Wow Taz, I never really thought of it like that but you're right!

Cully the 'tiel is precious. We had two years ago, but they were not handleable, they would bite the devil out of you. Ended up selling them to a breeder. They were just aviary birds when we got them and just never could bond with them. I've had several budgies and a lot of zebra finches. Have 5 finches now.

Some birds just don't like to be petted. Dusty tolerates it - sometimes. He likes his head and neck scratched when it's time to go nite-nite, any other time forget it.

Space, yes, his wings are clipped. Life span can be up to 60 years but that depends on a lot of things, diet, genetics, health, etc.

Mickey, sorry to hear about yours. That's sad.

 

thax. we didnt like it but had to do somthing so we had to give up all our animals. So we will have them agian someday.
we had a fish tank.
jack russel (minnie)
and a turtel named tommy and then the two birds.

reglar zoo LOL

but it was neat to have the frends around.

 

Try brushing him with a soft-bristled tooth brush.
He shouldn't get too upset about being touched with the brush.

 

Rick, I actually have tried that with Dusty, he tried to eat the brush. I think he thought he had teeth to brush too, LOL, because he had watched us brush ours.

 

Yep keep birds and fish cause my dad is allergic to most furry animals. We usually have an avg of 4 birds. Currently we have the tiel, 2 keets, and a male canary. (and then a 20 gal and 30 gal tanks). Yeah Cully definitely hisses at anything that could possibly poke at him. Unfortunately we didn't get him right after hatching, he was young (still had tail stripes) but if I were to buy another, I would get a store to order me one that I could start feeding from hatch

 

Cully, find a reputable breeder and go through them. Some will let you visit with the baby and when it's weaned then you take it home. Unless you know what your doing, it's real easy to kill a baby bird when hand feeding it. Besides that, going directly to the breeder is almost always cheaper than going through a pet store. I bought Dusty from a breeder for about half the price he would've cost from a store.
Go to a few bird shows and talk with breeders there. Lots and lots of work hand feeding a baby, at first it's round the clock feedings for some species, every hour or two. Can't leave the house any length of time until they are weaned, unless you take them with you. It's a big commitment. I'm not saying that you couldn't/wouldn't do it, but a lot of people would get tired of it after a week or so, then the baby is the one that suffers.

I had forgotten about the 'tiel hiss. Dusty doesn't hiss, he growls, just like a dog. It's hilarious to see/hear but I try not to have him in situations that cost that, it's too stressful. If he gets scared or threatened enough to growl, he's being stressed as he's a very well socialized bird, unlike so many other greys that are crazy nervous.

Mickey, zoo? Nah, LOL. Along with Dusty and the finches, we have 3 cats, 4 dogs, an appaloosa gelding, a miniature horse (stud), chickens, guineas, turkey, goose, duck, 4 aquaiums (29, 30, 55, and 55+) and a koi pond. And we used to also have rabbits, an iguana, a goat, quail, and cows. Feed bill is higher than the grocery bill.

We need to fix the fence so the creek can't take it out every time it rains and get cattle again - to keep the weeds and grass knocked down and lower the property taxes. They went up when they realized weno longer had cows. I want goats but if we can't keep the fence good enough for cows, goats would be a nightmare.

 

Dusty, Thanks for the advice. I have learned quite a bit from my years with birds, but would have a lot more to learn if I were to decide to get a Grey. If I did get one, I would be fully committed to the responsibility. However, I don't think my situation for at least awhile (with graduation, job search etc) would allow proper conditions for the bird's care. (Hence why my mom takes care of Cully since I'm at school).

I love birds, but I'm a fairly accomplished aquarist and know a lot about (freshwater) aquariums/fish. They're also easier to take care of if you need to be away for lengths of time. I'm planning on getting a larger tank when I have my own place. Of course, they don't show you the affection that birds (and other pets) do.

 

We used to have a parakeet. Two of my sisters worked at a store called WT Grants many years ago. The yougest sister was assigned to the pets department and they had this parakeet no one wanted. They claimed it was mean. So of course my sister just had to buy it.

It hated the dog. They would fight back and forth a lot. One night while my parents were on vacation the bird and the dog started at each other. The bird would mimmick the dog barking. The dog got mad and knocked over the bird cage, stand and all. Bird seed was everywhere.

I used to let the bird fly around my sister's room while I cleaned the cage.

When my parents moved, my mother insisted the bird stay down in the basement. She didn't want seed in her new carpet. I went downstairs one day and found her dead. I suspect she died of loneiness?

 

They may not be affectionate but they sure do have different personalities. What kind of fish do you have?
I have a pretty catfish (you just have to trust that he's pretty, LOL, I can't pronounce or spell his name), he lived with the oscar until the oscar croaked. I have a couple of saltwater fish. and some freshwater angels. Have a black bass (he was raised in captivity for stocking tanks/ponds with) He'll be released into a friends tank once he out grows his aquarium. Right now I'm using him for reference and studying him so that when I mount a fish maybe it will look like a fish, LOL. (I hate mounting fish, but it's just part of it). And of course goldfish and koi in the pond.

 

I want a bird, but my wife doesn't. This whole marriage and equals thing stinks at times because I can't do what I want to anymore. (as far as purchasing and pets.) Not that I'm complaining, but a bird would be a good addition to the family because we can't have a puppy or a kitten right now with our 7 mo old son...last thing I need is a yellow lab pup jumping on my son...I LOVE dogs, but that one would have to go to a family that has older children. And before anyone suggests a shi-tzu or yorkie or any other ankle-biting dogs...no thanks. ) LOL. Good discussion about pets though!