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.

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.

 

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 - 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

Cockatiels - Two Day Old Baby Being Handfed

If you think that's tiny, you should try a day old baby bourke parakeet!

Jendays - Handfeeding Time

No, it didn't grow right before your eyes - It's two different babies.

Bird Tip: Handfed does NOT = tame and handleable

Ok - I have to comment on this "handfed" issue.  I've handfed birds that I've intended to become future breeders.  Other than stuffing them with food, I don't play with them, I don't cuddle them, I don't do anything with them.  I let them grow up interacting with other birds and all they know is that they're birds.  Once weaned, these birds are completely unhandleable and not in the least bit tame despite the fact that I handfed them as babies.

Why am I bringing this to your attention?  Because a majority of my breeders have been acquired from people who thought they were getting a sweet, pet quality bird because they were told it was "handfed".  Not true!

When looking for a PET quality bird, keep the following in mind:

GOOD THINGS:
- The bird appears calm in general.
- The bird is calm while you're moving around checking it out.
- The bird may look at you curiously, or just seems unfazed by what's going on around it and may be exploring.
- The bird does not move away from you or otherwise appear nervous or shy when you slowly raise your hand towards it.
- The bird reaches out calmly/slowly with its beak to climb on your hand.
- You are able to easily handle the bird after a few minutes of both of you checking each other out.
- If in a cage, the bird does not go to the farthest point away from you.
- If in a cage, the bird is easily taken out of the cage (including by you).
- The bird does not appear to be afraid of towels.  Some time in its life the bird will probably get toweled by you, the vet, someone in an emergency or maybe for clipping toenails/wings.  Hopefully the bird's been introduced to towels in a positive manner so it's not traumatized when a towel's thrown over it for emergency or grooming.

DOUBLE PLUS GOOD (Don't disregard a bird that doesn't exhibit the following behaviors, especially if it's a very young baby):
- The bird moves towards you calmly in a friendly manner.
- The bird goes back and forth on its perch or the person selling it, body leaned forward towards you to try to get to you to meet you.
-  If in a cage, the bird comes out by itself to meet you.

UNGOOD THINGS:
- The bird bites you hard in a lunging, striking manner like a snake, and either won't let go or lets go immediately and tries to get away from you. (Well, I guess if you're masochistic and like to bleed, knock yourself out, this is the bird for you.)
- The bird lunges at you.
- The bird keeps trying to get away.
- The bird seems nervous about being handled.
- The bird seems scared/nervous of hands.  (I've seen a cage full of birds labeled as "handfed/handtame"; when I slowly raised my hand up towards them, they all run, some screaming, to the opposite end of the cage.)
- If in a cage, the bird needs to be chased around to get it out.

DOUBLE PLUS UNGOOD (caveat emptor):
- The bird bites the person who's selling the bird.
- The bird keeps trying to get away from the person who's selling the bird.
- The person selling the bird seems afraid or tentative about handling the bird.
-  If in a cage, the bird bites when anyone tries to get it out.
-  The person selling the bird puts on a glove or gets a towel in order to handle the bird.  (Ok to towel to clip toenails/wings)
- The person selling the bird excuses the bird's poor behavior and tells you, "Oh, it just needs to get to know you."  If this is going to be your first bird - Do you really want to lose blood, or do you want to be off to a good start with a nice bird?
- The person selling the bird excuses the bird's poor behavior and tells you, "It's a baby and just needs to be socialized."  **This one's a BIG crock of bull Shitake Mushrooms.  Whether you're buying a bird from a breeder or pet shop, a baby should be easily handled.  THE BREEDER OR PET SHOP SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN SOCIALIZING THE BABY TO PREPARE IT TO BE A GREAT PET.

 

Sun Conures, Jenday Conures, most cockatoos should be easily handled like this.

The bird may not let you immediately handle it like this, but the person selling the bird should be able to.

 

At the very minimum the bird should sit calmly on your hand.

The bird should calmly go from hand to hand and not be nervous or biting.

Note - reaching down and chewing/nibbling your fingers is NOT biting.

I'll post later about what is and isn't a bite.