HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: jegm@cody.esd.sgi.com (Jim Morris)
Subject: Re: Little birdie minds
Keywords: their little ideas of levitation
Reply-To: jegm@esd.sgi.com
Organization: Silicon Graphics, Inc.
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 19:13:05 GMT

In article <1992Oct9.111415.8673@cbnewsh.cb.att.com>, bgt@cbnewsh.cb.att.com (barbara.tongue) writes:
|> folks,
|> 
|> is my yellowCollared macaw, angus, the only birdie who convinced that
|> he can levitate grapes on my computer desk?
|> 
|> there's all this space on which he can chomp happily on the grapes, but
|> *always!* he insists on hewing on them over the ledge.  and then when
|> they go "bonk!" on floor two feet below, he looks worriedly at the desk,
|> wondering i guess why the invisible part next to it isn't solid....
|> 

I'm convinced both my Macaws would starve to death in the wild, I mean they
are such klutzes (sp?). Nearly all their food ends up on the floor, and I'm
continually picking it up for them!!

Of course my dogs think this is great!!! More food for them.
-- 
Jim Morris, Email: jegm@esd.sgi.com  Voice: (415) 390-5136
From: Polly.Goldman@f615.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Polly Goldman)
Sender: Uucp@blkcat.UUCP
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: In defense of American Keets
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 22:46:50 -0500

 KD> Does anybody out there breed budgies (parakeets).  I am interested in
 KD> English Budgies at this time.  They were in a cage with an American
 KD> parakeet for 3 years but she was so nasty and aggressive.  Maybe because
 KD> she was dwarfed.  
  
Actually, it's your English Budgies who are giants, and your American parakeet
was *normal* size!  Bird Talk ran an explanation about a year ago about how the
English budgie was bred for large size and the ability to sit docilely on a show
perch.  So your American budgie was normal (I had one who bullied my cockatiel),
and your English budgies are oversized perch potatos (but I'm sure you love them
anyway :) ).
From: melton@skat.usc.edu (Mike Melton)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Bird-down-the-shirt (Was: A Tale of One Beak)
Date: 7 Oct 1992 12:55:04 -0700
Organization: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
NNTP-Posting-Host: skat.usc.edu


Funny, my macaw, Jupiter, has just last week discovered how fun it is
to hang from my t-shirt collar and dive in. He wiggles down the inside
of my shirt, making these odd mutterings to himself, and then emerges
from bottom hem, chuckling to himself. It's currently his favorite
game. It is quite funny to witness. Sometimes, before he dives down,
he looks into my eyes, contracts the pupils of his own, and hisses
demonically. I do not dare deny him his pleasure!

Mike
From: brackney@author.ecn.purdue.edu (Larry J Brackney)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Re: African Grey Congos and Mynahs
Date: 14 Oct 92 03:45:11 GMT
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network

In article <1992Oct14.022609.11475@ra.msstate.edu> Moritz@cvmmdl2.msstate.edu (K.Moritz) writes:

   Stuff about nasty store deleted...

>What do you all think I should do?  I don't know how to approach these
>people.  They have had cockatiels for sale that don't look much
>better but atleast they don't stay there long, before being sold.
>I've seen better, healthier animals at Walmart, Honestly!!! (the 
>Walmart here isn't nearly as bad as some, they have a resident
>boa constrictor and blue-fronted amazon.  Both are healthy, alert
>and active)

   My wife and I have had similar experiences in Lafayette with poor
conditions in some pet stores.  Your first course of action is to
complain to the manager.  Give it a week or so, then check back.  If things
are no better, move to step two - call the local humane society office and
register a complaint.  Chances are, that if it's really a "bad" store,
other complaints will have been filed.  Believe it or not, these agencies
DO keep complaint records, and follow up occasionally.  Don't expect any
miracles though.

   Finally, the course my wife and I have had to adopt with respect to
a couple stores - don't go there AT ALL.  The cold truth is that we can't
solve all the world's problems.  There is no way my wife and I could
house all of the birds we've wanted to "rescue" from circumstances
such as this.  You just can't do it though.  (Unless you work for a
zoo or something!)  The best you can do, is to spare yourself the
heartache.  (And it does hurt, I know!)  Take heart that for every
rotten store, there are lots of good stores, breeders, and homes
for animals.  The important thing is to realize, realistically, what
you can control or change.

   For those that think I'm being a cold bastard, and need a bit of flame
to warm me up - I'll tell you this.  My wife and I worked VERY hard to
make some changes at a local store for a long time, and got nowhere.  (I'll
tell specific stories if anyone cares, but it'll ruin your day. :( )

   I'm curious about that Walmart.  I have yet to see a Walmart, or
any discount store for that matter, that had clue one about pets.  They
must have some dedicated individuals working for them.

   Keep the faith.

   - larry

--
/  Larry J. Brackney      | E-Mail: brackney@mn.ecn.purdue.edu              \ 
|-------------------------| S-Mail: 3116 Hilltop Dr.  W. Lafayette IN  47906 |
|  Mechanical Engineering | Phone : (317)-463-1602 (Home)                    |
\  Purdue University      |         (317)-494-6552 (Office)                 /
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: brekshyn@shearson.com (Bohdan Rekshynskyj)
Subject: Re: Cockatoo losing feathers
Reply-To: brekshyn@shearson.com
Organization: Lehman Brothers, Inc.
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1992 20:49:46 GMT

SQUAWK!

It sounds like feather-picking syndrome to me.  It can be physiological or
psychological.  Take him to the vet and run some tests (and support your vet's
next expensive dinner).  My red-vent cockatoo did not have any feathers around
his neck and part of his chest when I bought him (but a loveable disposition!).
He still doesn't but I think he pulled the quill roots (whatever they are called)
out so they won't grow anymore.  Sigh.  Now I'm looking for a female red-vent
for him.


					Bohdan



=====================================================================
 
Bohdan Peter Rekshynskyj
 
Consultant                     
 
Compuserve:  72576.1754@compuserve.com


                              
All promulgations are my own.  No corporate entity has authorization
to represent me.
 
Imprimatur.						Nihil obstat.
 
=====================================================================

In article 163912U59849@uicvm.uic.edu, <U59849@uicvm.uic.edu> () writes:
>My male cockatoo is losing his feathers around his neck and lower jaw.  The
>female is perfectly fine.  They both seem healthy and playful like usual.
>And continue to sing when ever their cage is uncovered.  What can be causing
>him to lose his feathers and can I do something before their all gone.
>
>Desparate!
>
>THANKS



Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: oday@lobster.gsfc.nasa.gov  (Orin Day)
Subject: Re: Bird-down-the-shirt (Was: A Tale of One Beak)
Reply-To: oday@lobster.gsfc.nasa.gov  (Orin Day)
Organization: Goddard Space Flight Center
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1992 20:21:57 GMT


My quaker also gets to play this game - he is often caught
sitting, unsuspecting, on my knee, when he is suddenly
engulfed by a sweatshirt and must find his way out.  He always
heads up and usually out the neck-hole (which I hold open for
him) but about 1/3 of the time he tries to get out via the
sleeve, where there is no vacancy for a parrot, so his course
is "corrected" :)

--
* "In 27 years of marriage, Todd never noticed Marie's tentacle" *
Orin Day, Code 664.1                    oday@lobster.gsfc.nasa.gov
Hughes STX/NASA       GSFC Laboratory for High Energy Astrophysics
*******"Think that this is NASA's opinion?   NO, NO, NO!!!" ******
From: shazam@drycas.club.cc.cmu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: African Grey Congos and Mynahs
Date: 13 Oct 92 19:28:19 -0500
Organization: Carnegie Mellon Computer Club

Well, first of all, I have never owned a Mynah, but I do own an African
Grey Congo.  I have been around two talking Mynah birds.  The first was
in a small pet shop located in a Yard and Garden shop i frequently
visited with my grandfather, Papa.  Papa would go buy plants or fertilizer
or whatever, and I would run as fast as my legs would carry me to the
pet store portion of the place.  I loved it!  One day I went in
and I was looking at a monkey.  I heard someone say "Hellloooo."
I looked around and saw no one.  I turned back to the monkey and I heard
"Helloooo, My name is Allllllen.  What's yours?"  I saw this plain
looking black bird with an orange beak.  I fell in love with the
first tlaking bird I had ever seen.  We started actuallytalking
and this bird was really answering me.  My grandmother walked up and
I told her I was going to ask the guy how much he was.  Allen
laughed hysterically!  And when I asked, they said, sorrry he is
not for sale.

The next Mynah I saw a couple of years ago in a pet store in
Columbus, MS that I would not even buy seed from.  He looked
very healthy and was a good talker to, but was just learning.

Mynah's are very plain talkers.  But I have to disagree about
their being as plain as Greys.  Greys are also know for their abilty
to mimic "Exact" sounds.  Rebel is my Grey and he mimics my
exact voice!  You should see my friends adn relative who come over.
they think I am talking ot them!  *laugh*  And he calls my dog too.
She runs like hell, thinking I am calling her!  *laugh*

So, although I have never owned a Mynah, and someone who owned both,
may disagree with me, I would say that while they are very plain
speakers and good talkers, the Grey still holds the record for
being the plainest, best mimicer and the largest vocab *smile*
Of course, some may think I am being a bit prej.!

Have a great evening! Or day!

Suzanne

Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: bgt@cbnewsh.cb.att.com (barbara.tongue)
Subject: Re: A bit long, but submitted nevertheless...
Organization: AT&T
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 10:14:22 GMT

In article <ROBERTS.92Oct13162851@studguppy.lanl.gov> roberts@studguppy.lanl.gov (Doug Roberts) writes:
->Hello, everyone. Here is a draft of an article that I'll be submitting
->to either BirdTalk, or perhaps another like-minded magazine soon.
->Enjoy, make comments, whatever...
->
->[...absolutely wonderful article deleted...]

hey doug, fantastic stuff!  when i submitted my article to birdtalk about
rec.pets.birds, it took about 4 months for it to show (plus no notification
was sent to me, so i wasn't aware that it was accepted.)  so don't get
discouraged if months go by before the article appears...

you might also want to send some pictures of the birdies in question;
i enclosed 3 pictures of darry for their choosing.  granted the one
they *did* pick wasn't my favorite, but hey, these things happen...

-- 
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
%%   The Speaking Tongue, AT&T   %%  C Code.  C Code Run.  Run, Code, RUN! %%
%%       bgt@homxc.att.com       %%           PLEASE!!!!                   %%
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: judy@bbxrbk (Judy Kepler)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Pocket Parrot
Date: 9 Oct 92 03:05:47 GMT
Organization: russ at home

I'm new to posting even though I've been reading for years...so bear 
with me!

I'm a recent owner of a grey cheek and a pacific parrotlet.  Our grey 
cheek is about a year old and very spoiled.  We've only had her a couple 
of months so she came to us already set in her ways...she's a sweetie and 
quite vocal about what she wants and when she wants it (always now!).

I was wondering about other peoples' experience with pocket parrots - is
this one different or are they all this demanding?

Additionally, the pacific parrotlet is just past a baby, and needs to
be gentled.  Anyone have tips on doing so?  We're hand feeding him
with seeds, and he's allowing a little touching, but still isn't coming
to a finger yet (a couple of weeks now).

Judy Kepler
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: earle@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov (Greg Earle - Gainfully Unemployed)
Subject: Lories?
Followup-To: rec.pets.birds
Organization: Gainfully unemployed
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 09:37:48 GMT

Am I the only known human in the (Usenet) world who keeps/loves Lories, in my
case specifically Black-Capped Lories (Lorius Lory Lory - file under Dept. of
Redundancy Dept. (-: )?

They're some of the most incredibly beautiful birds in the world, they do well
in warm climes if raised/kept outside (I know, I know, "But, the liquid
droppings!  The liquid droppings!" you all chant), and they are an absolute
delight.  The females are the sweetest birds ever, and the males, albeit more
rambunctious and prone to orneriness, not only have more character than any
birds I've ever owned (everything from many different conures to a Double
Yellow Head and an Orange Wing Amazon), but they are magnificent talkers,
easily able to mimic as well as a Mynah.  I'd quit working on computers to
raise 'em, but my pair aren't quite up to producing 100 young'uns a year (-:

Lories - try 'em, you'll like 'em!
From: kevin@msus1.msus.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Meyer's update
Date: 14 Oct 92 03:42:59 -0600
Organization: Minnesota State University System

Well this is an update on the Meyer's Parrot I got about 2 months ago.  We
named him Buddy.   He is really easy to keep and affectionate though in an odd
way.  He doesn't really cuddle unless you sorta force him to. (hold him to your
cheek and he will "suffer" being cuddled.)  If you didn't know him you would
swear he was the most aggresive, mean bird.  Because by appearances he is. 
Stick your hand next to him and more often than not he will "attack" itwith his
beak.  The actual attack and biting is really just nibbling and show.  He
"plays" rough.  I believe this is a side effect of the male dominated Pet store
environment we got him from.  But it did take some getting used too.  He eats
just about everything but primarily we feed him Pretty Bird.  He loves carrots. 
I am not sure if he eats anypartof them but he does love takng them and
shredding them into little carrot bits.  I found out tonight that is also
particularly fond of black olives which is fortunate.  I don't really care for
them and will pick the obvious ones off my pizza which I gave to Buddy.
He is a very quiet bird.  He does have a high pitched "Where are you" call that
will have you wishing you had earplugs in the morning.  He has yet to
approximate anything that could be termed as speech or even mimicing(sp).  I
one the other hand have learned some pretty neat sounds:).  
On the whole it has been a very positive experiance.  I still haven't gotten
anything in the way of literature specifically about the Meyer's but then he
isn't an especilly popular bird.(Why I do not know).  He is perfect for
appartment living.  Quiet.  A little larger than a cocketial(sp) and very
pretty.  He is primaraly green with a fringe of yellow on the frontal curve of
his wings.  The most spectacular color is on the tail feathers and the smaller
feathers underneath.  They are this kinda shiny aquamarine color.  Eventually I
think I will get him a playmate.  Possibly a Cocketeil(I'll get the spelling
some day I promise) though I really love this Rose crested cockatoo named
Peaches at a local pet store.  She is very docile and VERY affectionate to all
that want to scratch (preen?) her.  They want $1800 for her though and there
isn't anyway I could EVER afford that.:(  
Well this has gotten a little longer than I had intended thanks for reading
this far.

Kevin
From: fine@sofine.detroit.sgi.com (Steve Fine)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Re: Yet Another New Goffins
Date: 12 Oct 92 12:52:25 GMT
Organization: Silicon Graphics, Inc.

In article <VHyHsB2w165w@waffle.sns.com>, jen@waffle.sns.com (jennifer warshaw) writes:

|> 
|> How many of you Cockatoo owners have witnessed "seed hiding"?
|> I have seen this once or twice before, she breaks off pieces
|> of a pellet and tucks it inbetween her wing feathers or
|> tries to balance the pellet on the side of her head.  It's
|> a cute but expensive habit, she's gone through half a large
|> tub of Scenic in the last 4 days.
|> 
|> ----
|> jen@waffle.sns.com  (jennifer warshaw)
|> Systems'n'Software Free Public Access BBS --- (510)623-8652

Our Elanora does this with EVERYTHING.  Try getting your
bird some little beads.  Sassy puts every one of them 
in her wings. 

When we started giving her some Pretty Bird, should would
pick up a piece, put her head under her wing and just
chomp it up.  It scared us the first time, it looked like
dried blood!!!!!
-- 

----------------------------------------------------
Steve Fine                              fine@sgi.com
Systems Engineer, Great Lakes District (Detroit, MI)
These opinions are mine blah blah blah.........
----------------------------------------------------
From: Debby.Steele@bird.com (Debby Steele)
Sender: FredMail@bird.com
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Re: EGG-BINDING IN GOULDIAN FINCH
Date: 13 Oct 92  19:47:07 EST

Sorry Todd I don't know how to E mail so I will post here and hope you see it.
I breed Gouldians to and the hens are very prone to calcium 
 Deficiency. I also had a hen go through what your's is going through and
almost die. I now supplement her diet daily (when breeding) with scraped
cuttlebone and a product called D CA PHOS. You can get it from your avian vet.
Also make sure you feed her eggfood when breeding, they need extra protein at
the time. I would take her out of a breeding situation
 give her lots of vegetables, rice, eggfood, greens, ect. and reduce her
lighting and let her have a good long rest and build up for next time. When not
breeding I still add the calcium supplements about 3 times a week. Good luck,
Debby
 * Origin: Bird Info Network Gateway 303-423-9775 (1:104/234)
From: bgt@cbnewsh.cb.att.com (barbara.tongue)
Subject: Nesting in the Oddest Areas... (was: Re: A Tale of One Beak )
Organization: AT&T
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1992 11:25:42 GMT

In article <BvpzLu.K5K@news.cso.uiuc.edu> susan@solace.me.uiuc.edu (Susan Wrightson) writes:
->
->Here's another funny bird story:
->
->[...]
->He's also recently started crawling into my shirt when I bend over and
->the shirt hangs loose.  He seems to have funny ideas of building a nest 
->there.

angus, my yellowCollared macaw, exhibits this behavrior especially
if he's just taken a shower.  for some reason, he loves to spread his
soaked wings (looks just like a lunar moth, btw) and try to crawl
down the neck of my shirt.  this feels most odd.  failing that, he'll
go for the sleeves (although t-shirts really don't have too much room....)

this might happen because one of his favorite places to play is under
the bedcovers (assuming my knees are propping them up.  he loves fighting
to the death my killer fingers under there....and enjoys peeking out
every now and then to see if i'm still paying attention to him.

-- 
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
%%   The Speaking Tongue, AT&T   %%  C Code.  C Code Run.  Run, Code, RUN! %%
%%       bgt@homxc.att.com       %%           PLEASE!!!!                   %%
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: thompson@gumby.mgi.com
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Re: coffee & birds
Date: 8 Oct 92 13:41:37 GMT
Organization: Management Graphics, Inc.

In article <718304615.3@bird.com>, Mary.Kaye.Buchtel@bird.com (Mary Kaye Buchtel) writes:
> 
>  > 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

I have a phalet from the vet (avain) that states under extreme circumstances -
give your birds cool coffee -the full leaded stuff- to keep him revived to
make the emergency trip to the vet.  Of course this is only in case of
severe illness and the bird will not make the journey to the vet without
a stimulant.  It also said that alchol was never to be given to birds.


> 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.


maggie
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: ross@grove.ops.lmsc.lockheed.com ()
Subject: Housebreaking Cockatiels
Reply-To: ross@grove.ops.lmsc.lockheed.com ()
Organization:  Lockheed Missiles and Space Company 
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 92 19:48:38 GMT


I have been reading this newsgroup for a few weeks now and have really
enjoyed all the information and birdie stories.  A while ago, someone
mentioned "housebreaking" their bird.  (Sorry, I cannot find the 
exact article right now.)  I would like to know how one would go about
"housebreaking" a bird and if an older (I don't know just how old) 
cockatiel can be housebroken.  We received Powder as a hand-me-down
pet from some college friends, so we don't know a lot about him (her?).
Age is one thing we have not been able to determine.  My husband likes
to let Powder out of his cage, but he is not housebroken (Powder, not 
my husband) so his times out are limited.

Any information regarding this subject would be greatly appreciated.

Robin Ross
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: bhtongue@highlander.berkeley.edu (Benson H Tongue)
Subject: cages
Organization: University of California, at Berkeley
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1992 16:51:23 GMT

Hi folks. Once again, another question. As previously noted, I'm
bringing home a 5 month old Goffin's Cockatoo this weekend. Now 
I'm in a cage dilemma. A large breeder (Feather Farm) makes
cages which clearly evolved from their breeder cages. It's
basically an extremely strong mesh (from England) that's welded
at all connection pts and is about 1/2 by 2 inches between wires.
They've successfully kept Moluccans and Hyacinths in this mesh for
years so there's no doubt it's strong enough. The cage is simple - 
basically a 24 x 24 x 37 enclosure with a separate wheeled base and
a slide out tray. Everything is powder epoxy coated. The front door
is huge and VERY solidly built. It's not as aesthetically pleasing
as some of the ones illustrated in Bird Talk but it's reasonably
attractive, strong and not overly expensive ($210). It's light
enough and simple enough that cleaning it is very easy - just
disassemble, scrub and rinse. BUT: the food dished are only
accessible by opening the door. My wife is concerned. What if the 
bird becomes nasty (as some birds occasionally do). What if a 
neighbor is asked to handle the feeding while we're off on a
short trip? Won't this be a problem? My feeling is that the
chances of the bird turning vicious to the point that someone won't
be able to change the water and food is pretty darn slim. Also, the
bowls could be put on the door, thus eliminating hands going INTO
the cage. So I see no problem. Any helpful comments? Since bird
arrival time is soon, I'd like to sort out any cage questions
pronto. 
Thanks
Benson
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: steveg@mks.com (Steve Gingerich)
Subject: Re: Keet with a foot fetish
Organization: Mortice Kern Systems Inc., Waterloo, Ontario, CANADA
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 19:57:13 GMT

>Sunny seems to have a foot fetish (and has had it for over 2 yrs now)!
>He cannot resist feet - he likes 'em bare or with socks. What he'll
>do is mount your foot and then precede to ... um ... shall we say
>"do the wild thing" on your foot!
 
>Do any of you have birds that do something similar?  Is this a habit I
>should try to break him of? If so - how do I do it?

Well, my male cockatiel 'does the wild thing' against his gravel dish.
Usually its 3 or 4 times a day. I've heard he's in his 'prime'.
He's 1.5 - 2 yrs old. The dish is the only thing he likes though.
I'm kind of curious what would happen though if I took it away and
deprived him of 'it'. 
--