HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: melton@skat.usc.edu (Mike Melton)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Re: Travel
Date: 23 Jul 1992 09:33:00 -0700
Organization: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
NNTP-Posting-Host: skat.usc.edu

In article <1992Jul23.001358.2352@cbnewsl.cb.att.com> ed@cbnewsl.cb.att.com (edward.m.hummel) writes:
>anyway, the real reason i'm writing is to ask about travel cages.  i am
>going to the shore in august, and fred is coming with me.  in bird talk
>they have adds for those folding cages and i was wondering if they are
>worth the money.  is it going to fold close while my bird is inside,
>or are they safe?


Kristin:

I purchased one of those cages specifically for a move I made from Dallas
to LA. I stuck Jupiter, my macaw, in it without the perch, strapped it into
the front passenger seat of my truck, and set off. Everything was a-okay.
I removed the wooden perch because Jupiter has a tendency to fall off if
jostled. This forced him to cling to the side or top of the cage for most
of the trip. Occasionally, I'd open the door and let him climb around the
cab. At filling stations, I closed up the cab entirely to avoid any fumes.
Jupiter seemed to love the trip. The last day, instead of clinging to the
side of the cage closest to me, he clung to the side closest to the passenger
door and looked out the window for the rest of the trip. Now, whenever I
handle the travelling cage in any way, Jupiter puffs up and starts chirping.
The cage worked well for me, but it was rather on the expensive side. The
cage locks effectively, and, in fact, quite resists folding.

Mike
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Re: How to Tame Parakeets?
From: sbishop@desire.wright.edu
Date: 29 Jul 92 13:07:32 EST
Organization: Wright State University 

In article <1992Jul28.002620.29919@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU>, kaw4t@fulton.seas.Virginia.EDU (Kent A. Watsen) writes:
> Scott A. Steinbrink writes:
>>SI'm the proud owner of 4 parakeets - only ONE of them will let me pet her,
>>or perch on my finger -- the other three just flies away -- Sometimes I had
>>to catch three when it's time for them to go to bed -- I even tried taking
>>one by one to the bathroom and try handtaming them - it doesn't work.
>>
>>ANy suggestions?
> 
> I am not an expert here, but I purchased a parakeet two days ago. He
> came as an adult from the pet store so I am not sure if he received
> any training (doubtful).  I find myself able to hold my index finger
> in front of him down by his feet.  If I move it toward him so that I
> am touching his chest by his feet, he will step onto my finger.
> 
> I have a couple of questions as well. What sort of care must I give
> when it comes to clipping his nails (special scissors?) and room 
> temperature? Also, what sort of training/tricks can parakeet do?

I use regular nail clippers to trim my 'keet.  Works fine.  Actually
my bird trims his own toenails, bites them off very neatly.

Parakeets can learn lots of tricks.  A friend's daughter taught hers to
wear a sombrero (from a Barbie doll) and to play dead.  Ours will make
a zipper noise if you zip something anywhere near enough for him to hear
it.  He also has made the connection between biting and yelling Ouch.  
So now he bites me and THEN yells OUCH!  

Sue
From: Rick.Kravette@bird.com (Rick Kravette)
Sender: FredMail@bird.com
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Re: DREAM BIRDS (WAS: RE: MEALY A
Date: 26 Jul 92  11:12:33 EST

Any ideas of where I can get a hyacinth in So California
at a cheap(reasonable price)
 * Origin: Bird Info Network Gateway 303-423-9775 (1:104/234)
From: dwb@apple.com (David W. Berry)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Re: Help (again) with sister's blue-front
Date: 20 Jul 92 23:10:29 GMT
     <1992Jul15.094412.673@galaxy.gov.bc.ca>
Organization: Greenwing Enterprises
X-UserAgent: Nuntius v1.1

In article <1992Jul13.145021.14410@cbnewsk.cb.att.com> joyce.l.king,
king@cbnewsk.cb.att.com writes:
>The vet tech insisted that the bill needed cutting and took Madiera
>off to the back.  Almost an hour later, the tech brought the bird
1.  I've kept parrots for about 10 years now.  We've had upwards of 20
for about 3 years now (we started breeding them.)  In that time we've
never had a bird that needed it's beak trimmed.  If a tech says the it
needs it, examine the bird and see if the beak is hampering the bird
in anyway.  Before you let the surgery proceed, talk to the vet about
it.  Remember, you're the one in control here, not the vet and certainly
not the tech.  While most vets care very much about the animals they
treat, they all have blind spots.

