The WM Pet Connection

by Laure Ast

Way back in 1981 or '82, I bought my first parakeet. He was an unusual turquoise with gray wings parakeet. I have never seen any other parakeets with that coloring. I named him Barnie. Don't ask me why, it just sounded good. I (we) bought Barnie everything a bird could want.

The next morning, Barnie was gone. Where could Barnie be? How did he get out of his cake. The cage didn't have the left up type of doors. It had the kind where it has a loop of wire that catches onto the bars above. The door would go down and be a ramp/ladder so the bird could get in and out of the door easier. Very bird proof, we were told. I guess not. The cage was in the dining room. Barnie wasn't. It took a couple of hours to find him. Barnie managed to get himself tangled up in the shear curtains behind the couch. Let me add here, that the people at the bird store clipped Barnie's wings before we brought him home.

We put Barnie back in his cage, only to watch him head for a spot in the back where the bars hadn't been welded together very well. Barnie pushed hie way through with the greatest of easy, and flew away onto the kitchen counter. So much for the bird proof cage. Tim, being the handy guy that he is, fixed the cage so it really was Barnie proof. Barnie tried to find more ways out, but was out of luck. I should have changed his name to Houdini.

I had Barnie for a couple of months and I decided he was lonely. Tim and I hadn't been married very long, so he fell for that. After 30 years, he doesn't fall for that one quite as much. Anyway, we went back to the same bird store and I saw a mockingbird. Tim said no. Sometimes, he's just no fun. I could get another parakeet or nothing, so another parakeet it was.

I picked out a small white and black with a little sky blue, parakeet. Since she was a female, I named her Betty. Betty and Barnie Rubble were a good couple on the Flintstones, so it should work for parakeets as well. We also got a bigger escape proof cage. This one really was escape proof.

Betty and Barnie didn't really like each other. They'd stay on opposite sides of the cage, hanging on the bars, screeching at each other. Eventually, they learned to tolerate each other.

Barnie was friendlier and tamer than Betty. Betty never really wanted to have anything to do with anyone or anything. Many years later, I found out that single birds are friendlier that pairs, or more. I think in Betty's case, she was just antisocial. She also hated being out of the cage.

Betty and Barnie lived for about 12 years. Betty died first and Barnie died shortly after. I guess the really did need each other.

I'd like another parakeet, or a canary, but Tim says no, they are noise. I guess it wouldn't work if I told him we would need at least two so they have company.

Betty And Barnie