1.If a deal seems too good to be true, it generally is. Shop around. Ask someone else. 2. Ask the exhibitors (breeders) questions BEFORE BUYING….. a) Did you raise the bird? There are differences b) Do you own the parents? c) Is it closed banded with a traceable band? d) Was it incubator hatched? e) … Read more
Recently someone approached me with the question, “What is a Bird Breeder?”Responding to a question of this sort, entails some profound thoughts to answer adequately, fully and correctly, which I am sure I will be unable to accomplish totally. Avian breeders can and quite often consists of individuals or families with only one or two … Read more
Jazz is preparing for our next motor home jaunt. That means Mama (me) has had to get busy putting together his amusements. The truth is that he doesn’t find much interesting about the store-bought stuff, which can be construed as a blessing since most of it costs a bundle. It seems that the commercial parrot … Read more
Hand feeding can be a trying time for hand feeder and infant. The most prevalent sources of microbial contamination are food, water supply, other birds in the nursery, feeding and food preparation utensils, and the hand feeder. Prior to the introduction of formulated hand feeding diets for neonates, breeders had to make their own formulas, … Read more
My husband calls Jazz “The Money Pit” and of course, he’s not far wrong. In the dog game, we always said that the purchase price of a pup was nothing compared to the upkeep. Birds apparently are no different. While the purchase price is higher than most dogs, the bird’s life expectancy is generally longer … Read more
Andy, now 4, has been a very happy bird from the day he weaned. Always an enthusiastic eater, Andy developed normally in every way to an adult weight of 270 grams. The vet never questioned the weight during our regular checkups, and his breeder said that Andy’s parents (from the second importation in the 80’s) … Read more
June Anderson writes: I have a 17 week old Eclectus female who has always been a real lover until recently. I also have a 15 year old son that our Eclectus, Kiki has always liked.But now, when my son puts his hand in Kiki’s cage, she lunges at him and tries to bite him She … Read more
Below is a listing of various safe plants that will rid your home or office of not only carbon dioxide but also 1 or more of 3 other toxins. Benzene: found in gasoline, inks, oils, paints, plastics, rubber, dyes, detergents and pharmaceuticals.Plants that will rid this toxin are: African daisy bamboo plant corn plant chrysanthemum … Read more
“I never heard of Eclectus.” was my response when the parrot breeder suggested the species. I was looking for a small to medium sized bird who was fun, friendly, pretty, and adaptable. We spend three months of the year on the road in a motor home and over the years have reduced our doggy population … Read more
The area in which I live is not “heavily” into aviculture. In fact, some breeds of parrots that are common elsewhere are difficult to find, and I don’t know of any large commercial aviaries in the vicinity. Yet, in the past 5 years I know of 8 breeders that have been stricken by disease in … Read more