Bonding with chatty Dexter

[criswell]

Dexter has been on his own now for 8 months and he's adjusted really well. I think he appriciates not being chased off his swing everynight and he is probably a bit less highly strung than he used to be. He still very much loves his peacock toy but he has also bonded with us. In the last few weeks he's started flying over to me if I hold out a perch and we have some lovely chats. He's learnt a lot of new sounds. Since August he's been copying the squeaky lounge door, and  has quite a range of different squeaks and it's impossible to tell if it's him or the door. He's also copying us. It's hard to tell exactly what he is saying but budgie comes through fairly clearly in amongst lots of human sounding babble. It is so cute. In the last week he's started copying the kiss noises I make at him. When he came over to see me this afternoon I called him a honey and he put his head on one side and had a good listen so that might be the next thing he tries to copy.

We took him for his annual health check in August and the vet is pleased with him. The only issue was that he's starting to get a little too much padding on his chest so we need to watch his weight a little bit. We talked about PBFD and the vet really wants Dexter to get some new friends so he thinks we should have him tested. He want to test his blood rather than feathers just in case he's picked up some virus from the room. PCR tests are so sensitive that it could pick up even a tiny amount of virus on a feather. Then if Dexter is negative we need to fog the room with F!0 and it should be ok to bring another bird in to the room.

I really would like Dexter to have more friends but am anxious about them taking blood. I think we will get him tested though but it will have to wait until the new year, as it's quite expensive. I've been looking for possible friends for him for months now, but haven't found an older budgie who needs a home. Even with the fogging I'd still worry about bringing a youngster into the house.

It's a year ago today that we said goodbye to Randolph Carter. We all miss him. He was such a funny, cheeky, naughty, big budgie. I've been thinking about him a lot this week.

[Loz]

I have my fingers crossed for you all, Criswell. It's a dilemma, possible loneliness for Dexter vs the risk of taking bloods. I don't envy that choice.
Its lovely that Dexter is evolving and adapting and getting closer to you. It warmed my heart to read of it.

[Marianne Marlow]

Dexter sounds like he's doing very well. So funny that he's imitating the squeaky door and saying Budgie.
I hope he doesn't have the virus and he can have a new friend, but even if he doesn't - he sounds very happy.

[ffiscool]

He’s so cute with the new noises. It’s still a few months til the new year, do you can see what you think then. Can’t believe it’s a year since RC, gone so fast. We never forget any of our little feathered friends

[ariella]

I’m so glad Dexter is doing so well criswell. How lovely that he’s now interacting more and has adjusted since the loss of RC. I can’t believe how much time has passed since then; it’s been a big adjustment for you also. I hope you find the perfect companion for him when the time is right.

[tweetiepiesmom]

Neither of my two boys talk but Buddy imitates my sounds and Tweetie Pie imitates Buddy. Buddy has been trying to say 'boy' which I use in almost every phrase I say to him.

Dexter sounds like he is happy and it is so fun that he wants to be with you.

[Ira]

criswell Tariq has taken blood from several of mine on different occasions and they've all been fine. The first one to have them done was Pippin when he was still fairly skittish and he came through it no problem.

[blueelephant]

I can't comment on what taking blood from a budgie as a vet involves as I've never done it, but I have taken blood from two week old chicks of 'budgie sized' wild birds as part of scientific research projects and then run PCR tests on them.

Taking a blood sample for them involved a very small pin prick in a blood vessel that runs over the top of a bone in the elbow (I think) joint of the wing. This creates a small drop of blood that can then be sucked up into a capillary tube. You only need a really really small amount of blood for a PCR test. In terms of the amount of blood that is involved, I've easily seen as much when Finlay has broken a small pin feather on his head. A small amount of pressure once the sample was collected and then the chick was back in the nest.

It was absolutely nothing like taking blood samples from a human, where they have a needle in your arm while they take multiple syringes! So in terms of how traumatic a bird my find this, I think it's probably more related to how upset they are to be grabbed than the actual procedure.

Like I say, I am not sure how comparable my experience is to what a vet would do. If I was contemplating a blood sample for one of my birds, I would ask the vet to run through with me exactly what this involves. Get them to explain exactly what they do and how much blood they take etc. This might help you make a decision either way.

[criswell]

Thank you everyone for your lovely comments. I think that Dexter is happy and it's good to know that you do too. He's been sitting with me today and tried to preen my hand which wasn't the most enjoyable experience for me and he pinched quite a lot, but I appreciated the gesture. I can hear Dexter chatting away in the lounge with David.

Thanks Ira - I feel much less worried about Tariq taking blood now I know that your birds have been fine. Were they all conscious when he took the sample?

Thank you blueelephant I hadn't thought about the tiny amount of blood needed for PCR. I couldn't help imagining the vet coming at him with a giant needle! I'm ingrigued by your research project. What were you testing the chicks for?

I really hope he tests negative. From what I've read most older birds do clear the virus from their systems so hopefully he has too. I love that he wants to spend more time with us but I also feel a little sad that he needs to now he doesn't have his little friends.

[Ira]

criswell Yes, they've all been awake, and although I was not with them they were only gone for a handful of minutes.

[criswell]

That's good to know. Thanks Ira

[criswell]

Dexter is still trying his best to talk. His chatter sounds so much like speech without having any recognisable words apart from budgie. He's copied the pattern of speech even if he hasn't mastered the words. It makes me laugh so much when he really starts chattering. He also makes kiss sounds and the door squeak. He's doing really well and seems happy. It's a year today since little Dean Stockwell died and Dexter has coped so well. He comes out to sit with me a few times a day and we do some beak bashing. We also have a game where I talk to him with my index finger, like Danny in The Shining. His favourite thing for my finger to say to him is 'hi budgie' (like when the ghost in An American Werewolf in London says 'hi David' with the mickey mouse doll) and he really chatters and chirps, and tries to bite my finger.

We are still hoping to get him a friend. Sometimes I'm not sure that's what he wants as he's been a lot more relaxed by himself but I think he would appreciate some budgie company. We've not had him tested yet as it's quite expensive.

He's such a funny little character and it's nice to have really got to know him. He's lived with us for 7 years now and we've only really got to know him in the last year. He's so much braver than he's ever been too.

[tweetiepiesmom]

That sounds wonderful! He has obviously bonded with you.

[Hezz]

Nice to have an update on the little chappie, criswell. As long as he is happy, that is the main thing.

[criswell]

Thanks Hezz and tweetiepiesmom. He spends more time talking to me than to his little peacock so I feel honoured that he likes me that much now! He talks to her when I'm out of the room as she's usually on the floor when I come back in.