Any bird owners in here?

PhishCactus

Lvl. 420 Vaporist
Always wanted a dog or cat, but various constrains always stopped me. I got a cockatiel a few years back, and it has been love ever since. Her name is spike (didn't know she was a girl when i named her) as of now she doesn't do any real tricks per-say and doesn't really mimic any sounds besides a few whistles. While at first I was a little disappointed that she didn't pick up any interesting tricks, I now appreciate how sweet she really is, yelling to me when ever I enter and leave a room, and when I get home, and thoroughly enjoying getting petted on the neck for an infinite amount of time, or until I get tired of it. Birds are awesome, and really know how to communicate with humans on an emotional level. I always feel horrible leaving the room in a hurry and hearing her yell for me to come back, sometimes i have to indulge her!

Anyone else in here have any kind of birds?

Ill post a picture tomorrow...I figured this could be a sort of pet bird picture thread :lol: :brow:
 
PhishCactus,
Here's my ridiculous bird story.

My family inherited a small group of zebra finches in a pretty in a pretty big cage, 4 males and 4 females. They never breeded in their previous environment and lived very happily. So after a month at our place we have about 25 of the damn things, and they're cut as all get out by the way as they learn to fly and slowly mature. As time goes on the males start going psycho in a space which seems quite big even for the number but may not of been, and with no one volunteering to take finches, we had no recourse. Males starting picking on females, birds started dying, finally some were taken by a friend..

Any males who exhibited excessive violent behavior toward ailing females soon were ejected quickly out of the cage and into the west coast wild. After a long period of peace with about 12 finches, they started dying of natural causes and essentially stopped trying to breed. It came down to a few males and a female, and then finally to a single male, named Sam.

Sam was as tough as fucking nails. This finch lived alone for over four years, was no less than 7 years old (astronomical for a zebra finch), survived an infection which TOOK HIS EYE and in fact did not die of natural causes. This one-eyed finch survived years after all the others had died out, and years after he made myopic.

I killed Sam. I killed him because I was converting a guitar into a fretless guitar 50 feet away from him, and got halfway up the neck before I thought "oh, I should put the bird outside for this." For those who don't know, frets are pulled by briefly running a soldering iron over the metal bar which is the actual fret, heating it so the adhesive softens and the fret can be pulled off with some vice grips or whathaveyou. So basically I inadvertantly bird-slaughted the toughest Zebra Finch to ever exist on this planet. Birds, especially ones the size of a chicken mcgnugget, do not like noxious fumes, and that's almost certainly what did him in.

And you better bet your ass I felt really, really, sincerely, deeply bad about killing that little bird, for a few weeks at least, and instantly do again upon writing this.

So that's my bird story. First kind of funny, then savage, then just sad.

In response to your post Phish, yeah, parrots and cockatoo-type birds are on the of the few creatures with adequate capacity for intelligence and affection that they can actually go insane when their owner dies or goes absent. They're so long lived and so intelligent that, truly, they'll start plucking out their feathers and exhibiting other bizarre, repetitive behavior when neglected. Birds are some of the most impressive, amazing creatures, but they also require some of the greatest responsibility. Sam had a truly impressive amount of personality and obvious intellect for such a minute little thing.
 
charliedontsurf,

lwien

Well-Known Member
Don't have a bird, but we have flocks of amazon parrots that fly over the same time every morning and evening. I can set my clock to them. Word has it that a few escaped a pet store and they mated. There are multiple flocks now, each flock of about 50 birds, and when they land on a tree all together, man, they can make a racket. They're obviously not native here so it's pretty amazing how they've been able to thrive.

Also got a peacock that hangs out on the front lawn in the summer.

But yeah, I had a girlfriend who had a cockatoo. Birds can be pretty fucking smart and they are definitely an emotional creature once ya get to know 'em which "can" be a real pain in the ass, 'cause they can also have a pretty bad temper. Some birds are really social by nature and require a lot of attention otherwise they can get a bit crazy.
 
lwien,

Purpl3_Haz3

On a Permanent Vakation
Kinda glad this topic got made...I was at the vet today with my cat, and I was admiring the birds in the waiting room. I had two parakeets (spelling?) when i was younger...both lived several years, dying of what was assumed to be natural causes...

When i saw the birds at the vet today, i decided i want to get a bird again, maybe not this week, ut sometime soon. I would like to get one that can mimic sounds possibly, but that's not a big deal...I really miss the emotional connection i had when i was younger with my birds...reading your posts; phish, Charlie, and lwien, I really want a bird again :)


Kind of a no where post i guess...vaked :ko:


Peace
 
Purpl3_Haz3,

OhTheAgony

here for the chicks
I'm a cat person myself so my home isn't really save for any flying critters, but I bought my buddy a Achapornis when he moved out of his parents house and into his first apartment to keep him company. Little Rico must be about twelve years old now. They are amazing together. The bird is always out of his cage when he's at home and he sits in his lap or finds his way in to his clothes to nap in his armpit. Sometimes he even walks out forgetting the bird is still sitting on his shoulder or somewhere in his clothes and yet it never flew away. Normally when he has to leave he just picks Rico up and (gently) throws him in the direction of his cage and it just takes the hint and goes inside the cage by himself so my friend can close it up. My cat walks with me without a leash better then most dogs I know, but I have never seen anything like this.
 
