Budgies

[EcclesCake]

As a kid growing up it was quite popular for folk to have budgies, canaries, finches etc as caged pets.

I cannot recall the last time I encountered a caged bird and wondered if it has gone out of favour.

Do any ABers have caged birds?

[Barmaid]

We had two budgies when we were kids, called Samson and Delilah.

I wouldn't want one now, although my four cats might enjoy the tease........

[netibiza]

Lots here in Ibiza, canaries and budgies.

[Barmaid]

Talking of birds, i suppose I ought to go out into the frozen wasteland and shut the girls up - particularly as I know regularly see Foxy Loxy on the prowl.

[Barmaid]

*NOW*, not KNOW!

[ummmm]

Well there's an aviary in the park up the road to me.

My dad looked after a bird once and it starting talking in an Irish accent :-)

[Old_Geezer]

My sister used to have 2 budgies until quite recently when the last of them died of old age.

I've never had a pet as an adult. I don't think my lifestyle really fits in with them. Not that I have anything against having a bird, but all pets need looking after, cleaning out, etc..

[netibiza]

we have several parrots flying free here, obviously lost pets who have survived and bred.

[RATTER15]

I've had a few caged birds over the years, these days I don't approve of them being caged.

[ummmm]

Apparently there are loads of parakeets freely living in the south east.

[EcclesCake]

Indeed Barmaid, I have just ventured into the frozen wasteland to put my girls to bed :-). Can't wait for tomorrow morning when a I have to head out with a jug of boiling water to defrost their water at early o'clock.

I remember having caged birds when I was a kid but haven't encountered them in any house I have visited for years.

[EcclesCake]

Parakeets haven't got as far west as her but I often see them in friends gardens. I get red kite instead which is more of a treat :-)

[ummmm]

I know almost nothing about birds. I just know they make a racket in the warmer months at stupid o'clock.

[woofgang]

I did a home visit once (I used to work in the NHS in the community) to a lady who had free flying lovebirds. One of the things we were there for was to make suggestions for bits of kit that would make her safer and more independent in the kitchen so my colleague went into the kitchen to chat to her while she made some tea (she offered, we weren't testing her) while I had a conversation with her worried daughter. Tea came in and I drank mine, my colleague didn't have any but i wasn't surprised as she only ever drank coffee, then we agreed when we would come back with some kit to try and left.
Outside, my colleague said she was surprised to see me drink the tea.....because there had been bird poo in all the teacups!!! She said it was okay because the lady had carefully shaken it all out.
After that we had a code, if either of us saw anything amiss, if offered a drink we would say "no thanks I have just had one" as a signal to refuse politely.

[EcclesCake]

That is grim Woof, sadly birds don't seem to mind sipping from what we would consider a toilet :-(

[DTCwordfan]

And I thought that this was a call for recipes for roasted budgerigar. Most disappointing.

[DTCwordfan]

Wendilla is your woman, Eccles - she has two fine macaws or birds like that....

[shaneystar2]

True story ..As a child we used to have budgie called Billy .He could talk for England .We used to roll an orange up and down the table and he'd skitter along after it .He was very tame and used to hang out on the curtain rail or sit on your shoulder .
We also had chickens and an Aylesbury duck .The duck was called Joey and I made a fool of this duck in spite of my Dad saying it was for the pot . It used to sit on my lap and follow me about and loved cake. It was duly slaughtered and put on the table, whereupon the budgie squawked ...Joey ,where's Joey .....having been taught to say this .
I bawled and refused to eat it ,Mother tutted and I've never eaten duck since ... ever.
My Dad had duck sarnies in his pack up for days :)
We had the budgie for years until one morning he pegged out .My dear old Dad tried to revive him with some brandy on a dropper and was most upset at his demise :(

[EcclesCake]

Shaney, that is a very sad tale and I'm not at all surprised you don't eat duck!

[Daffy6543]

I would never own a caged bird and I hate to see it. My neighbour over the road has an African Grey Parrot and it makes me so sad to think that he is cooped up in a cage when his territory in the wild would be vast.

[boxtops]

I had a budgie when I was six. Sadly it died - nobody explained to me that the food in the dish was only husks.....