Thursday, May 26, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
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
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
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
Monday, May 16, 2011
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.
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.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
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.
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.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Bird Tip - Join Me!
Learn more about birds. Join me in taking this course:
 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. |
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
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
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
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