Percysmum

I'm with you Tari. In the upteen years that I've had 'tiels I'm yet to lose one due to injuries from night fright. I love my quakers but have just such a soft spot for the 'tiels. I mean honestly how can you resist something this cute. Yeah sorry Tari, I know I'm not helping you.

Well the little one isn't so little anymore. Not too long now before he? (still waiting for DNA) comes home. All bubby grey needs to do now is wean. I'm going to get the cage set up in the next week or so. So here's the latest photos. (if they're too big just let me know and I'll resize them)

My breeding pairs of cockatiels are in large aviaries and can still get night frights. A night light can help a bit but if it's going to happen there's not much you can do. If you're really leaning towards a quaker if you haven't already done it, check out the book "A Guide To The Quaker Parrot" by Mattie Sue Athan. It's a worthwhile read.

I love my quakers to pieces but they can get loud. Mind you I can't hear them over the suns and nandays having their morning screaming session atm. I have 3 of them, my blues are pretty laid back, Barney the green is very cage territorial. You also need to make sure quakers are legal in the state you live in. I also breed cockatiels and honestly a well handraised cockatiel is an absolute delight. There are so many mutations out there as well that are so beautiful. They don't have the volume of the quakers nor the quirks that seem to come with them. I've found the more "intelligent" (and I use that word with hesitation) the bird the more likely there are to be accompanying psychological problems too. Quakers whilst incredible with their potential speech etc. certainly come with a whole set of potential psychological issues. Cockatiels also have the potential to talk and are very smart but without quite as many neurotic issues.

Thanks for that. I'm probably one of the worse culprits for using shortcuts.:blush: We have some different names for our native 'toos in Australia so when on international forums I just translate in my mind to the shortcut international version rather then the long hand version.

Depending on weaning I've got about 4 weeks now until bubby grey gets here. Still no idea on sex but will find out soon enough. I've got the cage (will take pics once it's set up), will be ordering Harrisons fine in the next couple of weeks and have an assortment of toys etc. Couple of questions... It is a large cage (3.4ft wide and about the same internal height) and I'll be making sure all toys and perches are there already. How many toys should I put in there initially? Also number of perches. The main perch will be natural eucalypt (I live in Australia and use branches from the backyard for all my birds) but there is also the choice of a tuity fruity, cholla perch and rope as additional ones. Should I just put these in from the start? I'm fine about feeding, the rest of my birds (remembering I breed parrots too) are on a mixture of small parrot seed, pellets, fruit and veg, sprouted seed/beans, and quinoa a couple of times a week. I'm looking at the red palm oil also to put on whole grain bread a couple of times a week. is there anything I haven't thought of that's more grey specific? Also I've started training the family to call out before they come into the bird room. (Hubby is rolling his eyes at this but going along with it:laugh: ) I've got an aviator harness ready for when bubs is a bit more settled in too. (I won't be clipping espiecially at this very early age, as a breeder I have strong feelings about allowing birds to fledge fully) Now is there anything I haven't thought of?

I've had a few 'toos growing up. One of them was a bare eyed and I've got one coming within the next month from a rescue (she's a disabled bird). They are one of the quieter 'toos but to be honest that's not saying much. It's like comparing a 10 earthquake to maybe an 8. They are a little less neurotic then their larger cousins (ie greater sulphur crested) but none the less can be quite demanding. One of my concerns is how much disruption will a baby 'too cause to your grey.

OMG there are so many incredible photos. It's not just the subjects but the photography itself. Best of luck to you all. They are all fantastic shots.

Thanks for that. I'll get some ordered in the next couple of weeks. Will start with the fine and see how things go.

I've been really looking forward to this lot of photos. Bubby now has the gorgeous red tail feathers. Breeder seems to think the way things are going we mat be looking mid October for him/her to come home. He's doing DNA later this week so will hopefully know by the end of the month whether I have a little boy or girl. Starting to get excited. Umm actually I haven't stopped being excited from the time I knew I'd be getting my dream baby.

I'm glad to see this. I've been looking into Harrisons for when my little one comes home. I've only found a couple of suppliers in Australia but after seeing the recommendations I'm happy to pay the freight costs and get it. Just wondering which size of the high potency would be the better one for a just weaned young grey (CAG). I was going to go with the coarse.

Sorry, gotten used to using the short cuts. GSC2 = Greater sulpher crested cockatoo. RB2 = Rose Breasted Cockatoo (or as we refer to them in Australia a galah)

Oh yeah they nip and they hang on. It's like being pinched hard by someone with really sharp nails espiecially when they get that area between your thumb and finger. Ouch. I grew up with GSC2s and RB2s and had a really nasty bite from one of the GSC2s while transferring it from transport cage to aviary (beak wrapped around the wrist) but while it hurt and broke skin it wasn't the sharp sting that budgies manage to inflict and given a chance will continue to if they're in a mood and on a roll.

The budgies have been pretty easy to feed, it's the over the top personalities that wear a bit thin at times.:blink: I really enjoy feeding the cockatiels, they're real sweeties. They literally fall over themselves when it's feeding time wating their turn. My GCCs are on their first lot of eggs atm so hoping for bubs in a few weeks and then with any luck the Nandays will go down too. I've been breeding on and off for about 20 years but this year has been my first time handraising. I love it but it can also be absolutely heartbreaking when things go wrong. Having said all this my grey will be fully weaned by the breeder. I may know how to handraise, but would prefer my grey to be done by someone with alot more experience.<br><br>Post edited by: Percysmum, at: 2007/08/25 23:47

Pepper is gorgeous. Great markings. I'm with the others beccy. There are a number of times I've turned to my hubby fluttered the eyelashes and said "but I had to, it made me". Yes he goes off in a grump for a little while but gets over it. I figure if it's not putting your family at risk financially, socially or emotionally go for it.