Continuing my theme on my experience of pets for children this time is for budgies.
When I was a child we had a fantastic blue budgie we named Kelly, although I think it was a male budgie as if my memory is correct he had a blue area above his beak, whereas females are coloured a pale brown colour.
. I have always been told that males are the best talkers although I know my husband would chose to differ as he claims no one can talk like a female!
Kelly was really tame and when he was allowed to fly around the living room would often come and perch on a shoulder
my parents would sometimes offer him a little of their tea on a teaspoon to drink.
Sadly Kelly managed to escape from his cage when my dad was cleaning it in the garage he flew out of the door and was never seen again.
As an adult my now ex- husband insisted on getting a yellow budgie so he could call it Custard, I wasn’t as keen as we had two small sons and a kitten to take care of. Anyway he had his own way purchased his bird and hung the cage from a bracket above the sofa in the living room I think that when he put his pet into the cage was the last time he looked at it as as he never fed or cleaned it out that was left to me. Custard’s feathers would land along with the husks of seed all over the sofa.
I am now going to be honest and admit to what happened next. We had a few cross words about this and later that evening I went out for a few drinks with some friends from work, later I invited them back to mine for a coffee my ex was already in bed sulking, when one colleague commented on the budgie and said how much he had always wanted one having dutch courage from a little too many drinks I handed him the cage containing the bird then I found a screw driver and removed the bracket from the wall ( I did know this person well and was confident that Custard would be well looked after).
It actually took a week before my ex realised that his ‘beloved’ pet had gone and that was only when I asked him if he thought something was missing from the room, he replied “I know something is missing as the room looks a little bare, but I can’t think what it is!” Later when I told him about it he didn’t seem at all bothered and it was never spoken of again six months later we bought a pet rabbit for the children who lived in a hutch in the garden.I have also written about rabbits as a children’s pet.
My grand father always had a budgie and they were always called Joey. I think there were half a dozen different Joey’s over the years. He liked to train them to talk and do little tricks, he taught one to push a tiny plastic dolls pram along the table with it’s beak.
Budgie’s can make a great pet for children, but please ensure they are given attention and always supervise children around all animals. For easy cleaning most cages come with a removable tray at the bottom. Supply clean fresh water at all times and keep the cage out of direct sunlight, your budgie may also appreciate a few toys such as a mirror in his cage.
. If you allow your pet out of the cage to fly around make sure all doors and windows are firmly shut and closing curtains will prevent them from flying into glass and getting insured. Enjoy all your pets.
As always questions/comments are welcome
Karen
x
Having a budgie called Kelly has brought back so many memories from many years ago. They are easy pets to keep and as you say it’s easy enough to look after one. Really good pet to have as the families first one.
Thanks mum! X
My uncle is a budgie breeder they are really beautiful birds. Thank you for linking up to #PointShoot 📸
Popping back to say thank you for linking up to #ablogginggoodtime too 🥇
we have a pet bunny that lives in a hutch in the dining room, with a little fenced in area for him that takes up half the room. This was a good reminder that I need to let him out to run today! #teenstweensbeyond
Stunning birds, my nan always had them and I found them delightful X #pointshoot
My daughter keeps pestering about getting a pet. A budgie might be an option if it is low maintenance.
#FamilyFun
I had a budgie when I was younger, I tortured my parents for it by leaving notes all around the house – in their shoes, in cupboards, in mugs, everywhere!! #PointShoot
Aww I always remember my grandparents budgie, busby. Miss him!! I’d have a bird over a dog any day but fear I’d be like your husband and not really care for it well.. so I won’t get one. Hilarious story about giving the cage away btw!! Thank you for linking up to the #familyfunlinky
I hear amazing things about budgies I have to admit I’ve never considered them for a pet although I know they can be amazing company. Some food for thought! Thanks for linking up to #coolmumclub x
We’re an animal loving family and I love Budgies, I had a disabled budgie I resuced from work (a petshop) when I was younger and named him Bimbo, loved him. I would stress as an ex petshop worker and seeing lots of budgies taken off in small cages if anyone does consider a budgie, get the biggest cage you can accomodate so they can stretch there wings and exercise,they are after all birds who are designed for freedom and flight, and consider letting them fly around the room, budgie poo easily cleans and they dont poo much when out. EEEK sorry, patrol mode!! But yes they can make extremely great pets!x
Budgies invoke old-fashioned memories for me. And how cheeky are you! We don’t see too much about them these days – maybe it’s time for a budgie comeback campaign? #tweensteensbeyond
I’d love a little bird – especially if it came and sat on my should like yours used to! #coolmumclub
i’m the pet carer in our house, so we’ve only ever had animals that i’ve wanted to look after, hamsters and birds when the kids were smaller then a rabbit and now we have a cat and dog. that did make me chuckle your ex not even noticing you’d given his pet away #animaltales
My grandad had a budgie and when he passed away we inherited it. Believe it or not, he was alos called Joey! He was a gorgeous looking chap. Thanks so much for joining us at #TweensTeensBeyond
I have never kept pet birds (only farmyard poultry) but can see how they can make good pets for children. One day also I may blog about the day our dog nearly ate a friend’s budgie .. it is a tale, luckily, with a happy ending!
Thanks for linking up to #AnimalTales and I hope you can be there next time for our 100th Birthday. You can link up a new post as well as an old favourite, even if you have already linked it … maybe one you simply just really like or one that you’d like to give a bit of extra love to!
Thanks for also adding this post to #GoingGreenLinky
Ah I knew nothing about budgies! They seem quite fun!
I had and loved budgies as a child. They are fab pets! Sadly our cats mean that we can’t probably have them but if like to one day, again!
#tweensteensbeyond & #animaltales sorry it’s a bit late
I’ve only recently thought about budgies for a pet as a friend has one and her son and his pet get on so well.