Hey Everyone,

 

I accepted a job this summer in another city in order to improve my french (I'm going to teacher's college next year, french is one of my teachables so I'd like to sound more fluent... ) I was originally hoping to find a place of my own, but I'm still going to be paying rent here and the cost of living over there combined with that is too high for me.

 

Sooo an uncle offered me a room at his place. Here's the problem: he has a very active outdoor cat! So I can't take my little guys with me. They will be staying with my parents, who do have two budgies too (one's mine, one's there's), but I'm a little bit worried. Neither of the other 2 budgies are very tame or people-oriented. Joey (mine) used to step up on your finger, climb up your shoulder & start preening you, but since hanging out with Jet he's lost most of his training...and unfortunately, my parents didn't really reinforce the work I had done with him.... They've promised me they'll spend time with these guys as they're used to it, but I know it won't be the same. For some reason not everyone in my family thinks it's normal to spend tons of time just talking to your birds...what a bunch of weirdoes, eh?

 

So I'm concerned about how the 4 will mix together. They'll be kept in rooms beside each other, but the other 2 fly all around anyway, so I know there will be a bit of (supervised) mixing...

 

Here's what I'm worried about: Will mine lose their training?? Will they totally forget me?? I'll be gone for 3 months, likely home 1ce, *possibly* 2ce, but other than that I won't be seeing them regularly for 3 months. Has anyone else had to deal with a longer separation? I'm so worried!

 

Thanks

I know how you are feeling except i have only had to leave Blinkie for 2 weeks not months. I am currently really worried about exactly the same things!!!

 

I think that if your parents play with your birds a couple of times a day they will stay pretty tame and surely there's no way they could forget you!

Yes budgies are very smart little birds and have a good memory if it's good or bad.

As long as your parents spend enough time with your budgies they shouldn't become much less tame and your budgies should remember your voice if they don't reconise your looks.

It's taken me long enough to realise, but there is evidence they remember you. When I come in the door, often Snowy raises his wings, calls out, or gets more active. Also, he recognises strangers - he shrinks down when he doens't recognise a person (also happens when I wear a new hat or something).

 

As for going away, I've not been away from my bird for more than about three days. Wish I could help more. But I do reckon they have good memories. Think: the time my Mum fed the budgies shallot accidentally - they knew never to touch it again!

 

Don't worry too much, floppingfish. They love you too much to forget you!

I've been worried about the same thing too... with me going back to university in september, my birds are going to be left with my mum and dad for weeks on end! my dad plays with them and feeds them and stuff, but no-one ever cleans them apart from me cos it seems like they can't be bothered!

 

scary thought, ain't it, leaving your little feathery fella's with someone else for so long...?

Thanks for the replies everyone. Of course I'm still gonna worry until I actually see how things go...they're just such a huge part of my life that the thought of them changing & not knowing me is so saddening! I'm not as worried about Jack, I've had him for over a year now, and he's definitely very attached to me. But Galen on the other hand, is younger & when he's first left alone with my parents I'll have only had him for about 2 months...which also means he'll be goin through his BudgieTeen stage with them instead of with me....

Bea, you'll have to keep us posted how things are with Blinkie when the two of you are reunited!

Sparky, good point, I'm the only one who really talks to them in "motherese"....hehe

Antt, I know budgies will remember things. When I left my budgie Joey with my parent's budgie Jet (as I mentioned above) he did lose the majority of his training. But everyone notices when I go home that he's far less...uh..."destructive" (Laughing out loud)

AnimalStudent, it really is scary! i know my parents will take care of them, it's just that it won't be "the same"... I'm sure your parents will clean up after your birds while you're gone though! They probably don't do it now just because you're there, but surely they won't let the cage go for weeks without doing anything about it!

MY FAMILY IS JUST LIKE THAT!!! Only they not only think its weird to spend a lot of time with your birds, they also don't like it...Sometimes I get in trouble for spending time with the budgies, can you believe that??

Well i've been back for a little more than a week and Blinkie is almost back to normal with a little teen evilness added in. When i first tried to get him out he kept trying to bite me and it was so sad but i kept working with him and now he's just as sweet as normal!