>You bird folks talk about "Bird Talk" magazine.  My sister is really 
>in love with this bird and wants to be the best bird owner she can. 
Would
>a gift subscription to this magazine be useful?  My sister has a birthday
>coming up....
2.  This is truly the best of the lot.  We've tried several other bird
magazines, but this is the only one we consistently devour from 
cover-to-cover as soon as it arrives.  Sounds like a wonderful birthday 
present to me.
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: dougnews@access.digex.com (Doug Humphrey)
Subject: Re: tiel's nails
Organization: Express Access Public Access UNIX, Greenbelt, Maryland
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1992 17:28:16 GMT

I don't know how well it will work for a 'tiel, 
but the Umbrella Cockatoo whose nails I do all 
the time *hates* having them cut, but will 
gladly let you use a nail file to blunt them and 
trim them down; she likes all of the attention!

If you do it this way, it is best to make sure that
you don't just blunt them, but that you reduce the
length as much as you would with clippers, since 
the object is not only to get rid of the sharpness, 
but also to shorten the whole nail.  If you just blunt
them, it is my experience (mainly with dogs nails, 
but some with big birds) that the nail will get longer,
and the blood vessel in the nail will get longer, and
that when it all gets too long and you finally DO cut 
it with clippers, there will be a major blood vessel
hit.  Messy, and not fun for the birdo.  

Doug

-- 
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: mfey@cco.caltech.edu (Mark P. Fey)
Subject: Re: tiel's nails
Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 22:38:39 GMT

susan@solace.me.uiuc.edu (Susan Wrightson) writes:

>In article <cdbs02b=1a5v01@JUTS.ccc.amdahl.com> deb90@JUTS.ccc.amdahl.com (David E Ben-Jamin) writes:
>>
>>As above.  I'm new to birds, I'm new to this group, so
>>forgive if this is a FAQ.  How important is clipping
>>my cockatiel`s nails?  When do you know when it's 
>>time?  Thanks for any and all help.

>Oh, when his nails have become sharp enough to scratch your hands.  It's
>fairly important, because the nails do get ragged and can get caught
>on things.

My cockatoo bites her nails, so they never grow very long. It also
keeps the ends nice and rounded! Does anybody else's bird do this?

Kate
From: Molli.Struebing@bird.com (Molli Struebing)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Re: MATERIALS FOR BIRD TOYS
Date: 22 Jul 92 04:51:01 GMT

You can get thick cotton rope at your local building supply place. 
 * Origin: Bird Info Network Gateway 303-423-9775 (1:104/234)
From: Debbie.Kesling@bird.com (Debbie Kesling)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Re: HELP (AGAIN) WITH SISTER'S BLUE-F
Date: 21 Jul 92 05:46:10 GMT

Hmmm...  That sounds like the technique of a certain vet I know in the Cinci
area...  I wouldn't take a ROCK to him!!
 * Origin: Bird Info Network Gateway 303-423-9775 (1:104/234)
From: dbwebe@bb1t.monsanto.com
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: New 'Tiel
Date: 29 Jul 92 09:12:38 CST
Organization: Monsanto Company, St. Louis, MO





HI! I'm new to the newsgroup and had a couple of questions
about my new cockatiel. They are such cool birds! Mine I
*think* is a female and is ~7 months old. She is very tame,
follows me everywhere already (her wings are clipped so she
either glides or hoofs it) and loves broccoli. We have a super
3 perch cage for her, and she is always climbing up to her attic
and back down to check out her toys or food. We also made a 
'portable perch' for her (complete with a box at the bottom to 
catch, er, accidents) so that she can be in whatever room we are.
I have read a couple of books on 'tiels, but have yet to find out:
how long do they live?
She doesn't talk *a lot*, but will call to me right after I leave
the room she's in. I have started teaching her to talk by repeating
short phrases to her. She seems to be able to repeat the correct
number of syllables back to me, but what she is saying doesn't sound
at all like words. Is this the first phase of response they go through?
I assume eventually, her words will become more and more clear? And
finally (this is what I'm MOST curious about), if I talk to her long
enough (at close range) she makes this noise which can best be described
as static (?). She just does it a little at first, then when she really
gets going it's like a constant noise. At first I thought she might be
getting aggravated (well, the noise sure was annoying ME!) but I noticed
she doesn't seem to want me to go away when she's doing this. She is
really looking at me intently and will stand as close to me as she can.
She did this again last night, so I left her, but she came waddling after
me until I started talking to her again. Has anyone seen this before?
It's pretty odd.

Anyway, thanks in advance for any help or insight!

Debbie 






















Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: wood-smithc@vaxb.gbus.virginia.edu (Chrissi Wood-Smith)
Subject: Cockatiel
Summary: Cockatiel that will not be quiet
Keywords: squaker
Organization: Darden Center, University of Virginia
Distribution: ALL
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1992 17:28:35 GMT

	HELP!

	Can anyone provide me any suggestions as how to silence by adorable 
cockatiel.  I hand fed him for his last few weeks before weaning.  He was 
three years old December 24 of this past year.  He is spoiled, I must admit, 
but he is driving me nuts.  If I don't take him immediately when I get home 
he squaks and won't shut up.  My amazon has even taken to telling Dante (the 
cockatiel) to "SHUT UP, DANTE!" on a regular basis.

	Generally, if I verbally reprimand him he is quiet for awhile... but 
then...Punishment is a covered cage for 15 minutes.  The problem is 
partially that he gets so excited about things (like crumpling paper in the 
kitchen).  When I am home he is loose on his play pen (he is clipped). 

	Any suggestions as to how to handle the bird would be appreciated.  
My boyfriend is ready to disown Dante.
	
	Thanks Chrissi
From: wood-smithc@vaxb.gbus.virginia.edu (Chrissi Wood-Smith)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: telephoning birds!!
Date: 27 Jul 92 13:35:55 GMT
Organization: Darden Center, University of Virginia

Yes , I call by amazon and cockatiel all the time and they love it.  I can 
leave a message then monitor the room for their response.  They always 
respond with a "Hello Chrissi" or "Pretty Bird". It's adorable.  Everyone 
should try it if they have an answering machine.  It certainly breaks up the 
monotony of a day for my feathered friends!!
From: rjg@umnstat.stat.umn.edu (Robert J. Granvin)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Re: Bird Dreams
Date: 30 Jul 92 16:34:49 GMT
Organization: School of Statistics, University of Minnesota

|> > Hey, there's an idea, do birds dream?
|> 
|> On more than one ocassion my wife & I have woken in the middle of the
|> night to 
|> 
|> "SQUAAAAWK!" "THUNK" Climb climb climb. (A 450 gram parrot can make
|> quite a "THUNK" in the middle of the night, hitting the bottom of the
|> cage).

That's one of the wonderful things about birds - they don't embarass
easily.  Fall off the perch?  Big deal.  Just climb back up.

(Plus they don't scream and whine when they fall down and skin their
knees... Maybe kids can learn from birds...?  :-)

-- 
Robert J. Granvin                                       School of Statistics
rjg@umnstat.stat.umn.edu                             University of Minnesota
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: excited@med.unc.edu (Wally German)
Subject: Re: New 'Tiel
Organization: UNC-CH School of Medicine
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 1992 19:00:38 GMT

In article <1992Jul29.091239.4321@bb1t.monsanto.com> dbwebe@bb1t.monsanto.com writes:
>
>
>K>how long do they live?

If you continue to take such good care of her she could conceivably
live 30 or more years.

>Is this the first phase of response they go through?

Yes...you are beginning to make headway.  Although females aren't as
good at talking as the male they can be taught to talk.

>She did this again last night, so I left her, but she came waddling after
>me until I started talking to her again. Has anyone seen this before?

Yes!  I have seen this type of behavior before.  She obviously wasn't
finished "talking to you".  Be cautious that you don't reward her for
the annoying noise.  This could easily become a game for her to play
that would end up annoying you even moreso.  You were correct to walk
away from her but possibly by putting her on your finger and putting
her into her cage before walking away will provide her with positive
reinforcement that the lesson was over.

DISCLAIMER:  I am *NOT* a professional.  I own four cockatiels and have
             enjoyed their antics on enough occasions to know what to do
             and what not to do.
From: crocker@adobe.com (Kim Crocker)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Finches
Date: 30 Jul 92 19:28:45 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Adobe Systems, Inc.

