Bird owners, come forth!

[Jaymes]

Other than Druidus and I (well, and Feathers. The goose counts! ), does anyone here own birds? Parrots, parakeets, doves, pigeons, ducks, whatever! Surely there have to be more of you hiding in the cracks.

 

[KirbyFan101]

Other than Druidus and I (well, and Feathers. The goose counts! ), does anyone here own birds? Parrots, parakeets, doves, pigeons, ducks, whatever! Surely there have to be more of you hiding in the cracks.

My family has a [size=-1]Hyacinth Macaw, which is an exceptionally rare, expensive, beautiful bird. I think we paid around $20,000AU for him!

Birds are easily the most graceful of all animals!<3
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[Jaymes]

Oh my goodness, a Hyacinth Macaw?! How lucky! I've always thought they were the most lovely of the macaws... such a gorgeous blue coloring. How old is he? What's his name? Does he talk? (Just whap me if these get annoying )

 

[KirbyFan101]

Oh my goodness, a Hyacinth Macaw?! How lucky! I've always thought they were the most lovely of the macaws... such a gorgeous blue coloring.

Yeah! They are the largest I think!

How old is he? What's his name? Does he talk? (Just whap me if these get annoying )

He is approaching 6 years, which means it is moral for us (as owners) to put him into breeding, because of the endangered nature of the species.

He came named "Quantor" (Yes, I know. Stop laughing), but I call him Quannie, which he seems to enjoy!

If you hang around any parrot type species they start to pick up on your language. I'm not exactly sure if he knows how to "talk" (as in conversational skills), but he can says words like "yes", "no", "hello!". If you repeat something to him he will say it back to you! Its pretty cute...

As a bird they are high maitinence. Clipping, washing, excercise. He is pretty energetic (as most are) and makes a hell of alot of noise when he wants attention. Overall if you can ever get your hands on one I highly recommend it!

 

[Feathers in Hair]

I fear the goose has become troublesome. I leave food out for the barn cats that have taken up residence in the nearby woodpile. There's two that used to be 'pet' cats (the owner of the farm house we rent moved, but since he still uses the barn and surrounding fields, he kept those cats there) and then a half-domesticated female that is raising some kittens. The thing looks like a tent frame with legs, so I try to feed her and her kittens as much as possible. (I feed the others 'cuz I just like cats, hehee!)

The bad thing is that the goose has decided he loves cat food. I'll go out beside the woodpile and put food out for the kittens, and I'll watch as they gobble it up greedibly. Then, like an extremely low-flying cloud, Rocko (apparently the farmer had named him that, so I don't get to call him "Galahad", except in my head) cruises on over and honks the cats and kittens out of the way, before darting his bill down and grazing on the leftovers.

I keep having to chase him off, and giving him his own cat food to munch on. The fowl beast may think we're 'betrothed' (still haven't figured out how to break it to him that I'm not a goose) but that doesn't give him the right to steal food from kittens!

 

[painted wolf]

my landlord had an "immortal" chicken... her name was lightning.
She survived a raccon, two dog attacks, one bear, several hawk flyovers, -40 degree weather and the 'loving' attention of two hyperactive children.
Not sure if she is still with us, but I wouldn't be surprized.. she is one tough bird.

One of her feathers now adorns my vehicle

wa:do

 

[Jaymes]

He is approaching 6 years, which means it is moral for us (as owners) to put him into breeding, because of the endangered nature of the species.

That's awesome of you. Has he taken to a lady yet?

He came named "Quantor" (Yes, I know. Stop laughing), but I call him Quannie, which he seems to enjoy!

If you hang around any parrot type species they start to pick up on your language. I'm not exactly sure if he knows how to "talk" (as in conversational skills), but he can says words like "yes", "no", "hello!". If you repeat something to him he will say it back to you! Its pretty cute...

It sounds cute I've tried and tried with Leo (my golden cap conure) to get him to talk, but he seems intent on either screaming or mumbling, no in between.

As a bird they are high maitinence. Clipping, washing, excercise. He is pretty energetic (as most are) and makes a hell of alot of noise when he wants attention. Overall if you can ever get your hands on one I highly recommend it!

I'm kind of afraid of macaws, actually! Their huge beaks intimidate me. Has he ever bitten you or someone else? Leo doesn't bite me often, but if someone who's not me comes near his cage when I'm around he'll get territorial and give me a good bite... it hurts and he's not even half the size of a macaw, I can't imagine what a macaw's bite would feel like (assuming it didn't take off a finger!) They seem like such lovely birds, though. I had the fortune of being honored by a shy scarlet macaw who found me safe enough to perch on, though, which went down as one of my better days.