OhTheAgony,

crawdad

floatin
im a lover of all things living (a few people aside, and fleas) and while i dont own any birds or keep any, i enjoy the countless passer bys that frequent my collection of feeders, houses and baths in my back yard...i enjoy seeing them from my hammock as i puff away.
 
crawdad,

Lo

Combustion free since '09
We don't own any birds....but they own us! ROFL!! We have many that come by daily looking for handouts and fresh water. One Woodstork that my husband befriended comes by every day and even follows him into the garage begging. The Woodstorks are endangered but you'd never guess it if you came to my house lol.



Here's my hubby's new BFF:
 
Lo,

Lo

Combustion free since '09
Sticky....I have been watching them too! Since they were eggs lol. Man, they have grown quick too! I have enjoyed watching them develop and linked friends to it. So cool to get that bird's eye view ;)
 
Lo,

Vicki

Herbal Alchemist
OhTheAgony said:
I'm a cat person myself so my home isn't really save for any flying critters

Same here. I used to have a parakeet named "Fletch." He was such a good bird. I let a friend take care of him while I was on vacation, and he died in her care. :(

To this day, I have no idea why he died, but birds are sensitive creatures, especially to temperature change. It's really hard to say. I didn't get another bird after that.
 
Vicki,

StickyShisha2

Well-Known Member
Lo said:
Sticky....I have been watching them too! Since they were eggs lol. Man, they have grown quick too! I have enjoyed watching them develop and linked friends to it. So cool to get that bird's eye view ;)

its 'full screened' on my 2nd monitor all the time, chirping through my headphones.
 
StickyShisha2,
Those are great pictures Lo, I love all kinds of long-legged wading birds.

There's these little tiny white wading birds that are all over the Hawaiian islands, I love watching flocks of those things.
 
charliedontsurf,

herbgirl

cannabis aromatherapist
no pet birds in the house, just fish, cats, dogs, and rabbits, but we have at least three breeding pairs of great blue herons that I watch fishing in the river from my dining room before the trees leaf out and spoil my view, that is. We also have a breeding pair of mallard ducks that has adopted us, i think they are nesting on the side of the house (yay! bug eating pooping machines are good for my edible forest garden!). They come to us for cracked corn because the neighbors only give them stale white bread. I don't blame them, I won't even eat that shit lol. The kids think it's great and it's a teachable moment if there ever were one.
Also this year we now have a few diving ducks and at least one wood duck in the creek. Oh yeah, and the mourning dove pair that nests on our deck light is back, always nice to see the babies get big and fly away. House finches are checking out the channel up under the awning and hopefully will nest there.

I would love to be able to set up feeders for songbirds, but it would be like a gourmet kitty cat buffet with all the outdoor cats in my hood. I'll just have to be content with planting habitat species for them for food and shelter and hope they can stay one step ahead of the pussycats :/

I really like birds in the wild, but have never been fans of them as pets. Mr. Herbgirl has discussed getting a cockatoo in the past, but the idea flew out the window real quick when I reminded him that I already care for three humans, six pets and some fish and did not want the additional responsibility. The words 'affectionate' and 'intelligent' come to mind, but so do the words 'dander' 'feathers' and 'squawk'. I have enough crap to clean up with a family of four!

I love our avian friends - just not in my house :)
 
