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Post by kuruptz on Dec 23, 2006 17:47:11 GMT 10
Hey guys I was thinking of getting a rainbow lorikeet but have seen some Alexandrines and they seem like lovely birds. Are they bigger then Rainbows? Are they good birds? Is there any reason they are better birds then rainbows? Pro/cons of Alex's? Good for first Hand Raised bird? (dont worry im good with birds, tamed alot at work) I've heard there not as fun and playful as rainbows is this true?(as i want a bird with a fun personality) My choice is basically Alexandrine or Rainbow Lorikeet and god is it hard! Help me bird enthusiasts  Anything else you could share would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much. |
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Post by vankarhi on Dec 23, 2006 21:22:39 GMT 10
Oh gee..............just buy both ;D
well seriously i have never owned rainbows..........but have owned a couple of alex's. the alex's are not the clowns like the rainbows (from what i have read)...........but my alex's are lovely too. Today I just watched Shrekie (female alex......2 and half years old) on her boing that is hanging from the ceiling and she was having a blast dancing and bobbing her head etc. She talks very well too (but not as good as my ekkie girl ;D ) They don't normally like affection but they do like to show their affection to me in their own way. My little boy Takoda is just developing his personality but he does love to sit with me too and he preens my hair and also does allow some "loving" from me too. He will allow a head scratch and enjoys having it. i would recommend an alex as a pet, but their are others will recommend a rainbow too.
As a first bird to handraise.............I had cockatiels to handraise first and have raised 2 alex's now. I actually found the alex's quite lazy when it came to eating while handraising whereas the tiels are such little pigs and just love to eat all the time.
Alex's are much bigger than the rainbows too............but I am partial to the bigger birds ;D
Well that is my say ................. others will come on and give their opinions.
But i say...............get them both. ;D
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Post by kuruptz on Dec 23, 2006 22:23:21 GMT 10
Getting both isnt an option still live with crazy parents  Also i will be getting it handraised so at around 8-10 weeks i wont be doing all the feeding etc from a little baby. |
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Post by kuruptz on Dec 23, 2006 22:24:35 GMT 10
I also like how they are bigger, i had decided but then found out there personality isnt fun  :( and that made it an even harder decision. |
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Post by petiel on Dec 24, 2006 11:27:29 GMT 10
Alex's are my favourite bird. I breed them and have handreared many for pets. I kept one of my baby boys from last year and he is a real little man. People just fall in love with him and want one. He is so gentle when he gives out kisses. Vincent loves people and talks so clear and learns very fast. He will say many sentences. They are like having another person in the house. People say they are as smart as a 5 year old child. And I would agree.
I would get a Alex over any bird. That is my opinion after having Vincent in our lives we couldn't live without him.
I have handreared scalybrested lorikeets and have a tame rainbow lorikeet and they are beautiful birds but very different, they love to play and do talk a bit but nothing like the alex.
Alex's are very gentle birds and love to sit on a playstand and play with their toys. Vincent is much quieter than the lorikeets.
What I love about the alex's in watching them eat they eat everything and they know how to get the seed out of a cherry or grape and eat that first before they eat the fruit.
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Post by kuruptz on Dec 24, 2006 11:49:05 GMT 10
awww thanks for the reply, your bird sounds like a little cutey!
Are Alex's still fun and playful? i just don't want a bird with a boring personality.
I Also want a bird that loves my company and will love being with me, is this an Alex's personality trait?
What is the life expectancy of Alex's and Rainbows?
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Post by kuruptz on Dec 24, 2006 12:15:04 GMT 10
ANYONE KNOW ANY GOOD BREEDERS IN SYDNEY TOO ?
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Post by vankarhi on Dec 24, 2006 14:03:37 GMT 10
Alex's live for about 30 to 40 years.............so a long time if looked after properly. Pauline told you about her bird Vincent...........I have met him and he is a lovely bird who does love to be with people...........he took a shining to me and jumped straight onto my shoulder and started with the tongue kisses  ........... I am used to a bit of romancing first please lol  oh and Takoda (my little boy) is Vincents younger brother too and he also has a facination for my tongue too. lol I don't find them boring but it really does depend on what you want. I love my alex's and i love my ekkie........but my ekkie has mood swings whereas even when hormonal my female alex (Shrekie) is still lovely. I would recommend an alex as a pet..........especially if you are not going to handraise it..........if you never have handraised a bird before. You can teach them tricks too..........you can teach any bird tricks actually, but alex's are very clever. When I told you to buy both............I was joking............... |
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Post by vankarhi on Dec 24, 2006 14:06:00 GMT 10
oops one more thing. Try looking on petlink...........it is an internet site for classifieds. Go into the bird section and there will be heaps of ads for birds. You will have to try to get one soon as their breeding season has finished and you will have to wait until around next August before eggs are being laid again. There should still be some babies around though at the moment........but be quick.
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Post by petiel on Dec 24, 2006 15:37:29 GMT 10
Yes Traceys right the breeding season for Alex's has now finished but you can still pick up some handreared babies now. You can teach them many tricks my Vincents will do the high 5 and if you say shake he will lift his foot up for you to shake it. They are not boring birds at all and Vincent is out on his playstand all day and at about 6.00 everynight he climbs back down from his stand and into his cage for the night. Thats how smart they are.
I know this young boy who takes his alex's everywhere with him, he just sits on his shoulder and talks away.
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Post by vankarhi on Dec 24, 2006 16:09:30 GMT 10
awh so sweet Pauline about the boy with his alex on his shoulder. |
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Post by petiel on Dec 24, 2006 21:07:02 GMT 10
Tracey Billy is only 11 years old but loves his alex (Alex is his name) he brings him to the Parrot Society meetings every month and the bird just sits there on his shoulder the whole night. He even sold his motorbike to buy him a new big cage and heaps of toys for christmas. He does every thing for Alex and Alex just loves him.
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Post by silvercloud on Jan 3, 2007 11:12:17 GMT 10
What a wonderful story Pauline. Ok I haven't had alexs YET  but have done a lot of research and they have to be one of the best birds to have as a pet/companion. I do have 2 rainbow lorikeets and they are hilarious BUT they are really loud and really messy with their liquid projectile poos, you will have to clean their cage and the walls around it constantly. They can also be quite nippy. So you really need to weigh up the practicalities, alexs aren't as playful as lorikeets but they are a lot cleaner. Since you are living with your parents are they going to be able to tolerate lorikeets poo and noise. What other birds have you considered? Tiels are brilliant little birds as are green cheek conures and kakariki, they all are wonderful, playful birds. |
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:( and that made it an even harder decision.
........... I am used to a bit of romancing first please lol 
oh and Takoda (my little boy) is Vincents younger brother too and he also has a facination for my tongue too. lol
but have done a lot of research and they have to be one of the best birds to have as a pet/companion. I do have 2 rainbow lorikeets and they are hilarious BUT they are really loud and really messy with their liquid projectile poos, you will have to clean their cage and the walls around it constantly. They can also be quite nippy. So you really need to weigh up the practicalities, alexs aren't as playful as lorikeets but they are a lot cleaner. Since you are living with your parents are they going to be able to tolerate lorikeets poo and noise. What other birds have you considered? Tiels are brilliant little birds as are green cheek conures and kakariki, they all are wonderful, playful birds.