Post by avinet on Feb 14, 2008 21:34:37 GMT 10
Part 3 continues the story of BB and Gwenny and Jacki with Pearl Girl having played out her part in the saga. As before, if you have not read parts 1 and 2 I suggest you read them first to ensure continuity of the story.
To continue:-
By this time Gwenny was very happily sitting on 3 eggs and BB was reluctantly doing some (a small "some" I might add) of the incubating. However his heart wasn’t in it, and when the door of the cage was opened he was straight out, even if he was on the eggs at the time, and Gwenny had to return to incubation duties. Not that she seemed to mind – she was on of those ladies to whom motherhood was sheer bliss. Once out BB still tried to interest Jacki (the third member of the quadrangle) in a bit of hanky-panky, but surprisingly - or maybe not given the condition Pearl Girl had been left in - he was getting the cold shoulder from Jacki!
So we had an overworked, disillusioned mommy bird, an ecstatic expectant mommy bird, and a "definitely don't want to be a mommy" bird, as well as a suddenly celibate and very unhappy male. Soapies on TV have nothing compared to life with parrots!
Eventually, after the due period of incubation, BB and Gwenny had two healthy little babies to look after. BB really knuckled down to the job of parenting this time and made a much better job of it all. He actively foraged for food whenever allowed out of the cage, and kept them warm when Gwenny came out for a break. I suspect that Gwenny had really laid down the law about paternal responsibilities, and given him no choice!
Jacki in the meantime continued to have nothing to do with BB, probably terrified of Gwenny's retribution if caught playing around at this sensitive moment, and no doubt acutely aware of what happened to Pearl Girl! And that’s how it continued when BB was a free bird again – or at least free from parental duties. And it was about this time that Jacki began to be courted by Poncho who, as reported elsewhere, eventually persuaded her to be his mate, and who made sure no other male cockatiel was going to get a look in.
Since that time BB has had to remain true to Gwenny and no longer does any loitering with intent around female cockatiels. Gwenny and BB are still going strong to this day and look to have many years left in them. BB has gone a bit grey in the face amd Gwenny has lost some feathers around the eyes, but they are still very healthy. Gwenny still has thoughts of being a parent again, but the spirit might be willing however the flesh is not so keen at 16 and in spite of much exploring by her of the house (with BB dutifully following behind) for nest sites, no eggs have appeared, and even BB seems to have burnt out since he hasn’t been seen to mate with Gwenny for at least a year.
BB and Gwenny at 16 years old
So that’s the story of Gwenny and BB – sorry it was so long but hopefully those that managed to make it to here enjoyed hearing about 2 more of the birds in our house. 10 more to go! Most will have a much shorter story to tell
Mike
To continue:-
By this time Gwenny was very happily sitting on 3 eggs and BB was reluctantly doing some (a small "some" I might add) of the incubating. However his heart wasn’t in it, and when the door of the cage was opened he was straight out, even if he was on the eggs at the time, and Gwenny had to return to incubation duties. Not that she seemed to mind – she was on of those ladies to whom motherhood was sheer bliss. Once out BB still tried to interest Jacki (the third member of the quadrangle) in a bit of hanky-panky, but surprisingly - or maybe not given the condition Pearl Girl had been left in - he was getting the cold shoulder from Jacki!
So we had an overworked, disillusioned mommy bird, an ecstatic expectant mommy bird, and a "definitely don't want to be a mommy" bird, as well as a suddenly celibate and very unhappy male. Soapies on TV have nothing compared to life with parrots!
Eventually, after the due period of incubation, BB and Gwenny had two healthy little babies to look after. BB really knuckled down to the job of parenting this time and made a much better job of it all. He actively foraged for food whenever allowed out of the cage, and kept them warm when Gwenny came out for a break. I suspect that Gwenny had really laid down the law about paternal responsibilities, and given him no choice!
Jacki in the meantime continued to have nothing to do with BB, probably terrified of Gwenny's retribution if caught playing around at this sensitive moment, and no doubt acutely aware of what happened to Pearl Girl! And that’s how it continued when BB was a free bird again – or at least free from parental duties. And it was about this time that Jacki began to be courted by Poncho who, as reported elsewhere, eventually persuaded her to be his mate, and who made sure no other male cockatiel was going to get a look in.
Since that time BB has had to remain true to Gwenny and no longer does any loitering with intent around female cockatiels. Gwenny and BB are still going strong to this day and look to have many years left in them. BB has gone a bit grey in the face amd Gwenny has lost some feathers around the eyes, but they are still very healthy. Gwenny still has thoughts of being a parent again, but the spirit might be willing however the flesh is not so keen at 16 and in spite of much exploring by her of the house (with BB dutifully following behind) for nest sites, no eggs have appeared, and even BB seems to have burnt out since he hasn’t been seen to mate with Gwenny for at least a year.
BB and Gwenny at 16 years old
So that’s the story of Gwenny and BB – sorry it was so long but hopefully those that managed to make it to here enjoyed hearing about 2 more of the birds in our house. 10 more to go! Most will have a much shorter story to tell
Mike
