Tea for two with Cooper. Cooper is serving (water) tea and Avi-cakes!
Lafeber Avi-cakes:
are 50% premium pellets, 50% premium grains and ensure a balanced diet,
are the perfect “bridge” food to wean picky parrots off seed,
promote a healthy immune system and skin & feather quality,
are mentally stimulating foraging fun with an innovative square shape,
are available in small bird, parrot, macaw & cockatoo sizes now at lafeber.com
Making a millety mess!
Once upon a time, a budgie lost her tailfeather.
The end.
As always, on our rainbow budgies’ hatchdays, I like to celebrate them by sharing memories and photos.
Today our little Felix would have been 10(ish). He passed in February from a testicular tumor. We adopted Felix from Craigslist (his former owners wanted to concentrate on their cockatiels).
Felix was a handsome little devil. He had a biting problem when we first brought him home, but he mellowed out as he began to trust us. He received many kisses despite the occasional nip. He really was a sweet fellow at heart.
Felix was a great friend to the other budgies. He flirted with our girls, but he loved Lera (his tweetheart). He enjoyed baths and millet and would fly to my finger when I called for him. He loved to chew up balsa, and talk to himself in the mirror. He was a very handsome boy and we treasured the nine years we had with him.
Tyütyüke the cockatiel shows off his tricks.
Clear the Shelters, a nationwide pet adoption event, takes place this month.
Our budgies, Ozzie, Alfie and little Riley were adopted from our local shelters – and what little treasures they were.
If you are looking to add a bird to your family, please check your local shelters first. You may find a darling budgie who needs a happily ever after.
Requests have been granted – Cocaine Budgie stuff now available at Cooper’s Redbubble store, coodew.
As always, a percentage of all sales will go to Cooper’s favorite bird rescues.
This month’s book is Budgie by Joseph Coelho (illustrated by David Barrow).
*Spoilers below!
After a run in with his cranky neighbor, Mr. Buxton, Miles finds a lost budgie outdoors and brings him home. A downstairs neighbor has a cage with water, seeds and a mirror for the budgie. Miles names him Pippin. After a brief flight around the kitchen, Pippin settles into his new home.
Sadly, Pippin is not well the next day, and passes away before they can take him to the vet.
Miles and his family give Pippin a funeral with flowers. Miles writes a tribute and his sister Mary draws a picture of him.
Later, Miles finds out that Pippin belonged to Mr. Buxton (and was named Lemon). Lemon flew out the window and was lost. Mr. Buxton lets Miles know that Lemon was an older budgie and had a happy life. They bond over the tiny budgie and comfort each other through their tears.
Cooper thinks this is a lovely book, but warns readers to have some tissues ready. She was sad that little Pippin/Lemon passed away. But she was consoled that he had a long, happy life. She was glad that both Miles and Mr. Buxton appreciated what a wonderful budgie he was.
Cooper loved the illustrations by David Barrow and the descriptive vocabulary by British poet and Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho. The book’s end papers have some budgie facts and a spot the difference, which will be fun for young readers.
Budgie is a lovely little story that teaches children about grief, acceptance and understanding.
