And they've had me worrying about stuff constantly this past week!

I'll start by saying that both boys are sprouting lots of new head feathers - which means I'm screwing up and feeding too much protein since they both had early fall molts. Then a few days ago I go in to feed the birds breakfast and I find Winston with a bloody forehead - I'm pretty sure that he busted open one or two new pins during the night. I found tons of feathers on the floor and I assume he had a night fright that I didn't hear and banged his head. Poor guy has been pretty sleepy lately because of all the new head pins and now that. He's looking better every day though and is still cheerful.

Then today I found blood spots on Jerry's cage - I first thought that someone had bloody feet but didn't find any foot cuts. Then I noticed it was from Jerry's wing (an outer flight). It looks like that feather got broken but I can't find the rest of the broken feather anywhere. I believe the shaft is still in, but he doesn't seem to be in any discomfort and I'll leave it unless I see him favoring it. But his outer wing is a little bloody. It must have happened either last night or this morning as I know it wasn't like that yesterday. But he's still playing and flying and chattering as per usual.

I've cleaned the boys up the best I can, but they're still both messes

Hey mom, we are birds but promise to be better next year.......,

Golly, I have never seen blood on any of my birds and I would probably freak out. It sounds like you stayed cool, calm and collected. I didn't know they could get pin feathers from too much protein. What kind of protein do you feed them? I'm not sure mine get much if any.

Is it possible they are having night terrors? do you cover them? If you do you may want to try leaving one side of the cage uncoverd.

I don't cover them but they have had a couple terrors (I think anyways) in the past week or two - I've been wondering if it's due to their schedule every day because of holiday stuff, everything has been a little out of whack lately. When we first got Lulu and realized that she needed to be partially covered at night, I began partially covering Jerry's cage too - and he hated it. And the budgies have never been covered since and normally they seem to do wonderfully.

The night that Winston busted open his pins there was a big wind storm, and I think that may have caused the night fright that night.

And Nancy, from what I understand, feeding too much protein can push them into soft molts. I've cut back on the Avicakes lately and I'm trying to feed more greens. I'm still experimenting on the diet thing - I just find it odd that both boys have lots of new head feathers right now when they both went through molts not too long ago (and Lulu's not going through a molt right now).

It sounds like night frights,very common in these smaller guys.they really pick up on weather,and it can spooke them.maybe have a small night light near them that may help.

Boys will be boys!

Just a FYI that I learned when Pogo had mites ... the bird can have "night frights" due to mites attacking. I doubt they have mites, but it's a sign and should be investigated just to be sure.

We did put in a night light in their room last night and no frights last night.

That's a good point - how did you realize that Pogo had mites? Physically they don't look like they have mites.