HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: distef@milton.u.washington.edu (Sandra Distefano)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Re: What shouldn't I feed my Budgie
Date: 27 Aug 92 19:41:50 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: University of Washington

devon@pyrnova.mis.pyramid.com (Devon Nichols) writes:


>I'm a new parakeet owner and I am wondering if there is a list
>of foodstuffs not wise to give to the little guys.  My budgie
>keeps trying to nibble on my Aloe Vera plant and I do my best
>to discourage him from nibbling on anything while he is out of
>his cage (under my constant supervision of course).  Also, I
>would hate to offer a food that was poisonous.

>I've tried offering him greens, corn, carrot, fresh
>peas, and fresh fruits... he only eats bird seed (the "Death
>Diet").  I worry that this may not be a very nutritous diet for 
>him.  Any suggestions?

No chocolate, no caffeine, NO AVOCADO, and no iceberg lettuce (
it has no nutritional value and has too much phosphorus (in other
words, not poisonous, but there is no point giving it to them)).

Just keep at it.  A poster a while back made a good point, saying
that  would only offer one new food per day.  If you offered to
much of a selection at once, they got confused.  They may be scared
of the food at first, and it may take a while to get them to try 
something new.  Don't give up.

Sandra
distef@u.washington.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: PA109188@utkvm1.utk.edu  (John Rich)
Subject: Re: Clipping Toenails
Organization: The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 13:38:27 GMT

In article <1992Aug25.021848.5688@lobster.hou.tx.us>
judy@lobster.hou.tx.us (Judy Scheltema) writes:

>I tried the concrete perches too, but for a different reason (My two
>cockatoos decided to shred their perches about every 5 days. My
>Moluccan ended up with a raw sore on the bottom of her foot and my
>Citron's feet were showing some redness too. I asked a couple of
>breeder friends about these concrete perches and they both said they
>would not let then stay in the cage for more than 1 week per month.
>
I've left the perches in their cages...  however, those aren't the only
perches in the cages.  I think that makes a difference as the birds have
lots of other areas to play, sit, climb, etc.

I've not had the problem with the birds having sores on their feet.  That
is one of the cautions mentioned by the folks we bought the perches from...
to keep an eye on their feet.

--John
From: rglaeser@sparc14.cs.uiuc.edu (Russ Glaeser)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Re: Importing Parrots
Date: 28 Aug 92 16:50:15 GMT
Article-I.D.: sunb10.1992Aug28.165015.2749
Reply-To: rglaeser@uiuc.edu
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

In <1992Aug27.151016.13090@nsisrv.gsfc.nasa.gov> oday@lobster.gsfc.nasa.gov  (Orin Day) writes:

>Does anybody have recent info on flying with birds that they'd 
>like to post?

>Orin

United Airlines didn't seem to have a problem with it last month flying from
St. Louis to Seattle, and last week flying back.  The carier has to be a
certain size, the bird must have a source of food and water, and there can't
be anyone else on the same flight with a pet.  If it's a small carier they'll 
even let you take it on the plane and put it under your seat.

-- 
Russ Glaeser
rglaeser@uiuc.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Finches (once again)
From: dparker@ece.arizona.edu (Douglas R. Parker)
Date: 1 Sep 92 12:53:43 MST
Distribution: world,local
Organization: U of Arizona Electrical and Computer Engineering


Someone recently posted regarding "Handling Finches".
We too have recently recieved a beautiful pair of zebra
finches. (Tink and Zeke)

Because they were so young (three weeks or so), we thought
no harm in allowing them the luxury of a nest. However,
with their change in behavior and the change in colour
and sound of Zeke we decided to remove the nest. Now,
it seems that the two will spend more time than usual
examining the bottom of the (luxurious) cage. Are they
looking for nesting material? Tink for a while was eating
much more than Zeke, including the gravel, and sleeping
much more than Zeke. Is this an indicadtion that Tink is
"with egg"? How dangerous is this with them being so
young ( <2 months) ?

Also, we have been trying to get them accustomed to our hands
but worry about traumatizing them. We know that finches will
never sit on our shoulder and nibble our ears, but would like
to handle them when necessary without them going absolutly
crazy. Is this possible?

Finally, as far as feed is concerned, we have discovered that
the two have a furious passion for spinach and sprouts.
How often should we allow them this treat? Is it better to
chop the greens, or maybe hang a leaf to slow them down?