I fear the goose has become troublesome. I leave food out for the barn cats that have taken up residence in the nearby woodpile. There's two that used to be 'pet' cats (the owner of the farm house we rent moved, but since he still uses the barn and surrounding fields, he kept those cats there) and then a half-domesticated female that is raising some kittens. The thing looks like a tent frame with legs, so I try to feed her and her kittens as much as possible. (I feed the others 'cuz I just like cats, hehee!)

The bad thing is that the goose has decided he loves cat food. I'll go out beside the woodpile and put food out for the kittens, and I'll watch as they gobble it up greedibly. Then, like an extremely low-flying cloud, Rocko (apparently the farmer had named him that, so I don't get to call him "Galahad", except in my head) cruises on over and honks the cats and kittens out of the way, before darting his bill down and grazing on the leftovers.

I keep having to chase him off, and giving him his own cat food to munch on. The fowl beast may think we're 'betrothed' (still haven't figured out how to break it to him that I'm not a goose) but that doesn't give him the right to steal food from kittens!

Awwe, I'm sorry to hear he's become so troublesome. Is there a way you can get the catfood under something the goose can't get to? We put things up in a high place for our barn cats since our dogs would get it, but obviously Rockohad (Rocko and Galahad... best of both worlds ) could get somewhere high...

 

[Feathers in Hair]

Rockohad?! I love it!

And actually, he's not that troublesome. I love him dearly. (I've put one of those plastic kiddie-pools out back and filled it with water. He hasn't gone swimming yet, but he likes to wander over and stick his neck in.)

We've begun putting the food for Joyce (the mother-cat) on a ledge. (Glad you thought of it, too!) It's just high enough that Rockohad can't reach. He has such righteous indignation when that happens I feel kind of sorry for him, though...

 

[Bastet]

I don't own a bird, I'm definitely more of a cat person. I think the last time I actually came close to 'owning' a bird, was one of the many that graced our farm as a kid, Duckles. She was (perhaps not suprisingly), a duck. A Khaki Campbell, I think. She had a limp, and used to come when I called her, and would eat out of my hand. Oh, I had a Muskovi drake called Boris, too...but he reminded me of the geese too much for me to get overly friendly with him (the geese used to gang up and terrorise me ).

 

[KirbyFan101]

That's awesome of you. Has he taken to a lady yet?

I think we might have to take him to a few nightclubs and bars first...

Seriously though! I heard getting them to breed is hard, so we either have to buy a female and hope for the best, or sell him

No-one in my family is an expert on "macaw compatability" so dating can't be easy...

It sounds cute I've tried and tried with Leo (my golden cap conure) to get him to talk, but he seems intent on either screaming or mumbling, no in between.

Yeah, those are lovely birds, but I remember hearing that their speech potential is low
Noisy, too! Takes persistance. I think Quannie (or maybe just Macaws in general) is pretty bright, I've gotten him to say 7 word sentances after what, 20 minutes of mellow practice?

I'm kind of afraid of macaws, actually! Their huge beaks intimidate me. Has he ever bitten you or someone else?

Well, he is somewhere between 65-75cm I think, so he is near a metre, which is incredibly large imo! He has never bitten me personally, because I only play with him when he is in the "mood" .

A Hyacinth can bite through steel (we learnt this with our first cage), so it would be able to most certainly take a finger off. At first I was afraid of him because he grew REALLY fast and by the age of 3 he was a monster! As long as you rub them the right way and attend to their needs I can't see why one would ever bite you: Macaws are really well tempered birds.

Leo doesn't bite me often, but if someone who's not me comes near his cage when I'm around he'll get territorial and give me a good bite... it hurts and he's not even half the size of a macaw, I can't imagine what a macaw's bite would feel like (assuming it didn't take off a finger!)

If Quannie appears to be fustrated (a rarity) I just don't go near him. :jiggy:

They seem like such lovely birds, though. I had the fortune of being honored by a shy scarlet macaw who found me safe enough to perch on, though, which went down as one of my better days.

"Gentle Giant's" so to speak.

 

[Jaymes]

my landlord had an "immortal" chicken... her name was lightning.
She survived a raccon, two dog attacks, one bear, several hawk flyovers, -40 degree weather and the 'loving' attention of two hyperactive children.
Not sure if she is still with us, but I wouldn't be surprized.. she is one tough bird.

Long live the chickens! :jam: They're tough little birds.

I don't own a bird, I'm definitely more of a cat person. I think the last time I actually came close to 'owning' a bird, was one of the many that graced our farm as a kid, Duckles. She was (perhaps not suprisingly), a duck. A Khaki Campbell, I think. She had a limp, and used to come when I called her, and would eat out of my hand. Oh, I had a Muskovi drake called Boris, too...but he reminded me of the geese too much for me to get overly friendly with him (the geese used to gang up and terrorise me ).

