The "Beak Hang" Sleep Position

Gentle readers: first, an apology for the long hiatus in posting.  K has been studying for an exam, which has occupied much of her spare time.  That is at last, over...at least for now, depending on results.  It is said that regular postings are the key to maintaining readership, in which case, the Budgie Blog may have lost the few loyal fans it had...but we hope not!

Now on to the budgie discussion: 

The budgies have a very interesting behavior at night, and one which we have only observed in the large cage.  They  climb up the sides of the cage at night, and hook their beaks onto one of the topmost rungs.  They then grab other rungs with their feet, usually, one foot higher, the other the lower.  Often it is the right foot that is higher, but I have not made a regular observation to see what might influence that aspect of the sleeping posture.

When I first saw this new sleeping posture in the large cage, back when the large cage was first being used, I thought it was a sign of psychological stress, as stressed out monkeys have been reported to sleep in awkward, uncomfortable positions (see the "Wire Mother" experiments).  

However, it does not appear that this is stressful to the budgies; they all do it routinely every evening, and it seems to be normal and restful for them.  It is interesting to me that this is only seen in the larger cage.  In the smaller cages, the budgies always sleep on their perches.

More Budgies on Cute Overload!

Budgies are so darned cute that it is hard to believe that they aren't featured just all the time!  However, I am happy whenever budgies are appreciated for being as adorable as they are.  They were still labeled "parakeets" but, I mustn't quibble.

see Today's cute overload (just ignore the kitten pictures).

Magoo Has Returned

Magoo has been unadopted as a Ringo by the adoptive family.  Our lease only allows for two birds, but we have now snuck in not only Boo (from the beginning) but now, Magoo. J. fetched Magoo in the ice and snow in Maryland and drove with him for two days from MD to TX.  He did very well in his little carrier, other than when once he got a bit cold going from the car to the motel.  Unfortunately J wasn't comfortable taking him right through the lobby, so he ended up staying in a less then pleasant, in fact, rather old holiday inn.  They both survived.  Upon arrival Magoo was placed in the very large cage  with his dad.  They did great!  Magoo did everything that a budgie does in a very short time.  He ate, he hopped and drank from the water bottle, he chewed on a stick, he rubbed his head on a stick...ahhh.  He was  a very happy budgie.  When Mary ann was added, he did ok (a day later).  Yet, the third day, Boo was added.  Magoo got really stressed.  He was shaking rapidly, with quivering wings, at high frequency, low amplitude.  Poor Magoo!  We removed Boo, and Magoo did well.  After  another day, we re-added Boo and all did well.  At this point, the pecking order seems to be Mary ann at the top (as always), then Boo=Magoo, and at the bottom, it appears, is Sutcliffe.  Though really, Boo is mean to everyone, but Mary ann trumps her.  Magoo is only mean to Boo and Sutcliffe.  And Mary Ann is generally mean, but she tolerates Sutcliffe the most.  So it is a bit circular.  So the cliche that applies may not be "pecking order" but "round robin".