Most Respectfully Yours,

Doug,Claire (dparker@helios.ece.arizona.edu)
From: Darcy@cup.portal.com (Darcy S McConnell)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Re: Sad Story
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 92 05:04:00 PDT
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
Distribution: world


Hi Laura!

I know exactly what your feeling over your loss of your pet bird.

I lost Skipper (My Cockatiel) on July 18th at the vet.

He was suppose to go in for a simple thing of getting his nails trimmed.
Well..  He didn't make it out alive.  The vet said he was in good shape
before we even started. Part way through it, he started to have trouble
breathing then stopped.  The vet tried to save him but his heart had
stopped.  Watching your bird die in front of ones eyes is the worst way
for it to happen.

He was a very tame bird that would do anything to get attention
and he sure knew how to express his love to anyone that spent time with
him.

Anyways, I know exactly how you feel. Like you, I felt responsible for
the loss of my bird.  I felt as i have taken his life away from him.
It is a terrible feeling to have.  I have come to terms with myself
that i didn't take him there to die, but to help him be more comfortable
with his nails.  I had no idea it was gonna result in his death.


Altho you didn't have your bird very long, it was long enough to get
very attached to him.  I feel for your loss.  The pain does pass,
but the memories will stay with ya..

Take care,

Darcy.
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: grant@tiamat.ucs.sfu.ca (Grant Dimock)
Subject: Re: Hi! I'm new here:)
Organization: Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C., Canada
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 1992 23:25:16 GMT

In article <78866@ut-emx.uucp> claire@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Claire Sheppard)  
writes:
> 
> 1. What is the best way to get Monet hand tamed?   He isn't afraid of me but 
> he also won't let me pick him up very easily.  I don't think that the people  
at
>  the store where I bought him messed with him alot.

He already sounds pretty tame.  As far as picking them up, with practice, 
putting your finger just above their feet and pushing back a little will get
them to move onto your finger.  From there, you can just move them from hand
to hand.  Don't spend too much time each day trying to do this as their 
attention span is at most about 15 minutes. 

> 2. How old should he be before I really try to train him?

Training should start as soon as possible.  The younger they are, the easier
they are to train.

> 3. Alot of the books I have been reading contradict each other. One book will
> say "Don't bother the animal alot for the first couple of weeks." While  
another
> book will say to spend as much time as possible.

The books that I have read say to be with them, but not necessarily have them 
out of the cage or being played with.  Just having someone there gets them 
used to you.  Patience is very important in this game.

> 4. I live in an apartment and every month the complex brings in pest control 
> people to spray each apartment. I realize that these fumes can be fatal to  
the
> bird. Should I have them not spray my apartment at all or should I take Monet 
> to a friends apartment and stay with him there while they spray my apartment?

Tiels as well as most birds have very sensitive (arrggh, I can't think of the
right word) breathing systems.  The old story about over heating the teflon  
frypans is always one to come up in conversations like this.  It is probably
at good idea to move them if they have to spray.  It is stressful for the bird
but if you put him in a small box (like a shoebox) with airholes for transport
they seem to do OK.

From: billg@hpspdla.spd.HP.COM (Bill Gingras)
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 15:29:46 GMT
Subject: Re: Sad Story
Organization: HP Stanford Park - Palo Alto, CA
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds


You probably already know about this, but in case you don't....

Birds can be killed if a teflon pan overheats.  They produce toxins that
you can't detect, but will overwhelm a bird's system rather quickly.  I
just figure that since you're a new bird owner, you might have put a pot
on the stove to start breakfast before going into the shower.

The teflon thing is not uncommon.  I volunteer at a local Humane Society
and have heard of several cases of this happening.  Last month, a woman
lost eight birds due to this.

At any rate, I'm sorry to hear of the death of your bird.  I lost my
finches last year and it was hard.

- Bill G
From: claire@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Claire Sheppard)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Hi! I'm new here:)
Keywords: Hello
Date: 1 Sep 92 19:51:08 GMT
Organization: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin TX
Originator: claire@doc.cc.utexas.edu


	Hi! As the title reads, I'm new here.  My name is Claire and I go to
The University Of Texas at Austin.  I have just recently [five days ago] 
bought my first bird.  Monet is a four month old latino 'tiel. He has had some
problems with stress though. He was sneezing and coughing for a few days but
it seems to have gotten better lately.  I took him to the vet just in case and
the vet thinks that Monet just wasn't eating enough. Yesterday, I think he 
really started to adjust.  He loves attention.  When I put my hand into the 
cage he tips his head down and pushes up against my hand to be petted. I do 
have a few [maybe more than a few] questions. Any help would be greatly
 appreciated.

1. What is the best way to get Monet hand tamed?   He isn't afraid of me but 
he also won't let me pick him up very easily.  I don't think that the people at
 the store where I bought him messed with him alot. 

2. How old should he be before I really try to train him?

3. Alot of the books I have been reading contradict each other. One book will
say "Don't bother the animal alot for the first couple of weeks." While another
book will say to spend as much time as possible.

4. I live in an apartment and every month the complex brings in pest control 
people to spray each apartment. I realize that these fumes can be fatal to the
bird. Should I have them not spray my apartment at all or should I take Monet 
to a friends apartment and stay with him there while they spray my apartment?

Any other helpful tips or suggestions would be most appreciated.  I am really 
excited about my new pet and I don't want to do anything wrong.

Thanks!!!!

Claire 
and
Monet
From: rdmiller@matt.ksu.ksu.edu (Ruth D Miller)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Re: Breeders
Date: 28 Aug 1992 14:14:23 -0500
Organization: Kansas State University
NNTP-Posting-Host: matt.ksu.ksu.edu

In article <1992Aug27.174646.24326@wam.umd.edu> gisie@wam.umd.edu (Satan) writes:
>Can someone recommend a breeder (specifically for Greys and/or Amazons)
>in the DC-VA-MD area??  Any info would be greatly appreciated!
>
Get the latest copy of BirdTalk and look in the "Buy buy Birdies" ad section!
Same advice applies to anyone else looking fro breeders anywhere else.

Ruth

From: billg@hpspdla.spd.HP.COM (Bill Gingras)
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 15:19:08 GMT
Subject: Re: Finches (once again)
Organization: HP Stanford Park - Palo Alto, CA
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds


This might only be a myth, but I've heard that spinach contains a
chemical that somehow inhibits a bird's ability to use the calcium it
ingests.  My vet said you can give spinach as a treat, just not every
day.

- Bill G

Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: roberts@studguppy.lanl.gov (Doug Roberts)
Subject: Re: 'Tiel likes catfood?
Organization: Technology Modeling and Analysis, LANL-A7
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1992 20:03:47 GMT


In article <1992Aug26.082232.4421@bb1t.monsanto.com> dbwebe@bb1t.monsanto.com writes:

> 	Yes, my 'tiel seems to think he found a gold mine in the
> 	cat food bag (the cats are outside and I take the cat chow
> 	out to them). Just that regular hard cat chow, but boy he 
> 	seemed to really be getting into gnawing a piece up and eating
> 	it. I thought it might be best to check the net wisdom on this
> 	before I let him have anymore. Is that stuff too hard on their
> 	digestive system??
> 
> 	Thanks in advance for your advice. 
> 

I believe dry catfood is too high in fat & protein to be used as a steady
diet for a 'tiel (or any other parrot, for that matter). I makes a nice
treat, however. I used to toss a couple of pieces in with my Amazon's food
before I switched them to Harrison's pellets. Harrison's is nutritionally
complete: that's their main food, supplemented with fruits & veggies.

--Dougg
--

==================================================================
Douglas Roberts                |
Los Alamos National Laboratory | All good work is done in defiance
dzzr@lanl.gov                  |  of management. -- Bob Woodward
(505)667-4569                  |
==================================================================
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: steveg@mks.com (Steve Gingerich)
Subject: 'tiel talk
Organization: Mortice Kern Systems Inc., Waterloo, Ontario, CANADA
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1992 12:58:02 GMT

Was just thinkin this morning. Whoever has or has had a tiel, how many 
words did it know, what kinds of words did it know and how long did it
take at first to teach a word and then how long to teach for subsequent
words ??? thanks !

-- 
Steve Gingerich    Mortice Kern Systems   Waterloo, Ontario
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: bgt@cbnewsh.cb.att.com (barbara.tongue)
Subject: Birdie Toenails!
Organization: AT&T
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1992 11:06:39 GMT
Keywords: file file file

folks,

when angus' toenails become a wee bit too long (and rend my clothing),
i take a nail file, lay him on his back and say, now filed birdies
are happy birdies!!

i don't think he believes me, but he does allow me to file off the points
(muttering birdieCurses all the while....)


-- 
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
%%   The Speaking Tongue, AT&T   %%  C Code.  C Code Run.  Run, Code, RUN! %%
%%       bgt@homxc.att.com       %%           PLEASE!!!!                   %%
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: bdickens@mammoth.es.com (Brian Dickens)
Subject: Avian Vet in San Jose
Reply-To: bdickens@mammoth.es.com (Brian Dickens)
Organization: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp., Salt Lake City, UT
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 92 18:36:53 GMT


Is there anyone out there in the San Jose area that can 
recommend an excellent avian vet?  I will be relocating
to San Jose around Sep. 15 and would like to find a 
trustable vet as soon as possible.  Rio is a Yellow Nape
Amazon if the vet specializes in Amazon's that would
be ideal.

Thanks in advance.

Brian Dickens
255 E Hubbard Ave
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
	(801)521.5911
work: 	(801)582.5847x6627 ( 'til Sep. 4 )
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: ooblick@intercon.com (Mikki Barry)
Subject: Re: 'Tiel likes catfood?
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 92 15:52:18 GMT
Reply-To: ooblick@intercon.com (Mikki Barry)
Organization: InterCon Systems Corporation, Herndon, VA

In article <17grs8INNgsl@matt.ksu.ksu.edu>, rdmiller@matt.ksu.ksu.edu (Ruth D 
Miller) writes:
> Our vet actually recommended dog food as a good source of protein for
> birds (if they'll eat it; ours _know_ they are not dogs! :-)  Cat food,
> however, is higher in protein and possibly in fat than dog food.  I'm
> sure it isn't bad for them but I don't think it's good as a steady
> diet--standard rules for birdies!

Pet peeve time (so to speak).  Dog food and cat food is made for dogs and 
cats.  Dogs and cats eat each other's droppings.  Dogs and cats eat all kinds 
of cruft that would kill a bird.  Consequently, the manufacturers of dog and 
cat food do not need to be as conscious of cleanliness as should the 
manufacturers of bird food.  According to our Zeigler distributor (note, not 
advocating Zeigler per se, just reporting an anecdote), he's seen many 
factories which make food for many different kinds of animals, and the filth 
associated with manufacture of food for mammals is considerably higher than 
for birds.

Also, high protein levels are being associated with VERY VERY bad effects on 
the kidneys of psittacines.  

My advice, and the advice of my vet is to feed birds BIRD FOOD.  Maybe 10 
years ago, before all the research went into pelleted diets, dog food was a 
great idea, but now, bird pellets are MUCH better.  Seeds and fruits and 
veggies with vitamins are MUCH better.  

Most of the vets that advocate dog and/or cat food also happen to sell it...


Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: jpgraham@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (John P Graham)
Subject: Sick Budgie
Organization: The Ohio State University
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 1992 02:14:35 GMT

 Last Saturday (08-22-92) I bought a young budgie and it is now
(08- 27 -92) apparently close to buying the farm. Early this morning
he was energetic and happy , but now extremely lethargic and doses off
constantly. I observed that his droppings are green in colour and found
in a book that he may have enteritis. Does anyone know of an antibiotic
active against this complaint and whether or not the bird would have
had this problem before purchase (he seemed fine at the time ).

Thanks in advance .,... .John
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: judy@lobster.hou.tx.us (Judy Scheltema)
Subject: Re: Clipping Toenails
Organization: Houston, Texas
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1992 11:32:01 GMT

In article <1992Aug25.191720.5655@rtsg.mot.com> dunne@rtsg.mot.com (Jim Dunne) writes:
>    I always clipped just enough off the toenails so that they wouldn't
>    poke my skin.  Then, just trim them again when they start to
>    irritate you.  The few times my Amazon did bleed, I quickly applied
>    a styptic powder, and it stopped immediately.   Look for Qwik-Stop

This is fine for *most* birds. But there are a few birds that are
"bleeders" - not in the sense of hemophiliacs (sp?) but those guys
will bleed even from using an emery board on their toenails. That's
why I wanted something that would cauterize as I did nails. 

>    Never had to trim a beak.  Wouldn't rough toys like a lava rock help?

I've dulled several beaks. I've got one baby that just has to cuddle
against my face and I was getting scratched in her zeal. I've had to
do some major reshaping on the beak of my double-yellowheaded Amazon
that has osteosarcoma which has deformed his beak quite badly. My
guys won't go near a lava rock and grit is not recommended in their
diet.

