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Post by apache on Sept 15, 2007 0:22:02 GMT 10
hi there, im looking for a companion bird and i have been recomended by a friend who has 3 ringnecks to get one.... i have read online that they make good pets but i have also read that they make bad pets.. does anyone here have one as a pet and if so whats it like?? i cant decide between a quaker, alex or a indian ringneck... i live on the sunshine coast in QLD and i know where i can get baby hand reared ringnecks but im not sure about where to find an alex or a quaker.... any suggestions on what would be the better pet would be greatly appreciated thanks Pamela  |
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Minna
Addicted Member
Peekaboo!
Posts: 128
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Post by Minna on Sept 15, 2007 9:43:05 GMT 10
Hey hey, Like most birds, they have the *potential* to be very good pets. They're all about equal, imo. All birds go through an adolescent hormonal phase in which they're likely to turn into little bastards for a while, and all three of those species are pretty intelligent -and the more intelligent the bird, the more likely it is to develop behavioural problems if all its needs aren't met. But if you know what you're getting into with a parrot, any one of those species are sweet, intelligent birds, and make extremely good pets. So, it partially depends on what you're looking for. Do you have plenty of time to spend with the bird? Is noise an issue? Are you hoping for a talker? |
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Post by silvercloud on Sept 15, 2007 18:19:24 GMT 10
Hi and welcome Pamela. Ringnecks can be lovely pets as long as you realize that most will always be a bit nippy. I haven't had any experience with quakers as they're illegal here in the west but everything I've heard about them makes me want one sooo much. Just wait til Phill gets on here, he has a quaker and he'll tell you all about him.  Alexs are wonderful pets. They can be a bit loud at times but so can most birds, but they can talk so well. They aren't the cuddliest bird but still like to be with you. What in particular do you want in a pet bird? Have you thought about cockatiels, lovebirds or princess parrots? They all make wonderful companions. |
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Post by vankarhi on Sept 15, 2007 19:15:56 GMT 10
Everyone so far has said everything I would have said. I have owned 2 ringnecks and I found they did not make real good pets, they were a bit nippy. Once again though each bird is individual. I presently own 2 alex's and they are lovely pets. The female though is very loud but my young male (13 months old) is not very loud at all. Lucky for me he has not picked up on Shrekie's screaming. The alex's in general do not like to be patted, but mine don't mind a bit of a pat........my male more so, but it is not like owning a cockatoo or a galah (mine loved to be loved 24/7 .......... the 'toos and galah). I personally love the alex's and I would recommend the breeder of my boy Takoda to you. She lives in Brisbane and is a member of this forum and pops in from time to time. Hopefully she will see this and answer for you also. I have seen a pet quaker and she/he was a lovely little bird too.
I have found my alex's (especially my boy) are very forgiving with me now working 30 hours per week, he still enjoys coming out of his cage and is happy to just hang out with me. He does sometimes let me know he "wants out". LOL Both my alex's and ekkie are quite good talkers too (especially the ekkie).
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Post by vankarhi on Sept 15, 2007 19:17:51 GMT 10
I should also add, that you should do heaps of research, go to pet shops, breeders, read books and the internet. Get as much info on the breeds of birds that actually interest you and then decide which ones might suit you better. You will need to consider the bigger the bird, the bigger the cage and toys etc.........so more expense too. For me I love the medium to large birds.
Good luck and let us know how you go.
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Post by apache on Sept 16, 2007 1:34:25 GMT 10
thanks heaps for all your advice guys.... Its so hard to decide what kind of bird suits you.. I have only ever had budgies and cockatiels before.. but i would like to take the next step and get something a little more i dont know.... special??? I work 30 hours a week, so im out everyweek day and i have 2 young kids too.. at the moment i have a large cage inside that is empty  its big enough for any of the birds that i have talked about i think.. its one of those meter high powder coated ones on a stand with a massive door on the front and the roof opens up with a big perch on it.. ( it looks like the same metal as in vankarhi's picture of her eclectus ) my partner Andy isn't a bird person ( i have been all my life... both my dad and my grandpop have bred birds most of their lives - just canary's and finches etc.. ) so the noise does bother him but not me.. he thought our last cockatiel was too loud! so preferably it wouldn't be a bird that was too noisy... I prefer the look of a fatter bird like a quaker to the bigger birds.. but i know thats not a reason to pick a bird.. I would love it to be able to talk and perhaps do tricks but overall it doesn't matter if it doesn't.. i just love to have a feathered friend to cuddle and pat.. i have been to a few pet stores and i fell in love with a blue quaker ( it was 18mths old and in an aviary but was so lovable.. it kept following me around the outside of the cage and wanted a scratch! which surprised me as it was an aviary bird! - mind you.. even at that age etc it was still $575... had it been cheaper i would have taken it home on the spot!) one of my best friends has a quaker and its the most beautiful bird i have ever played with.. its soo friendly its like a person! anyway the thing is... im kinda scared about spending soo much money on a bird and it dying.. so even though the quaker is my top pick, the ringnecks are so much cheaper so if it dies.. apart from losing your loved pet, its not as much money.. i know that sounds awful and please dont think im a bad person for thinking that but it is something that i do think about.. i can get a baby hand raised ringneck ( a blue one ) for $150 from a breeder that my other friend has gone to.. but i don't know of anywhere other than the pet store for the quaker and the petstore charges a fortune if you know what i mean.. would you guys take the risk and get the quaker or would you look for something else? i don't want a bird that is known to be a biter either.. so im a bit worried about the ringnecks.. thanks heaps for all of your advice, Pamela |
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Post by apache on Sept 16, 2007 1:36:43 GMT 10
Hi and welcome Pamela. Ringnecks can be lovely pets as long as you realize that most will always be a bit nippy. I haven't had any experience with quakers as they're illegal here in the west but everything I've heard about them makes me want one sooo much. Just wait til Phill gets on here, he has a quaker and he'll tell you all about him. Alexs are wonderful pets. They can be a bit loud at times but so can most birds, but they can talk so well. They aren't the cuddliest bird but still like to be with you. What in particular do you want in a pet bird? Have you thought about cockatiels, lovebirds or princess parrots? They all make wonderful companions. actually i was looking at princess parrots! they are not soo noisy either i hear! |
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Post by apache on Sept 16, 2007 2:41:21 GMT 10
ok.... seems that i have become obsessed with the search for a new bird... its 2.30 in the morning and im still up looking at birds on the net LOL..... the more i look into it.. the more i am turning back to the tiels.... i am a bit worried at turning the page so to say and getting a parrot that is larger /more demanding than what i am experienced with... im seriously thinking about getting another cockatiel.... but maybe this time i could get a pair of babies and handle them both every day and that way they will have a friend so hopefully there will be less screaming and less hubby's whining about my pets!!! im going to bed..... hopefully i will not dream about birds like i did last night and maybe tomorrow i can ring a few breeders and see what they say.... its hard being a Libra i cant ever make decisions!!  |
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Post by vankarhi on Sept 16, 2007 8:01:08 GMT 10
Apache, a princess parrot might make a good pet for you. They are very pretty and apparently quiet too. They are trainable and can talk a little bit too. John (the owner of this forum) owns one or maybe even a pair (can't remember) and I think a couple of other people might also own them or know someone who does. You can get them in blue also. You sound so similar to me also (I love the blue birds and would absolutely love a blue Alexandrine..........but that would be tooooooo expensive in my lifetime).
I also started with budgies as a child (my father also had birds, canaries and finches), then as I got older I had cockatiels (and still some budgies) then progressed to sulfer crested cockatoos and a galah (but wanted a black 'too, but couldn't afford it.......or bring myself to spend that sort of money for one back then (20 years ago)). Then a few years ago I decided it was time to get a "different" bird. I did research for about 1 year and narrowed it down to either and ekkie or an alex. The ekkie won, but about 18 months later I ended up with my first alex (he had to go back to the breeder as he had scissor beak..........long story, but it is here on this forum somewhere) and ended up with Rani (who I rehomed) now I have Shrekie and Takoda ... alex's and Skye .... ekkie and a pair of canaries sitting on eggs and now seriously considering a black cockatoo............actually I know I will get one now, I have no issues with saving that money now. LOL (the bird bug just grabs you by the "neck" and you just can't help yourself. LOL) I do remember when I actually went to pay for Skye ($800) I did have real problems. ;D Then when I brought her home I was absolutely terrified she was going to die or get stolen or something. she did get an infection at 18 months of age but the vet I took her too was excellent and she came through that no problems and it did not break my bank account.
Now I am looking for a male alex for my girl shrekie and a male ekkie for my girl Skye. I was going to just buy a male alex first.............but hubby said "just buy a male ekkie too" ..........I am lucky he doesnt mind me having these animals. He is not an animal person but enjoys my passion.........lucky too as he is building my first aviaries as I am typing this. ;D
I am also into dog obedience and agility trials (am a judge too now) and my husband now joins me in these activities with our staffy. I train my border collie but I decided to include Stephen by allowing (very kind person that I am. LOL ;D ) him to train our other dog the staffy. We steward at these trials together too. So you never know Apache, what is your passion, just might end up being something your partner might end up enjoying too. Maybe ;D
Keep us informed of what you decide to get, I am very interested as I am sure others here are too. ;D
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Post by sebzpets on Sept 16, 2007 8:18:07 GMT 10
I'll vouch for Princesses!! I love them to bits!! Even aviary bred,parent raised Princesses are gentle and loving...and as H/R they are simply adorable! Try not to buy from a pet shop though as these days a lot of shops have their birds in open top displays so that everyone (public) can "play" with the babies. Problem is the babies also get poked and prodded by kids and the like....imo not a very good way to sell birds at all.
