First sleep over !!!!!!!

[criswell]

My boys are finally having their first sleep over. It's taken a long time to get to this stage. Dean Stockwell moved downstairs to the lounge on 6th July. In the past few months he's made quite nuisance of himself at times but he's calmed down and they've been getting on really well, especially Dean Stockwell and Randolph Carter. We tried a sleep over back in the summer but Dexter was upset and Dean Stockwell kept trying to peck anyone who came near him and since then he's been taking himself back to his own cage.

Last night Dean Stockwell was very reluctant to go home but I couldn't get them to settle so reluctantly I had to encourage him to go home. Tonight he was up on Randolph Carter's swing an hour or so before bedtime, only coming down now and then for some food. Dexter got a bit stressed and came out for a fly about but he calmed down when I gave him a twirl on his stick. I made bed time a bit more gradual tonight and turned the main light out while we were still watching TV. Randolph Carter kindly let Dean Stockwell keep his swing and he got up on to the bigger swing which is a much more suitable size for him. Dexter looked a little unsure about the plan but once I turned the TV off he got up on his swing. Dean Stockwell made a few little warning trills but stayed on his swing and then I put the cover on and turned out the light. I listened at the door for a minute or two until Dean Stockwell was quiet and then all I could hear was them crunching their seeds. And I've not heard a peep out of them since so I hope they are all sleeping happily.

I hope this means Dean Stockwell has permanently moved in now. He can't fly the best at the moment as he's lost all his flight feathers and I'm not sure if they will grow back. Because he's so small and light he can still fly a little bit but it will be safer for him if he doesn't have to leave the big cage. I've just ordered the supplements that The Birdcare Company recommend for poor feather growth (calcivet, feather up and potent brew) so hopefully that will help. He's busy and playful and singing all day long aside from lacking his feathers and he takes his naps with Randolph Carter, with both of them chirping in their sleep.

[criswell]

All is quiet in the budgie cage this morning. My boys are late risers and don't get up until 10 am as it is still pitch dark in the lounge because of the thick curtains. I hope they slept well.

[criswell]

They slept well and didn't move about in the night. Dexter was a bit too boisterous when they woke up so Dean Stockwell popped back to his own cage for 5 minutes until Dexter calmed down and then he went back into the big cage with them and they all seem happy. I'm so proud of Randolph Carter for letting Dean Stockwell have his swing. Hopefully they'll settle down as nicely again tonight.

[Shirls]

It's so lovely when they all get on together, especialloy at night 'choosing the swing time'. Wish my lot would!!

[criswell]

I didn't think they'd ever get round to sharing a cage. They've been a bit fractious with each other today. I won't be too disappointed if they don't share the cage tonight but I hope they do.

[Hezz]

You never know just what might eventuate, criswell. You have time and patience on your side, but hopefully the boys will become more used to the arrangement with a few more sleep overs.

[criswell]

Dean Stockwell took himself back to his own cage this evening. No one chased him out but I did change the cage paper later than usual so that might have changed his mind as he doesn't trust me putting my hands in the cage. Or maybe he just wanted to spend some time with his favourite bell, on the bottom of the olympic rings toy. I had the same toy in the big cage too but Dean Stockwell wouldn't let the other boys come near it and kept chasing them away from that part of the cage so I had to take it out and I hung it on the outside of the cage so he pops out to visit that bell or the one in his cage a few times a day. He is making friends with the big stainless steel bell in the big bird cage but he still likes his little bells better.

So Randolph Carter got his swing back for tonight anyway. We will see what happens tomorrow night