Awwe, that reminds me of the ducks I had when I was little... I got a baby one, and I guess it either really liked me or imprinted on me, because it would follow me EVERYWHERE in the house. I used to run from one end of the house to the other from her, with her following and quacking all the way. Later we released her in our pond, along with a couple of other ducks. They all died from something, though. Never figured out what.

I think we might have to take him to a few nightclubs and bars first...

Seriously though! I heard getting them to breed is hard, so we either have to buy a female and hope for the best, or sell him

No-one in my family is an expert on "macaw compatability" so dating can't be easy...

Awwe, I hope you don't have to sell him! Maybe you can work something out where someone with a female keeps him until he breeds? I couldn't imagine giving up Leo for breeding purposes... he's my baby.

Noisy, too! Takes persistance. I think Quannie (or maybe just Macaws in general) is pretty bright, I've gotten him to say 7 word sentances after what, 20 minutes of mellow practice?

I'm lucky in the sense that Leo is not a sun conure. I know a girl that went temporarily deaf in one ear after her sun conure screamed in it...

And wow, talking that quick?! What a bright little guy!

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

I don't have any pet birds. Just lots of garden birds. I worked out they cost me about $450 a year in food, plus house scraps.

Terry
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Blessed are the pure of heart, they shall behold their God.

 

[michel]

I used to keep budgerigars - started off with one, and it sort of grew until I had thirty or forty - I enjoyed trying to get them to 'breed in new colours'.


The first was a cutie - a 'him', called 'sasha'. Even when I went on holiday (touring Englad in a big old car) - I'd have him loose in the car. You should have seen the way people stared in disbelief inside the car at pedestrian crossings.......:biglaugh:

 

[Bastet]

I used to keep budgerigars - started off with one, and it sort of grew until I had thirty or forty - I enjoyed trying to get them to 'breed in new colours'.


The first was a cutie - a 'him', called 'sasha'. Even when I went on holiday (touring Englad in a big old car) - I'd have him loose in the car. You should have seen the way people stared in disbelief inside the car at pedestrian crossings.......:biglaugh:

I have a confession to make...budgies kind of scare me. Mum used to make me go into the cage to feed them, and they'd be flying around my head (along with the multitudes of finches, and the quail running around my feet)...I hated it. Probably why I've never considered having a bird as a pet lol.

 

[michel]

I have a confession to make...budgies kind of scare me. Mum used to make me go into the cage to feed them, and they'd be flying around my head (along with the multitudes of finches, and the quail running around my feet)...I hated it. Probably why I've never considered having a bird as a pet lol.

Oh, I am sorry; that does often happen, in life - an incident in Childhood can lead to a lifetime gut reaction to almost any subject.

I used to be like that with spiders; now, I have, thankfully grown to tolerate them, if not actually like them.

 

[Bastet]

Oh, I am sorry; that does often happen, in life - an incident in Childhood can lead to a lifetime gut reaction to almost any subject.

I used to be like that with spiders; now, I have, thankfully grown to tolerate them, if not actually like them.

I've had to deal with spiders myself since living on my own, but I don't like doing it, and would much rather have someone else take care of them (especially the big ones). :areyoucra Don't get me started on spiders...

 

[kreeden]

I don't own any birds , but there is a group that think they own me ... Wild Ravens and a few Crows .

BTW Jensa , that is very good advice about Rockohad . He is just being a Goose , and putting the cat food out of reach , or out of sight may just do it .

 

[Valjean]

I rescued an injured pigeon that can no longer fly more than a few meters. s/he currently lives in the "pigeon room." I had another pigeon that I thought was fatally injured but s/he miraculously recovered and I let her (?) go.

Feathers. You must spay/neuter those cats or you'll have a population explosion. As long as there is food available they'll continue to breed.

 

[Cynic]

Other than Druidus and I (well, and Feathers. The goose counts! ), does anyone here own birds? Parrots, parakeets, doves, pigeons, ducks, whatever! Surely there have to be more of you hiding in the cracks.

I've had lovebirds, parakeets, cockatiels, finches, canaries, ducks, chickens, and more... I love birds, out of all the other pets I've had, which included dogs and iguanas (never actually had a cat), I've really come to appreciate birds. Specifically, I had a lovebird that I fed and weaned mainly by myself soon after it hatched. They make excellent pets this way. I was almost certain that she thought she was a human. I would own birds if I could, but it's not allowed in my barracks.

Two young lovebirds ^

 

[Cynic]

I don't own any birds , but there is a group that think they own me ... Wild Ravens and a few Crows .

BTW Jensa , that is very good advice about Rockohad . He is just being a Goose , and putting the cat food out of reach , or out of sight may just do it .

Ha, this reminds me of an episode of real TV, where a seagull would sit outside and wait for this man, and it would continuously bomb dive at this man's head.