The Boy on Top
Before children (before marriage, even) the Consort and I had a cute blue parakeet called Nebuchadnezzar. Nebu's cage door was always open. He would fly (we didn't clip his wings) to the table and eat rice or other grains from our plate. He would take showers with us (and dry himself under the bathroom heat lamp afterwards). He would trill his songs while pretending to be a mini-dinosaur, walking along the studio floor. In short, he was a happy little human.
When we moved to California, after getting married, we decided he needed a friend. We bought a green and yellow female we named Quetzalcoatl. Quetzie was frightened for about a week, and Nebu tried his best to be nice to her. Once she got comfortable with her new surroundings, her real nature came out. Poor Nebu became hen-pecked. He became shier around us, forgot his humanness, and just sat on his perch, singing his happy songs until the moment Quetzie had had enough and went over and shut him up with her bullying.
That's when I decided we shouldn't get a second pet of the same kind to keep in the same cage.
I miss our boy Nebu.
Oh dear, now you've got me worried. I do hope Tommy doesn't become henpecked, he's such a happy chap generally! TB
I was glad when my children outgrew the stage of wanting small pets. I decided many years ago that there would be no more caged animals - it's acceptable if they are played with a lot, but if children just leave them for a few days, feeding but not playing with them, it's not fair on a small animal on its own.
I'm very sorry that my Tilly is now an only dog, but it's not been a good time to add a puppy to the family for several years, and now I think she's too old to adjust.
The kids are pretty good. Its a rare day Tommy isn't hauled out for a cuddle or a wander around the house. Getting the cage cleaned, not that is another matter. Dier threats and the docking of pocket money is generally required... TB
Ah, they'll be fine. There are so many worse alternatives: like being on the menu in Peru!
Very true. One of my favorite photos was taken in the back hills of Ecuador, and has a local house frau proudly holding up a bumpy bag of Guinea Pigs. I also partook of the same and I can state that they do indeed taste like chicken... TB
AWwww! It's like having your own hollyoaks storyline at home! I love the idea of keeping small pets. In fact, I may even do so next year 
Can we have photos please?
Of the piggies? I suppose I can do that. Will do my best. TB
Wifey and I have two moggies. One cantankerous tom cat who aged 19 has been with Wifey since she was 10. I've known him for nearly 11 years now. He was the most hateful cat you could ever wish the meet. He's sooner scratch your eyes out as look at you.
We took on an adult female rescue cat nearly 4 years ago now and although it's not total harmony, they miss each other when they are not together.
What really put both their noses out of joint was the arrival of the baby....
My son hasn't had much luck with smaller pets...So he just hangs to his old orange tom cat. Cheers Boy!!
So far seems to be calming down. We may get lucky with having a happy cage! TB
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