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Post by saif on Mar 14, 2014 4:42:11 GMT
Looks to me like she is recessive pied cuz alice has the pattern on her back
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Post by saif on Mar 14, 2014 5:07:04 GMT
* same pattern
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Post by lisamarie on Mar 14, 2014 16:45:54 GMT
Wow, so she still laid after the vet visit? I believe a budgie over 5 is too old to breed. I believe their prime is 1 - 3 years of age, but i could be wrong! That sounds cool to have seen her lay an egg like that, but I feel bad she is still laying. I would think getting a male for them to breed with would be awesome, but their ages worry me. Also, it could make things worse or better. No way to tell for sure :/ I would definitely call your vet and ask for an opinion!
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Post by Pammy on Mar 14, 2014 19:40:23 GMT
Cherry, I would not consider breeding S or M. If they were at least 4 years old when you got them, they really are past good breeding age. I understand what you are saying, since S is laying all those eggs anyway. I do fear that all this chronic egg laying could get even worse if you introduced male birds into the equation. That said, I definitely understand the itch to get another bird or two. Really, though, I believe you should wait until you and your avian vet get all this laying under control before even considering bringing in males.
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Post by santinoandmondo on Mar 15, 2014 4:06:51 GMT
The vet did say that the shot would take a week or more to take effect. But we should see an improvement. I wouldn't really want to breed S or M but thought that adding to the flock might make balance them out somehow. I definitely want to see the egg laying cease. I had mentioned that I've been scanning Craigslist for cages and have seen parakeets that needed re-homing.
We were at the pet shop today buying cuttlebones and my kids were looking at the parakeets and cockatiels. There was one really pretty hen who was teal, blue and yellow and an athletic little grey one who was walking upside down along the cage ceiling who caught our eyes! My kids really liked a couple of the conures, one little gal was doing somersaults, but we have enough to deal with right now. I hadn't realized that they could be so expensive!
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Post by Pammy on Mar 15, 2014 21:21:08 GMT
I strongly suggest that if you are going to get a bird that costs more than a budgie, that you look for a breeder who hand tames the babies. I say this because I've found pet shops to have really high prices on their wild cockatiels and conures. For the same money or less, you can get yourself a nice bird who already loves humans. For example, my local Petco sells wild, untamed cockatiels for $140. I got my hand tamed Mistletoe for $75. My local Petco sells conures for $400 to $600. A friend of mine recently bought a hand raised conure for half that.
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Post by lisamarie on Mar 15, 2014 21:34:11 GMT
For some reason Petcos by me can't sell any type of bird but budgies!
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Post by santinoandmondo on Mar 15, 2014 22:10:09 GMT
No, I wouldn't buy any bird that expensive from Petco. One of the great things I learned from this forum is that hand tamed birds are available as an option from reputable breeders. Yes, the conures were $400-$600!!!
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Post by Pammy on Mar 15, 2014 23:38:07 GMT
I think conures are beautiful, and as much as I'd like to have one, I don't think I'll be able to. Sir Mistletoe is about all the demanding bird companion I can handle. He wants me all of the time. Of course he can't have me all of the time, but that doesn't stop him from asking, very loudly.
The truth is, he's actually getting a little bit better about this. Sometimes he will climb around the cage, or eat, or even pitifully sit on a perch by himself for a while and look out the window without flock calling to me. Such a good boy.
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Post by dianapalmer on Mar 16, 2014 1:46:58 GMT
This morning I went out to breakfast with my brother. As I was coming up the front steps Silver started flock calling for me. He didn't stop until I was in the living room and at the cage. I opened the door, and he came right up on my finger.
It's so nice to have a bird that wants me.
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Post by Pammy on Mar 16, 2014 2:49:19 GMT
I'm glad for you, Diana.
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Post by lisamarie on Mar 16, 2014 2:56:42 GMT
Lucy is so good with her behavior. I was up visiting my boyfriend Wednesday morning to Friday morning at his school since we have different spring breaks. Which means Lucy didn't see me for a whole day luckily my sister was more than happy to sit on my bed and let Lucy out (firm instructions from me) for the day while I was gone. However, whenever I pull into my driveway and then come in Lucy immediately starts flock calling until I come up and let her out. I am still to this day STUMPED at how she knows it is me coming through the door. I don't come at the same time everyday and she doesn't call for anyone else. She's stone silent until I come home. She can't see who's coming inside either. Her cage isn't by the window and my bedroom is upstairs, in no view of the front door. I love that she's knows it's me I'd just love to know how! When I leave, she'll flock call once or twice if it isn't first thing in the morning, but then she's quiet. Sorry for hijacking this thread, mods feel free to move this post
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Post by Sarah on Mar 16, 2014 7:36:24 GMT
Pirate does the exact same thing to me... As soon as I step out of the car in the driveway I can hear him calling from my bedroom! I have a theory that our cockatiels have amazing hearing, and must hear our voices or something about the way we move to know!
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Post by santinoandmondo on Mar 16, 2014 13:52:24 GMT
I suspect your birds recognize the combination of sounds, i.e. the specific sound of YOUR car slowing down + the cadence of YOUR walk + your key in the doorknob = omg, MOM (or Dad) IS HOME !!!! My dogs used to get excited when they'd hear one of our cars slow down and turn into the driveway.
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Post by santinoandmondo on Mar 31, 2014 21:42:44 GMT
Since I last wrote you, I've been to the vet again. The shots ended up being 16 days apart instead of 14 days because it was too cold to take her. Despite the shots, Santino has laid more eggs. The frequency has slowed somewhat. We are due back in 10 days instead of waiting a full 12 days. I'm spending less time with her (the break-up that the vet recommended) but there must be something or someone else who may be continuing to trigger her egg production. If she doesn't stop laying with the 3rd shot, I have to take her for a 4th shot another 10 days later before we go away. Mondo has not laid any more eggs since her first one so we are not worried about her. A friend of mine will end up taking both birds for me (the friend who gave us the birds) while we away. The vet hopes that the 3rd (and possibly 4th) shot plus our absence (the hard break-up) will break her cycle of chronic egg laying. Well, the good news is that the visits plus shots aren't obscenely expensive. We had the tech assistant, the avian vet, and a veterinary student in the same room for the shot last week, plus about 15 minutes of discussion for $22.00. And a follow-up phone call today .
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