Animal Stories - People Talking About Birds



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Latest Animal Stories on Birds (4283)

Jayashree Manoharan - 2013-02-17
My 10 weeks old Alexandria always likes to sit on my shoulder and whenever he is hungry he sit on my shoulder and ask 4 food that too from my mouth. He likes mouth feeding. If I offer him that he dislikes he flew away from me and again come back to me. Only for past two days he started to fly. Is it a bad habit? If i put him inside the cage also he struggle to open it and he also sits on top of the cage (outside). Is it bad? If so how to change his behavior? Then how to give a bath and how many days once we have to give a bath. Jasmine Mam if possible give me Ur mail id. So,that I can sent u his video clips for the perfect guidance.

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Jasmine Brough Hinesley - 2013-02-17
Flying is not a 'bad' habit. Birds fly naturally. However, if you are worried about losing your bird out a window or open door, then I highly suggest having his wings clipped so that you do not lose him permanently! Clipping his wings will not allow him to fly very far or get lost. To give him a bath just provide him with a large bowl of water on the bottom of his cage. If he wants to bathe, he will love the water and give himself a bath! Change the water daily.

chris - 2006-12-10
I have a mixed opinion about Derbyans. Speaking abilities in birds were never a high requirement of mine so I will omit that part of vocal capabilities. I have two Derbyans. Both came from the same bird store. One which I handfed out and the other I bought later on from the same store. Both have standoffish personalities and dislike being touched. They will however tolerate being perched on a hand and seem content to extend that much of their comfort with human contact. As a veteran bird keeper I find derbyans to be rather unresponsive and quite frankly a useless pet bird if compared to conures or lories (though that is subject to opinion and individual bird personalities). They would however make gregarious aviary birds and probably enjoy that sort of setting moreso than a home environment.

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Renee Devera - 2011-07-23
Chris,
You don't sound at all as though you enjoy these birds. Do you still have them? I would be interested in purchasing a female from you, if you have one. If you don't, I would love some advice on where to get a female.
Thank you,
Renee
linda - 2013-02-16
chris, i agree with you about the aviary part, but why then did you go and buy another one?

chris - 2007-01-19
This is an update of my previous entry.

My derbyan that I handfed out is becoming a downright horrible pet. Having been handfed for almost 2 months and much handling it should be as sweet a hand fed baby could be.

Its behavior resembles what I refer to as "production babies;" babies that are simply fed and returned to their clutchmates where the only interaction with a human is being picked up, shot full of food and set back into their enclosures. This bird also bites whenever any move it made upon it. My other Derbyan does not do this. It also cowers in its cage whenever any movement is made in its direction. Veteran bird keepers may think this bird was never even handfed to begin with.

I feel this Derbyan is the most useless pet bird Ive had. Im most disappointed in that all the attention and socialization it has received in a home environment has resulted in this fearful, limitly handlable bird. The only thing this bird is good for is color (when it matures). Other than that, it may as well just be free flighted in an aviary. Then again it may possibly be just the personality of this particular bird.

My second derbyan (this one was weaned already and was handled minimally while living at the store) has been a much better behaved pet. However this one is cage territorial and bites when its to be taken out. When perched on my shoulder, it quietly sits and does not mess with my ears or glass's arm (the other Derbyan cannot be kept on my shoulder). It also doesnt try to fly away when I take it out unlike the other Derby. It readily enjoys human company however still does not appreciate being stroked. Despite the shortcomings this Derbyan has, it is a much more handlable and I enjoy it. How ironic that a bird with a fraction of the attention given to it has become a much better bird.

