Need some bird advice please!
 

Hubby and I can't have a dog, and we can't have a cat because we live in leased accommodation, but I'd like to get my DH a pet if at all possible.

DH has a "big" birthday coming up in October, and I was wondering if anyone knows if owners and estate agents are usually harsh when it comes to the "No Pets Rule", if it involves a caged bird? I know that things are probably digfferent between our countries, but it may give me some-where to start if I knew that it's allowable where you live.

We did have a bird aviary a little while ago, and DH has always had much enjoyment from the wild birds that he feeds. I was thinking of getting him a hand reared Cockatiel for his birthday. He is very fond of all animals and he's grown to really love the birds. My friend has an Australian Rosella Parrot that talks, and my DH just loves it so very much!

Also ..... the 1st of September is the first day of Spring here in Australia. What chance would I have of getting a hand reared cockatiel ready for mid October for my hubby? That would be approx 6 weeks into spring for all you bird lovers!

Any advice and/or suggestions gladly received.

What a thoughtful wife you are, Koala! I'll bet your hubby will love a feathered friend for his b-day.

I'll bet your Grand Koala will love it too!

Sorry, no experience with birds, but sending hugs to you! :hug:

Thanks Twink. I want to get him something special for his birthday, and a Cockatiel is something that will not only last, but as a bird lover..........it's something he can come to love as well.

They can easily be taught to talk, and I think it's something he'd get a lot of enjoyment out of.

He still wears the same watch I bought him over 20 years ago. He still has the signet ring I bought him before we were married, so a gift he would treasure is getting harder and harder to think of all the time.

My two concerns are whether or not a caged bird would be allowed in leased accommodation, and whether or not his birthday in October is far enough into Spring to allow the purchase of a hand reared bird, remembering that September 1st is the beginning of Spring in Australia.

Thank you to anyone who has any advice.

I know so little about leased property ... Isn't there anyone you can phone and ask?

I have some friends who own (not rent) an apartment in Chicago in a giant high-rise building and part of their contract was "No Pets" but they have two large parrots who are not caged unless no one is home.

I know even less about caged birds.
I am wishing you the bess on a grand idea.

Ask the landlord, just to be sure.

Our cockatiel Jesse was hatched sometime around Halloween and we got him in time for Christams '99 - a gift for dd.

He is just starting to go through his yearly meanie phase. Mating season gets him cranky even though he's a caged, indoors bird. They can mate at any time now till fall - I'd say about 5 months, as September had to have been when Jes was concieved.

It could be tough to find one, but call around. I'm sure you can find a few reputable breeders to ask. And too, your birds' breeding habbits may not be like they are up here.

If I had to, I'd wait until a new crop came out rather than take a bird more than a couple months old who may have already bonded with someone. Some are fine with new people, some don't do so well (ask my family about Jake, lol).

You could always do the cage and supplies, and then your dh could actually pick the bird that tugs his heartstrings. I know, having the bird would be a better surprise, but it could work okay either way.

Anyhoo, let us know what you do.

I'm excited just thinking about it, lol.

Excellent idea of getting him the bird for his birthday! I'd double check with the landlord first, some are quite picky about their "No Pets" rules to point where they don't even allow a child to have a goldfish in a bowl!! GRRR
Our Ringneck parrot was born on New Yrs Day of '94 and hand fed by the breeder. We purchased him when he was 3 1/2 mo. old. If your DH likes the ones that talk, there are many smaller types that aren't that expensive. Go to a local pet store & go from there..they might know a breeder in your area.

Good luck,


Marilyn

even the little parakeets are quite fun , they can learn tricks and just sit on your shoulder or head..
supposedly the males are more friendly, we had 3 and the males were nicer & easier to play with than the female.

yes...female budgies bite alot and don't talk much. They have pink nares when mature...the males have blue. I had two parakeets while growing up, and they were alot of fun! VERY. The second one was very smart and trainable. The first was less so.

I don't know about the temperaments of larger birds tho.
They DO require alot of attention...they bond typically with one person, and need alot of activity and interaction. If they don't get it they become neurotic, pull out all their feathers and get sick. If you Google bird rescues you will find sad stories there. So commitment is important.

Thank you everyone. I guess by Parakeet we're actually on the same wave length here, except we call them Cockatiels, unless of course we're talking about two totally different types of bird.

Another option to the Cockatiel is a Budgerigar, and they will also talk if got young enough, but I really would prefer my first option if possible. We had little Peach Faced Parakeets when we had our aviary, and although they don't talk, DH grew to really love each of them so I know he would treasure this one.

Step one is underway. I've contacted the agents who leased us the house, and they'll contact the owners who actually live in New Zealand and let me know the verdict. I had to be a bit sneaky and ask that they don't phone back with the answer incase DH answers the call. :D

I think they'd be pretty awful if they refused, and as for that gold-fish Corky, that's just darn mean!

I love birds - especially parakeets. I had a male parakeet while growing up named Sam. He was so smart - seemed like such a happy little bird. We thought putting another bird in the cage with him would be nice - keep him company, etc. We got a female parakeet - named her Suzy. Well, let me warn you that everyone is right when they say that the males are the friendlier bird. Suzy was a grouch.....made poor Sam's life miserable. I felt so bad for him. We finally had to put them in separate cages because he was so "hen pecked" - literally!!!

If I had to do it over again I would only get a male bird and I would not try to introduce a female to him. He seemed happy alone and we should have left it that way. :(

Let us know what you decide to get - and post pics once the surprise is given to hubby!! :)

yes...
 

you have to get a male.

We put a birdie made of plastic on a perch...it moved around back and forth.
My parakeet loved it and talked to it and all. That seemed to make him happy.

He was bonded to me tho. I used to let him out and he'd come with me to the bathroom, and my room. When I took my bath, he'd do his in his little bowl
we fixed up for him. He was really into MIRRORs...he'd talk to his image a blue streak. He was funny and really smart. He was great for ME too. I think about him with enormous respect and love, to this day!

Our birds freaked about the plastic bird, lol. Just goes to show they are all different.

The Tiel loves mirrors more than anything. If he flies up where we can't get him, all we need is something reflective and he'll fly right to it. But we don't leave mirrors in his cage, because he'll only interact with *himself * if we do, and ignore us and the other birds.

:p

Jake loves diet Coke, so we use that for emergencies if we have to make him do anything he really does not want to - and for one time when he escaped. He was halfway up the apple tree and I though he was gone for good. He saw that shiney coke can though, and came right back to me for a sip.

Years ago I had a pair of parakeets who could fly the house and follow me around s I watched my ds and cleaned. They'd light on my shoulder and sing - Arthur and April. I lived in an apartment then (*no pets*, but birds and fish were allowed).

I dunno... I love them all. I have a lovebird too. I get so attached. They're all special.

food...
 

That's funny about the Diet Coke...

My Willie LOVED ice cream, and milk. When he saw I had those or even heard
them getting ready.... He'd dance on the bottom of his cage...back and forth...
His way of begging to be let out.

I guess it was the calcium... We did have a cuttle bone in there, but he had to have a few licks of the dairy! I don't recall him begging for other stuff tho.
It has been a LONG time...over 40 yrs! He was a blue budgie/parakeet.
I always gave him two kinds of seed. The regular parakeet one and a special
one in a special smaller little cup.(it was called Treat something or other).

He lived a LONG time. Almost 10yrs... when I went away to college he became
very depressed...and died within a year of that. I felt really guilty about that, at the time. My parents and brother were not about to take up that emotional bond, they were rather cold, and only tolerated me and my pet needs. <sad>

A
.
Well who can blame hiim? I wouldn't settle for cuttle bone if I could have ice cream either. And personally, I am pretty sure birds are as smart as people (not really true: birds are smarter than some people I know).

;)

And you know what I'm saying.

When you were saying about him taking his bath... my lovebird has a Visions cage. The water dish doubles as a birdbath.

Buth the parrot climbs on my arm and goes with me to get the water. He climbs right down into the sink, clings to his bowl - in ICE cold water. Has to be as cold as it can get or he climbs right back out.

:eek:

I don't know why that doesn't kill him lol. But he loves it. He doesn't stop till he is totally soaked - and so am I. I have to clean the mirror and the sink (the wall and floor) when he's done. But he'll say "Yum yum! Love you!" and make kissy noises the whole time, he loves it that much.

:D

Then we go back to the bird room, give everyone their water, and Minnie the lovebird sees that Jake had his bath. So she has to get in her dish and wash up too.

Me me me! she says, if anyone gets something, she wants it.

The Tiel will not bathe, and he's the one who really needs it. Messy Jesse we call him.

Time to update everyone and let you all know that Part One is proceeding as hoped!

The New Zealand owners of our leased home have agreed that we can have a bird, so my next mission is to hunt down the local breeders to get some more information.

It was quite funny getting the permission, with whispered messages between me and our agent, and unnecssary phone calls just incase DH answered the phone. Seems there's lots in on this secret now. :D

It's getting a bit more exciting now, and there's still months to go until his birthday!

Let us know what you decide to get, Anne. And post a pic!!! :)

Updating my bird story once again. :)

A local breeder advertised in yesterday's local newspaper that he has birds for sale at the moment. He has the ones I want, plus many more different varieties, so I phoned him ...... as soon as DH was out the door :), and he said there should be birds available around my DH's birthday if the winter and early sping are mild. He explained to me how the weather can upset their breeding, so fingers crossed for me that the weather is kind to his breeding stock. :D

I asked about my chances of getting a male bird, as the concensus here was that males made better pets, and he said the opposite. He tells me that in all his experience the female has been the better pet for him. Anyway he said that the birds were difficult to tell apart when they were little, so even if I asked for a male, there was only an 80% chance that I'd get one.

Maybe I'll just let DH pick out which ever one he likes and not worry at all if it's male or female.

Now all I have to do is stop myself from going and getting one now and telling him it's his early birthday gift! :D

Well, aren't you the sneaky lil Aussie, Anne?? I think Russell is so lucky to have you; and no doubt, he will be quite surprised. My G'ma used to have a parakeet named Pretty Boy. She loved that bird something fierce and he would repeat what she said.

When he was bad, he seemed to know it, b/c he'd say Pretty Boy, Bad boy!! I still laugh when I think of that. My friend had a cockatiel w/peach colored cheeks, so she named him Peaches. I never knew where he was when I would visit, as she'd leave his cage open for him to get out once in a while.

Brain~~ I love your stories. I remember when you got Jake.

Good luck Anne and let us know when you get a birdie...

Love them
 

I love birds. And so does my oldest stepson. He brought a legal red and green Macaw back from Panama when he was stationed in the military there. They allowed him to bring it since it had bonded to him. That bird, Gonzo, has traveled all over the world with him and they are closely bonded together. He's visited in our house twice and easily learns to say words. My stepson was here for a month at one time and I taught Gonzo to say Gonzo's a Pretty Boy. I did this when my stepson wasn't home during the day. Finally one evening, I walked by the room and Gonzo said "Gonzo's a Pretty Boy!" in his best Texas drawl/Mississippi southern accent. My stepson was reading and he said without looking up, "I'm almost thru Billye, is dinner ready?" Then Gonzo said it again. My stepson looked up and started laughing. He'd thought it was me.

He says he's leaving Gonzo to me in his will. Heaven help me if such a thing came to be. I've wanted birds for years. But dogs and cats came first with my children. Dogs we still have.

I think it's going to be a nice surprise for your husband. Be sure to take pictures for us.

Billye

Oh DM, your Grandma's bird sounds delightful. I do hope I can get him one with as much character as Pretty Boy. My friend in Sydney has one named Cookie, and he's ever so cute. The things he says make me laugh so much! :D

Silverlady, thanks for telling me about Gonzo! I can picture him in my mind, and I think he's got the personality that would suit my DH's bird really well. Thank you!

I'm now finding it hard not to tell! I'd love to say....let's go get your birthday gift today, but I won't tell you what it is until we get there!

It's sooooo hard not to :D

Maybe I should do a poll? Who's in favour of me going and getting this little parakeet now, and who's in favour of leaving it until DH has his birthday in Ocober?

I get to go first :) .... I want it now 'cos I can't wait! :D

I vote for now as well!! Just think of the fun you can have earlier if you choose to go now. It is a good choice for a gift so what dictates that one must wait?

For goodness sake, get him one now, and another one in October!!!

And remember: we demand pictures!!! :)

i say go and look and see what there is ... if one doesnt "reach ourt and touch ya" then you know to wait ... when my boys were young the oldest wanted a parakeet ... we made 4 trips to pet stores before we found the one that he wanted ... as he said "the one that seemed to speak to him" he was 7 ... that bird was williams buddy ... would sit on his shoulder while he did everything ... the cutest memory i have is the fact that chatterbox would peck him when he was doing homework and the pencil was not writing ... he seemed to know when william was daydreaming ... lol

NoWWWWW!!
 

I never could wait for anything. I agree with Franksangel. Go with an open mind. Unless one of them grabs your heart right away, wait. Really don't rush it. You have several months to find the right one.

Billye

I've been having such fun reading all the bird stories. We didn't have birds growing up but just about everything else. I would go to my G-Grandma down the street from us because she always had parakeets. She loved those birds so much. And my daughter had finches growing up.

I know nothing about birds. :o So, there is a lot of good information here!

It is so hard to wait when you've found a gift for someone you love and it's just the perfect gift! Whenever I have given a birthday gift early, it's such fun when given, but then the birthday come and the excitement has come and gone, LOL.

You're so excited I think you should go ahead and get one if you find the right birdie.

What fun. :D

New Avatar
 

I used my Cami for my new avatar. How do you like it. She's a pistol!:)

I am waiting to see how the bird story comes out.

Billye

Thanks everyone, and you're right, I am getting too excited to leave this until October! :D ................ BUT...............

I did the "hypothetical" what if the gift I had picked out for you wasn't available in October, would it be OK to go get it now? He was a real spoil sport and said he didn't want anything for his birthday, and even if I did want to get a gift for him.....we couldn't afford to waste any money spending anything on ourselves (but he meant him I think) :(

I checked out what the outlay would be, and the parrakeet will cost $30 so the only real cost will be for a cage. Food and accessories for the cage won't cost much at all.

Blah to him! :eek: Now I have to think of somehow to change his mind.

I've resurrected this old thread to update you on what's been happening with my plans to get DH this Lorakeet for his birthday, which is finally almost here.

I found a reputable breeder and have been in contact with him regularly. Despite DH's initial protests, I was fairly sure I'd be able to talk him around....and I have!

I think he's rather excited about it now that I've had to come out in the open and tell him about it. He asked me straight out and I could never lie, so I had to tell him my plans. He's even chosen a name for the bird, so I think we can say without doubt, that my choice of gift has been a success.

At first he was hesitant because both of us always end up in tears for ages when any beloved pet passes away, even though all of our's have died of old age, it still hurts.

Well...his birthday is in 2 weeks, and when I phoned the breeder around a month ago, he told me the mother Lorakeets were sitting on eggs and the young birds should be ready to collect on his BD.

I telephoned again this morning to arrange pick up, only to find that because of a cold snap that we had, the babies had all died. :Sob:

That made us both very sad, but the good news is they are sitting on new eggs and hopefully we'll still get a baby bird, but it will just be a little later than his birthday, that's all. :smileypray:

I told him just now that on the actual day all he'll receive will be a bird cage with a picture of a bird in it. That certainly brought a smile......:D

Oh no! Where were the baby birds? Outside I guess?

I'm glad Mr. Koala is excited about his gift! :hug: