Staring at Birds - Finches & Bourkes

Tame finches love scritches!!

Staring at Birds - Cockatiels

Definitive proof that cockatiels WILL eat fresh foods:

Eric's little messy face after his breakfast of carrots, broccoli, apple, celery, cauliflower, and sprouts.

Remember - Birds are suspicious little creatures.  Repetition is they key to getting them onto a healthy, assorted diet.  After seeing the food item enough times they WILL try it. . . after they figure out you're not trying to poison them.

Happy Birday!!

Drake Laurence just turned one!

Staring at Birds - Bourke Parakeets

THE cutest baby parrots in the world:

Who doesn't love PINK?!

Bird Thought - Handfeeding Revisited

So, I just got another handfed baby bird yesterday that's not really all that tame.  The baby's only four months old and very skitterish, handshy and bites.

The person I got it from handfed it, let it out of the cage every couple of days, but otherwise didn't play with it or socialize it.  She couldn't figure out why it's not tame because she handfed it.

To all of you who either are breeding or handfeeding babies - Please remember IT TAKES MORE THAN JUST HANDFEEDING TO HAVE A GOOD PET PARROT!!!

Please read:  Handfed does NOT = Tame and The "S" Word

Staring at Birds - "New" Playstand

My husband, the bestest husband EVER made this for me:

 No, I do not own a normal vacuum.

 

Bird Thought - What I feed

I feed a quality seed base with pellets free fed to some pairs.  Pellets are my "vitamin supplement".  Some pairs don't get pellets (or get limited amounts of pellets) as pellets have been linked to health problems in some birds such a eclectus and mutation parrotlets.

I also feed the following "mash" every day.  In addition to the "mash", seed, and pellets I feed as treats and enrichment whatever interesting thing happens to be at the store at the time - grapes, cantaloupes, strawberries, cactus pads, etc.  Try your ethnic food store for some REALLY interesting fresh produce.

This "mash" is what I feed my birds.  If you only have one or a few pet birds, this is probably too time consuming and a hassle to deal with.  With only a few birds it would work better for you to integrate the bird diet into your routine:  Integrate him into YOUR lifestyle

Small Birds:
(Finches, Bourke Parakeets, Cockatiels, Parrotlets, White-Winged Parakeets)

 

Broccoli

 

Carrots

 

Apples

  

Cook Mix - Raw

 

Cook Mix - After Cooking

  

Cook Mix

 

Sprouts

How to sprout: Sprouting

 

Sprouts

  

Complete and ready to feed.

Large Birds:
(African Greys, Eclectus, Rosellas, Conures, Indian Ringnecks) 

 

Broccoli - Coarse Chopped

  

Carrots - Coarse Chopped

  

Apples - Coarse Chopped

 

Cooked Mix

  

Cooked Mix

  

Fruit Cocktail - No Sugar Added

**This is occasionally used.  The eclectus like it. 

 

Sprouts

How to Sprout: Sprouting

  

Sprouts

 

Complete and Ready to Feed

Staring at Birds - Indian Ringneck FAQ

Some questions I've received regarding Indian Ringnecks:

1.  Is it male or female? Unknown. DNA sexing is an additional $25.  Males do not get their rings until about two years of age.  Prior to that time if you want to know the sex it needs to be DNA or surgically sexed.

2.  How old he would be at the time he's ready for his new home?  Average weaning age is apprx. 10-12 weeks.  I don't force wean so the wean date is an estimate and can be about 2 weeks in either direction.

3.  How long is their expected lifespan?  Apprx. 25 years

4.  Any special requirements in terms of care of such a young bird, special food, for how long, long term diet plan/health/happiness -etc. 

No special requirement for a young bird.  It will be fully weaned and eating on its own before it goes home.  Birds should be fed a varied diet.  I have some information and links on feeding at my blog:  http://staringatbirdsandgoats.blogspot.com/2011/04/bird-thought-there-are-no-human-pellets.html

5.  You mentoned that he's very tame.... would he adapt to the attention of both my husband and me, or do they tend to bond with just one perferred person? 

All parrots may tend to favor a special person.  If raised well and you continue to socialize and not let it overbond to one person, everyone in the family should be able to handle the bird.  My experience has been that if a bird will only be with one person, that bird was encouraged by the human to be that way.

6.  Does he squak loudly and what are his normal range of noises/chatter?
Noise is a personal consideration.  Ringnecks are known to be one of the "quieter" types of birds.  But I don't know what your tolerance for noise is.  Birds vocalize every single day.  Some info on noise:
http://staringatbirdsandgoats.blogspot.com/2011/01/bird-tip-teach-independence-to-reduce.html

7.  Is he good about staying quiet through the night? 

Most birds don't vocalize after dark unless you're keeping them up.

8.  Do you cover his cage at night? 

No.  That needs to be your decision and preference.  I've never covered any of my birds. 

9.  You mentioned that you take him on outings, can you elaborate? 

I take my babies on car rides and errands for socialization purposes. 

10.  Does he always stay close to you and not fly off (are his wings clipped?)

Prior to clipping babies are taken out in carriers to observe the world.  After clipping they travel in carriers and then get to come out to look around.  Being tame, they don't usually try to get away from people and are very calm. 

11.  When at home, do you let him roam free outside the cage? 

I have playstands all over.  Birds are out several hours a day.  Some days they stay in their cages so they're used to being both out and locked up.

12.  Is he affectionate?  

More about ringnecks: http://staringatbirdsandgoats.blogspot.com/p/staring-at-birds-indian-ringneck.html

13.  Is he potentially a talker?  

IRNs can be very good mimics.  But don't get a bird expecting it to talk.  Some never do.

14. That's very cool that you are a certified aviculturist.  How long have you been working with birds?   

I've been keeping them as a hobby for over 20 years.

15. Are Indian Ringnecks a good choice as a pet bird?
 Depends on your personality.  I don't know you so I can't comment on whether it's a good pet for you.

16.  Why you chose to breed this type of bird?
Primarily for the colors they come in.  Also, they're "low maintenance" as far as birds go, so I like the balance of their independence with the "needier" types of birds I keep.  I've kept a lot of different types of birds over the years.  Each has their own qualities that recommend them.

Available - More Indian Ringneck Babies

Albino baby Indian Ringneck hatched 3/27/2011.  Just weaned and ready to bond to a new home.  Handfeeding now: green and grey green (olive) babies anticipated to be ready for new homes mid July.  Taking deposits now.  All babies are super well socialized to dogs, cats, goats, horses, strangers, kids, car rides; and all include new cage, food, and vet check.
Please contact me for details.  E-mail: Roz   Phone:  (619) 708-0663

 

Albino

 

Albino

 

Green

 

Green

 

Grey Green (Olive)

 

Grey Green (Olive)

Bird Tip - Foraging to Reduce Behavior Problems

Bird Tip - Check it out, Dog!

Chit chat with us.  This is a new forum so please participate and check back frequently!
Parrot Lovers Paradise

My friend Margaret's site:  My Budgies

Bird Tip - More Independence

Yeah - I'm big on the a lot of out-of-cage time to avoid/eliminate behavior problems. Unfortunately, a lot of people take that to mean the bird needs to be glued to your body which makes problems worse.

Ducky's cage is pretty much open 24/7 with a play stand in front. We do regularly lock him in and do stuff around him when his door's closed so he can practice not screaming while locked up and watching us go about our business. I do this with babies I raise too. They learn that just because I'm in the room they don't necessarily get out and they don't necessarily get attention at the moment. I've been on the phone with people wanting a conure and they're not convinced I have any because I don't have any noise in the background.

So, practice Independence Sessions by locking your bird in its cage several times a week while you go about your business.  In order for this to be successful, your bird's needs must be met first - Exercise or have your bird out for awhile before doing any Independence Sessions.  Put super duper goodies in the cage so cage time and Independence Sessions are things they look forward to.
Also practice this:  Teach Independence

Bird Tip - Do NOT Fall for the Jedi Mind Tricks!

Have you seen "Finding Nemo" - The seagulls going Mine! Mine! Mine! tell the story how birds think.
Your time is Mine.
Your food is Mine.
Your attention is Mine.
Your affection is Mine.
Your house is Mine to explore and destroy.
Your money is Mine and you will spend it all on more and better toys for ME.
Your undying gratitude is Mine for allowing you to be Mine.
You have to set a time when your baby can come out and play, and a time when it cannot.
If you do not set this time line and keep to it the sweet wittel birdy will use every trick it can to get you to capitulate and surrender your body and soul to the exclusive 365/24/7 slave service. And no, you do not get the 366 day on Leap Year off either.
My thanks to Les from the Conure Community Chat for the foregoing explanation of how a bird thinks: Conure Community

So, you see, birds are self-centered, self-absorbed little creatures that will use Jedi Mind Tricks on you to get what's rightly theirs.  And the Force is strong in them.  Remember to resist their Jedi Mind Tricks by teaching Independence, Socializing, teaching him biting is not appropriate, keeping him off your shoulder unless invited, not stimulating him sexually, and teaching him his cage is his room.

Bird Thought - Don't take your "common" bird for granted.

I always thought sun conures were one of the rats of the avian world.  I mean, they're so common . . . aren't they?

I just learned yesterday that the sun conure is common in US aviculture, but upgraded to endangered status in 2008 in the wild.
Endangered Species List - Sun Conures: http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/142601/0
Estimated Wild Population

And the cape parrot is uncommon in US aviculture, but not considered endangered in the wild.
Endangered Species List - Cape Parrot:  http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/142531/0
Estimated Wild Population

Makes me curious to search other species that we think of as "common" and how common they truly are in the wild.

Just soze y'all know - wild caught parrots have not been legally imported into the United States since 1992.  So, don't feel bad about getting a sun conure!  Cherish your little baby for the special creature it is. US captive breeding does not negatively impact the wild population.  I feel privileged to be breeding the endangered sun conure.

Learn something new every day.

Bird Tip - Join Me!

Learn more about birds.  Join me in taking this course:

Fundamentals of Aviculture   Level II, Intermediate Aviculture

Fundamentals of Aviculture is written for: pet bird owners, bird breeders, veterinarians and their staff, zoo employees, bird-related commercial establishments and everyone associated with birds. The course provides a foundation for the emerging science of aviculture. The Fundamentals of Aviculture, Level 1, must be completed before enrollment in Level 2. The Level 2 course, Intermediate Aviculture, is presented in 15 chapters covering conservation, avian genetics, color mutations, nesting, courtship, incubation, hand-rearing, basic microbiology, disease, emergency care, enrichment and much more.

Visit the Fundamentals of Aviculture for more information.

Status of the Organization: The American Federation of Aviculture, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) Not-For-Profit Corporation, established in 1974. Supporters: Development of Fundamentals of Aviculture is made possible by a grant from Pet Care Trust, and by funding and other support from the Schubot Exotic Bird Health Center, and the College of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M University.

Enroll today to take Intermediate Aviculture at the introductory rate of $75.

©2011 American Federation of Aviculture, Inc.  All rights reserved.

Bird Tip - Think Long Term

So, you're here.  If you don't already have a bird, you're researching possibilities.  THINK LONG TERM.  Like your life for at least the next 25 years.

When I bought my house in 2006, height of the mortgage loan shenanigans, I went in to the financing office with specifics - X amount for X number of years with X amount for the monthly payment.  The craziest I was willing to get was an adjustable rate mortgage.  The loan office tried to talk me into a loan that was for an amount greater than what I asked for.  I told him I couldn't afford the payments.  He told me he'd put me into a negative amortization loan.  I told him no way, that's a foolish loan.  I stuck to my guns and didn't get greedy.  I got laid off in 2009.  I still have my house because I thought LONG TERM.

What's the similarity to getting a bird?  Well, for those of you in your teens and early adulthood think about what you're going to do with that bird when you go to college, date, get a job, move, get married, rent in an apartment, have children, move, change jobs, etc.  Do you want to spontaneously spend the night at your boyfriend or girlfriend's house?  Ain't happenin'.  Spontaneous hedonistic weekends in Vegas?  Ain't happenin'. Oh - and oversees adventures other than short vacations are straight out.  You have a LONG TERM commitment to this animal that probably can't go with you.

Keep in mind this LONG TERM commitment while you're raising this bird, too.  I can tell you from experience that your significant other is not going to be thrilled with your darling FID attacking them.  And if your bird attacks the human baby. . . FUGETABOUTIT.  Are you going to blame the other parent when he/she kills your bird?  Are you really going to keep that bird and go to divorce court?  I don't think the judge is going to look favorably upon you that you let your damn bird attack your child.

Parents - Does your kid want a bird?  I do not object to kids having pet birds.  I think it could potentially lead to a lifelong love and respect for birds.  However, are you, the parent, willing to keep and care for that bird when your child flies the coop and doesn't want Paulie fly with them?  Last week I met a guy who was telling me he has a cockatiel.  He got it for his daughter when she was 12 years old.  He has it now as the daughter left it home when she grew up and went about her business - the bird's 20 years old, the daughter's 32.  He asked me when the bird's going to die.  I told him it might live to be 30.  He was not happy that he might have to be taking care of that bird for another 10 years.

For those of you getting long in the tooth like me, think about what you're going to do with this bird when it outlives you.  What about when you retire, do you want to travel? 

It's doable!  I did it!  But THINK about it first!
Bird Tip - Integrate him into YOUR Lifestyle

Also, choose well my Padawan!
Bird Tip: Handfed does NOT = tame and handleable

Reported Longevity of some birds:
Zebra Finch 17 years
Canary 20 years
Budgerigar 18 years
Agapornis sp. (lovebirds) 12 years
Neophema 10 years
Cockatiel 32 years
Rainbow Lorikeet 15 years
Rosella 15 years
Eclectus Parrot 20 years
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo 40 years
African Grey Parrot 50 years
Pionus parrot 15 years
Amazon parrot 80 years
Macaw 50 years
Conure 25 years

Bird Thought - There are no human pellets. . . Why?

Think about it - There's been a lot more research done in the department of human nutrition than avian nutrition; but there's no human pellet out there.

And fer real? An amazon parrot from South America has the same dietary requirements as a cockatoo from Australia as an African grey from Africa?  If not, why the same pellet for all of them?

Don't get me wrong, I feed pellets; but I view pellets as more of a vitamin pill than a complete diet.

I think it's lazy to feed only pellets; just like it's lazy to feed just bird seed.
Feeding Your Bird for Health
Diet
Why Food is Better than Pellets
Thoughts on Diet
Parrotlets and Pellets

Bird Tip - Sprouting Revisited

For the truly HARD CORE seed junkie you can sprout spray millet:

 

Entire spray millet

 

Cover with water.  Soak about 8 hours or overnight.

Entire spray millet is a little tricky to get thoroughly soaked.  

Push the top ones to the bottom about 4 hours into the soaking session.

After soaking, pour through sieve and rinse thoroughly. Set sieve on top of sprouting container to drain.  Make sure the sieve holes are small enough so the millet seeds don't fall through. 

Rinse at least twice a day.  I leave this next to the kitchen sink so when I pass by 

I give it a rinse. Smell it after each rinse.  It should smell fresh and "earthy", never moldy.  Discard if moldy or smells yucky.

Sprouts are ready to serve when it grows "hair" (make sure it's not mold!).

Depending on the temperature, the sprouts will be ready in 24 - 36 hours. 

I don't know how long the sprouts will keep.  If I do spray millet, I just make enough for what gets consumed in 1 day. So if you want to feed over consecutive days, you'll need to have several going at a time made a day apart.

Bird Tip - The "S" Word!

SOCIALIZE, SOCIALIZE, SOCIALIZE!

Ducky and the latest batch of babies performing community service.

My daughter and I volunteer with a local cat shelter, Friends of Cats - FOC.

We take Ducky and any babies to events to socialize.

This picture was taken at a Farmer's Market.

Hopefully, you have gotten your bird from a source that's already socialized your new bird very well.  Regardless, you must socialize the bird or continue to give the bird new experiences.  A little fear is not a bad thing.  Don't be over protective; but keep in mind - don't terrify the bird.

I know you think you're doing what's best for your bird by removing him from the scary experience - "Oh, it scares Polly! Poor Polly! I don't want Polly to be scared!"

In the bird's mind it's, "Oh! That's scary! Oh! My owner says we need to hurry away from the scary thing; therefore, this scary thing must be dangerous!"

Lesson learned is next time the scary thing is encountered, the bird will react with more fear because you've taught it that the thing was dangerous.

On the other hand, if we do not remove them from the scary thing:
Human - "Oh, it scares Polly! Well, it's just a stuffed animal that's not harmful to Polly. No reason to remove Polly away from the toy." Human to bird - "It's ok Polly, it's just a toy." And we help the bird understand it's not a dangerous thing, and we expose the bird until it relaxes.
Bird - "Oh! That's scary! Hmm. . . But my owner doesn't seem scared. Hmm . . . my owner's being very calm about all of this. Hmm . . . my owner not afraid of this thing. Hmm. . . I think I'll touch it with my beak and see for myself. Oh! Hey! It's kinda squishy. I guess it's nothing to be afraid of!"

Lesson learned is next time I see this thing it's not scary and might be in need of further exploration.

I'm a strong believer that the animal takes cues from us as to how it should react to its environment and new things. I notice in both my horses and my birds, the more I help them overcome a scary experience, the more trusting the animal is of me. When I first got my grey arab, he really had a hard time listening to me - he was a very reactionary horse. I discovered that when I helped him overcome something scary, his behavior immediately changed afterwards and he was much more compliant when being ridden.

For birds, the amount of fear I like to see is when the bird stands really tall slightly leaning away from the object, looks concerned, may be moving its head around to see where it can flee to, wings may be flicking like it wants to get away; but there is no actual movement to get away from the object. Any actual movement away from the scary object is too scary.

It's about nuance and a "feel" for the animal. SOCIALIZE, BUT DON'T TERRIFY YOUR BIRD. 

Bird Tip - Sprouting

Sprouts are super nutritious and it's great for birds that refuse to eat anything but seed since it looks like seed to them.  It sounds complicated, but it's really not once you have it down.
I sprout with no special equipment.  I use ordinary household sieves and plastic storage containers.

For my larger birds-conures, african greys, eclectus, ringnecks:

 

Sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, green peas, barley.

Use any plastic food storage container.

Pick out all the broken pieces and "junk"

 Cover with water.  Soak about 8 hours or overnight.

 

After soaking, pour through sieve and rinse thoroughly. 

Set sieve on top of sprouting container to drain. 

Make sure the sieve holes are small enough so what you're sprouting doesn't fall through. 

 

Rinse at least twice a day.  

I leave this next to the kitchen sink so when I pass by I give it a rinse. Smell it after each rinse.  

It should smell fresh and "earthy", never moldy.  Discard if moldy or smells yucky.

 

Sprouts are ready to serve when there are small tails.

Depending on the temperature and what you're sprouting, the sprouts will be ready 

in 24 - 36 hours. Refrigerate unused portion in refrigerator.  

I don't know how long the sprouts will keep.  I feed out within three days.  Experiment with the amounts and make what you can feed out within three days.

For my small birds-finches, parakeets, cockatiels:

I use a parakeet/finch mix. Small yellow millet, white millet, red millet, 

canary grass seed, oats, flax, rape, niger, chinese millet. This generally is 

too small to pick out any broken pieces, but remove any obvious pieces of "junk".

Cover with water.  Soak about 8 hours or overnight.

After soaking, pour through sieve and rinse thoroughly. 

Set sieve on top of sprouting container to drain.

Make sure the sieve holes are small enough so what you're sprouting doesn't fall through.

Rinse at least twice a day.  

I leave this next to the kitchen sink so when I pass by I give it a rinse. Smell it after each rinse.  

It should smell fresh and "earthy", never moldy.  Discard if moldy or smells yucky.

Sprouts are ready to serve when there are small tails.

Depending on the temperature and what you're sprouting, the sprouts will be ready 

in 24 - 36 hours. Refrigerate unused portion in refrigerator.  

I don't know how long the sprouts will keep.  I feed out within three days.  Experiment with the 

amounts and make what you can feed out within three days.

Another great article listing other things you can sprout: Sprouting for Healthier Birds