Sprite and Cloud

[JessluvsBudgies]

I got Sprite 2 days ago and Cloud yesterday. Strange, I know, but I had bounced back and forth between the two and got Sprite. Cloud was given to me the next day by my sister.

Anyway. 24 hours have now passed and I think it's coming on time to start. Sprite is tweeting... actually he just did as if on a cue. Cloud is making some squeaky noises but not tweeting just yet.

This is the break down of the birds: Both of them are still young so I think this is a plus. Both still have stripes on their heads; I can't do the eye color age test with Cloud since I think he's a Reverse pied. Size-wise they are about the same. They like the sound of my sister's voice as well as my own; they cock their heads and Sprite will tweet back. My hand still isn't the welcomed thing but they seem not to be totally shocked by it; they just scooch over on their perches when the hand comes in and watch. I'm reading or talking to them with my hand in the cage.

The big negative is the dogs. They are extremely curious about the birds; the birds don't feel the same. The dogs know it's a no-no but they can't stop their nature. I have both dogs crate trained so I know if I need to I can put them up and take time with the birds. Another downer is I'm having my wisdom teeth removed in 2 days so I won't be able to speak much for the coming week.

My plan: I'm going to take tomorrow to see if Cloud is relaxed enough for me to offer millet to them. If so then I'm going to spend a while with that. If not, I wait some more. I want to start quickly but I don't want to push; they'll let me know.

[FaeryBee]

Lovely beginning your your journal Jess! It sounds like you are off to a great start. Good luck with the wisdom teeth. ;)

[JessluvsBudgies]

Sprite and Cloud seem acclimated to the surroundings of the house and don't mind me touching the cage anymore. Their personalities are really starting to show. Cloud is the loud mouth; sings the most. He also has the most vocal range. Cloud is a yogi; he takes turns standing on one foot at a time. He does a lot of stretching. Sprite is the squealer; makes a screaming sound when I'm not near the cage. Sprite is also the acrobat, he likes hanging upside down, climb things, and explore. Both really like rock and country music but don't seem too keen on the other genres. Both were singing when Godsmack was playing earlier.

Right now I'm working on them not getting nervous when I touch the cage. I'm able to sit and keep my hand on the cage without them going nutty. They still get a little nervous when I go in the cage. I am trying to talk them through it but my voice is not great because of the surgery. Until I'm a little steadier, I'm not going to push.

My dogs are getting used to the noise level that is now in the house. They were really freaked out at first but now are use to it. My sister, who was so so about having the budgies, now enjoys their little squeaks and noises.

I think this isn't just budgies in training....

[jane1888]

good luck with the training and omg a wisdom tooth out,:( i never had any trouble with wisdom teeth my hubby said it was because i wasnt wise lol thats why he is now the ex hubby:laughing:

[JessluvsBudgies]

2 weeks later!

The bonding and training is going slowly but surely. I think my surgery slowed it down. No, I know it did. Not speaking much was really hard. My voice also sounded gruff so they didn't like it. I didn't try much with them during that time as it seemed pointless; I needed to take care of me. I lost about a week on training.

Now that healing is well on it's way, I've pushed it up a step. I sit next to the cage a lot. They seem very curious of me now and watch what I'm doing. I think they know I’m not here to hurt them. We have a new game; they cheep, I whistle. Changing the food and the water in the cage is not a trauma experience any more but they still inch away from my hands. I am starting to offer millet from my hands and they are really 'considering' it, especially Cloud.

I'm learning the personalities of the birds during this time. Sprite is the acrobat, he climbs a lot (probably because his wings were poorly clipped [That wasn’t my doing!]) and likes to hang like a bat. He’s also the pig of the two, it seems like he's always eating. He's a picky eater though, he picks through the food and chunks what he doesn't like on the floor. I think I'm going to change the food. He seems protective of Cloud. He's also the attention hog. If the game stops too soon on my end, he screeches until I whistle again. He also screeches if I'm doing something he can't see well enough; I show him what it is, he takes a good look and goes back to doing whatever he wants. He's funny!

Cloud is the adventurer. He's the one that checks out anything new; I like that about him. I ended up buying another swing; Cloud discovered it and then Sprite wanted it too showing no interest before. Cloud is the songster of the two. He does that soft chirping bubbly sound a lot and if I mimic him he goes right into singing; this gets Sprite going. Cloud is also the ‘mama’ of the cage; he mutually preens Sprite a lot. Sprite has discovered this and does it to Cloud on occasion. Cloud also likes to sleep on one foot and rock himself to sleep.

We're also over coming some hurdles, both expected and not. Both birds had the night frights on the same night. I woke up from it and came out to see what happened. I was still sick so I couldn't soothe them much but they took a step back for a few days. I had forgotten the nightlight that night so I think it was my fault. Poor honeys.

Also, the dogs have been a challenge. The dogs are very interested still; not so much all the time now but when I'm doing something in the cage or near it. It freaks the birds out so I time those things for when my sister takes the dogs outside. If that's not possible they go in their crates for a bit.


So, yeah, that’s where I’m at currently. Baby steps.

[BudgieBirds]

Yep, baby steps is the way to do it! I'm glad you are learning their personalities, they sound like awesome birds! Seems like you are doing a good job with them too, keep it up!

[JessluvsBudgies]

Ty! I was nervous that I'm not doing it right since these are my first budgies.

[Keets4Ever]

Sprite and Cloud sound like they are very happy birds. I like your whistle/chirping game. That is a game that my 3 budgies and I enjoy too. All four of us love to make music.