Bully & Gemma

Bully, the big one. Gemma, the little one. We're adopted siblings, but you probably couldn't even tell, right? We're also best friends, but we don't always act like it because we have a reputation to uphold. Living in Tasmania, Australia, we both come fully equipped with a whole load of attitude, and some of our hobbies include, watching TV (Bully), making a lot of noise when mum is trying to watch one of her programs that we don't much care for (Gemma), watching mum play video games, tossing broccoli all around the room (Gemma), being weird, eating, pooping, and most importantly just being awesome and entertaining. Bully was adopted on the 26th of April, 2012 at an unknown age, though clearly an adult and was told to be of about 6 months of age. Gemma was adopted on the 21st of September, 2012, again at an unknown age, though likely to be around 6 months old at the time. On the 26th of June, 2016, Bully underwent a partial amputation on his right wing due to an aggressive growing tumour that reformed only a few weeks after the first attempt of removal. All primary flight feathers on that wing were removed but to us, his disability only makes him all the more special. ♥ We're also fully aware of the chance that Bully is most likely to be a girl, but it's gotten to the point now where there is just no breaking the habit of calling him a he so he shall remain a he. Pssst: If you love us, then follow us! We'll be sure to follow back.

[bullyandgemma]

I took this rope perch away years ago because Bully took a liking to shredding it and I was worried about him ingesting the pieces, I forgot I even still had it ‘till I found it in a drawer so I put it back up and I’m so happy to see her using it now. 😊

[bullyandgemma]

Literally just standing in the water. 😂

[bullyandgemma]

That entire cage and she decides to perch all hunched up in that one tiny spot to sleep. I like to think it’s because it’s the closest spot on the cage where she’s closest to me but I doubt that’s true because even after 5 weeks without me she’s still as bitchy as ever. 😂

[bullyandgemma]

She’s all packed and ready to go and stay at my dads for the next five weeks since I’m off to America tomorrow morning. I’m kind of going to miss her. 😥

[bullyandgemma]

I know posts on here have been very much lacking lately but mum has been having a very busy year and working out travel plans for her first international trip to America next month, none the less, today we bring you a special birthday selfie, I was brought home 6 years ago today. 😊

[bullyandgemma]

Couldn’t find the bird when I got home, the blinds are the first place I check when this happens but it still took me a couple of looks to find her and then she cracked the shits when I tried to get her down. Tiny got a temper.

[bullyandgemma]

Little miss chatterbox.

[bullyandgemma]

A selfie with the boss of the house.

[bullyandgemma]

My little bird baby turned 5 yesterday! 🎉She’s still a little shit, but I love her.

[bullyandgemma]

I miss my little asshole so much. It's really not the same without him around here anymore. ☹️

[bullyandgemma]

I might pay the rent and all the other household expenses but don’t be fooled, this little girl runs the house. 😐

[bullyandgemma]

Gemma has this new habit of flying on top of the blinds and staying there. I’m about a thousand percent certain she flies up there the second I leave the house and stays there all day until I get home and shoo her down, she gets so grumpy when I shoo her down and tries to bite. She loves it up there for some reason.

[bullyandgemma]

He would have been 5 today if he was still here. ❤️

[bullyandgemma]

It was 4am one morning, I was up watching The Office and Gemma was sleeping until she randomly decided that she wanted to watch The Office too.

[bullyandgemma]

Ever since we lost Bully I've noticed a change in Gemma. The first couple of weeks she was constantly calling out and flying around the room, I assume she was just trying to find him. She would fly up onto the top of the blinds and not come back down, even when I'd go over there and shoo her back down she would do laps of the room only to land back up there again, she was a major pain in the butt to say the least. She has since settled back down again now but she's not exactly the same bird that she used to be. She used to love having baths but she has not had a bath since Bully died and she seems more calm and quiet than normal, like, she used to be non-stop before, always running and jumping around, literally non-stop but now she has slowed right down and although she still seems happy and content enough, I can see that's she's not fully herself anymore and every time I look at her she just looks lonely because I've always been so used to looking at the cage and seeing two birds, now it's just one and it doesn't seem right, there's a huge void there now. I feel bad that she's lost her friend and on one hand I would like to get her another bird that she can bond with like she did with Bully but on the other I'm so torn with the idea of myself getting another bird right away because it's going to be an endless cycle, isn't it? If I get another bird, chances are Gemma won't out live the new one and then the new one goes through the loss of its buddy too. 😔

[bullyandgemma]

I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for all the kind words and support that people have sent my way since my previous post about the passing of Bully, I appreciate it all so very much and it’s amazing to see what incredible, caring and lovely followers I have. So thank you. ❤️And I know that this blog has come to a bit of a stand still since then but not to worry, I will still be updating it with posts of the beautiful Gemma for you all to enjoy. At this point I have no plans on getting another cockatiel or bird in general but in saying that I have been trying to steer myself clear from any temptation, so who knows what one day might bring.

[bullyandgemma]

I have some really sad news to share with you all today. I’ve held off from posting this not only for myself but for the sake of wanting to keep Christmas as cheerful as possible for you all. This absolutely breaks my heart 😔and I’m sure for some of my loyal bird followers who have become rather fond of seeing my two, you will feel a little heartbroken too, and for that I am sorry. ☹️ Last Thursday night (Dec 22) Bully passed away very unexpectedly. All day he had been fine and acting his normal self until suddenly that night he fell from his perch and didn’t move to climb back up, I picked him up and his legs and body were just limp like he was paralysed, I knew that this was it and I had him sat on my chest, petting him and talking to him while he passed away about 5 minutes later. I don’t know what happened to cause this, it was all so sudden but if I had to guess, given his recent history with the tumour on his wing and the amputation, I would say that the disease had spread elsewhere. I take comfort in knowing that I was able to get my goodbye though and knowing that he lived a very comfortable, free and happy life during the 4 and a half years he had with me, but I will miss him dearly. I’ve never met a bird quite like him. And while most people want a cute, cuddly and affectionate pet, Bully was far from that, he was so stubborn and bossy and a true little asshole but I loved him just how he was, he was such a funny character with a personality you really had to get to know, and he always made me laugh. I’m going to miss him so much. I already do.