Seems like everybody is moving these days. Our parakeets, Buckbeak and Dorothy, are at least moving up in the world.

Since Dorothy was sort of a suprise addition to our family ( after we found her on Main St.) the cage she and Buckbeak have been sharing is kind of small for both of them. Parakeets can hang out in pretty close quarters but they do get stressed out. Adding just a few toys to their cage really made it crowded. Also, it's best if you have two parakeets to have two food bowls and two water dishes so they don't feel like they have to compete for resources....

but that made the cage crowded. Sort of like a small apartment with the bathtub in the kitchen.

So, I went to Petsmart to find them a larger cage. Well, it turns out that the trend in parakeet cages mirrors the trend in human housing: you've either got small, boxy starter homes, or huge avain McMansions. There was not a "mid size" cage to be found. Luckily, though, there was one large cage that was only $10 more than the "starter cages" which were the size of the one we already had. It's a bright turquoise color with white coated wire. I think of it as the equivelent of one of those really contemporary houses that come up on the human housing market every so often: lots of features but limited appeal, so they usually sell for less.

That having been said, this thing is like the Taj Mahal of bird cages. It features two peaked roofs and a dome, a plethora of perching options and way more square inches than any two parakeets could ever use. Naturally, The Hub had to have it. And, since the more sedate ( and, it has to be said, probably more tasteful) cages were $25 more than the starters, I was all for it too.

So we took it home and told the parakeets it was moving day. I don't know why we do things like that,since, really the parakeets have the cranial capacity of about two peas.

Anyway, they didn't get it and as soon as we let them out Buckbeak took off for the ceiling fan where he chirped for a "ride" ( Buckbeak sits on the fan blades and The Hub gives it a very gentle push - it's like a merry-go-round ride for the parakeet) and Dorothy flew behind the oven.

The Hub tried to coax her onto the potato masher so he could lift her out. He leaned down and held it for her, but it was a no go and he had to move the whole stove. Thankfully, he's strong enough to do that.

Anyway, we finally got them settled in their new digs which we have dubbed "Pair-a-Tweeter Manor". So far they have just hung out, wing by wing on the same perch just as they did in their old cage.

So I can see this was a really good investment. Anyway, the cage looks kind of cool sitting in the office...and we'll have the small one avialable to take them to the vet if we need to.