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Post by easttex on Jan 5, 2016 6:59:35 GMT -5
Catastrophe followed by serendipity! I have to remind myself sometimes that there are lots of good people out there.
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Post by easttex on Jan 5, 2016 6:56:13 GMT -5
It does look like you've got three sweethearts there. A very nice video!
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Post by easttex on Jan 5, 2016 6:52:42 GMT -5
Hi Penkal. I can't really answer the question I think you're asking, and I doubt if anyone here knows enough about the laws in Vietnam to advise you. You would have to find out from the cruise company if there is any way to avoid cargo for your parrot. I would only recommend that you carefully follow the regulations so you don't risk your parrot being seized. Under the circumstances, I would find a place to board her while you're on your cruise.
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Post by easttex on Jan 4, 2016 6:50:24 GMT -5
They are beautiful birds. What interesting parrots you have in Australia!
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Post by easttex on Jan 4, 2016 6:48:24 GMT -5
That is interesting. Do you think it helps keep Maya's nails in check? I might have to try this for both of of my birds.
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Post by easttex on Jan 4, 2016 6:46:21 GMT -5
Great news, Jan! I love that after-bath time with Peppy, too. I will will be taking Peppy down to Houston again next week. His liver values will be checked, but I'm not expecting much progress there. I just hope they aren't worse. He seems to be holding his own.
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Post by easttex on Jan 4, 2016 6:41:50 GMT -5
I'm very ambivalent about bird-keeping. Living in this part of the US (the rural south) makes me even more so. We still have horrors like dog fighting rings, and some people think nothing of driving out here to the country to abandon dogs and cats. Way too many are not spayed or neutered and are allowed to roam. Although birds have been kept in captivity for a very long time, I believe we should get a better handle on caring for the already domesticated animals we have before going on to domesticate others. There is so much we don't understand about birds in captivity, e.g., why they pluck, it does seem a little unethical to experiment on large numbers of parrots. If I had my way, most breeders would be out of business. At the very least, there would be a licensing process to ensure they know what their doing, provide a standard of care, and know the basics of genetics. And for good measure, the already adoptable birds would be placed in good homes before breeding more. Alas, I'm not in charge of the world. Without meaning to, all of us, myself included, contribute to the problem by creating demand. But on an individual level, I don't see any humane alternative, other than what we are doing - educating ourselves so we can provide the best environment we can. Only a purist can think in terms of always or never. The way I deal with my guilt is to adopt "used" birds. That is not a judgment on what others do, though. I also donate to organizations dedicated to better bird care, like The Gabriel Foundation in Denver, and to various wildlife preservation organizations. I know this isn't much reassurance; more like empathy for your feelings. We have to deal with the situation as it is, and a little bit of guilt is probably not such a bad thing. It makes us more thoughtful about what we are doing.
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Post by easttex on Jan 3, 2016 9:30:09 GMT -5
I suspect biteybird had it right the first time. This is the same sound I get from Peppy when he sees a strange car in the driveway or an unknown person walk past his window. Peppy is quite a bit louder, and he doesn't do the flapping, but the tone and the pattern match.
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Post by easttex on Jan 2, 2016 19:15:54 GMT -5
No one is really 100% prepared the first time they get a parrot. It's frightening, and no matter how much research you do, you'll feel inadequate for a while. How did you know you could handle a child once he hit his teen years? You teach them and mold them as best you can, and by the time it hits, you have a level of comfort, not to mention unconditional love, that gets you through. I have immense respect for Barbara Heidenreich and her force-free animal training. This link talks a bit about the terrible twos: goodbirdinc.blogspot.com/2014/09/5-myths-about-parrot-behavior.html
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Post by easttex on Jan 2, 2016 19:06:57 GMT -5
I think it's one of the hazards of providing a lot affectionate attention, which most of us do, but some birds will get clingy and some won't. I don't know if that's the case with you, but I recommend when you take him out, work on training, on anything. It will help to give him something fun to do without encouraging the clinging. You might want to work on teaching him how to play with his toys, for example. Short sessions with lots of positive reinforcement. Target training would probably be an excellent thing with your bird.
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Post by easttex on Jan 2, 2016 10:32:10 GMT -5
This video might help anyone thinking about harness training:
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Post by easttex on Jan 2, 2016 8:04:57 GMT -5
Sounds like mutual love to me.
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Post by easttex on Jan 2, 2016 8:02:43 GMT -5
What a great clip! She is really in tune with him, isn't she? Barbara Heidenreich has posted YouTube videos of her Amazon singing. He does that whole vibrato thing, too. Fun to watch and listen to. Edit: it's not opera, but I thought you might enjoy this, Gary.
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Post by easttex on Jan 1, 2016 14:09:10 GMT -5
Yep, an interesting debate. I've always been in favor of flight, but certainly see that sometimes it just isn't practical, especially when the safety of the bird can't be reasonably guaranteed. I do believe it is important to allow a bird to fledge properly in the first place, but that is usually in the hands of a breeder. There's no need to go overboard romanticizing flight. It's an evolved survival strategy. Birds in environments without predators lose the flight ability over time. The kiwi is a good example.
I don't have to face the question with my two birds. My CAG, Allie, will fly only when startled, though she can fly a good distance. Peppy flew some earlier, but since he's been ill, he doesn't even flutter to the ground; he drops. I never clip either of them.
So I don't really favor dogmas. People who would say it is always one or the other probably are not being realistic.
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Post by easttex on Jan 1, 2016 11:35:47 GMT -5
Hi and welcome, Ang! Good for you that you are trying to figure out what you are in for before you actually get a bird(s). They are an impulse buy for so many, and so many parrots wind up looking for new homes because of it. Any parrot will potentially create a lot of mess, so if you don't want to deal with that, maybe something like a canary or a finch would be better suited to you. Quakers are not exceptionally loud compared to other parrot species, but at times they can be quite annoying. Most of the noise they make will be contact calls, as they are very social birds, and do not like to be out of contact with their flock. They can be biters, and they may be more inclined to be nippy, but if you watch their body language and respond to what they are telling you, you'll have many fewer bites. They will not treat you as their boss, and forcing them to do anything will likely get you bit. Peppy has developed the habit of almost always just gently beaking to correct me, though he makes it look scary; I think because he knows that's all it takes to get his message across. If you are set on keeping two birds in one cage, which I don't recommend unless you want a bonded pair who will not be interested in bonding with you, then two birds that were raised together would be a good option. Even then, somewhere down the road there could be too much conflict to continue to keep them together. You would also have to make sure that they don't successfully breed. Keep potential life span in mind. A quaker might be with you for 30 years or more, so consider what big changes may happen in the future. Parrots build really strong bonds, and it is hard on them to be rehomed. All parrots are complex creatures, but a quaker is definitely more so than a cockatiel. No bird should really be viewed as a "starter bird", but if you feel unsure of quakers after all your research, I'd recommend the cockatiel. On the other hand, there are people here who will provide lots of support if you do get a quaker.
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