HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: bgt@cbnewsh.cb.att.com (barbara.tongue)
Subject: To Hand Feed or Not to Hand Feed (was: Re: hand fed)
Organization: AT&T
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1992 11:48:18 GMT
Summary: the above was written by shakespeare.  really!

In article <1992Sep29.200456.21112@pasteur.Berkeley.EDU> bhtongue@highlander.berkeley.edu (Benson H Tongue) writes:
->So if one would like a cockatoo that
->isn't so absolutely dependent on people as they 
->generally tend to be, do you think it might be optimal
->to let the parent birds raise the baby longer than is
->now usual? Might this retain the good qualities of the
->cockatoo but instill a bit more independence?

my immediate response would be no.  why?  i think that in the wild,
cockatoos are just as affectionate (to their flockMates and mateMates),
so you'd be left with a cockatoo who learned to bond/relate to another bird
and then lost that individual.  thus if they are nervous around people,
they might undergo stress at not finding an acceptable bondMate...

'course, i could be completely wrong, i have no real experience with the
above.

Points to keep in mind with attentionLoving birdies - can you include them
in your daily life more than normal?  when i go shopping on the 
weekends, i've been known to bring angus along (I clip a ferret
leash to his closedBand in case he flutters off) - i suppose i could
also bring him into work on the weekends.  (oh it's the birdLady!)
angus also travels extensively with me when i visit my SO or the
parental tongues, and i will take him to the store birdJungle for
other-birdie-interactions.

translated, he's spoiled rotten, but i love him.  :-)

anyone else have good ideas?
-- 
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
%%   The Speaking Tongue, AT&T   %%  C Code.  C Code Run.  Run, Code, RUN! %%
%%       bgt@homxc.att.com       %%           PLEASE!!!!                   %%
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: slybz@cc.usu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Why pellets?
Date: 5 Oct 92 11:20:22 MDT
Organization: Utah State University

In article <72996@apple.Apple.COM>, chuq@Apple.COM (Chuq Von Rospach) writes:
> Be aware that if you haven't converted your bird to pellets, you can Expect
> A Lecture. Pretty good one, too. (my birds are now all pelletized, and doing
> much better)

Ever since I've started reading this group, I've heard people extolling the
virtues of pelleted birdie food.  I'd never heard of or even seen pellets
before (I still haven't seen them!).  What do the poor birds who are left in
the wild do?  What do they eat?  Are they all chronically unhealthy because
they can't get pellets?

I've had my amazon for 15 years now.  It is one of the best looking birds I
have ever seen.  Its plumage is bright, its eyes are bright; the feathers are
all well-formed; and the bird is very active and curious all around.  This poor
bird has had nothing but a diet of lots of fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts and
sunflower seeds for all of its 15 years.  Why should I go to the expense and
bother of trying to change its diet now, when what it eats now seems to work
quite well?

Please don't take this as sarcasm or a flame, I truly do not understand,
especially when many of the posts I read on this group talk about birds eating
pizza, scrambled eggs and other foods I can't imagine would be terribly kind to
a bird's health, let along digestive system!

Thanks for any englightenment you can provide me!
Tanya
From: Mary.Kaye.Buchtel@bird.com (Mary Kaye Buchtel)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Re: STRANGE COLORED COCKATEIL
Date: 5 Oct 92 16:13:56 GMT


 > On closer inspection, I noticed that the male had small orange
 > feathers on his head.  They weren't noticeable, but definitely there.   

 > Is this a mutation?  The cockateils were fed just plain seed mix and
 > water-- no pigmentation-altering foods.  If I ever obtain ownership 
 > of this bird, what would be the best color to breed him to, to retain his 
 > odd coloration?

If you do obtain this bird, have him carefully checked out by an avian
veterinarian to ensure that he is sporting odd colored feathers due to a liver
disease or some other organ malfunction. His diet, as you describe it, is
criminally insufficent and combined with the stress of breeding could lead to
some very serious health problems. Once you are sure he is healthy and you have
been able to get him on a nutritionally balanced diet, there are protocols for
breeding to "set" a new mutation. You can get more information about this
techique by joining one of the Cockatiel clubs and learning about cockatiel
genetics. 
 
Just as they are on this bird, these stray orange feathers would be considered
a show fault. Exhibition cockatiels are not supposed to have their orange
patches "bleeding" into the grey areas.

Personally, I don't advocate exhibiting OR line-breeding, but thought I'd pass
on the info you seemed to be requesting. 




 * Origin: Bird Info Network Gateway 303-423-9775 (1:104/234)
From: Mary.Kaye.Buchtel@bird.com (Mary Kaye Buchtel)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Re: FULL SPECTRUM LIGHTING
Date: 5 Oct 92 16:02:40 GMT


 > that they installed fluorescent full spectrum lights. We also have 

Generally, the type of lighting favored by parrot breeders is a specific light
called Vita-Lights. These lights present the full spectrum equivalent to the
sun. They are a little more expensive than other lights, but are good for 3
years. They are flourescent. We bought shop light fixtures, installed Vita
Lights in them and then put them on timers so our birds get the correct amount
of daily full-spectrum light. In 10 years, we haven't ever had an egg-bound
hen, so I'm inclined to believe the lights are helping. If not, at least they
don't harm the birds!  We have found them in Lighting shops, but it is also
possible to mail order them thru ads found in Bird Talk Magazine.
 * Origin: Bird Info Network Gateway 303-423-9775 (1:104/234)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: aturudic@calvin.sbc.com (Andy Turudic)
Subject: weavers
Organization: Southwestern Bell Technology Resources, St.Louis, MO
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 92 16:54:47 GMT


My wife and I have various species of African Weaver Finches.

We'd like to get some contacts that sell these types of birds.

Anybody in birdland know of anybody who breeds or sells them?

Thanks for the help. Hopefully we can find some more for cheep (sic)!

Andy  


Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds,rec.music.misc
From: ajd@itl.itd.umich.edu (Arthur Delano)
Subject: Re: What is your birdies favorite type of music?
Keywords: music birdies
Organization: finchhaus
Date: Sun, 4 Oct 1992 05:11:21 GMT


I know that most of the responses i've seen state that their
birds like alternative music and stuff otherwise not often
played on the radio.

I don't know if the birds actually prefer it, but my finches
most often sing along to anything by Mission of Burma, My
Bloody Valentine, Aster Aweke, and in general anything with a
lot of loud high-frequencies or a lot of harmonic distortion.
I would like to try some Diamanda Galas on them some time.  It
would really make them jump.

The music doesn't have to be agitated.  The finches
also sing along to the Penguin Cafe Orchestra, Bob
Dylan, and any kind of sitar music.  Go figure.

AjD
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: jennifer warshaw <jen@waffle.sns.com>
Subject: full-spectrum light
Organization: Systems'n'Software, Fremont, CA  94539-6669
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 92 14:29:07 PDT

In reply to the question about full spectrum light
More than just causing the bird to maunfacture vitamin D3, full spectrum 
light has an effect on the birds pineal gland.  The pineal gland regulates 
appetite, weight and many glandular processes.  The pineal glan
is nicknamed the master gland because it seems to regulate all of
the other glands in the body.  When full spectrum (and careful
this is different from broad spectrum) light reaches your
bird's eye, it has some unknown effect on the pineal gland and
is very important to optimum health.  Most of the Veterinary journals
only comment on full spectrum light and the skins manufacture of vitamin D3
not that this isn't important but it is unfortunate that it is
rarely stressed how important this is.  Call a lighting store, I believe you 
can get a bulb and adapter for some incandescent fixtures.  
One prominent avian veterinarian reccomends a minimum of 3 hours
daily, though there is no research that can really say what is
ideal for pet birds exclusively.

Oh, and by the way, turn the light on when you are around, it has the exact 
same effects on humans.  I use a full-spectrum light when I work
in a cubicle, it improves my mood appreciably.  You can buy an inexpensive 
flourescent desk lamp too./s
?

----
jen@waffle.sns.com  (jennifer warshaw)
Systems'n'Software Free Public Access BBS --- (510)623-8652
From: billg@hpspdla.spd.HP.COM (Bill Gingras)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Re: LOOSE DROPPINGS
Date: 29 Sep 92 15:04:06 GMT
Organization: HP Stanford Park - Palo Alto, CA


I think green droppings in cockatiels is normal.  Can anyone else
confirm this?

- Bill G
From: minehart@iscsvax.uni.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Fruit Fly repellent results
Date: 6 Oct 92 17:14:16 -0500
Organization: University of Northern Iowa

I just have to tell everyone about the success (or lack thereof) I had in
getting rid of the fruit flies that had invaded our open kitchen/dining room
with Oscar's cage & fresh fruit/vegetables there all day.  

You may recall I mentioned that the only thing I'd figured out was leaving a
plastic bag with a little garbage in it open on the counter and then squashing
the gobs of fruit flies that gathered in it.

I appreciated the people who e-mailed me advice.  I tried to thank them each
individually and did all but Liz Snella (who actually answered on the news, I
guess).  Anyway, Liz's idea made perfect sense because we use the same kind of
trap in our barn -- put out a jar with sweet stuff in it and a funnel on top
(yes, I knew enuf to put the funnel pointing down into the jar ;^) ) and the
flies would crawl into the jar and not be able to figure out how to get out.  I
just KNEW it would work.  Well, after a week of that jar being there with three
different smelly, enticing (I thought) solutions, I'd collected ONE fruit fly.
My husband said, "It's because you've got other stuff around (insinuating I
leave crumbs & other messes around on the counter) that appeals to them more. 
I said, "Yeah, like the curtains??"  (There are always some hanging on the
curtains and cupboards and, no, I don't think they're THAT dirty that they're
coated with anything fruit flies would love.  Anyway, a couple of others
suggested the yellow strips you get that the flies stick to.  Well, I've had
three strips (they're non-toxic) up now for over a week and I think there may
be a dozen flies on all three strips.  

Meanwhile, I went back to my plastic-bag-smashing act and killed a lot more
that way, but I never got ahead of them.  However, a cold front must have put
the kabosh on them.  Suddenly within the last two days I haven't seen a one. 
Good riddance, I say.  :-}
From: Mary.Kaye.Buchtel@bird.com (Mary Kaye Buchtel)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Re: SHAMAN'S LATEST
Date: 5 Oct 92 16:06:01 GMT


 > That _is_ cute. I do hope, however, that you never give Shaman 
 > regular, caffeinated
 > coffee. Caffein is toxic to parrots...

As I stated at the beginning of the message, we use decaf. I suspect that even
that isn't all THAT great for her, so that is why she is limited in her intake.
However, I do not believe caffiene is toxic as in poisonous. I believe the
actual concern is the effect on the bird's heart rate. Birds metablolisms are
so much faster than our own, that any stimulant OR depressant, such as alchohol
can have devastaging effects very quickly.  Of course, when it comes to a bird
dropping over dead, it doesn't much matter if it was poison or a heart attack,
does it.
 * Origin: Bird Info Network Gateway 303-423-9775 (1:104/234)
From: chajek@qa1.WichitaKS.NCR.COM (chajek)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: LOOSE DROPPINGS
Keywords: LOOSE DROPPINGS
Date: 28 Sep 92 14:21:06 GMT
Reply-To: chajek@qa1.WichitaKS.NCR.COM ()
Organization: NCR Corporation, Wichita KS

Over the weekend I noticed that one of my cockatiels had very watery
droppings and one day it was green with clear liquid.  He had not
been eating greens that morning but the day before I had given him
a little mashed boiled egg.  That's the only thing I can pinpoint 
that may have caused his loose droppings.  I also feed Scenic pellets,
which I think is good (any comment?).  I just acquired a new cockatiel
from a neighbor.  The new cockatiel has been on an all-seed diet and
I noticed that his droppings are firm, colored good and the birds seems
to be healthy.  Does an all-seed diet make firmer droppings?  

The cockatiel with the watery droppings looks better today, and his 
droppings are not green anymore (only green for one-half day which
worried me).  His nose is not runny, his eyes are not red, swollen or
runny.  He seems to be "off" his food a little.  A book on cockatiels
I have suggests cammomile tea and spray millet for diahrea.  Any other
suggestions?  Tetracycline for three days?  Would that help?

Any suggestions would be appreciated.  (My new bird is quarantined, by
the way). 

Thanks.


P.S.  Last week, something was wrong with our rec.pets.birds news network.
      It was down all week.  Was there any response to my questions 
      about Gov't. Quarantine Stations.  The cost of Greys there and
      their availability.  Would like to hear from anyone who has
      had experience with birds from Quarantine.  Do they ever get
      babies?
From: Stephen.Ceideburg@f501.n914.z8.rbbs-net.ORG (Stephen Ceideburg)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Macaw (and Cockatoos)
Date: 30 Sep 92 16:30:00 GMT


BHT>volume. Now to the question. Do any of you owners out there
BHT>disagree? If you all agree, then there's not much to discuss.
BHT>But do some of you have counter experiences? Cuddly macaws or
BHT>cockatoos that don't want to be with their owners every hour
BHT>of the day. Macaws that relate to the whole family. Etc.
BHT>Thanks
BHT>Benson

     I have a greenwing macaw, a blue and gold macaw and a
 Moluccan cockatoo. The greenwing is my bird--or rather I'm his
 person. He will tolerate being handled by others if I'm not
 around but he *really* doesn't like it. The blue and gold is a
 cuddly little female who can be handled by just about anyone. She
 will bite if stressed out, but it's quite rare. The Mollucan is
 gentle--has never bitten anyone that I'm aware of and is not very
 destructive at all (compared to other cockatoos I've had) but
 would much rather be alone than in close proximity to other birds
 or people. She does like to cuddle, but only on her own terms.
 Unlike the other two parrots, she is a wild-caught female.

     I did have an domestic umbrella cockatoo who was *extremely*
 friendly. Anyone at all could handle him and he would happily go
 to anyone willing to pay attention to him. He talked up a storm
 and was quite a character to boot. When he reached sexual
 maturity though, he became extremely aggressive with anyone but
 me. He would attack suddenly and without warning with the full
 intention of killing whoever he was attacking.

     The upshot, I guess is that each bird has a distinct
 personality and that species specific generalizations are just
 that--generalizations. Having said that, I think if I was looking
 for an even-tempered, intelligent, personable and gregarious
 bird, I'd probably look mostly at very young blue and gold macaws.


 * SLMR 2.1a *           America needs more Canadians.

 * Origin: SeaHunt BBS, San Francisco (415-431-0473) (8:914/501)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: l670899@lmsc5.is.lmsc.lockheed.com (John Vierra)
Subject: Budgie Pellets?
Followup-To: rec.pets.birds
Organization: lockheed
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 92 21:12:52 GMT

Greetings all,

Are there such things as budgie pellets?  I have checked several different
pet/feed stores in the area and no one seems to have heard of them.

  I currently feed my little "gang members" a good nutritionally fortified
budgie seed mix, millet sprays, chopped fruits & vegetables, and a vitamin
supplement in their water.  I thought that pellets might give them a break
from the seeds and add a little more variety to their diets.

If there are such a thing as budgie pellets, please, someone drop me a line
and let me know the manufacturer, or better yet,  information on their
availability in the bay area.

Thanks in advance!

*******************************************************************************
John Vierra                            "A tense office is a productive    
*
* (ph) 408/743-0143                       office".                         
 *
* (FX) 408/742-2563                                        - V. A. Madrid  
 *
* id L670899@lmsc5.is.lmsc.lockheed.com                                    
 *
******************************************************************************
From: chuq@Apple.COM (Chuq Von Rospach)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Re: Avian vets in Palo Alto, CA
Date: 2 Oct 92 15:46:30 GMT
Organization: Apple Computer Inc., Cupertino, CA

slybz@cc.usu.edu writes:

>Can someone recommend a good avian (Amazon) vet in the Palo Alto, CA vicinity? 

Fern Van Sant. Her practice is For the Birds, avian only. She has offices in
both Menlo Park and Los Gatos. I don't have the Menlo Park number handy, but
call them in Los Gatos (408-354-1739) and they can clue you in.

She's not only been wonderful with my birds, but the breeders I know who
have results I get jealous over all swear by her. 

Be aware that if you haven't converted your bird to pellets, you can Expect
A Lecture. Pretty good one, too. (my birds are now all pelletized, and doing
much better)

-- 
Chuq "IMHO" Von Rospach, ESD Support & Training (DAL/AUX) =+= Member, SFWA
  chuq@apple.com | GEnie: MAC.BIGOT | ALink:CHUQ =+= Editor, OtherRealms
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: shd2611@carson.u.washington.edu (Sarah Demun)
Subject: Need Home for 2 Parakeets
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle
Distribution: seattle
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1992 22:14:21 GMT

FREE!
	I have two parakeets/budgies(green and yellow) that were abandoned by
their previous owner.  I've been trying to take as good care of them as
possible for the past year but I have two cats, a 18 month old child, and a
full time job..needless to say these birds have lived a limited life.  If
you have a soft spot for orphaned bird (one has pulled it's breast feathers
out...and I don't know why) that need some TLC you can have them for free
(with cage even!). Please contact me by e-mail at sdh2611@u.washington.edu. 

Sarah DeMun
From: chuq@Apple.COM (Chuq Von Rospach)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Re: The Joys of Large Birdies (was: Re: Macaw (and Cockatoos))
Date: 1 Oct 92 21:58:01 GMT
Organization: Apple Computer Inc., Cupertino, CA

bgt@cbnewsh.cb.att.com (barbara.tongue) writes:

>i was considering a cockatoo, but the
>allergy warnings 
>is the dust really that bad?

Cockatoos generate a LOT of dust. Plan on buying a good vacuum and hiring a
housekeeper (unless you like dusting). I've got a couple of friends who are
seriously alergic to the dust, but I also know folks who stop breathing
around cats and/or dogs who have no trouble. It all depends.

>y'all know about that lovelorn
><ESC> key residing on my keyboard, and Angus' neverEnding Passion
>and Desire (TM) for it.

Morgan, bless her, has figured out that trackballs roll, and that this is
great fun. Unless, of course  daddy is working and needs the cursor in a
specific location....

-- 
Chuq "IMHO" Von Rospach, ESD Support & Training (DAL/AUX) =+= Member, SFWA
  chuq@apple.com | GEnie: MAC.BIGOT | ALink:CHUQ =+= Editor, OtherRealms
From: ammg2052@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Aaron M. Moy)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: RE: the "found" umbrella cockatoo
Date: 1 Oct 92 22:01:03 GMT
Article-I.D.: news.BvGqHv.HIC
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana

Regarding the pet store owner's story in Brenner's cockatoo post:

Doesn't it seem a little fishy that the Umbrella would suddenly fly into a
pickup truck?  Wouldn't anyone who lost such a valuable bird scour the area
looking for it?

Just curious...  
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: wiegand@rtsg.mot.com (Robert Wiegand)
Subject: Re: Jet travel with my macaw
Reply-To: motcid!wiegand@uunet.uu.net
Organization: Motorola Inc., Cellular Infrastructure Group
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1992 15:09:46 GMT

melton@skat.usc.edu (Mike Melton) writes:


>Hey, birdpeople!

>About three months ago I moved to sunny California, and I anticipate
>that at Christmas time I still will not know of anyone that I can
>trust with my bird. I won't board him, either. So, I want to take him
>with me on my Christmas travels. I already have a cat-sized carrier,
>which I intend to use to carry him on the plane. Does anyone have
>any hints? I will be in Chicago, so I am a little concerned about the
>cold too. What about on the plane? Can I remove him from the carrier
>to feed and water him? Will changes in pressure hurt him? Will he
>screech until they thow us both out of the plane at 10K feet?

>Mike,
>Worry Wart

First - check with the airline. The policy on taking animals onto the
plane varies from airline to airline.

I don't expect them to let you remove the bird from the cage.
You will probibly have to feed him through the cage bars
I would suggest bringing something like grapes for him to eat so you
can avoid giving him water which can spill.

I don't think the flight will hurt him. How he will react to it depends
on his personality, I can't answer that.

You should carry a blanket to cover the cage if you have to take it
outside in Chicago, and try not to stay outside too long.

And of course do NOT put him through the X-ray machines in the airport.


-- 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert Wiegand - Motorola Inc.
motcid!wiegand@uunet.uu.net            uunet!motcid!wiegand
Disclamer: I didn't do it - I was somewhere else at the time.
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds