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Original poster

the kids have named the baby budgie....

261 replies

gussiegrips · 15/10/2013 20:38

For reasons which have passed me by, we seem to be having to hand rear a baby budgie.

It is very small and wasn't responding well yesterday. It appears to have grey feathers, like it's dad.

I warned the kids that it was likely to die, and they were not, under any circumstances to give it a name not after the rabbit debacle.

Naturally, I overheard "well, he's grey. We should name him after something to do with grey".

uh oh

"Graeme"

Graeme the budgie. So named, because he's grey. Hope the fecker lives now. Cheered me up no end.

Graeme.

OP posts:
HumbugsforChristmas · 04/12/2013 14:25

Lovely to read this thread....

Can I ask how Graeme is? Signed a contract yet?

Pleas tell me he is OK.

Tammytheseal · 23/11/2013 23:08

Only just found this thread - what a wonderful story! Graeme is such a little star Smile

I read the thread from start to finish last night and got a bit panicky when the leg was mentioned as a colleague of mine adopted some baby jackdaws that were made homeless after their nest was destroyed when the tree blew over. The family hand reared them devotedly but sadly all of the birds got rickets and only one survived (their legs started to fall apart).

I've NC'd for this post as wanted to share a Graeme-type story from my childhood (which would out me for sure)... DF was a marine biologist and when I was about 4/5, someone brought a baby seal to his workplace, apparently abandoned. He volunteered to take it home, and I can remember now him having to explain himself to my mother and apparently was convinced that the tiny baby seal would be ready for burying by the morning (they are notoriously difficult to hand rear). And so in the morning the seal was very much alive, much to everyone's surprise, and so followed a year of Tammy the seal living with us. She whiled away her time at home by wandering around on the lawn, pissing off the cat and scaring us kids and occasionally finding her way into the house (think she was retrieved from under the bed at least once). Every day DF would take her to work in the boot of his car and hang out with him all day (he was out in the boat doing dive trips a lot of the time so suited her quite well). In the end, she was pretty much like a working dog but once fully grown she had to be released into the wild. Easier said than done - first attempt (after being dropped off many miles away) had her back at his workplace before he was. Second attempt was more successful and she never came back.

Here's a photo of Tammy looking rather pensive in the boot of the car.

She is immortalised in film as starred in a Lavinia Derwent movie while she was with us (it was filmed locally). Would love to see it although not sure if a copy still exists.

Sorry for hijacking with long story but your lovely story of Graeme and his fortunate rescue brought back these distant childhood memories!

Original poster
gussiegrips · 23/11/2013 16:08

Pixar...

Oh, I'd love to be a totally over the top LuvveyMummy. I have the potential to be cut-throat-competitive, completely obsessive and totally unrealistic. Sadly, my children seem to be devoid of any talents whatsoever...whereas...the budgie...

No stand up just now, Freckled. Worse luck. Middley Grip's still unreliably well, so, have cancelled everything until he's less of a dramatist. Which is ironic, given what I've said above. I've never gigged in Bristol - but, I have eaten sausages in a pub which only sells sausages. And, beer. Beer and sausages, yum.

Am away to start teaching GraemeGoose some words..."ah feel the neeeeeed, the neeeed for speeeeeeeeeeeed"

OP posts:
BoreOfWhabylon · 23/11/2013 10:44

Ooh Gussie, how exciting! I can see Graeme starring in a remake of Top Gun.

Can't wait for him to speak his first words - won't be long now. Grin

(my grandparents had Bobby the budgie, he was v talkative. He also used to bop along his perch singing 'dumdi dumdi dumdi dum...' whenever The Archers theme played on the radio. It was his 7pm nightly ritual)

akawisey · 23/11/2013 08:30

May I just enquire gussie? Are you in talks with Pixar?

Y'know, for Graeme - The Movie.

I'd watch it. I luffs critters, I do.

freckledleopard · 22/11/2013 23:58

This is a totally awesome thread. Love it. Will you be doing any stand-up in the Bristol area perchance?

MrsDeanAmbrose · 22/11/2013 23:31

Flying into the window is like a budgie rite of passage though, they all do it (well ours did anyway).

Graeme is a little superstar.

2Old2BeABluePeterPresenter · 22/11/2013 23:16

Fly Graeme, fly! Grin

PacificDogwood · 22/11/2013 22:17

Huzza, Graeme!! Grin

I feel tempted to link to 'fly like an eagle' again Grin

You'll have to put stickers on all your windows to make sure he does not break his neck, teehee

akawisey · 22/11/2013 22:03

This is the BEST THREAD I have ever read on MN Grin

Go Graeme!!!!!

Methe · 22/11/2013 21:03

I love your posts Gussie Grin yay Graeme!

and I just twitched my twinkle

EXTERMINATEpeppa · 22/11/2013 20:51

oh gussie your updates make me giggle

sarine1 · 22/11/2013 20:38

Genius: I have laughed out loud. He's now flying.
Isn't this a thread for classics?

Original poster
gussiegrips · 22/11/2013 19:47

HE FLEW!

He's been flapping about for a week or so, sort of buzzing along the floor like a feathered hexbug. And, he's been hopping and flapping wings at the same time from one perch to another (though, that may be because of the wonky foot)

But, today..........he was perched on my hand and launched himself off into the blue. It was wonderful. Majestic, almost.

Unfortunately, he flew straight into the window. He's ok, just pure embarrassed for himself.

Stupid bird.

OP posts:
killpeppa · 18/11/2013 20:52

hes not stupid:)

thats genius!!Grin

Original poster
gussiegrips · 18/11/2013 20:12

going there now, Pacific...

Graeme has developed a dangerous liking for shoes and socks. Still refusing to fly, prefers to hop onto a foot and catch a ride. A bit like Marty McFly on a skateboard.

He's going to get squished.

Stupid bird.

OP posts:
PacificDogwood · 17/11/2013 20:00

Birds are gruesome creatures, aren't they?
Then again, your bunnies were not much better... Grin

gussie, could I be very rude and forward and ask you to cast an eye over this thread please? Started by yours truly??
Your expert advice would be appreciated x.

Original poster
gussiegrips · 17/11/2013 11:47

budgie cannibalism is how we landed up with the stupid bird in the first place...

MiddleyGrip is a shelpit sort of allergic kid. So, the birds had to go outside, and to sweeten the blow of the loss of their pets we said we'd try to breed them (2 pairs) over the summer.

First lot didn't hatch, second lot did but the hen didn't feed them, Third lot of 3 chicks she kicked the first two out at 2 weeks...so, we pulled the remaining one to save him from certain infanticide. Honestly, these female budgies are even worse mothers than I am.

Eggs are just baby-bird-formula in a shell. And, a quail's egg is exactly two portions for a budgie. But, now, I've got a bit of "ewwwww" going on.

He's ticking over - but, still a bit guff. I've been tricking him into feeding himself, fingers crossed he'll wean soon. I can't see him surviving if he won't. stupid bird.

Foot's a weird thing - he's able to grip if it's in the correct position but otherwise just clumps along.

I wonder whether his crop's still infected - today it's very big and full of air. We gave him a bath, and he's very thin under his feathers. Is now sitting on my daughter's lap, wrapped up in a towel, sitting on a hot water bottle. She's spent 30 mins tickling his cheek.

He's like a pathetic lap bird. But, he's started mimicking a whistle I do to him. Which is overly exciting - I have visions of him saying "put your shoes away" "say sorry" and "yes, a cheeky wee prosecco would be lovely"

Back to the vet next week. Ouch.

OP posts:
PacificDogwood · 16/11/2013 10:10
Grin

I am ignoring nerve cancer, the Bastard

Hope your middleygrip is better again.
My wheezer is away with a friend's family for the weekend....

BoreOfWhabylon · 15/11/2013 09:58

Yay! Fly Graeme, my lovely, fly!
Soar like an eagle!

(Have visions of Graeme warbling You Are The Wind Beneath My Wings to Gussie)

volestair · 15/11/2013 06:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

greenhill · 14/11/2013 18:12

Thanks for the updategussie

Graeme flying is brilliant. Graeme feeding himself is brilliant.

But feeding a bird an egg, isn't that a bit like cannibalism.... Grin. Even QPootle5 had Ray (the bird) look anguished when Bud D (the robot) offered him a boiled egg when he was ill Grin

killpeppa · 14/11/2013 14:57

gussie and graeme brighten my daysGrin

Original poster
gussiegrips · 14/11/2013 14:57

Errol - that's not meant to be a bad joke about pelvic floors. But, that's definitely how the daft idea landed up.

Good things about it are: going out at night to bars and folk having to listen to what you say because you have a microphone (most days I feel like a figment of my own imagination for all the attention anyone pays me at home. Pathetic, I know)
Bad thigns about it are: working mens' clubs do not find me amusing. So, that's easily sorted.

It's good fun.

Actually, wonder if ther'es a 10 minute set about pets needing written...

OP posts:
Original poster
gussiegrips · 14/11/2013 14:54

Been absent for a few days- MiddleyGrip pulled a corker, ambulance job and "Huzzah for the Sick Kids and their marvelousness". All good now, he is home, complete with an origami dinosaur set and enough drugs to make an elephant feel woozy.

Actually, I feel kind of woozy myself (not my only elephant-esque quality) - sleep deprivation gets kind of groovy after while.

Anyhoo - Graeme the Exasperating Budgie.

His foot went funny on Monday. Back toe was flopping about in the morning, weird. By night time he couldn't move it at all - he was like one of the tragic pigeons with a mutant foot you see and give extra crumbs to.

Vet Google told me it was likely a cancer pressing on a nerve. Uh oh.

Now, why would we not be surprised if Graeme got cancer? Who knew that birds can get cancer? And, if htey can, well, Graeme That'd be blardy typical.

Anyhoo, I was all set to take him back to the vet when MiddleyGrip was poorly...budgie/kid kid/budgie - not exactly Sophie's Choice, but, still, ugh.

Then, high drama with the kid - and, who was going to feed the fecking bird?

So, once MG was on the ward I came back to get jammies and BiggestGrip solemnly promised to take responsibility to feed G before and after school.

And, do you know what? He got hungry without his lunchtime waitress service. And, do you know what? He figured out that the stuff in his cage floor wasn't decorative - it was edible. So, he has learned that he likes grated carrot and boiled egg and millet.

Foot's still a bit squiffy, but he can grip it again. And........

HE CAN FLY!

Not well, he's sort of like an ugly Bambi slipping over ice, but, he is airborne!

So, dunno what's up with the foot. But, am relieved that he seems ok. Vet's on hold - will take him if once I'm safe to drive (currently almost manic with sleep deprivation)

Photo to follow.

Blardy stupid bird.

OP posts: