However, he just kept chugging along. We did clear up that fatty liver problem and that was a very gratifying experience in not only helping his health but using him as an example of how to change over a bad diet and get a bird's health back on track. 
Baby Calais
Bright colors like reds, oranges, and yellows can actually scare some parrots. So to dilute this trait, we put a bright red stuff parrot in their brooder and let our friends with blond and red hair play with them frequently. Here is our friend Brittany playing with babies.
They were all over her!
Paris, London, Dublin, and Capri are enjoying some cuddles.
Then, they decided to become "tickle monsters!"
The babies and Brittany had a great time.
The pictures I have below are for awareness and education. In no way do I intend to "gross you out" or depict something that is offensive. There are a few "graphic shots" below the shot of myself and Pigwidgeon.
This is Pigwidgeon right after we got him last year. Shortly after we got him (at the end of April 2007), our vet didn't give him a very good prognosis. He has lived longer than any of us ever thought he would and it is probably partially due to the better diet and companion he has with Hedwig. She really livened him up!
Well, his tumor has grown. I took him to the vet yesterday along with the babies. Originally, I thought I wouldn't need to, but Pigwidgeon had regurgitated on himself yesterday morning. This is one sign that the tumor could be affecting how he feels overall. He only has regurgitated on himself two other times, but it still frightens and upsets me when I find him after he has. As you can see, his lower abdomen is swollen.
What you are seeing here is actually his gizzard protruding out (like his intestines). Above it, I think you can see part of the tumor. Dr. Burkett has given him another 3-6 months prognosis, but who knows? He could surprise us! After we got home from the vet, Pigwidgeon seemed to be his normal (well, normal for him as of now) self again.
By the way, as we arrived to see Dr. Burkett, another woman was leaving with her budgies who had just been diagnosed with tumors as well. This is a heart-breaking normality seen in many budgies obtained from pet stores who get their budgies from breeders who do not control inbreeding. Click here for the original prognosis post from last year and info about the early symptoms of a tumor.
I love him. He is very dear to me. I will miss him, but I will also enjoy and cherish the time I have left with him.
Click the "Pigwidgeon" label below to see the pictures and posts of him over the past year.
Pigwidgeon is still hanging in there!
Hedwig is doing awesome! She has all of her flight feathers and buzzes around our home like a pro!
Pretty girl!
This picture so describes her personality!
Pigwidgeon has far-exceeded the length of time he was predicted to live!
His abdomen is swollen, and he doesn't tuck his wings as well as he used to, but he does fly really well around here!
He's doing so good that he still gets into trouble!
He staked his claim on Evee's food bowl!
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This is the handfeeding formula we use. We used to use Exact Handfeeding formula before we were advised by our vet, Dr. Burkett, that Roudybush formula was way better for babies.
Wow, did we sure notice an immediate change in our babies! We, at first, were puzzled why a few babies in the first clutch we switched over were crying in the middle of the night. We were feeding them the same amount of Roudybush that we had with Exact.
In discussing the change further with Dr. Burkett, we discovered that the babies weren't getting enough food! Why was that? Well, the Exact Handfeeding formula did not digest very well and would stay in the crops for a long time (this can create complications alone). The Roudybush formula was actually digesting and the crop emptying faster!
The babies plumage and health has definitely improved since switching to this formula. We highly recommend it!
Handfeeders: You can get it here
Every thing is slightly lower than in an regular cage.
Peek-a-boo! Just coming out of the tent for a peek!
Aerial View
Description:
This is the best scale we have used. It comes with an AC adapter, a perch securely mounted to a platform, a separate removable platform, and weighs in 1 gram increments.
You can find scales that are priced lower; but you will not find one better. Just think, if you bought a postal scale, what would the bird perch on. You would also need to purchase an adapter. This scale is made for the bird person.
You should weigh your bird regularly and keep a log. This way, you can provide important information to your veterinarian, and you may spot health problems earlier.
This is what our log looks like:
You can get it Here!
Fast-acting gel to stop bleeding; disinfects, too. More convenient and sanitary than powders, and less expensive! New easy-to-use syringe applicator.
We recommend this product over anything else!!! It doesn't sting or clump up like Kwik Stop. Dr. Burkett recommends this product as well! It is safe and effective!
As always, if you have an emergency situation with bleeding, apply pressure and take to your nearest Avian Vet or Emergency Clinic!
Photo from caiquesarepeopletoo.homestead.com (Trouper and Ripley)
BeBe decided to hold a special meeting with the entire flock.
Hedwig: "I could let Mia bite my foot and make it bleed all over the place again. They seem to really enjoy patching me up and giving me a bath! Lovebirds like us like to play rough."
Dewey: "Hedwig! Are you freakn' kidding me? Nobody wants you bleeding all over our new sunroom again, and I especially don't want you to bleed all over my beautiful feathers. Just thinking about it makes me want to preen. And by the way, how many times do we have to tell you, 'YOU ARE NOT A LOVEBIRD!' You are a budgie!"
Hedwig: "Oh yeah, I keep forgetting that."
Baby Tootsie: "I could let them start hand feeding me again. They just LOVED feeding me night and day for weeks, and weeks, and weeks, and..."
Ashlee: "I could let them pretend they run the household, he, he."
BeBe: "Everyone had great suggestions, but lets just throw our toys, food, and poop more on the new carpet. They seem to really enjoy vacuuming and scrubbing the carpet on their hands and knees since they do it everyday. Everyone agree?"
I never realized that there was something missing in my life. I was shocked when I realized it was my lovie, BeBe. You see, I knew when I got married that I was marrying a parrot person. I had never owned a parrot in my life! I was under complete misconceptions about parrots in general. Then, we were approached with a decision to accept one of the smallest parrots into our family. Honestly, I had no idea what I was getting into and the love that I would experience for so small a life.
BeBe was a wedding present to my husband and I. He became part of our family in mid-October 2005. He was about 3 months old, but not yet weaned. The story goes that at the home of the breeders, BeBe had actually died. He got too cold and the man of the house saved BeBe by reviving him. BeBe had been almost weaned at that point, but reverted back to his baby stages and wouldn’t get out of them until he was almost 6 months old.
Some people would call BeBe spoiled. I would merit saying, instead, that he is extremely spoiled, well, and extremely loved. We consider him our child, so, in essence, we are normal parents in wanting to give BeBe the best life. People noticed a difference in him right away. Suddenly, we were breaking the bad rap that lovebirds had gotten. The exposure of sweet, loving, playful lovebirds was coming out through our very own baby.
BeBe has always had the most awesome toys. His cage is a plethora of stimulation. However, he remains outside of his cage most of the time. He loves his Penn-Plax playground and Hide-N-Peek Ball especially. Some people might call us extravagant in how we spoil our birds. I just call it a good investment into a long and happy life with them.
People are impressed with BeBe. Though he is small in size, he still stands out in a crowd of other birds. He knows a number of tricks and also how to get into trouble! He prefers to eat off of our plate and go down our shirts. That doesn’t quite work out when we have guests. In one instance, we had a couple over that we were friends with. I was called to rescue BeBe when he went down the shirt of the female guest!
He loves to give kisses. I suspect that if given the chance, he would just kiss me all day. If I ask him if he loves me, he makes a kissing noise at me. Sometimes you will catch him kissing every person he visits when we take him out. Another way he shows his affection for us is by regurgitating on us. Most of the time, it is him going through the motions rather than really anything coming up.
He loves to play “Where’s BeBe?” which is basically a version of Peek-a-boo. He has a great, unique call when he comes out and I say, “There’s BeBe!” It was that call that helped reunite us when he accidentally flew out the door.
After his first molt, we decided to let him keep his flight feathers for a little while. That was until I frightened him when I was putting a box outside my front door. Never in my life, have I been so upset and scared. He took off out and around our apartment building out of my sight. I dashed down the stairs and started calling his name in hysterics. Then I heard the most beautiful sound. He called back to me. Soon, BeBe was back in my arms. I truly didn’t realize how much I loved him until I almost lost him. Needless, to say, I was truly blessed to have him back as many people are not so fortunate.
BeBe loves to snuggle. He loves doing his tricks. One of the funniest antics he has is when he imitates a helicopter. He makes the chopping sound and moves around in circles. He also likes to imitate a circus elephant by trying to balance himself on a ball. He loves to play fetch, of course, as we “fetch” and he throws. We’ve been working on one trick for a year now, and I finally think he’s got it down. I ask him if he has fleas, and he pulls his little agile leg over his wing and scratches his head. Of course, his favorite rewards are verbal praise and head rubs!
We decided recently to share our little blessing by raising lovebirds with a similar demeanor. BeBe’s true quality comes out in how he is an example to the new babies. He pays attention to them and cares about them, even so much as to try and regurgitate to them. Many of our new babies have weaned faster by watching BeBe and his actions. He cares so much for other birds that he sometimes risks his own life to visit with birds much bigger than him! We all know, however, that lovebirds are big birds in little bodies anyways.
Most of all, BeBe has taught me how to love deeper and be more patient. We are his flock, his family, his mate. He has given me a new reason to get up early every morning, to play more, and has taught me how to be a better person. I think it is all in learning to love and care for the smallest of deliveries into our lives.