-- 
Judy Scheltema                |                       judy@lobster.hou.tx.us
P. O. Box 270249	      |                          uhnix1!lobster!judy
Houston, Texas 77277-0249     |
From: dand@Turing.ORG (Dan 'Bart' Duncan (KD4IGW))
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Re: How Birdieized are you
Keywords: the bird goes everywhere
Date: 30 Aug 92 03:05:42 GMT
Organization: The Turing Project, Charlottesville Virginia.

I travel quite a bit, and my 'tiel usually goes with me.
On a recent trip to Minnesota, I was sitting out on the dock,
enjoying the sun.  (Of course I took her with me.)  I let her
out to enjoy the sun, and let me put it this way:
I probably have the only diving cockatiel in captivity.
-DanD

-- 
# Dan Duncan dand@turing.org     dand@cscns.com               
#  KD4IGW     dbd2x@virginia.edu   IRCNICK=Installer 
# "It is the disease of not listening which troubles me most."  -Shakespeare
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: bgt@cbnewsh.cb.att.com (barbara.tongue)
Subject: How BirdieIzed Are You?
Organization: AT&T
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1992 11:00:20 GMT
Keywords: every other conversation topic starts with b

folks,

hmmm, fyi, if you ever post to rec.pets.birds, substituting "birdies"
for birds just doesn't quite cut it.  i just discovered that.

but i digress.

yesterday i experienced a joy of joys - my new officemate at woik is
addicted to parrots also!  my last officemate couldn't understand the
baby birdie calendar, the pix of bartina hatching a lightbulb, and of
course my 'wil 'bil 'birrie angus laying upsidedown on my head.  can
you imagine, my last officemate didn't comprehend why i needed 4
shoe racks to build a birdie cage, or why indeed angus deserved a larger
living space!  "it's only a bird" i heard....oh, such ignorance which 
abounds in this world!!

which brings me to the next topic.  what is the extent that you will
bring your birdie into conversation at work or in social gatherings?
my co-workers are already used to the "i have to work at home this
evening because my birdie is lonely" routine, and my SO manfully
endures me bringing angus along on some outings (to broaden his
horizons of course.)  my folks ....well, my folks have bartina,
african grey extraordinare, hatcher of lightbulbs, eater of basset
hounds, etc., so angus is always a topic of conversation.

have to admit, it gets great responses.....
-- 
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
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%%       bgt@homxc.att.com       %%           PLEASE!!!!                   %%
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: zoetrope@cup.portal.com (Devan DzM MacFarlane)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Breeder Database
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 92 10:58:57 PDT
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
Distribution: world

Breeder Database

Description:

This database is (or will be) a collection of contact and species infor-
mation for breeders around the world. 

This database is for contact purposes only and is not intended as a 
"Classified" section for breeders to advertise in.

Distribution:

The database will be posted in its entirety every six months to 
rec.pets.birds. Each month any additions or deletions to the database 
will be posted to rec.pets.birds.

I do not plan on distributing the database via e-mail or via a 
mail-server (due to restrictions placed upon me by my site).

Submitting Information:

With each update a "blank" record will be included. This record is made 
up of contact fields separated by a two asterisks (or "stars" as most 
net people know them) ** and breeding fields separated by an asterisk 
and an ampersand (*&). To submit data, simply replace the field name 
with the contact information (leaving the stars and ampersands in place) 
and e-mail the record(s) to zoetrope@cup.portal.com. If there are too 
many or not enough fields provided for the birds bred feel free to cre-
ate or delete the fields as needed (be sure to include the *& and &* 
before and after each species).

  For example:

     "Blank"                              Filled

  **Company**                        **Bob's Budgies**
  **First.Name**Last.Name**          **Bob**Smith**
  **Street.and.Apartment**           **123 B Street, #2**
  **City**Sate**Zip**Country**       **San Jose**CA**95432**U.S.A.**
  **Phone**                          **(408) 245-1234**
  **FAX**                            **FAX**
  **Species.Bred1&*                  **Cockatiels&*
  *&Species.Bred2&*                  *&Budgies (English)&*
  *&Species.Bred3&*                  *&Pheasants (Golden)&*
  *&Species.Bred4&*

  This sample would look like this when posted to the net:

  Breeder:
    Bob's Budgies
    Bob Smith
    123 B Street, #2
    San Jose, CA 95432 U.S.A.
    (408) 245-1234

  Birds Bred:
    Cockatiels
    Budgies (English)
    Pheasants (Golden)

Errors in the Database:

There are bound to be problems with the information in the database. If 
you happen to find any errors in a record please let me know as soon as 
possible.

DzM
(408) 244-4145
zoetrope@cup.portal.com
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds