HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: lind@ll.mit.edu (Tom Lind)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Re: Birdie Beak Bonking
Date: 16 Nov 92 13:33:14 GMT
Followup-To: rec.pets.birds
Organization: MIT Lincoln Laboratory

In article <1992Nov13.202428.327@shearson.com>, brekshyn@shearson.com
(Bohdan Rekshynskyj) wrote:

																												>>He also, on occassion, likes to sweep his
>>beak from side to side on a table top or a perch or my hand.  Again, it
>>seems like some sort of display, but we haven't figured out just what
>>triggers it yet.
>>																														Regards,      Tom...


>It seems to me that when a bird sweeps his beak side to side against an object,
>he may be "cleaning" or "trimming" his beak.  I have a red-vented cockatoo
>who'll rub his beak from side to side on his perch, or fly to my bed.  He'll
>then perch on the railing and rub his beak to and fro.
>
>					Bohdan

We have noted a distinct difference between the "cleaning" or "trimming"
action and what we think is "some sort of display."  When Chips does his
"cleaning", he will do it within 10-15 minutes of having eaten something
and it is done in a calm manner.  When he does the "display" I'm refering
to, he will do so with a rapid motion accompanied by flashing eyes and
sometimes a spread tail.  He does not, however, flare or spread his wings
in any way.

																																			Tom...
From: shazam@drycas.club.cc.cmu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Teaching a bird to talk - "throwing words"
Date: 23 Nov 92 15:20:35 -0500
Organization: Carnegie Mellon Computer Club

In regards to teaching a bird to talk, I certainly did not mean to 
give anyone the impression that i only "threw a few words as" I 
walked by the cage.  Hardly.  That is simply how i started off.
When you have a new bird, you need to let it get used to the
surroundings.  At least that is the way I feel.  You should not
*make* him come out of the cage the first few days.  You should let 
him/her explore on his/her own for a bit.  So I started off by
saying hello everytime I walked into the room.  For B.B. it did not
take long for him to be comefortable with me....other birds take longer,
some less time.  B.B. came out *every* day to play with me and I 
used that time to teach him words.  It is true that you need to 
handle the bird yourself, and show love and kindness.  It is also 
true that you need to let others handle the bird, or he/she will 
become bonded to you so that he/she will bite others and will never
go to anyone else.  I don;t think you want that to happen.  You want
a bird that others can enjoy too.  At least I do.  I have been
around birds that were not properly socialized.....they are not a 
lot of fun to be around...they seem very very cranky....actually they
just do not knwo any better.

So, yes you should take time wiht your bird.  And I am sorry if some of
you mistook my posting in thinking that you should only say a word 
as you pass by the cage.  That is not the case at all....and as I 
said eariler....write me of you have any questions...

Suzanne

Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: oday@lobster.gsfc.nasa.gov  (Orin Day)
Subject: Sick tiel in hosptal
Reply-To: oday@lobster.gsfc.nasa.gov  (Orin Day)
Organization: Goddard Space Flight Center
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1992 03:26:34 GMT


Well, as I sit here my cockatiel has taken up a temporary
residence at an animal hospital in Owings Mills, Maryland
(just north of Baltimore) for a week or so.

When I came home from a couple days vacation last night, I noticed
that the bird was pretty listless, a little puffed up, shivery, cranky,
and had lost a little weight.  Her droppings were a little runny,
and her condition had worsened slightly by morning (including a
noticeable weight loss), so I took her in to a vet.  Upon weighing her,
she was only 68 grams, a big loss from her usual weight of 85-90 in
just one short weekend.  

So the vet, who has 17 birds herself, recommended a stay of a
couple days, which I am extending with a couple days boarding,
assuming that all goes well, since I am going away for Thanksgiving.

The prognosis is a bacterial infection, and the outlook is good, but
the vet's verdict was that if I'd let it go another day the bird
probably would have died.  My other bird, the quaker, was going to
stay with friends, but will probably be boarded at the hospital as
well, just as a precaution.  He shows no signs of any infection,
but I'd rather bite the financial bullet and not take the chance of
losing him.

I guess the idea here is to take your bird to a good avian vet
if anything seems to be awry - droppings, listlessness, etc.  In
this case the weight loss was strikingly obvious (in just 2 days!)
and the cost of a visit is very small compared to the alternatives.

And if anybody is still looking for a good avian vet in the Baltimore/
Washington area, I think I've found one. 

Orin

--
************* "How about a little fire, Scarecrow?" **************
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!!!" ******
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: susan@solace.me.uiuc.edu (Susan Wrightson)
Subject: Re: Here Pretty Bird! Heeeeere, Pretty Bird!
Organization: U of I Dept. of Mech. and Ind. Engr., Urbana, Ill.
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 17:21:47 GMT


One thing I'd like to mention about introducing new foods to your bird --

If you just dump the new stuff into his dish, chances are the bird will
try it, sometimes not.  There's a MUCH better way to get the little 
birdbrains to eat stuff that's good for them -- use a little bird psychology:

Food is not just food to birds, food is a toy and a social thing.  Introduce
a new food while you have the bird out playing with him -- make a big deal
out of having this New Thing in your hand, eat some yourself (unless it's
pellets, but hey you might like them), and make it irresistible!  He'll
go nuts wanting it (for most things, anyway) and it will taste MUCH better
to the birdbrain.

I did this with grapes -- Marley wouldn't touch them when I first dumped
them in his dish, but one day I when I was playing with him and eating
grapes myself, I rolled one around on the table and chased him with it.
He discovered it was Yummy when he attacked it and plunged his beak into
it.  Now he likes to grab one out of the dish, takes it to the top of
his cage, carefully rolls it around in his mouth, then plunges his beak
deep into it (I've wiped grape juice off the wall) and eats everything
but the peel.

+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| Susan Wrightson                         "And there you are, Fast  |
| Academic Advisor                         Eddie, with lust in your |
| Mech. and Ind. Engineering               soul when I want you     |
| susan@solace.me.uiuc.edu                 thinking pool!"          |
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ 
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: yes@cbnewsb.cb.att.com (daniel.e.wofford)
Subject: GreenWing or Scarlet ?
Keywords: Green Wing or Scarlet ?
Organization: AT&T
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1992 20:10:19 GMT


 Greetings,
 I am new to this group so please bear with me. 
 It looks as though I will finally be able to buy my dream
 Bird this March, at least it was my dream bird until I went
 to the bird show last week. While there I got to spend some
 time with a Green Wing Macaw. up until then I was sold on a Scarlet
 Both birds were 4 months old and hand fed. both were extemely 
 friendly and to make matters worse both were the same price.

 The dealer says the Green Wing will probably be a better over all bird 
 but the colors on the Scarlet were amazing. 

 Question 1. If you could have either bird which one would you buy?

 Question 2. The dealer is asking $1,500 per bird. This is as cheap as
 I have ever seen around Denver. How does this compare to your area?

 Question 3. If at some point I decide to buy a second bird how difficult
 would it be to breed?

	Thanks,
	Dan Wofford
 
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: feathers@eskimo.com (Cheryl Owen)
Subject: Scarlets vs. Green Wings
Organization: <<< ESKIMO NORTH (206)-FOR-EVER >>>
Distribution: usa
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1992 17:12:54 GMT

  One of the differences between Scarlet and Green Wing macaws is
temperament.  Scarlets are well known for having flashy temperaments;
they tend to be temperamental biters who will bite without warning or
discernible reason.  Of course not all scarlets do this, but a
significant enough number do it that it is a well recongnized trait
generally known in the avicultural community (I said that so that if
someone has a pet scarlet who has never bitten them, they won't be
enraged at me - check with your local avicultural experts and check it
out with them, honest!).  Green Wings, on the other hand, tend to be
sweet natured and rather shy, not aggressive like the scarlets.  I would
definitely recommend them as the better  pet.  Prices vary quite a bit
from area to area; if you have a lot of people breeding a certain bird
in an area, the price is apt to be lower - but $1500 sounds like a
pretty decent price to me.
From: bavenell@next.com (Bette Avenell)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Re: Birdie Beak Bonking
Date: 17 Nov 92 20:18:31 GMT

In article <9211160833.PN29097@LL.MIT.EDU> lind@ll.mit.edu (Tom Lind) writes:
> We have noted a distinct difference between the "cleaning" or "trimming"
> action and what we think is "some sort of display."  When Chips does his
> "cleaning", he will do it within 10-15 minutes of having eaten something
> and it is done in a calm manner.  When he does the "display" I'm refering
> to, he will do so with a rapid motion accompanied by flashing eyes and
> sometimes a spread tail.  He does not, however, flare or spread his wings
> in any way.
> 
> 									 
									 
							Tom...

When my cockatiel (male, 5 years old) does this I tap on something hard -  
bonking back to him - and he'll "answer" me.  We'll go back and forth for a  
couple of minutes sometimes.  Then he will hold his body horizontally, hold out  
his "shoulders" and walk around in a step step pause, step step pause manner.   
I think it's a macho bird display and tell him what a handsome bird he is.

Bette
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: bur@ultisol.gsfc.nasa.gov (MAC)
Subject: Falconry
Organization: NASA/GSFC code 923
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 20:00:32 GMT



I do not usually read this group so forgive me if this topic is covered in the
FAQ(if there is one).  Are Falconry related topics discussed in this group?
Does anybody know if there are any Falconry clubs/groups in the Maryland/
Virginia area?


Thanks for any info,
Mike
From: wsg@cbnewsk.cb.att.com (Wendy S. Grohol)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Need Reference on Pet Bird Behavior
Summary: Is there a good book on pet bird behavior?
Keywords: book, pet bird behavior, wanted
Date: 19 Nov 92 17:22:08 GMT
Article-I.D.: cbnewsk.1992Nov19.172208.1819
Distribution: usa
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories - Engineering Research Center

I bought a green cheek conure earlier this month and even
though I had read up on pet birds previously, I want to 
understand what the bird is doing and why. The books I've
read don't talk about behavior so I'm wondering if there are
any good books out there.

I'm a little disturbed that the bird has bathed 3 times this week.
I'm curious as to why he bobs up and down on occasion.
I'm wondering if I can do something to teach him not to scream every
time I leave the room.
I'm wondering what the different sound he makes mean.
I wonder if there's anything I get for him so he won't be bored
while I'm at work.
etc.

					Thanks,
					Wendy
					Internet: wsg@pruxp.att.com
					UUCP: att!pruxp!wsg

(I've been watching out for a FAQ to this group but haven't seen one.)
From: warriors@eb5ts4.EBay.Sun.COM (Dave Maycon)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Talking Birds
Date: 18 Nov 1992 18:23:58 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.  Mt. View, Ca.
Distribution: usa
Reply-To: warriors@eb5ts4.EBay.Sun.COM (Dave Maycon)
NNTP-Posting-Host: eb5ts4.ebay.sun.com

Can somebody recommend good talking bird, without spending the big bucks.
And possibly what size cage should I get for this bird.  And is always good
to get two birds so that they would get lonely.

Thanks
Dave
From: marg@watsun.cc.columbia.edu (Margarita Suarez)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: building large bird cage?
Date: 21 Nov 92 21:11:50 GMT
Reply-To: marg@watsun.cc.columbia.edu (Margarita Suarez)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Columbia University


i'm looking to give my pair of lovebirds a larger cage to romp around in
-- the one they're in seems much too small.  i figure if i'm going to
upgrade, i might as well give them as much room as possible.

i have an area about 3' x 3' where i'd put the cage (height doesn't
matter much -- i have high ceilings).  i did some looking around, and
pet stores in manhattan are quoting me prices in the $700 range (gack!).

i'd like to make my own cage, but i understand there could be problems
with the birds gnawing their way out if i use wood.

has anybody made their own cage?  can you provide advice (better,
plans)?

thanks,
marg@columbia.edu
 VOICE:  w:212-854-5434 h:212-932-3023 | The important thing about a battleship
INTERNET:  marg@watsun.cc.columbia.edu | is that it shoots.  It floats, and it
 BITNET:            marg@cunixf.bitnet | is a ship, but the important thing
  UUCP:  !rutgers!columbia!cunixf!marg | about a battle ship is that it shoots.
From: s6420120@titan.ucc.umass.edu (Mark LeLacheur)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: handfed Pacific Parrotlets
Date: 18 Nov 92 22:39:06 GMT
Followup-To: new
Distribution: rec.pets.birds,ne.forsale,5col.forsale
Organization: University of Massachusetts, Amherst


	I have three handfed Pacific Parrotlets for sale or trade. Trades
considered would be for birds pionus size and smaller. I am mostly interest-
ed in breeding birds as I have a Goffin Cockatoo who takes up all of my spare
time. These babies were weaned in the last month. The group consists of 1 male
and 2 females. The price is $110 each. I need 1 male Pacific Parrotlet prefera-
bly parent-raised.
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: jones@nick.csh.rit.edu (jones)
Subject: Re: Here Pretty Bird! Heeeeere, Pretty Bird!
Organization: Computer Science House @ RIT
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1992 22:00:38 GMT

In article <1992Nov21.045126.6190@eskimo.com> feathers@eskimo.com (Cheryl Owen) writes:
>   My birds all loved Pretty Bird, too.  It seems to rate very highly in
>acceptability for parrots generally; one of the best veterinarians in
>Seattle recommended it to clients who were having a hard time getting
>their birds to eat any kinds of pellets.  He thought that perhaps Pretty
>Bird was a little high in sugar, but didn't seem overly concerned about
>it.  Even fussy cockatiels will often eat PB when they won't eat
>anything else.  

My birds like it too... My parakeets (dedicated seed fiends) will only peck
at it, but my other birds think that it is great stuff. My teil likes the
bigger shapes (they are easier for her to hold in her claw), and my lovebird
likes the little teeny ones. (The lovebird is still being handfed, and he
gets both Pretty Bird handfeeding formula and Pretty Bird pellets. He was
weaned onto the pellets and soft foods, and likes seeds, but, doesn't seem
to miss them if they aren't in his bowl...:)

My vet said: anything to get them to eat foods other than seed. I have tasted
all the pellets that I have had for my birds, and they don't really taste
any different: at least they do not taste like fruit loops as far as sugar
content goes...:)

Have you seen the Pretty Bird soft chewy (bright cherry red heart) pellets?
I got some in the birdy Xmas box (for PB&F research) and they were GROSS! I
wouldn't touch them -- let alone the birds! In this box there was a package
of SQOZ. Not a big reaction to these. (Brown lumps, no shape, bland...)
There was a package of Nutri-Berries: *I* thought that they smelled great!
They even tasted o.k. (Needed some salt...:) My 'teil ran away from them. My
'keets thought they were toys. 

What other pellets are out there? I cannot find Lakes. (I haven't even found
a place that sells Pretty Bird -- I stock up when i visit a friend almost
100 miles away...) I have heard of ones that are made with chili peppers and
garlic (the name escapes me), but, no luck in getting them. I finally found
a place that sells Crazy Corn. Is my only recourse to mail-order most
DIFFERENT things?

Also: has anyone tried Pretty Bird breads? 

...jones
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: ammg2052@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Aaron M. Moy)
Subject: RE: Converting to pellets
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 02:35:11 GMT


Converting a bird to pellets is indeed the right thing to do, but very hard to
accomplish.  If your bird is used to eating your food, then you might try
pretending to eat pellets and offer to share.  If your bird likes soft foods, 
then soak the pellets in water or fruit juice so he'll at least get used to
the pellet taste.  Also, try grinding or crushing them (the pellets, not your
bird), as the smaller bits may be less intimidating.  If your bird is used
to receiving treats from your hand, then offer pellets by hand.

By far, the best way convert is too let the bird watch another bird eat
pellets.  This scenario happens to me quite often, where people who have 
bought babies from me have said that their other birds soon began eating the
pellets (all my babies are weaned on pellets).  Some have commented on how
their other bird's feather condition noticeably improved after eating pellets.
For my breeder birds who were already used to seed mixes, I've found that they
tried Pretty Bird brand more than the others.  They were perhaps attracted by
the colors, shapes, or smell of Pretty Bird.

There is also a hunger approach.  You can try to give a little less seed than
your bird is normally used to, coupled with the above methods of pellet 
introduction.  Do this once every few days, so as to not interrupt the birds
normal physiology or cause weight loss.  When your bird is really eating the
pellets, then gradually increase the pellet to seed ratio.  Always be sure
that your bird maintains weight during the process.

It can take several slow and frustrating months for conversion.  Some birds may
be just too stubborn to ever break the seed addiction.  If you're successful
though, then you and your bird are well on the way too a long, healthy life.

Aaron Moy
ammg2052@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu
"The Baby's Nest" Hand-Fed Birds
Urbana, Illinois
(217) 328-1838


Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: kieran@cmatter.physics.indiana.edu (Kieran Mullen (kieran@cmatter.physics.indiana.edu))
Subject: Conures and OJ...
Originator: kieran@cmatter.physics.indiana.edu
Organization: Indiana University
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 16:49:14 GMT

    Our conure eats a lot of seeds buy mostly Avi-cakes (which are supposed
to be nutritionally complete).  He generally runs in fear when presented
with new foods.  Lately, he has taken to trying what we drink.  He likes
Gatorade, milk, and orange juice.

    Today two things happened, but I don't know if they are correlated.
First, he had more orange juice then normal.  At least eight sips, maybe
a few more.  Then, about 15 minutes later, he was *very* hyper.  He would
flinch and fly away from my hand when you tried to pet him.  This is very
unusual.  He seemed quite skittish, and would hide behind my head, rather
than sitting on a shoulder.  I am not certain, but it seemed that his
pupils may have been dilated (expanded).  It took about 20 minutes before 
he was more calm.

    Of course, there could be other causes.  But the proximity of the
two events has me wondering.  Could they be related?

                        Kieran Mullen
From: melton@skat.usc.edu (Melton)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Have no fear! (Was:B&G Macaw)
Date: 18 Nov 1992 14:39:44 -0800
Organization: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
NNTP-Posting-Host: skat.usc.edu

In article <BxxM53.5J3@news.cso.uiuc.edu> ammg2052@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Aaron M. Moy) writes:

>	    I really wouldn't advise making such a large bird your first
>	    experience with hand feeding.  There is great risk that the novice
>	    hand feeder may squirt the food at the wrong moment, possibly 
>	    introducing food into the lungs.  I don't believe that a strong
>	    individual bond is formed between the hand feeder and the baby.
>	    The age of greatest socialization is the period during and
>	    shortly after they wean (2-3 months).  I would advise that you
>	    visit the baby often at the store, and perhaps give the baby a few
>	    drops of his hand feeding food (via syringe or spoon).  If 
>	    possible, try to get the store owners to keep him out of direct
>	    public interaction.  Rude and cruel customers may torment the
>	    bird, negating the benefits of hand-feeding.

Well, politely, I must disagree with most of this. I think feeding a
baby bird is a wonderful experience--and easy. My first bird ever was
(and still is) a macaw, whom I purchased as a baby. I don't believe I was
in any danger of shooting formula into his lungs. Also, I really do believe
that bonding is established during these feedings. I have a roommate who
handled the bird as much as I, but did not participate in the feedings.
No bonding occurred with said roommate. Sorry, Aaron, but I say, go for the
bird, take it home, play with it, nurse it, teach it, and enjoy having a
baby around. I'd love to have another kid!

Mike


-- 
Mike Melton
UCS UNIX Consultant
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: ammg2052@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Aaron M. Moy)
Subject: More on teaching Tiels to talk
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1992 22:12:49 GMT

One important factor regarding 'tiels that talk is gender.  In a recent survey
conducted by Bird Talk magazine, it was found that 98% of the tiels that did
talk were male (though I'm not sure how the owners were certain of their
bird's sex).  From personal experience with breeding and raising cockatiels,
I would say that the males are definitely more vocal as a whole, and thus
would be more likely to talk than females.

Repetition is indeed an important part to teaching.  Coupled with this, 
however, are interaction and enthusiasm.  You should do more than simply 
throwing some words at the bird whenever you pass by the cage.  Play with your
bird (but do avoid spoiling him) and over-act when you teach him.  The birds 
really respond to positive excitement.  You may feel a little goofy, but it's
for a good cause.

Aaron Moy
ammg2052@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu
"The Baby's Nest" Hand-Fed Birds
Urbana, Illinois
(217) 328-1838

Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
From: "barbara turnbull" <barbara.turnbull@canrem.com>
Subject: here pretty bird! heeeeer
Reply-To: "barbara turnbull" <barbara.turnbull@canrem.com>
Organization: Canada Remote Systems
Distribution: rec
Date: 22 Nov 92 01:26:16 EST


Hi, Djb;
D > Actually I have a question.  I'm afraid my birds have the "death diet"
D > plus fruit
D > & veg & vitamin suppliments - its not easy to get pellets in England.
D > The only
D > pellets I can get (Lakes) taste foul (sorry, no pun intended).
D > Now I would have thought that bird pellets ought to be flavoured since my
D > birds
D > at least have a finely honed sense of taste/smell - so much so that it
D > seems
D > really mean to give them cardboard flavoured pellets to eat, even when
D > supplimented by fruit & veg.  What do you people think?

i feed my grey fruit-flavoured pellets, Hagen is the name.  i think
it's strictly canadian.  a breeder i spoke to recommended his [no
surprise] but they smell like cardboard and rocky prefers the fruity
ones.  but it makes sense that artificial colour/flavour isn't great
for them.

D > Do any of the other pelleted foods taste good?

i've never seen pretty bird this side of the border.


 Regards from... Barbara Turnbull (barbara.turnbull@canrem.com)

---
  PMDBM  V1.74 #46 
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Canada Remote Systems  - Toronto, Ontario
World's Largest PCBOARD System - 416-629-7000/629-7044
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds