Bird Tales

I think two summers ago, Payton found a frog in the yard, and wanted to keep it as a pet. She put it in a container, but failed to give it air, and it dried out and died. She felt bad about it, and after we talked about how it is a big responsibility to have a pet, she said she wanted to get one. I told her she had to wait, but after a few months, I agreed that she was ready for a pet. 

We talked about different pets, I thought she would want a frog or a lizard. Maybe a turtle. But no, in typical Payton fashion, she wanted a kitten, or a puppy. Or maybe a fox. So I just did the best parent thing imaginable…I kept punting it down the road. After a few months she stopped bringing it up. But then…a few days ago she asked when she was getting her pet. I asked what she was thinking about, and she responded that she wanted a bird. 

I did my research and landed on a parakeet. We went to Petco and picked out a cage, then asked someone working if they could answer a few questions. The girl said she could, and then ended up being the least helpful person ever. We took the cage home, set it up, and decided to go back on Monday and buy the bird. 

We got the bird, and everything was going great. We named him Bluey. He was a little shy the first day, but then by Tuesday, he was hopping around, chirping, and having fun. Then on Wednesday, he was playing with us. I had him sitting on my hand, and then he would climb up my shirt. But then something happened. He went in his bird bath, and started acting funny. We thought maybe he was trying to dry off. He was hanging practically upside down from the perch. I grabbed him and tried to get him to go right side up, but he just laid on the floor of the cage. This morning when I went in, he was dead. 

Needless to say, Payton was freaked out. She cried. We took the bird to Petco and they exchanged it. The girl this time was much more helpful, and she said that there was probably something wrong with it. Lindsey decided that we should get two. She did not like the idea of one getting lonely when we are at work, or the kids are at school. So we ended up with two: Bluey II and Pickles. 

Payton and Logan are excited to have two new birds. And hopefully these two stay with us for many years.