Remembering Ozzie

I like to share memories of our “rainbow” budgies on what would have been their hatchdays.
This year I decided to share videos.

We adopted Ozzie from the animal shelter in 2012. He had been attacked by a cat and a good Samaritan found him and brought him in. As soon as they patched up his puncture wounds and nursed him to health, he was put up for adoption. How lucky we were to bring him home. He was so friendly and very easy to tame.

If there was a budgie yearbook, Ozzie would have been voted “Best All Around.” He was the perfect budgie. And so photogenic! He was very chatty – if you talked to him, he would “talk” back. Not words, but vocalizations. But he sounded exactly like he understood what you were saying.
He was the flock welcome wagon. He was so sweet to the newbies. He showed them the ropes – how to play and how to eat their veggies. Ozzie loved any toy he could nibble on. He enjoyed his baths and Romaine lettuce was his favorite – maybe even more than millet.

When we brought baby Emmy into the fold, all the budgies ignored her at first. Except Ozzie. He let her pester him, and over time became her sweetheart.

We were blessed to have Ozzie in our lives for over 10 years. If you are thinking of adding a bird to your family, please consider adopting (rehomed or from a shelter). You may end up with a bird (almost) as wonderful as Ozzie.

Home Again, Home Again

The flock recently spent a week at a hotel. We were having some work done on the house and didn’t want the birds exposed to any toxic fumes.
The budgies did well. Sido did not like her travel cage. She was happy to be out (and on us) most of the visit. Especially Harry, whom she adores.
Harry was a budgie magnet – Cooper and Emmy spent a lot of time on the Harry jungle gym.

Emmy has lots of pinnies. She stuck like glue to Cooper. Cooper was unfazed by the whole experience.

We brought the playgym for the birds, but they mostly hung out on Harry, the tops of the travel cages and the top of the lamp. The lamp had a plexiglass shield (and never got hot), but we draped a towel around it to keep it poop free.

While the birds did okay on their hotel adventure, they are most definitely happy to be back home. So are we!

Remembering Dewey

Today we are thinking of our darling Dewey on what would have been his hatchday.
Dewey was our second budgie. We brought him home to be a companion for Cooper. He was just a baby, and an awkward baby at that. It didn’t take long for him to win our hearts.
Dewey grew into a striking fellow. He was best buddies with Ozzie, and soon became the flock leader.

Dewey enjoyed his oats and would “bliss out” eating them. He liked to make confetti out of carrots, and play with his mirrored dice. He was an amazing flier – quick and acrobatic. What Dewey loved most though, was Sunny. He fell head over heels for her at first sight. He was a devoted boyfriend and was always at her side.

Dewey was such a wonderful little budgie. He was very gentle and a friend to all. Though he left us in 2014, we still miss his presence. He was a sweet, beautiful boy who left us with many happy memories.

Felix

Months ago we noticed Felix was panting and tail bobbing, he also had a slight bulge in his abdomen. We took him into our avian vet who checked him over and withdrew some fluid from his abdomen. He was prescribed with a diuretic to help with any fluid buildup.
Unfortunately, the bulge returned. Felix has had more visits to the vet since, and was diagnosed as having a tumor (most likely testicular).
Over the past month the bulge has gotten even larger and our vet was unable to withdraw much fluid.
Felix is still eating, drinking and playing. He doesn’t come out of the cage as much as he used to and has taken to sleeping on his platform perch. We’re spoiling him with lots of kisses (he is more accepting of them), millet, balsa and attention.
Here is Felix out and about and giving us all a smile.