We have just recently gotten 4 new finches we've never had finches before and 
I have a couple of questions please forgive me if these are FAQ's.  We got
2 males and 2 females.  The day after we got them when they seemed to be
getting along fine we noticed that one of the males looked pretty beat up
he was missing many feathers on his back and underside.  So we took him 
out of the cage and called the pet store.  They said they would give us
another male and to come down and get it.  So while there they said it
might help if we got some nests for them that they may have paired off
and wanted a place to do their thing.  So we got a bigger more aggressive
male and two nests and went on our way.  It is now almost 2 weeks later 
and now the new male had to be taken out of the cage and seperated because
they did the same thing to him.

Is this normal finch behavior?  Is there anything that can be done to stop 
them and get them to co mingle?  Is it normal for all the finches to go
into one nest and not seperate into pairs and go into one nest per pair?

Thank you
KC
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: yasin@laser.dev.cdx.mot.com (Yasin)
Subject: Procedure to bring a pet bird in USA.
Organization: MOTOROLA 
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1992 18:42:58 GMT
Keywords: Immigration for birds.

May be this is a FAQ, but can any body please post
the procedure to bring couple of Maynas or Parrots
from an Asian country into USA. Is it worth it?
The reason for bringing these birds is that it
is hard to buy a talking bird in my native language.
With small children in my family I have to start my
bird keeping adventure with friendly, trained bird.


Any input on this will be greatly appreciated.

Yasin.
From: dowzycki@andromeda.rutgers.edu (Ken Dowzycki)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: posting to this newsgroup
Date: 29 Jul 92 14:36:54 GMT
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.



   If anyone can see this posting, please, please, contact me
either as a follow up or by e-mail.  I can't seem to get through
to any newsgroups.

   This is being posted on July 29, 10:40 AM, EST

If you would be so kind to reply please include the date and
time you are reading this.  Thank you.


Email    dowzycki@andromeda.rutgers.edu
From: mmorgan@ky31.ecn.purdue.edu (Mark T Morgan)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Re: Rusty bird cage - HELP!
Date: 31 Jul 92 17:48:00 GMT
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network

In article <1992Jul31.085315.1@gallua.gallaudet.edu> mawells@gallua.gallaudet.edu writes:
>I have a cage that has rust on the sides.  We moved a few months ago and the
>cage was left on an unenclosed porch.  Is there anything I do to get rid of the
>rust and "repaint" and still be safe for the birds.  I hate to get rid of the
>cage because other than that it is still usable (and a large size - expensive).
>
>I know that lead based paint is bad (for everyone) so I'm not sure what to get
>or how to clean the cage before.  Any advise would be greatly appreciated.
>
>Mary Ann
>
>Don't count the day done until you've made the day count.

At the Midwest Avian Research Expo, in KY on July 11 & 12th, one
of the presenters mentioned that they paint all of their cages
black with Rustoleum paint.  Of course this is the nontoxic,
no-lead Rustoleum.  

Steel wool will probably remove enough of the rust so you can
put a decent finish on it.

Just for your info, This person said they paint the cages black
so that the bars don't reflect a lot of light and the bird
doesn't have to stare through shiny white or chrome bars all
day.  This sounds reasonable to me.

Mark
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: ajd@itl.itd.umich.edu (Arthur Delano)
Subject: Re: Finches
Organization: Here they are
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1992 20:21:09 GMT

In article <1992Jul30.192845.17637@adobe.com> crocker@adobe.com (Kim Crocker) writes:
>and wanted a place to do their thing.  So we got a bigger more aggressive
>male and two nests and went on our way.  It is now almost 2 weeks later 
>and now the new male had to be taken out of the cage and seperated because
>they did the same thing to him.
>
>Is this normal finch behavior?  Is there anything that can be done to stop 
>them and get them to co mingle?  Is it normal for all the finches to go
>into one nest and not seperate into pairs and go into one nest per pair?

We have six finches (four society finches, two zebra finches), and the
zebra finches would continually beat on the society finches.  The female
z.finch, in particular, was very aggressive.  We removed the z. finches
and put them in a smaller, seperate cage for a couple of days, and that
calmed them down.

The fighting might be for territory -- even if they have paired off, they
will fight for the upper perches.  There are a couple things which
help minimize their aggressiveness.  Place a perch very close to each
nest (or vice versa).  The fighting is partly in defense of the nests,
and if they can't stay close to the nests, they seem to prefer to defend
a greater amount of territory on the perch nearest the nest.  Provide
nesting materials.  Our finches seem to prefer unravelled twine.  They
seem to prefer grooming their nests than fighting for them, and keeping
the birds occupied this way is good.  Hanging a little mirror near a perch
will keep the birds busy fighting imaginary enemies rather than each
other.

