gotten in the routine of saying goodbye to our birds and giving them all a scratch on beek or head (whatever body part the bird puts up against bar) whenever I head to work or go out at all. If I leave the room I say I will be right back - just going upstairs - or just taking the garbage out.......etc. They now understand when I am leaving for a while or just going outside for a sec. They seemed to know my actions or body language now, because the B&G will sometimes say bye to me just as I am about to say to him and the goffin will be standing at bars of cage waiting to get her head scratched before I leave. If we are just leaving for a little while I also tell them that - so they begin to understand when we will be back.
Believe it or not ............I really think they understand. You may want to begin to try this out with Cleo.

[dlaura]

Mrs. Birdy,
Taz is always amazing me also. He is just so smart.
I will tell Taz of your compliments and give Angel a kiss from you. I am sure they will say - Thank you.

Diane

[sleeepy2]

I leave the radio on to quiet classical music when I'm gone. I also have called and talked to him over the answering machine (I just have to get home before my wife to erase the message, so she doesn't think I'm crazy!). I've been taking Cleo to my mom's (who he knows) house. He travels in a little cat-carrier with a branch screwed to the bottom so he has something to hold on to. At my moms house there's a T-perch I made for Cleo, so he gets to be amongst the family for dinner. I may be taking him down the shore in August using the same set-up, I'm not sure yet. He still snaps at my wife, and bites me when she walks by, but we're working on it. Thanks for your ideas!

[Mrs.Birdy]

You continue to do a great job with Cleo. My Marcel still snaps at my daughter, but I too will use some of Dsimko's advice and persevere.

Good luck.

[dlaura]

Good Luck to both Mrs. Birdy and Sleepy2.

There is an update on Angel under "Health Chat - Feather plucking" if you both read and give me your thoughts it would be greatly appreciated.

Sleepy2 - you might also want to consider one of those collapsible cages for using while down the shore with Cleo. I got one for Angel which is 22Lx13Dx16H with a pull out tray on bottom for cleaning. If you put a perch and one or two toys and food/water dishes it can be the "cage away from home" for Cleo. The cage is made for a dog - but can certainly be used for a bird as it is a barred cage. It can be purchased larger - the one I got was smallest they have and was 36.99.

[Amanda]

DSimko, on another post/thread (forgot which one), you had also suggested the collapsible dog crate for Rio. I really liked that idea and went to the pet value store near here. It's an excellent idea to put perches/branches and toys in the cage and I almost bought one for Rio ... except the spacing between the bars seem a bit big. I'm worried that Rio will be able to slip her head through the bars. My husband suggested that we wrap it in chicken wire ... but then that defeats the purpose of having the collapsible cage for easy storing. If you have any ideas how we can somehow cover the bars of the cage while in use, yet make it handy to fold and put away, I would greatly appreciate it.

[dlaura]

Amanda,
I will have to think on that one...........I will get back to you after I brainstorm. It really is nice to have a travel cage for them, which can be stored away when not in use.

I am thinking of bringing Angel to work one day and using the travel cage for that purpose.