Apr 25, 2024 17:04:51 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2020 17:16:50 GMT
The prodigal son returns. Also known as upsetting the status quo? The short version of the story is that Munchy was stressed where he was living. The long story is actually relatively long, so I might type that up separately in a bit once I've done the jobs I keep finding to do.
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Post by jellybean on Nov 11, 2020 17:19:56 GMT
Aww Munchy, welcome home 😘
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Post by ffiscool on Nov 11, 2020 18:06:48 GMT
Aww I bet he missed you
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Apr 25, 2024 17:04:51 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2020 18:35:54 GMT
ffiscool It's hard to tell! He currently doesn't appear overly interested in me, but whether that's because he's forgotten me, is sulking, has lost some interest in humans, or is unsure about being moved again I'm unsure of.
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Post by ffiscool on Nov 11, 2020 18:49:57 GMT
Probably a mix, but he will remember you. Bailey still loves humans, but just doesn’t talk anymore
I’m sure you’ll see a difference once he’s settled
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Post by blue48 on Nov 11, 2020 19:41:53 GMT
I'm sure he'll soon feel at home again.
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Apr 25, 2024 17:04:51 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2020 20:11:02 GMT
So... where to begin with this tale... Peri came to join us last November. After quarantine he was keen to be Munchy's friend, but Munchy was far less certain. He would dive back into his cage to avoid Peri if they were out together and if out alone would refuse to acknowledge Peri's existence in the other cage. Eventually I ended up having to shut them in a cage together simply to get them to say hello in a calm manner and get it over with! They became reasonably good friends over the next few months. Thanks to copying Munchy, Peri was starting to become a little more handtame. Things were pretty good. However I was busy with uni work. I trusted Munchy to keep them out of trouble and left the cage doors open when I got up early to go out to lectures so that they could exercise, but that meant coming home at 5pm to them ready to sleep and a room to clean up. The pressures of 3rd year were building, my OH had gone back to uni so my loneliness was setting in, and I found myself getting irritable towards the pair of them. Not constantly, but things like a bite would tip me over, or I'd feel really miserable if I couldn't do something with them. They'd hang out on top of the really tall furniture a lot so it was hard to interact. I never hurt them or anything, but it was a struggle to feel like anything but a failure and I felt that I wasn't giving them a good home. Being lonely I wanted to spend time with my housemates, but then was stressing that I wouldn't be able to tame the birds if I didn't spend time with them. They'd moved down to the book nook and I rarely had reason to go there. So I got stressed enough that I ended up looking for a new home for them. They went to a fairly local lady who keeps all sorts of pets and has a room dedicated to her birds. Munchy and Peri stayed together for a while, enjoying each other's company, until Peri got hormonal enough that he tried to mount Munchy and Munchy turned on Peri quite sharply. They were separated then and introduced to some hens. Peri kept running away from his because he didn't know what to do, personally I feel he was a bit young but she seems to breed birds a lot so I somewhat assume she knows what she's doing. Munchy was presented with hen after hen, most of them young, and ignored them all, until an older white hen caught his fancy. Both of them had a clutch but neither were fertile. Peri went to join the main part of the flock but Munchy stayed with his hen as they seemed rather close. It didn't last all that much longer. Munchy lost interest and was moved to the main part of the flock as well. That was when the problems started, but at this point as far as I knew he was still settled so when my budgie broodiness and longing for a companion bird increased as the stress of uni finally went away I ended up out looking for a new budgie, not that I felt I had the right to ask for Munchy back after I'd broken my promise to care for him for life. So I bought Indie. It wasn't long before I realised that Indie was far too shy a budgie to live alone and ended up getting Yuki to join him. Then recently, when the local lockdowns had started but before the firebreak, I found out that Munchy was unhappy. He wanted to spend time with Peri but Peri had made a lot of friends who he spent time with and then more recently taken to a hen, which definitely meant no time for Munchy. A few other members of the flock had tried to engage with Munchy but he would bite them or go and hide on a water bowl. He would just sit by himself. Plus he was still an absolute pain to get back into the cage and frequently had to be netted. And he would pick fights with the lady's bigger species of bird... As such it was agreed that he would come back here. I managed to clear it with my housemates, as one had put a limit of two on the number of budgies allowed. Peri was to stay because he was happy and I didn't want to pull him away from his new friends. I still miss my water baby though. Finally, lockdown ended and Munchy came home yesterday. I was at work so my housemate who works from home had to let the lady in to put him into the cage he'll be starting in. I chatted to him briefly when I came home, but it was 8pm and he was nervous as well as tired. He did look around a bit when I whistled his old contact call though. Today I've just been trying to figure out what Munchy's like now. He's spent most of the day sat next to a tiny mirror. He jumped on my hand readily enough for millet. When I ate some toast stood next to the cage he ran along the perch to get close so he could have a nibble. He ate his seed when I was eating later that day. He's drank. He gave a slice of apple a dubious look then really went for it when I started eating the rest of the apple. And he's had some carrot. He'll also let me get my outstretched finger right up infront of him but will give me a stern bop if I try to touch him. For most of the day he was making bird sounds, but I heard his contact whistle occasionally and thought that was all he still remembered. Then suddenly this evening my OH and I were outside the room when we heard him chattering away to himself in English, going through his phrases and saying his name. We shall see how things go.
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Post by jellybean on Nov 11, 2020 20:35:15 GMT
Seems like both of you have had a really tough time lately @sillycat84.
I hope Munchy settles and becomes part of your little flock again.
Time and patience.
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Apr 25, 2024 17:04:51 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2020 22:37:44 GMT
Hopefully jellybean. Even if he isn't fussed on the other two hopefully he'll enjoy himself more here.
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Post by ffiscool on Nov 11, 2020 23:25:18 GMT
It’s been tough but I do think he’ll get used to you quickly. Love that he was talking, he must feel comfortable. As you say his phrases back to him, he’ll probably forget he was anywhere else
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Post by willowsmum on Nov 12, 2020 0:02:52 GMT
It's lovely that he's home with you again and it really does sound like he's settling well and taking it all in his stride. I hope the intros go well but even if it takes a while for the flock to adjust you know that he'll be happier being back with you. Welcome home little Munchy
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Post by tweetiepiesmom on Nov 12, 2020 0:31:42 GMT
Oh my, you've all been through a lot. During his quarantine, he'll most likely settle in with you. I hope the intro to Indie and Yuki go well. It does sound that Munchie like being around other birds but is himself a bit of a loner. Good luck all around!
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Post by Morgan on Nov 12, 2020 0:45:53 GMT
Awww I am actually so glad you have him back! I’m sure he’s a bit frazzled at the moment, but I’m also sure he remembers his old home and you and will settle in. How he gets along with Yuki and Indie is another story, but I’m sure with a lot less other birds and being switched around from hen to hen or back to a big flock he’ll probably be less stressed overall given time. I wonder most how Lord Indigo will react when they all meet. Definitely keep us posted!
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Post by Hezz on Nov 12, 2020 1:26:12 GMT
I am so pleased that Munchy is back with you. Pleased and relieved. If he had moved back in with you at your grands' place, I'm sure he would have settled in without blinking an eye, but do remember that he didn't have long at your new abode before going elsewhere so he will not be remembering your present place very much at all. I'm sure he will be relieved to be back where he belongs, as well.
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Post by mona on Nov 12, 2020 5:08:34 GMT
Welcome back Munchy..!! 🧡
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