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Siobhan OLaoghaire Sannes - 2011-04-05
I have now seen you refer to that poor Derbyan as a "useless pet bird" a "downright horrible pet" and then say "then only thing this bird is good for is color". As your post is years old, you probably aren't around anymore but shame on you! Every animal deserves love, a word I have yet to see you use regarding any of your birds.
Charlie Roche - 2011-04-06
Not all birds are alike and some can be quirky. I bred many birds for many years. One, a military macaw I finally named Sergeant cus he reminded me of a drill Sergeant in the Army. I did everything I could think of and his sister was just a sweetheart. Sergeant was just very difficult and I decided to hold him back for breeding as no way he could be a pet. 7 or so years went by and I get a call and this fella wants a male breeder and I tell him about Sergeant. Sergeant has been in a flight with toys and a blue/gold macaw for the 7 years but definitely not handled. Fella says perfect and I ship Sergeant across the country. Sergent looks at the fella and says "I love you" and walks up to him and steps up on his hand. Go figure. Anyway, Sergeant got married and had babies ut I couldn't believe this fella could pick Sergeant up and he did. A good breeder will hold back stock at times cuz for some reason they just realize that this one particular bird is not pet quality. It doesn't mean your derbyan won't be a pet, or won't come around as obviously Sergeant did but maybe it needs a different approach, or start over or beats me after that.
Cobalt - 2011-12-17
I agree with these others. This is probably a comment that is years too late, but that's a horrible mentality for anyone who handles the birds. If that's really how you feel, then you probably should find the birds a new home and look for something else...
Maria Conceicao Tereza - 2012-01-14
tony yearsley 14-1-2012 I HAVE A DERBYAN CALLED FRED HE IS 2 YEARS OLD HE IS THE BEST BUDY THAT ANY ONE COULD AS FOR. THANK YOU FOR A GREAT SITE
linda - 2013-02-16
i too am in agreement about the nasty comments about the derbyan as a 'horrible useless pet' how sad that someone like this is breeding them! there are so many birds that are out there to be adopted. we are fostering a derbyan now that is similar to her bird. but she likes my husband now, and granted she is VERY loud, but we are giving her as much love as she wants, and good care anyway...i think she probably was a purchase without knowledge of the breed, which is usually only kept as an aviary bird due to the fact they really do not like to be with humans which is their nature. all we can do is try to educate people about pet birds as much as possible...

sunbug - 2010-11-23
I've had a male lutino for 3 years. About 2 weeks ago I rescued a male blue and a female lutino from the back of a horse trailer at a flea market.
The male blue has bald patches around neck and under wings and on belly.
He sits with ruffled feathers and has started a very odd behaviour of stuffing seed shells into his feathers. Other than this, he eats well, bathes, moves around normal, etc. Any suggestions as to what is wrong with him?
Also, I want to start them on a pellet diet but don't know which one to choose. I especially want a good one for him to get him healthy again.

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TheoDee - 2010-12-13
I've got news for you, sunbug. Your bird is a female! I just discovered this myself. I adopted my bird-friend lola about 2 months ago from a neighbor. She had been in the cage most of 5 years. I let her out, treat her to nice seeds, apple, banana and whisper sweet nothings to her! She also started stuffing papers and twigs into her feathers, on her back. She has just laid an egg! And there are more to come, by the looks of it! Good luck!
Michelle C - 2011-01-02
We have a lovebird and we have noticed that she is also stuffing seed shells into her feathers. Does anyone know why they do this?
Nicole B - 2013-02-15
Nesting! They are gathering materials for the nest. Do you have children? If so, you must remember the 'nesting' phase where you frantically gather, store, make sure everything is right for your baby to be!

Alden Loew - 2013-01-13
I just acquired a pair of Buffon's Macaws at the New Year and I was wondering if anyone had an interest in them, or knew of someone who might be? They are in excellent condition, great feather, very good size birds...bigger than my friends Hyacinth. I was unable to get a whole lot of history on them. My educated guess based on feet and beak conditions is the female (laid 2 eggs from perch of cage for previous owner) seems a bit bigger .... although I have not weighed her. My male is a little friendlier / outgoing, while the female is considerably more defensive of their cage territory. If no one has an interest in the pair I would be open to any tips for stimulation or fertilization for year round indoor macaw breeding for a michigander. lol

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chad - 2013-02-15
Buffons still available?

sarah sharp - 2013-02-14
I have a 3 maybe 4 month old whiteface cockatiel that I bought. I was told when I bought it that it was to young to tell what sex it was. The bird is getting alot of white under it's beak and around near it's eyes and some on the top of it's cere, but it's crest is gray and when it climbs the cage to come out the underside of it's tail feathers has the bar pattern except for the three middle ones which are dark. I have only had the bird for 2 weeks and would like to name it. I would appreciate any feedback as to what sex you might think it is. The bird whistles, chirps and does the wolf whistle. thank you

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Jasmine Brough Hinesley - 2013-02-16
Unfortunately there is no sure way to tell on cockatiels just by looking at them. There are definite signs that make it more likely they are one sex rather than another, but they can still occasionally be wrong! I would 'guess' that your cockatiel is showing signs it is a female - but again, there's no sure way to know at this point.

Louise - 2013-02-05
I have a male white dove and i am having a hard time getting him to bathe. He loves to in the summer but now what winter is here hes not fond of it at all. Funny thing he will let me bathe him with a washcolth. Would it be ok to use Dawn dishwashing liquid to help remove some strains he gets from walking under things like bits of dust on his feathers. Any advice you could give me would be helpful. He is such a loving pet i want to make sure i am caring for him properly. Thank you

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Clarice Brough - 2013-02-06
Personally I would just stick with water. Although Dove is a pretty mild detergent, I would be hesitant of stripping the feathers too severely of and natural protective dander.
rachel haris - 2013-02-12
I also have 2 white doves who do not like to bathe. I occasionally stand them in about 1 inch of warm water and wash their bottoms with my hand then they had enough of that I then get a spray mist bottle and mist them lightly. After this very quick encounter they are mad at me for days the ends of their tails and the males tummy are a little gray it's bothersme because they are my babies and I want them to feel clean. I heard that a tiny dab of johnsons baby shampoo would work well not rubbed into the skin but gently massaged over soiled feathers snd rinsed very well in sink with a thin stream of water. I would never use dawn on doves too harsh and difficult to rinse out also johnsons baby bar soup.

Jayashree Manoharan - 2013-02-12
My 2 months old Alexandria is not eating properly but he is active and playful. He hates inside the cage. What can I do?

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Jasmine Brough Hinesley - 2013-02-13
Continue offering him healthy foods and supplements. That is about all you can do. If he is hungry enough and not sick, he will eat.

elliottsmom - 2013-02-11
Hi everyone. I have a 10 y/o OWA that I got as a rescue. He spent entire life cagebound with a senior couple. I have had him for a year and he has really come out of his shell. Talking, mimicking etc. He is wonderfully gentle and not at all cage protective. However, he is very what I call 'anal'. He WILL NOT perch on anything other than what he has had in his cage all his life. No matter what!!! He also will not 'step up'. He is not totally food motivated so I am having trouble outsmarting him. He loves us but doesn't want to come out of his cage or have us touch him. Any help would nbe appreciated. I have gone slow with him as I knew his history. Thanx

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Clarice Brough - 2013-02-12
These are wonderful birds... but they have incredible memories. He's well trained (for years its sounds like) to perch in his cage. Patience and love, those are the main things. But he may never change and you may have to just love him the way he is. Still a wonderful bird though:)

samantha snyder - 2013-02-11
I have a Male sun conure, my question is can two male conures (different types) be placed in the same cage, or will they become territorial? This question arose because the the breeder will not pay to have the bird sexed...

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Jasmine Brough Hinesley - 2013-02-11
There is a good chance they could get along together. Conures in general are social and friendly birds and in the wild will often live together in pairs or flocks of up to 15 birds! But, depending on how long yours has been alone, he may be wary of a second bird at first. You might want to introduce them in a play area first or put their cages next to each other to see if they get along.
samantha snyder - 2013-02-11
Thank you got your help!

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