Jane has princesses I think so she might know of a breeder in SE QLD.
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Minna
Addicted Member
Peekaboo!
Posts: 128
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Post by Minna on Sept 16, 2007 10:07:04 GMT 10
www.birdhealth.com.au/bird/parrot/aspets.html is a nice comparison-type sites of different parrot species as pets, (though it does group all conures together, and they can be very different). Green-cheeks are pretty quiet, though they're certainly *capable* of loud noises -Jedi has this funny WOOOO~AOUUUU noise she does when she think you're leaving her, and it can be fairly loud, (though completely hilarious). I spent a LOT of time on youtube trying to figure out how loud lovebirds could be, haha. (Whereas now I just watch birds on Youtube because Akira loves talking back to them xD).
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Post by apache on Oct 24, 2007 23:58:18 GMT 10
thanks heaps for all your help guys.... wow reading back over that i realized how much of a shocker i am with making decisions.. haha anyways i finally decided on a pair of indian ringnecks....... 1 blue one and 1 green one... they will be ready this weekend for me to pick them up, im soo excited! i dont know what sex they are but the breeder did the wedding ring thing on them and it come back male and female... so maybe one day there might be babies in the house! she said something about lacewing if the did breed... now i have no idea what this means but im sure i will find out if and when they ever breed.... presuming of course that they are male and female i will post pics as soon as they arrive home |
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Post by vankarhi on Oct 25, 2007 8:19:57 GMT 10
well congratulations on your choice and I love the colour of the blue ones. Greg (AKA Grego) owns a beautiful blue female IRN named Mylo.
Show us pics ;D when you get them of course.
Is the breeder on the Sunshine Coast?? Oh and I have never heard of sexing birds with the wedding ring thing. LOL I have seen it done on pregnant women........don't know if it was accurate or not. LOL
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Post by Jane on Oct 25, 2007 8:56:46 GMT 10
Congrats on your new fids we look forward to the pics when they arrive home I have never heard of the wedding ring thing how on earth does that go? |
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Post by vankarhi on Oct 25, 2007 10:07:38 GMT 10
You are supposed to hold a wedding ring (usally belonging to the owner of the ring......usually the pregnant woman's ring) on a piece of string or a chain and hold it above the belly (the pregnant belly). Depending on whether it goes side to side or goes around in circular motion depends on whether you have a boy or girl (supposedly).
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Post by Jane on Oct 25, 2007 10:45:46 GMT 10
Fair dinkum  I cannot imagine how that goes with a bird.... maybe I am too narrow minded of course. I'll be interested to see if its right. |
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Post by grego on Oct 25, 2007 19:33:52 GMT 10
Wow..interesting information.............. |
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Post by apache on Oct 25, 2007 23:14:50 GMT 10
oh of course i put no credit to the ring thing but its all part of the fun of it all! ( but to be honest, i have heard of chicken farmers doing it to eggs to see if they have rosters or chickens! ) mental i know!
so yes it will be hilarious if they end up being a male and a female....
hey does anyone know what this lacewing business is all about? AND if i do get 2 birds from the same family, and presuming they are male and female, is it ok to breed them? or is that asking for trouble? should i get the blue one and some other bird from one of her other nests??? its just that the 2 that she has put aside for me are the oldest 2 and they have a bond... so i dont want to separate them..
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Post by vankarhi on Oct 26, 2007 7:19:09 GMT 10
Apache if they are babies, they will bond with another bird if you do decide to get a different bird from a different parentage. I myself would try not to breed from birds so closely related, unless an experienced breeder and trying for a particular colour or something.  I have read so many ads that say "a pair of baby birds, bonded pair" and they are usually only a few months old. There is no way at that age they are a bonded pair. They are a "pair" because they are male and female and they are familiar with each other as they have been raised together. |
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Post by Jane on Oct 26, 2007 16:54:10 GMT 10
No you should not inbreed birds, it will cause genetic deformities. Even breeders line breeding for a particular colour would use an aunt or sim. not a brother/sister.
As Tracey said young birds who are not related will form a nice strong bond by the time they're old enough to breed.
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Alexs are wonderful pets. They can be a bit loud at times but so can most birds, but they can talk so well. They aren't the cuddliest bird but still like to be with you. What in particular do you want in a pet bird? Have you thought about cockatiels, lovebirds or princess parrots? They all make wonderful companions.
its big enough for any of the birds that i have talked about i think.. its one of those meter high powder coated ones on a stand with a massive door on the front and the roof opens up with a big perch on it.. ( it looks like the same metal as in vankarhi's picture of her eclectus )
