Good boys!!! Wally, Leto and a loose screaming budgie

[Wally 'n' Leto]

Generally I don't let the birds out, because I feel the temptation to the dogs, especially part-terrier Wally, is too great. They have a cage big enough to fly in, so they aren't too badly off. However, a few times a year I deep clean the cage -- disassembling the whole thing, soaking it in the tub with disinfectant, hosing the stubborn poop off, etc. For that (obviously) I need to get the birds ot of there. I have a small plastic travel crate for that.

Of the 5 birds in the big cage, 4 are easy to handle. They're not thrilled, but they allow themselves to be caught and don't bite. THen there's Minty. She's a rescue, found outside nearly dead. Most stray budgies have flown out a window left open by accident, but as she acclimated to life with me and regained her strength, I realized that she was probably 'lost' intentionally. She bites like a shark, will come to attack an intruder, and doesn't pass up an opportunity to get away or draw blood if she can't. She needs to be handles in a tea towel at a minimum, preferably an oven mitt.

With all the fluttering as I caught the first 4, Wally and Leto had gathered to watch. Leto was pretty amped up, bouncing and snorting like a bronco. Then I caught Minty... and she got away.

SQUEAKY TOY!!!!!

She can't fly distances and she was disoriented, so she would flutter and land, scream, flutter and land, scream.... Is there anything more exciting for a dog that loves to dismember squeakers and shake them to death.

To be honest, I had a moment of oh well, that's the end of her, at least I don't have to catch her again. Then better sense prevailed. So I chased after her, Leto and Wally milling around me and getting in the way, me trying to corner her, chanting "leave it, leave it, leave it!!"

Good for the boys, they actually did!!!! They got big treats afterward (ones that were already dead).

I just told my sister and she said "you didn't almost lose a bird, you almost had to take a dog to the vet to have its nose reattached. Good thing they're pugs, eh?"

[Pat's Crew]

Generally I don't let the birds out, because I feel the temptation to the dogs, especially part-terrier Wally, is too great. They have a cage big enough to fly in, so they aren't too badly off. However, a few times a year I deep clean the cage -- disassembling the whole thing, soaking it in the tub with disinfectant, hosing the stubborn poop off, etc. For that (obviously) I need to get the birds ot of there. I have a small plastic travel crate for that.

Of the 5 birds in the big cage, 4 are easy to handle. They're not thrilled, but they allow themselves to be caught and don't bite. THen there's Minty. She's a rescue, found outside nearly dead. Most stray budgies have flown out a window left open by accident, but as she acclimated to life with me and regained her strength, I realized that she was probably 'lost' intentionally. She bites like a shark, will come to attack an intruder, and doesn't pass up an opportunity to get away or draw blood if she can't. She needs to be handles in a tea towel at a minimum, preferably an oven mitt.

With all the fluttering as I caught the first 4, Wally and Leto had gathered to watch. Leto was pretty amped up, bouncing and snorting like a bronco. Then I caught Minty... and she got away.

SQUEAKY TOY!!!!!

She can't fly distances and she was disoriented, so she would flutter and land, scream, flutter and land, scream.... Is there anything more exciting for a dog that loves to dismember squeakers and shake them to death.

To be honest, I had a moment of oh well, that's the end of her, at least I don't have to catch her again. Then better sense prevailed. So I chased after her, Leto and Wally milling around me and getting in the way, me trying to corner her, chanting "leave it, leave it, leave it!!"

Good for the boys, they actually did!!!! They got big treats afterward (ones that were already dead).

I just told my sister and she said "you didn't almost lose a bird, you almost had to take a dog to the vet to have its nose reattached. Good thing they're pugs, eh?"

Made me laugh the one time my lovebird was out and my son had her on his arm........she is tame tame tame...... I told him to be very careful with the dogs around and she decides to take a flight and go into the crate with Gus. I was ready to get my son...I was ticked. she pecked him on the snout and he could care less......he was sleeping. good thing he is deaf or could have been a different story.

the pugs here do not show much interest in any of the birds.......but the bulldogs find they quite exciting if they are playing around and squacking..lol. I have to take them in bedroom to change the cage and let them go loose in there for a bit. the one budgie is not happy about being handled but he is ok with it.....but the female....OH she would go for blood every time.......I need more then a oven mitt for her...lol. I got big bbq mitts for her now.
the lovebird is easy to handle and loves to get out and just sit on my shoulder.....but again out of the dogs way.

good thing the dogs left your girl alone
I agree with your sister on the nose.......
I know my female would not think twice about a good nip to the dogs NOSE...

do your birds have clipped wings Heather?
I did not reclip mine here...the lovebird has never been clipped..
the budgies have all their feathers too.

on the topic of budgies.....lol what does it mean when they do NOT get their chin spots.....not sure what else to call them.lol. the female has them all but the male only has one on each side of his face....wander if that will change or maybe he is spotless..

[Cheryl7777]

OMG what a good laugh for the day. I can just see Wally and Leto all in the middle of everything. That's how mine would be too. Thanks for sharing your story even though you were probably aggravated with the whole bunch of them. I have had those moments of "oh well" too and then sanity prevails and I do what needs to be done. I inherited a very difficult little dog from my mother several years ago. He would sneak out of the yard sometimes no matter how well I thought he was secured. A few times I thought oh well he's gone, but then I would go find him. In the end we did bond and when he died I was devastated. Any way, thanks for a good laugh for the day.

[Wally 'n' Leto]

I used to clip them when they came out regularly, but now that I don't I've let them grow in. I found clipped I would get more bleeding feathers during moults, because there was no support for the feather shaft as it grew, so it would snap. Some budgies don't get all their chin spots, depends on the genetics behind them. There's a few variants with fewer markings than the others. Unless you're going to show, it's not a big deal. At least we don't have to tape their ears...

[Pat's Crew]

not going to show him..........but wow he is annoying..with his chattering..lately
is there a ribbon for that category..lol
would look cuter with his spots but love him anyhow.......country music is on today and he is having a party chirping away........he secretly wants to meet a country singer..hahahaha no doubt..

I have a guitar here that I can not play an F chord but can just imagine if I get that thing out and muck around with it..lol . he will likely go nuts again.

by the way no night frights with the blanket have way up and not covered at night........leave them on a night light and they are fine and NO chirping..

[gemayer]

Great laugh for the day glad all the birds are ok.

[PugMa]

Good for Wally and Leto. We have parrots and macaws here. The dogs learned early on NOT to stick their noses in the cages and when they are out on their stands that if they are good and quiet the parrots will drop delicious morsels on the floor for them.
Glad little Minty is back in her cage and safe.

[6 Beautiful Pugs]

Such good boys! There would have been no stopping Miss Peaches. How did Roobee react?

take care,
Lisa

[Wally 'n' Leto]

Roobee was sequestered at the time so missed the fun. Maybe I should let Minty out in there and see who is the biggest bitch!!

[Wonka & Nilla]

That had me laughing out loud!!!!

What good boys to Leave It and wait for "already dead" treats after all was done.