First let me say that I know I'm suuuuuper behind in all of the exciting budgie threads lately (amongst all other threads as well!)- and I promise to catch up soon. So don't think for a minute, Scott, that I'll be overlooking how Ziggy and Pogo will be getting along now that they're together! And I know I have pics to look at about those grapevine perches, Jac! I have some personal stuff going on at the moment and I've barely had time to read, let alone post.

But anyways - onto the good stuff!!

Winston is now able to put himself away in his cage every night! We used to have to take his cage down and put it next to him and he'd jump in. Well, his cage is big and not the easiest to take up and down every night. But in this past week he's mastered the ability to fly to his cage and scale the side so that he can climb in. All I have to do is show him his bedtime snack and put it in his cage and he flies right over and climbs in.

And Jerry's always been a breeze, he flies home whenever he's tired every night. And even if he doesn't return on his own, he lets me carry him to his cage and in he hops!

So now all 3 birds go "home" with no issues every night, and it's quite nice!!

Sounds good. Always best not to have going home an issue.

I don't think anyone who is new to parrots expects them to do this. I really didn't.

It was just last September that i was struggling with Laker - trying to get him into his cage at night - little devil would grab the door sides & scale the cage - over & over.

Now Rio too is somewhat helpful at bedtime.

So happy you're back from your trip - we really noticed your absence, although i know you tried to stay in touch.

Good for you & Winston.

What good boys you have. These little budgies are such smart little birds.

Yes, they are both VERY smart! (so is Lulu, but she's nowhere near as fiesty as the boys!)

Tonight Winston saw me first put Jerry away - he was sitting on his cage door, and I went up and cooed at him and stroked his beak while he grinded it. I asked if he was ready to go home and he hopped inside a minute later.

I then carried Lulu to her house. Winston was watching from the top of Jerry's cage all the while. Immediately after he saw me put Lulu away, he flew to his cage in anticipation - I didn't even need to show him the food tonight. I went and got his dish and as soon as he saw it he climbed into his cage.

Winston catches onto things quickly but it's always a matter of figuring out how to physically get the job done - like tonight he began to climb down to get into the cage but he accidentally climbed behind the big door instead of onto and across the big door. But he quickly realized his mistake and got it straightened out quickly. When he used to be so unsteady on his feet it would take him awhile to do things like that.

That is great Sarah. He's come such a long way in such a short period of time.

I'm glad to hear his feet are improving.
Laker climbs a lot better as well - but mostly from racing away from Rio in their chase games. They get so much exercise being together. Under those feathers they have to be all muscle.

That's great that they know when it's time to go in ... makes it so much easier to shut the house down.

Pogo sometimes doesn't want to go in right away if he's busy playing with toys on the floor, but it's pretty easy to get him to go in. Ziggy has only been in Pogo's cage 2 nights now, so he's usually hanging out inside the cage, but is starting to come out by himself already.

Before Ziggy came along, Pogo would have this routine where he would go ring a bell or two then go to a certain spot in the cage where he liked to sleep. Now with Ziggy in the picture he doesn't sleep in that spot any more but has picked a new spot, and Ziggy seems to have already picked a spot too. I guess a couple of nights sleeping in the same spot in the cage constitutes the spot to return to for the night. Budgies are definitely creatures of habit.

wow, what well behaved little boys they should get an extra bedtime treat this week!

That is wonderful. It is always so nice when they co-operate and so exciting when they conquer something new. Yay! Good birdies!