herbgirl,

Lindsey

VA_Kottonmouth_Kween
High everyone & YAY for this thread!!! My parents have an Umbrella Cockatoo named Baby Chloe
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& she is my "baby sister" in my parents words. The vet says Chloe & I have "sibling rivalry" because when I come around her she rips my glasses off my face & flings them across the room. She also chases me out of her room "It USED to be the living room" & if she catches me she will bite my foot or ankle. I begged my folks for Baby Chloe & after she bonded with my parents I wanted a bird too. They got me a parakeet but it is NOT the same as a bird you can hold & talk to all day!!! SO They gave me Johnny Richter & Gypsy Rose (the parrots in my picture on here) for Christmas that year!!! (I gave the parakeet to a friend who has a large aviary for his parakeets & would take good care of her.) After I got my birds Chloe became extremely jealous of me giving my love & kisses to them & the rivalry started!!! She calls for me CONSTANTLY Ma Ma!!! Ma Ma!!! MA MA?!?!!? But if I do the slightest thing she doesn't like while holding & petting her (Umbrella Cockatoos LOVE to be rubbed & doted on ALL of the time) she will bite me under my arm or on my inner thigh, somewhere SUPER tender!!! My picture on here is my 2 Grand Eclectus Parrots Johnny Richter (green male) & Gypsy Rose (red & purple female). That picture was taken 3 years ago when they were only one year old & Gypsy has since then decided to pluck out most of her feathers!!! :( No more pretty purple & most of her chest, back, & legs is black fluffy down!!! After seeing our avian vet my Momma paid for her to get a "bird birth control shot" (which was WAY too expensive). The vet says she has VERY overactive hormones & that is why she is plucking. That didn't work (I'm kind of glad because neither my parents or I could afford it every month for God knows how long!!!). Next I had her on Pluck No More & that seemed to make her stop talking & kind of dazed out & bitey so I stopped giving her it. Now that she is off of it, she is talking & making new sounds & words AND I can see a bunch of pretty red & purple feathers coming back in on her chest & back!!! YAY!!! I hope she chooses to keep them this time!!! Gypsy not only has her plucking issue, but she has also decided almost a year ago that she is pregnant (her vet says no way) & her nest/eggs is in the bathroom in 3 different spots!!! When she is on top of her cage & no one is looking she climbs down & "fast waddles" from the den into the bathroom!!! Watching her do this is hilarious & adorable BUT she has bit my almost 71 year old Daddy, My 66 year old Momma, & me because we went into her "nest room" aka OUR bathroom!!! Johnny is a whole different story. He has "yangxiety" & "yanger management" problems!!! When he was younger we gave him this long stuffed animal snake & he perched on it, attacking it for 30 minutes plus every time it was on his cage!!! & While growling at it, he would say in a really angry voice "YANG!!!" & viciously bite it!!! Every time he made beak to stuffed snake contact "YANG!!!" I finally took it away thinking us laughing at how cute he was may provoke him to think being mean was good. To this day he continues to "duels beaks" with Gypsy & bites her toes if she won't give up her food, toy, or treat!!! He is quite the bully to his 1 day younger sister!!! I want to save up & buy another cage so they can be housed separately but they have been together their whole 4 years of life & call to each other if I take one in the other room!!!
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I don't know what is up with our flock but I DO know we are one bird loving family!!! If you love birds too check out the movie Paulie & the new 3d movie Rio!!! BTW If you have a Grand Eclectus, Umbrella Cockatoo, or a bird with any of the problems our 3 birds have, please e-mail me!!! ;)
:peace:
-Lindsey
 
Lindsey,

Lindsey

VA_Kottonmouth_Kween
Oh yeah, I also have 6 Leopard Geckos (most are different morphs), 2 aquatic turtles in our front yard pond, 2 cats, 2 mutt dogs, & 1 guinea pig!!! Yep, I have 16 animal kids & no, unfortunatly this vegetarian does NOT YET own a partridge OR a pear tree!!! :lol: Maybe come 9/13 (my big 30th birthday) I can get a pear tree at least!!! Yummm fruit!!! ;)
 
Lindsey,

Lindsey

VA_Kottonmouth_Kween
Lindsey,

Lindsey

VA_Kottonmouth_Kween
lwien said:
But yeah, I had a girlfriend who had a cockatoo. Birds can be pretty fucking smart and they are definitely an emotional creature once ya get to know 'em which "can" be a real pain in the ass, 'cause they can also have a pretty bad temper. Some birds are really social by nature and require a lot of attention otherwise they can get a bit crazy.


Do you know what subspecies of Cockatoo hers was??? Uurs in Umbrella (BIG white full head crest) & Snowball the dancin' bird is a Sulfer Crested (yellow mohawk looking head crest) There are a BUNCH more too!!!
 
Lindsey,
Haha, that video was great. Watch how the bird actually reacts to changes in the song such as moments of refrain in the song, like around 27 seconds.
 
charliedontsurf,

lwien

Well-Known Member
charliedontsurf said:
Haha, that video was great. Watch how the bird actually reacts to changes in the song such as moments of refrain in the song, like around 27 seconds.

Which song?
 
lwien,

lwien

Well-Known Member
LindseyCrites said:
Do you know what subspecies of Cockatoo hers was??? Uurs in Umbrella (BIG white full head crest) & Snowball the dancin' bird is a Sulfer Crested (yellow mohawk looking head crest) There are a BUNCH more too!!!

No I don't Lindsey. Sorry. It was a pretty long time ago but it looked just like Snowball.
 
lwien,

Lindsey

VA_Kottonmouth_Kween
lwien said:
LindseyCrites said:
Do you know what subspecies of Cockatoo hers was??? Uurs in Umbrella (BIG white full head crest) & Snowball the dancin' bird is a Sulfer Crested (yellow mohawk looking head crest) There are a BUNCH more too!!!

No I don't Lindsey. Sorry. It was a pretty long time ago but it looked just like Snowball.

Sulfer Crested!!! :) I bet it didn't dance just like Snowball!!! That takes a LOT of time & practice (& patience)!!! Last night my other love, the Kottonmouth Kings put up a free sample of their ep coming out on 4/20 & my Gypsy bobbed her head to 3 of the 5 songs!!! I told her how good of a girl she was & she just kept bobbin' away!!! No foot action like Snowball but at least I am learning WHAT she will jam too (besides Jackson 5 & The Beatles)!!! ;) She "sings" to them LOL
 
Lindsey,
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