TessC

Thanks guys for your replies, much appreciated! In the end...I didn't go with either, but only because of happenstance. As much as I trust and admire our vet, I just couldn't go with his recommendation. The first breeder (who I really liked) wasn't going to have any available babies until October, and when I was introduced to another breeder who had an up and coming baby, I went to talk with her...and totally fell in love. With the bird- though she was very nice as well! So here's the new baby, as yet unsexed/unnamed. Hatched April 10th, we'll bring him home when weaned, which can't come soon enough. Here's one of the pics we took while at her lovely home, and YouTube links to him cuddling on my daughter( ) and getting sleepy after eating. ( )

Good afternoon, everyone! I have been searching for breeders in the New Orleans area and am faced with a couple of differences in method; I'd like to get the expert's opinons if I could. What criteria do you use in selecting a breeder? I've been talking to two people in particular in my area, and here's where things stand: Breeder 1: Has (literally) written the book on weaning birds and says she will work with me as long and as often as I need to feel confident in the process and will start releasing the babies around 7 weeks- or keep longer if I'm not comfortable. Concerns: horror stories about hand feeding. Also, I've read that there's a great risk of the babies 'rejecting' you as their person if you've hand fed them- they want to 'leave the nest,' so to speak. Pros: Has really taken time to answer my questions. I like the idea of seeing the entire clutch to see who bonds to me. And I just like her! She seems to really really care about her birds and the people who take them. Breeder 2: Recommended by our exotics vet. Associated with the nationwide "Parrot Place" organization (not that I know if that's a good thing or a bad thing), so the bird is somewhat insured and has been worked with before going home. Pros: fully weaned, likely to know 'step up' upon homecoming. Since she's part of a larger group can get a baby immediately to start working with. Concerns: Since she will "order" a bird, there's no personal selection or bonding involved- the bird that arrives will be my bird. And maybe that's not a big deal- the bond that develops is the more important issue. Also...I know this sounds weird, but I get a not-great feeling from her. Like I'm bothering her. I've called her twice and she's not so much as taken my name or number down. Okay, so am I being silly? Should I ignore my feelings about this woman and go with the vet recommendation? Should I go with my gut and my instant liking of the first breeder and trust to her expertise? Any thoughts would be so appreciated. Whew. Sorry that got so long, everyone! Thanks in advance- Tess

Thanks all- and especially Mazy, for sharing your story. I cannot imagine how how horrible it all must have been. I haven't been towelling him, because it seems self defeating- if he's supposed to be having fun on the perch but it starts and ends with something he hates, it won't have fun anyway, right? I have a business out of my home, and his cage is against my desk- it has a domed top, which folds down into a little veranda.It stays open all day while I work, so he's got the run of inside/outside his cage and my desk. He comes right out in the morning and checks everything out. It's resulted in cleaning A LOT of poop off the edge of the desk, :whistle: but it's well worth it. Little by little he ventures further out to come snatch something that's caught his eye. I talk to him sometimes when he does this, but he's most comfortable when I pretend to ignore what he's up to. Dan, please be assured that the tough love I meant wasn't dragging him around and forcing him to do anything he doesn't want- believe me, the last thing I want is to lose what hard-earned good will I've built up! I only meant that I want to start working with clicker training and suchlike. My thinking on that (I don't really know how the community here feels about the clicker), is that since it's a constant thing, a predictable thing, it should eventually help him be more secure overall. Eventually being the key word- at this point he's curious, but I've only been doing it sporadically, to get him to get used to targeting. (My business is Mardi Gras intensive, and until that's over I'm going to be a walking, muttering zombie:)) Please let me know what you think- I'm a total novice at this, and although it seems to make sense, I could be way WAY off base. Thanks again, everyone- you've made me feel like I've actually made progress when sometimes it's hard to tell! Tess

Thanks for the welcome! Here's the boy, in my favorite pose. It's like he's Dr. Evil from Austin Powers, stroking his chin. Post edited by: TessC, at: 2008/01/09 23:34<br><br>Post edited by: TessC, at: 2008/01/09 23:47

Good morning everyone! I stumbled upon this site while looking for training info for my boy Zulu. He's a rescue, 4 or 5 years old, and came from a horrible situation. His owner was in an abusive marriage and she and her children were eventually killed by the husband. He also lived with a macaw and a quaker- now he's on his own, as my first and only bird. (If you're interested, the full story is here He's smart as anything, but reluctant to work with me. He knows step-up, for example, but only does it if he's jumped down and is on the floor. If he's in or on the cage, he'll bite. He'll let me scritch a little, but that's all- no handling, no walking around with him, and he's terrified of stand alone perches. I've been trying to bring him into the kitchen and away from the cage, but it means having to 'towel' him, and since it starts with a traumatic experience, I hate doing it to him. But now it's time for some tough love as appropriate. He's had about 6 months to adjust, and he's certainly calmer than he was initially, so I want to start really working with him. He's started regurgitating for me, which I take as a good sign, although he's terrified of my husband- not surprising, given his background. Anyway, sorry to go on so long, I'm just happy to have found the appropriate place to blather about my boy! Tess