It is also possible their cage is too small.  I don't know why they fight
when cooped up, but they do.  The only solution to that is a larger cage.
We got one that's 6 cubic feet -- a real find, as it was used and cheap.
New, they're pretty expensive.

As for why they all pile into one nest, if i knew why they did that, then
i wouldn't wonder why my society finches do it.  They spend much of the
day grooming one nest, but at night they all cram into the other.  As
much as i love my birds, i have to admit that they're stupid little twits.

AjD
From: billg@hpspdla.spd.HP.COM (Bill Gingras)
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1992 15:01:29 GMT
Subject: Re: Rope Toys Disclaimer
Organization: HP Stanford Park - Palo Alto, CA
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds


i
Plastic spray can tops?  I would think you'd want to stay away from
plastic parts that weren't specifically designed for bird toys.  What if
the plastic is toxic or splinters easily?

Also, concerning the post from the person who said finches are DIM, I
once had a ricebird ("Little Bird") who used to hang on his bell,
swinging it around for HOURS at a time.  I buried that bell with him
when he died.  I also had a white-hooded nun that would amuse himself
playing with a toy called a "twirl."  Don't be so hard on finches.
They're the coolest of birds :-).

- Bill G
From: psylum@ubvm.cc.buffalo.edu (Jan Hastrup)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: budgie molting -- stress-induced?
Keywords: molting; causes
Date: 26 Jul 92 21:22:00 GMT
Organization: University at Buffalo
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

My three budgies have a temporary cockatiel guest for two weeks.
One of the keets seems curious and interested in the visiting
tiel and will ride on my shoulder over to the tiel's cage, but
the other two are keeping their distance.  The tiel
also talks/whistles/chortles constantly unless it's dark or his
cage is covered.  (Well, that's just the way tiels are, right?)

One of the keets who is somewhat afraid of the tiel also started
a heavy-duty molt the day after the tiel's arrival.  Could this
be stress- or noise-related?  The other two are molting a little 
more than usual too, even the one who seems interested/not afraid.

The species are in separate cages about 6' apart,
and only one species has been allowed out to play at a time. 
They do not land on or go near each other's cages by themselves.  

If the molting's
a stress-thing, maybe I should separate them further?  We've got
another week to go.  Sommer (the chief molter) has lots and lots
of spare feathers apparently, because he doesn't look much 
different.  But the bottom of the cage could have filled a nice
birdy pillow.  (They're so cute when they tuck their heads under
their wings, though, who needs a pillow . . .) 

What things/temperatures/etc. usually trigger molting in keets
and other wonderful feathered flying lizard-folks?
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: hawk@oakhill.sps.mot.com (George Hawkins)
Subject: Death of my pet
Organization: Motorola Inc., Austin, Texas
Distribution: na
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1992 18:12:00 GMT
From: mawells@gallua.gallaudet.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Rusty bird cage - HELP!
Date: 31 Jul 92 13:53:15 GMT
Organization: Gallaudet University

I have a cage that has rust on the sides.  We moved a few months ago and the
cage was left on an unenclosed porch.  Is there anything I do to get rid of the
rust and "repaint" and still be safe for the birds.  I hate to get rid of the
cage because other than that it is still usable (and a large size - expensive).

I know that lead based paint is bad (for everyone) so I'm not sure what to get
or how to clean the cage before.  Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Mary Ann

Don't count the day done until you've made the day count.
From: nih00@ccc.amdahl.com (Neil Hamilton)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Bird Marts/Finches
Date: 22 Jul 92 15:03:59 GMT
Reply-To: nih00@juts.ccc.amdahl.com ()
Distribution: ba
Organization: Amdahl Corporation, Sunnyvale CA

Earlier this year I attended several "Bird Marts" in the
San Francisco Bay area.  I would like to attend some more
but don't know where to find information about where and 
when they are being held.  If anyone out there knows where
I might find this information or can tell me about upcoming
events I would appreciate it.

I am interested in finding some finch breeders in the area
so I would also be interested in any help I can get.

Neil
nih00@uts.amdahl.com
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds