HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: davec@Autodesk.COM (Dave Cooper)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Re: Help: budgie's strange behaviour
Date: 2 Jan 93 20:50:21 GMT
Organization: Autodesk Inc., Sausalito CA, USA

Wolf,

My two two-year-old male English Budgies (the Motorcycle Birds) twitch their
wings sometimes when there are certain high-frequency sounds in the room. For
example, flick a crystal glass or bowl, or a stainless steel bowl and they'll
twitch their wings seemingly uncontrollably for longer than you can hear the
resonant sound. It seems uncomfortable for them, so I try not to do that to
them. I discovered this by accident.

Perhaps your bird can hear some nagging sound that you can't. A high-pitched
electronic sound might do that too --- the hum of an electric appliance, perhaps.

Check that out...

Cheers

DAVE
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: feathers@eskimo.com (Cheryl)
Subject: Re: new water "cup" for bird
Organization: <<< ESKIMO NORTH (206)-FOR-EVER >>>
Date: Fri, 1 Jan 1993 18:21:12 GMT

   Hiya Barbara!  Just stick the bathing bowl on the bottom of the cage
floor.  If the bird wants to bathe, it'll get down there and happily
splash around.  (Of course you would want to avoid positioning it right
underneath a perch, for obvious reasons.)
-- 
     Cheryl
     feathers@eskimo.com
From: judy <judy@nepac.ucsd.edu>
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Re: TOO many eggs!
Date: 23 Dec 1992 16:28:42 GMT
Organization: scripps inst. of oceanography
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: alfa.ucsd.edu
X-UserAgent: Nuntius v1.1.1d13
X-XXMessage-ID: <A75DD3BA60011B32@alfa.ucsd.edu>
X-XXDate: Wed, 23 Dec 92 08:28:42 GMT


Oh am I glad to find other female cockatiel owners with the egg-laying
problem.
Blondie's about 6 years old, never laid an egg, until my husband and I
brought home
a small white rock (egg-sized, of course) from the beach and showed it to
her...
she immediately tried to roll it over with her beak.... then, later, she
started doing
the "do me" behavior, and a few months later, started laying eggs.
Is egg-laying particularly hazardous to cockatiels as compared with other
birds?
She hasn't had a problem yet, and seems to lay about 4-6 every few months.
Do your birds "drop" the eggs from their perches?!!!
She's quite a silly bird.
Where do you find calcium "supplements" - is it a liquid, power, pill???
Thanks so much!!!
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: prkenne@lims02.lerc.nasa.gov (CAROL SHARP)
Subject: Re: TOO many eggs!
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: NASA Lewis Research Center
Date: 23 Dec 1992 12:11 EST  

In article <1ha43qINNapl@network.ucsd.edu>, judy <judy@nepac.ucsd.edu> writes...
> 
>Oh am I glad to find other female cockatiel owners with the egg-laying

>problem.
>Is egg-laying particularly hazardous to cockatiels as compared with other
>birds?
>She hasn't had a problem yet, and seems to lay about 4-6 every few months.
>Do your birds "drop" the eggs from their perches?!!!
>She's quite a silly bird.
>Where do you find calcium "supplements" - is it a liquid, power, pill???

From the responses I've gotten so far the egg laying is hazardous only in 
terms of them developing a mineral deficiency.  

Mine lays her eggs on the cage bottom.

I'll look at the name of my calcium supplement when I get home and let you 
know what it is.  I bought it at a pet store.  It's a white powder that I 
mix into food.

Carol

Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: gates@fc.hp.com (Bill Gates)
Subject: Re: New water "cup" for bird cage
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 21:33:44 GMT
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Fort Collins Site
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1.8 PL6]

minehart@iscsvax.uni.edu wrote:
: 
: Anyway, I went ahead and bought one and it's great.  No more dropping food
: (or worse) in his water cup.

But my birds have a great time with their water.  Both of my conures enjoy
dipping dry food in their water before eating it - kinda cute - like dunking
cookies or something.

I'd hate to deprive them of that.  :-)

Bill
From: davec@Autodesk.COM (Dave Cooper)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Re: bathing bowl/kitchen sink
Date: 2 Jan 93 20:54:16 GMT
Organization: Autodesk Inc., Sausalito CA, USA

Bird Lovers,

My English Budgies like any water running anywhere. In Zambia, I used
to take my Budgies outside and run the tap in the front yard. They loved
that because there was plenty of long grass under the tap. In the wild,
Australian budgies will often bathe in the dewy spinifex, since standing
water can be rare in the outback.

Here in San Francisco, my budgies absolutely love a terracotta dish filled
with water that can plants in it, like parsley, lettuce, grass or any
greens. They prefer that to plain water. However, one bird loves water to
fall on him: he tries to catch the water with his beak --- evidently loving
every minute of it, as he puffs his feathers out in a very relaxed attitude.

Cheers

DAVE
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: feathers@eskimo.com (Cheryl)
Subject: Re: New water "cup" for bird cage
Keywords: dunking food
Organization: <<< ESKIMO NORTH (206)-FOR-EVER >>>
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 00:41:18 GMT

  Many bird owners and most breeders I know use the ball-and-tube water
bottles.  They have much to recommend them and the arguments against
them are not convincing.  Bacteria is so easily grown in water dishes
where feces and food can fall/be placed, and this is largely eliminated
with the water bottles.  I say largely because I had an enterprising
green-cheeked conure who loved to stuff food up the tube; he found it
highly amusing (parrots will turn *anything* into a toy).  Water bottles
do not prevent birds from bathing; you can either mist the birds or 
provide them with a water bowl for bathing -- this is certainly
preferable to having them bathe in their water dishes; they need clean
water available at all times, but you ccan remove the bath water after
an
hour or so.  To those that would say, spend the extra time changing the
water dishes twice a day, I would say, why not instead spend the extra 
time providing your birds with a mist bath or a bathing bowl?  It's
healthier than leaving them no alternative but to bathe in their
drinking water.
   This is not to say that I think bottle waterers are the only way to
go, but I didn't want people left with the impression that somehow
bottle waterers are inferior to water dishes.  Most serious
aviculturists I know use water bottles.  It's a standard practice for
very sound health reasons.
-- 
     Cheryl
     feathers@eskimo.com
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: pat@chinet.chi.il.us (Patrick Louis Sugent)
Subject: Re: new parrot training
Distribution: rec
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1992 13:09:52 GMT


  Thanks to everyone for their advice on training my new Timneh
Grey (corrected spelling from my previous post).  I learned more
from people here than I did from a book and the pet store!
It seems there is a lot everyone learns from experience that isn't
quite covered in these "How to raise a ..." books. :-)

  Thanks again.

Pat
-- 
Patrick Sugent                       

pat@chinet.chi.il.us		     
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: prkenne@lims02.lerc.nasa.gov (CAROL SHARP)
Subject: TOO many eggs!
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: NASA Lewis Research Center
Date: 23 Dec 1992 09:16 EST  


HELP!! My cockatiel won't stop laying eggs.  My three year old desperate 
and dateless female is on an egg laying binge.  The store where I purchased 
her told me it is common for a female to lay an infertile egg periodically 
and that I can handle  My poor birdy currently has 6 eggs in her cage.  I 
called the vet and was told to give her a calcium supplement and that 
should clear up the problem.  I did that 3 eggs ago.  Does anyone have any 
idea what I can do  to help her out?  BTW she is otherwise fine.  Eats the 
same as usual, pesters to come out of her cage and every bit as 


Newsgroups: rec.pets
From: mstrange@alfred.carleton.ca (N E N Strangelove)
Subject: Bunny Update
Organization: Carleton University
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 04:02:33 GMT

Season's Greetings Bunny Folks!

I thought it was about time I update everyone on Calvin and Hobbes [as
if you were all glued to your terminals, waiting...;)].

Well, it's been two months now [phew, time flies by...]. And there's
been a remarkable change in their behaviour. They've finally settled
into life in the Strangelove home.

We've slowly been introducing them to our female, Barley. She wasn't
too keen on having two new brothers; but I think she's adjusting well.
Now she doesn't immediately go for the jugular when she sees them!

We were afraid that the boys would begin competing for Barley. But
after a few close calls [[where we would find furballs everywhere in
their room in the morning], things seem to be settling down --knock on
wood. 

It's nice getting to know Calvin and Hobbes better as each day goes
by, and good to see Barley beginning to at least tolerate her new
companions!

Don't you just love having bunnies?!

Greetings from the Strangeloves Natalie, Michael, Barley, Calvin and
Hobbes [and Sandino, too. the cockatiel]
From: njl@drutx.ATT.COM (LaRocheNJ)
Newsgroups: rec.pets
Subject: Cost of Bunnies; Getting companions (was Re: Funny bunnies)
Summary: Getting Dink a friend...
Date: 22 Dec 92 20:59:17 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: AT&T, Denver, CO

In article <1992Dec20.164930.18266@news.cs.indiana.edu>, alyoung@kiwi.ucs.indiana.edu (Amy Young Leith) writes:
> 
> Can't say I still haven't been tempted to get Dink a friend... 

Check at the shelters in your area!

Nancy LaRoche (HRS)
att!drutx!njl
Newsgroups: rec.pets
From: "amy lynn young-leith" <alyoung@kiwi.ucs.indiana.edu>
Subject: Re: Featherstonehaugh: the ballistic bunny
Organization: Indiana University, Bloomington
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 20:30:16 -0500

In article <1992Dec30.195603.29673@cas.org> jac54@cas.org () writes:
>	Yet more bunny stories.  Featherstonehaugh is our house
>	rabbit, he's just under 4 years old and has very high
>	petting requirements.  Usually he avoids me, because I am
>	the one who does nasty things like medicate and trim
>	nails and hold him at the vets, and prefers to go to my wife
>	to have his forehead rubbed.

I thought we had the perfect pet when we got him... although a bit
non-socialble.  Well, now we've had him 7 months, and god, he's a
baby.  I can't *believe* it.  The last few weeks have been the "best."
He's rotten.  He DEMANDS attention, he begs like a dog for food, I
never imagined a bunny could BEG as well as he does.  It's cute.  
He's warmed really well to Scot, and lately he's been a help because
he knows when to be cute.  We were quite stressed and worried at some
point today, and Scot's on the couch, and Dink climbs all over him,
doing the smell the face greeting, and all that, and then settles over
a hand and grooms him.  He also flops down on my feet when I'm either
in the bathroom getting ready to go somewhere, on the phone and
standing, or in the kitchen if he's in the tired mood.  

>	Recently, he has taken a liking to feet.  When I am going
>	through the morning paper and coffee routine, he will
>	start nuzzling up to my unshod feet, which is quite pleasnt,
>	but he will not let me rub his forehead.  If I ignore him,
>	he nips the offending foot, if I try to pet him, he scoots off.
>	Does anyone have an explanation for this, or is it just the
>	old "I'm a bunny, you can't win" ?

I think it's "Pay attention to me, pay attention to me!  (you try to
pet) Ok, you paid attention to me, now leave me alone."

amy
-- 
alyoung@kiwi.ucs.indiana.edu for personal mail
			    All business mail to alyoung@silver.ucs.indiana.edu
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
**Dislcaimer:I only speak for myself.  Anyone who thinks differently is a fool.
			(This means NOT my employer!!)
Newsgroups: rec.pets
From: jmorriso@ee.ubc.ca (John Paul Morrison)
Subject: Re: Purina Rabbit Chow and wood-chip litter (was Re: bunny questions)
Organization: University of BC, Electrical Engineering
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1992 07:44:24 GMT

In article <1992Dec29.005229.29222@news.cs.indiana.edu> "Amy Young Leith" <alyoung@kiwi.ucs.indiana.edu> writes:
>In article <23014@drutx.ATT.COM> njl@drutx.ATT.COM (LaRocheNJ) writes:
>
>>Most of all, cedar chips (in fact, any wood chips) emit phenols that
>>cause liver damage if the phenols can collect in the air the rabbit
>>breathes.  (I suspect the same is true of hamsters, mice, and all the
>>other small animals for whom wood chips are sold!)
>
>WHAT???  
>
>I have been using the "plain" untreated pine shavings for Dink's
>bedding and litterbox.  What should I change to?  I've heard of
>numerous paper or corncob based litters and beddings here, but not
>been able to find any in the numerous stores around town... is there a
>place I could get them mail order?  
>

Buckerfield's makes a 'flushable cat litter' which is paper based, instead
of chalk/clay. I think Buckerfield's is a pretty big, feed/animal stuff
company, so you if you can't find it at a local pet store or supermarket,
just go to one of the wholesale feed places (that sell oyster shell and
buckwheat for chickens, hay and stuff) and they could probably get it.

>amy
>-- 
>alyoung@kiwi.ucs.indiana.edu for personal mail
>			    All business mail to alyoung@silver.ucs.indiana.edu
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>**Dislcaimer:I only speak for myself.  Anyone who thinks differently is a fool.
>			(This means NOT my employer!!)


-- 
__________________________________________________________________________
 John Paul Morrison                     |  
 University of British Columbia, Canada |  
 Electrical Engineering                 |   .sig file without a cause
 jmorriso@ee.ubc.ca              VE7JPM |  
________________________________________|_________________________________
Newsgroups: rec.pets
From: Jim_Sollows@mindlink.bc.ca (Jim Sollows)
Subject: Spaying a bun
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada
Date: Sun, 3 Jan 1993 19:25:33 GMT

Here are a few questions I am hoping somebody can answer:

What is the ideal age to spay a bun? Can they still be spayed when they are
older? Are there any problems with not spaying them if they are not around
any males?

Newsgroups: rec.pets
From: jmorriso@ee.ubc.ca (John Paul Morrison)
Subject: Re: Acidophiolus, Hay, and Papaya Tablets (was Re: bunnie is now a HE!)
Organization: University of BC, Electrical Engineering
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1992 03:34:06 GMT

In article <23010@drutx.ATT.COM> njl@drutx.ATT.COM (LaRocheNJ) writes:
>In article <1992Dec19.052954.24441@bradley.bradley.edu>, gremlin@buhub.bradley.edu (Stephanie Udry) writes:
>> 
>
>
>> also said acidophilus wan't
>> real necessary, but recommended putting it on a banana instead of in water..
>
>Acidophilus is needed ONLY when a bunny gets diahrrea or stops eating.  It
>replaces the gram positive bacteria that are lost when these conditions
>occur.  If the bun has neither of these, acidophilus shouldn't be given.
>THE BUN'S OWN SYSTEM SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO MAINTAIN ITS OWN BALANCE.

would it be correct to say that acidophilus should be used after treating
a rabbit with a wide-spectrum anti-biotic?

>
>Nancy LaRoche (HRS)
>att!drutx!njl


-- 
__________________________________________________________________________
 John Paul Morrison                     |  
 University of British Columbia, Canada |  
 Electrical Engineering                 |   .sig file without a cause
 jmorriso@ee.ubc.ca              VE7JPM |  
________________________________________|_________________________________
From: tmohler+@cs.cmu.edu (Tim Mohler)
Newsgroups: rec.pets
Subject: Skunks as Pets - Old Postings?
Summary: how are skunks as pets?
Date: 31 Dec 92 02:38:19 GMT
Organization: School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon


I recently acquired a ferret for a friend, and have
fallen semi in love with them. However, I think ferrets
are a bit drab-looking.

I found out skunks are at least related to ferrets, and
thus would possibly make good pets.

Ever since I captured a wild skunk years ago and had to
let it go, I've wanted a skunk of my very own.

I assume this has been discussed before, so if anyone
has any stock answers, perhaps you could send them to
me in email.

my questions: do they make good pets? are they hard
to care for? how much do they cost? where can I get
one?

Thanks in advance,
Tim
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
From: IEI036G@tjuvm.tju.edu
Subject: Re: HERPNET #
Organization: Thomas Jefferson University
Date: Fri, 1 Jan 1993 03:01:37 GMT

In article <735.3193.uupcb@synapse.org>
michael.ashe@synapse.org (Michael Ashe) writes:
 
>
>Anybody know of any sort of 'Arach-Net' for spider types?  If anybody
>knows of anyone with experience raising Theraphosa Leblondi or
>Pamphobeteus Exul please let me know.
>Thanx, mike.
>
 
Hi Mike, I'd be willing to set up a sub-board on the host that runs
Herp-Net to provide an "ARACH_NET" if there are a few folks interested.
 
Let me know. Happy New Year
 
      Mark Miller, System Administrator
      Herpetology Network 215-698-1905
      PO BOX 52261, PHILA PA 19115
 
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
From: smeagol@carina.unm.edu (Karl P.)
Subject: Gratuitous Kills
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 92 01:15:16 GMT
Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque


      Anyone know why a full grown bullsnake might make a gratuitous kill?
 I fed him a large mouse which he had some difficulty killing.  He never
 actually got a good bite in, instead he pinned down and crushed it.  Then
 he never went back to it.  
      Curious.

      Any ideas of why he may have done this or what it might mean?


						---Reverend Smeagol 


-- 
????????????????????????????????  Bingo displays many traits which may be      
?   smeagol@carina.unm.edu     ?  interpreted as human.  Of course, it is  
?    Global Village Idiot      ?  unscientific to anthropomorphize a fifty-
????????????????????????????????  foot moon roach.  ---Sam (of Sam & Max)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
From: gerard@progress.COM (Gerard Bras)
Subject: Re: Gratuitous Kills
Organization: Progress Software Corp.
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 17:36:42 GMT

pholland@iastate.edu (Paul J Hollander) writes:


>I don't know why, but I saw the same thing in my first Burmese python, a
>rather picky feeder.  Give him a black rat, a hooded rat, and a white rat, 
>and he'd take the black first, the hooded next, and then think about the 
>white.  I can't see smell having anything to do with it, as they were out of
>the same colony.  I wonder if the snake would still differentiate between
>mice of different colors if the mice were dead and it was fed in a totally 
>dark box.  Experiment.

I've seen this also, and not just in pythons.  I suspect srongly that snakes
can in fact tell the difference and that scent is the que.  They have an extremely 
well developed olfactory sense so I don't think it's unreasonable to believe they
can make distinctions which are lost on us.  In any case I've seen this enuf to 
believe it's pretty common.

Am I correct in thinking that white rodents are man-made strains?  If so, is it
possible that along withdifferent pigmentation they also smell different.  If you
want to hypothesize wildly, it may even be that snakes can actually detect the 
pigmentation in the rodents skin.

cheers,
gerard
From: jeffs@almaden.ibm.com (Jeff Schneiter)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Neophyte corn snake owner
Date: 22 Dec 92 21:58:41 GMT
Reply-To: jeffs@almaden.ibm.com (Jeff Schneiter)
Organization: IBM Almaden Research Center


I just received an early xmas gift of an albino corn snake,
about 6 weeks old, yesterday ate its first pinky by itself.

Could someperson(s) please email me info on the care and
maintenance of a corn snake. Thanks.

I know, there are (relatively) cheap publications available,
but xmas has wiped me clean.

jeffs

==                                                         ==
"The whole  idea of individual  creativity and  expression in
 the classroom was really basically opposed to the whole idea
 of the University."                 Pirsig
==                                                         ==
From: tracer@carson.u.washington.edu (David P. Tracer)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: Re: The Makeup of A Snake's Housing...
Date: 2 Jan 1993 02:02:40 GMT
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle
NNTP-Posting-Host: carson.u.washington.edu

In article <C0725H.MoE.1@cs.cmu.edu> tmohler+@cs.cmu.edu (Tim Mohler) writes:
>
>Also, I have had interesting results breeding gerbils - I've gotten
>albino, black with white spots, and normal-colored gerbils.
>
>They breed about once every 5 weeks, so the turn-over time is pretty
>quick.
>
>They get decently large, too. if your burmese is anything like my
>apartment-mate's burmese, it will eat 5 mice at a sitting, which can
>get expensive buying - gerbils will fill it up faster.
>
>My random thoughts,
>Tim


A 7 ft. Burmese will eat more like 20 gerbils in one feeding.  A snake
that size should probably be eating 2-3 rats per feeding (depending of
course on how much time elapses between feedings).  For reference, my
female 8 ft. Burmese eats 4 to 6 lbs. of bunny every 10 days and she's
by no means a fat snake.

-David
From: U10119@uicvm.uic.edu (Ed Dowtort)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: are chameleons (very) difficult?
Date: 3 Jan 93 19:49:31 GMT
Article-I.D.: uicvm.93003.134931U10119
Organization: University of Illinois at Chicago

does anyone have any experience with chameleons?  my girlfiend is interested
in them and is thinking about getting one, but in the "general care and maint-
nance of the" manual by Vosjoli, she read that it was practically impossible
to not have it die on you.   is she reading into things, or are the chameleons
really that hard to keep?

if any, what type of a chameleon would you suggest?  how about housing, etc?

thanks in advance, ed d.
From: ffn2@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (FREDRICK F NOECKER)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.herp
Subject: FREE HERP NEWSLETTER
Date: 23 Dec 92 18:25:47 GMT
Organization: Lehigh University

Hi,
  My name is Rick Noecker and a associate of mine, Chris Zimmer, publishes
  a herptology newsletter called the _Rep Amp_.  The _Rep Amp_ focuses on
  animals such as snakes, reptiles, amphibians, turtles and tortoises.  These
  articles that we write focus on how to properly choose, feed, care for and
  breed the already mentioned herps.

  Chris has been working with reptiles for over 10 years at his fathers pet
  store.  In this time he has dealt with many different species of heps and
  has learned how to deal with many herp problems firsthand.  I have worked
  for Chris for over 2 1/2 years now and have done quite a bit of research on
  the herps that I have dealt with.

  The articles that are written in the _Rep Amp_ are based on research and
  personal experience on the particular herp.  Anybody is welcome to write for
  the _Rep Amp_ that has moderate experience and that is willing to do good
  research using up to date references.  So if you are interested in writing
  please let my know by responding over the server.

  THE _REP AMP_ IS ABSOLUTELY FREE AND NON PROPHIT.  We make no prophits from
  the publication of the _Rep Amp_ and it is free to anybody that is
  interested in subscribing to it.

  If you wish to subscribe to the _Rep Amp_ please give me your postal
  address.  I am sorry but the _Rep Amp_ is not yet available on e-mail yet so
  please if you are interested give me your postal address.  No where is to
  far for us to mail it to you and we do so at no cost to you.

  If you have already subscribed to the _Rep Amp_ please don't give me your
  name and address again.  If you enjoy the _Rep Amp_ please tell your freinds
  and give me there names and addresses also.  Too much is never enough.

  Thank You,
    Rick Noecker
    215-758-0304

    P.S.  Your comments and questions are appreciated.