BUDGIE AND A NEW BABY?

QUESTION: We are expecting our first child in July and are wondering how our4 yr. budgie will deal with it. He has been our baby all along and hasfree range of the apartment. I am worried once the baby comes and hehas to stay in his cage more that he will become depressed and jealous. Has anyone dealt with this before? Any advice would be greatlyappreciated.From my experience with Human Babies and Budgies, I have found the two to be totally compatible.

ANSWER: I have raised Budgies and children for a while and I love them both. Budgies are the most intelligent and sensitive little Birdies. We don't give them enough credit. I'm sure your Budgie is feeling that he is a part of your "family". What a pity that you should have to deprive him of the opportunity to experience a new little human life form in his world by relegating him to the lonely confines of his cage. It is "his" apartment as much as it is yours and your new baby's.

Your Budgie will want to see the baby. Then after he takes a look at it then he will become "bored" with it. Your Budgie has a life of his own. He probably likes to fly around and play. I don't know why people all of a sudden will change their attitude about a beloved pet when they have a new baby. You and your pet Budgie have shared the same apartment for 4 years. Your new Baby will be a part of your life and your Budgie should be allowed to be a part of his life also. I'm sure your sweet Budgie will not hurt the Baby. I have never heard of a Budgie that has gone out of its way to injure a baby. Nobody should ever leave their Baby alone with ANY ANIMAL, for that matter, with SOME PERSONS, as well.

If your Budgie is allowed to maintain his present lifestyle around your "new addition", then, he will be a pleasant diversion for you and your baby. New Human Babies do a lot of sleeping and eating and pooping for several months. They are not very interesting after the initial "newness" wears off . Of course, you wouldn't leave your baby at home alone with your pet Budgie. You will be there to intervene if the Budgie should take a "close" inspection of the new human. The problem usually occurs when a child is about 18 months old and they begin to explore independently. Then, I would protect your pet Budgie from the Baby.

I suggest that you purchase a "compatible" mate for your Pet Budgie (same sex or opposite sex --- it doesn't matter, because if you don't want Baby Budgies then just remove their eggs). Now is the time to make the purchase so that you will have the next 4 months to make your Sweet Budgie happy with his new "companion". This way, if you will be ignoring your pet Budgie, he will have a "flock" mate (another soul mate) to bond with before the arrival of your baby when things will start to become "different" due to added responsibilities of caring for a human baby.

If your Budgie is given the "gift" of another Budgie Friend now, I assure you that he will be a happy little Budgie and so will you when your new Baby arrives.