Aviary plans!

[Ashling]

I am considering buying a pair of bourkes parakeets for my aviary to breed from. I want to gain experience in keeping a new species of parrot as well as breeding, hand rearing etc and learning more about parrot husbandry. I have only done this with budgies so it's an exciting prospect. I may hand rear, co-parent or let the bird parent raise a few depending on the breeding pair, the time I have and of course my own competence. I'd like to sell the babies as companion birds, ideally. Also I'd be getting some quail eggs to incubate and hatch myself so they'll be very tame and I will keep a few females and introduce a male later on when they're older and live in the aviary.

I won't be doing anything until I have a job of course, but this is the plan for around Christmas time and into next year. In the meantime, I research! Any advice for me? I don't know much about bourkes or their breeding habits yet...

[Abby]

Get a really nice size young unrelated pair from a breeder (if possible) grab the ABK neophema book, maybe even a good handraising book and you have my number.

With all the different bourke mutations it gives you something to play with too. I haven't heard much either way about the quality of handraised bourkes as companions.

[Ashling]

Thanks Mary :)
I have heard that bourkes are very gentle. There was a youngster I met a while ago who was pretty tame -as in wouldn't fly away when I put my hand up to its cage- and aviary bred. I'm just thinking at the moment! If you have any suggestions other than bourkes, I am open to it. I have been thinking about many species and akways find myself coming back to bourkes for some reason. I'm looking for something small and hardy but with character and playfulness but I don't think bourkes are very playful!

Some info on bourkes
Frequently Asked Questions: Bourke's Parakeets
Visual Wings - Bourke Parakeet

I was also considering kakarikis as they have so much personality for such small parrots!

[Ashling]

Double post. What do you think of princess parrots (alexanders)? My dad had one for years that he eventually gave to me when I was around 9, but it escaped just as we were teaching him to step up. How do they fare as companion birds and how are they in the breeding situation? I love the blue ones.

[Abby]

Kakarikis would be a great choice. They're a gorgeous bird, so inquisitive, funny and have this naturally friendly nature. You're more likely to be able to co parent the babes too. They're a bit more robust then your bourkes.

I've got a pair of blue princess that I will hopefully get the box in this weekend with. They're one that I haven't heard much in the way of reports on pet quality either but I'm hoping to find out myself on that one.

[Ashling]

Thanks again Mary. I have another query. Regent parrots and musk lorikeets are also on my research list. I know the license requirement for regents in Victoria, and that is fine. Any input on these species? Do you think I could put up a thread asking about each of the parrots I am interested in, what I am looking for in the aviary birds as well as the hand reared pets, and my own capabilities? Would that help? I don't want to be told off for planning to breed!

[kali]

There aren't many people on here who would be able to answer your questions, to be honest. Most people don't understand aviary birds! They think birds should just be companions and that's it.

I would use Mary as a resource or post it in the Australia forum. Stay away from BB discussion.

[Ashling]

There are a few that I know can help, new guy on the block suggested princesses but I don't know how they are as companions. I think they are similar to tiels but more robust. I also want to ask the boy with the birds his opinion.
Princesses, kakarikis, regents, musks... hmmm...

[Abby]

I got my new ABK magazine in the mail yesterday. There's a couple of great articles in there particularly one on handraising. It would be worth getting a copy. It's the one with the ornate lorikeet on the front cover.

I'd stay here with your questions Mel. It's one area where breeding bashing is completely off limits and people can be reported for unnecessary anti-breeder comments. Due to me standing down as a mod there's not as much I can do in the other sections.

[Andie]

Well since there is not much to rescue here except cranky plucking cockatoos there is not much point breeder bashing anyway!!

Princess Parrots:
I am not a breeder but this is my experience with my pet (which you were kind of asking about too)

I think they have excellent companion qualities. My girl is NOT handraised. She was born in an aviary, raised by her parents but the lady who owned the mum and dad would pick her up and play with her each day.

She will sit on my shoulder for hours while I watch tv or surf the web. She is not cuddly but I hear varying reports on that. Handraised or ones that have been actively tamed down but parent raised may be more cuddly.

Noise level is pretty low. I have a girl though. Boys might be noisier. She talks to me IRN and the lorikeets outside but it is a pleasant sound and not at all irritating.

She is in a cage with my tiel. She is very alert and smart and I can see her working things through in her mind. She watches my every move!! She will eat anything and everything.

Princess loves foraging. I never taught her what to do she just knows. In the wild they spend a lot of time on the ground scrubbling about in the bushes for food. In the aviary, that means that it is really important to keep the bottom really clean or they get sick.

According to my vet, it is quite common for them to come with megabacteria so you should definitely get poo slides done to check for this. Being on the floor lots (where the poo goes) means that worming is really important too.

Darn it now I want to breed them too!!