PJ & PoPo

[robert]

They've been eating the wall paper above the curtain rails and while I'm not worried about the wall paper I am worried about the glue and material in there that might make them sick so I decided to put up these soft plastic wall guards with double sided tape, I fixed the uneveness after the pic.

Other news PJ has drawn first blood. He tried to land on my lips and cut me. I know that we can trim their claws but frankly that scares me more.

2 things that I love about their personalities, PJ will sit on my shoulder and stick his head into my ear and wishper sweat nothings. At first I thought it was a coicendence but we've tested it out, doesn't do it to the wive's ears. And PoPo loves doing somersaults on blankets or my chest.

[stace]

I get the sweet nothings, but so does husband, Marc. Boo likes to nuzzle in and whisper just in the little crook of our necks, a little behind the ear.

[BudgiesBuddy]

Great update Robert and nice idea of protecting both wallpaper and budgies. A few members mentioned similar problems and can try this

[robert]

It's been working fine and after the wife got over her initial shock it doesn't look that strange.

PoPo has really started to shed tons of feathers which is great but she is losing the feathers that have been keeping her flying as well, the 2 outer most flight feathers that she managed to keep through the french molt. I wasn't sure if she would replace those this molt or not but she lost one of her longest tail feathers a few days ago which she kept as well. The longest one on her left wing has broken and twisted around in the wrong direction with the bottom part showing the dried blood shaft that was the weak part. She's been pecking at it but it won't fall out and I don't want to pull it. I bet that if she was flying that force would be enough to pull it out but since she's not they seem to be staying in. It's been that way since yesterday.

PJ is doing great and looking pretty and is keeping PoPo company on the ground. Pretty sure in a week PoPo will have a little more flight in her. Only concern is if the feather doesn't drop in a timely manner if it poses a threat to the one replacing it. Seems one should pop the other out.

[robert]

I checked my photos this morning and the dates on them and it's only been 3 months since we brought them home. Since getting these guys time has really slowed down for me, feels much longer. PJ is through his first molt it seems and is beau-ti-ful. This pic doesn't show it but the violet around his neck really comes out in the right light and angle and I love his markings. You can see that his crere is much bluer than before so no doubt about his sex now.
PoPo is almost done with her molt but her flight feathers are still so small that she is still having a little bit of a hard time making it up to her perching spots. Finally there is more white around her beak than red. So nice to start to see her real colors again.

I've never been at a site where I read so many posts compared to writing them. Probably read 30 to writing one. Just so much to read and learn. After reading about the different kinds of deseases and problems various birds are having I went out and bought suppliments to add iodine and calcium to their diet. We have cuttle bones for them but I've never seen them chewing on them so we bought some oyster shells to add to their food as well. I think we have a pretty good selection of food for them now as long as their fresh veggies.

I'm sure an African family could eat for a month on what it costs to feed these guys right. Crazy world we live in and lets face it, it's completely selfish to spent this much on birds when people are starving in the world so I make sure to balance my greed with donations to unicef and so on.

Now that winter is here my wife has been a little worried about the temp in their cage during the night but I assured her that the 20 watt heater I have in there was sufficient but she wasn't buying it. She wanted to buy a 60 watt unit, I said no way. She wanted to buy a 40 watt unit, I said no way. She wanted to add another 20 watt unit, and I said no way but to ease her mind I bought I digital thermometer that records the highest and lowest temps. Turns out the 20 watt unit keeps them at 35C during the night. Thank god I was able to convince her not to get the 60 watter or they would have been cooked. Our budgie books tells us to keep the temps near 30 their first year so now it's just a matter of trying to find the right balance in venting the top of their cage when we cover it at night.

The biting is over for the most part which makes me so happy. PoPo will still take a nip at any lip she can but it's never painful. PJ is really starting to make human sounding noises and many times it sounds like he's saying his name but we're never sure if it's our imagination or not.

[stace]

If they start talking in Japanese, you'll have to see if you can get it on video for us. That would be cute.

I don't think they really need to be that warm. 35C is quite steamy for night time.

[Marianne Marlow]

PJ and PoPo are looking great Robert, they look so relaxed in that photo above

[BudgiesBuddy]

Thanks for the update Robert, PJ & PoPo are doing great

You are right, the amount we spend on these budgies monthly is enough to feed a family in some parts of the world.

[robert]

Dec 5, 2011 11:47:05 GMT stace said:

If they start talking in Japanese, you'll have to see if you can get it on video for us. That would be cute.

I don't think they really need to be that warm. 35C is quite steamy for night time.

I'm trying to keep them at 30C because that's what our books tell us to do but they haven't been showing any signs of heat stress like panting or holding their wings out.

Dec 5, 2011 15:56:51 GMT Marianne Marlow said:

PJ and PoPo are looking great Robert, they look so relaxed in that photo above

Thanks. I believe they are happy and relaxed. They've never flown around in panic like I've seen some other people's birds do in the past. My friends can't believe that they come when they are called.

Even though I'm feeling more comfortable taking care of them and giving them a good diet I lack in experience about giving them a once over to check their health. After watching a man named Dr. Ross Perry on youtube I did give PJ a check and his feathers seem clear of any pests. I don't dare give PoPo one for fear of pulling out her weaker feathers though.

[robert]

Ever get the feeling that our birds have lost their survival instincts?

[stace]

Oh dear.

[BudgiesBuddy]

Dec 6, 2011 14:43:06 GMT robert said:

How clean are the teeth today ;D

Ohh you have some food here ;D

[Marianne Marlow]

How are PJ and PoPo Robert?

No updates for a while.

[robert]

Hi all,
At the end of last year we found our dream apartment, spacious with a huge living room and clear views of Mt Fuji but it was the hardest move I've ever had to do, we just got our net hooked up today.

I took PoPo to a vet that was recommeded from one of our books and he tested PoPo and made eyes when I told him the vet I had been going to said the test could kill him. Turns out that PoPo doesn't have french molt but rather PBFD which is far worse from what I understand. He gave us some medicine for the water that boosts their imune system but I forget the name right now, I'll just call it Jesus Juice. It seems to be working and PoPo is happier and speaking more. PJ loves the new place and has plenty of room to fly now.

I'll do a proper update when I'm rested and finished with the move thanks.

[stace]

Oh Robert. Sorry about the PBFD. That's bad news.

But great about your apartment. It sounds fab. Pictures as soon as you get a mo, please! Love to see the birds, your digs, and the views of Mt Fuji.