Judge a bird by the feather?

[LivingFiction]

I was talking to someone about cockatiels today. We both love them, but there is one point that we seemed to disagree on. I told them that when I decide to bring a cockatiel into the flock (probably in a few years as a family bird) I'd be looking for a hand raised show quality bird of the whiteface mutation, probably pied.

They thought that was awful, and that a family member should never be selected based on it's colors. I was a little taken aback. Goodness knows I love my birds for who they are, but I'd never considered the idea having a preference in regard to the colors of a bird an ethical dilema.

What to you all think? Is there anything wrong with seeking out a fid of a particular color?

[Franciscus]

Nope, but I think personality should come first in relationships.

[Casa Amazona]

Nope, I think we'd all be lying if we said we weren't attracted to certain birds for their visual qualities. As Frank says, that's obviously not the first or only consideration -- but I see no problem there. If you were bringing birds into your home as decorative items, I don't think that would be right. As family members who are loved, cared for and appreciated it's a different story. When I went looking for my first cockatiel I had something very specific in mind. As God would have it, that little sweetie also turned out to be the most loving feathered one imaginable as well as being just beautiful.

[Adi]

I have a Lutino PF, so obviously, I can't say that I wasn't attracted by his coloring!!! That, however, wasn't the deciding factor... he was the sweetest one I had ever seen, so things just happened to work out well!

I don't find anything wrong with having color preferences, but personality always comes first in my book. As Joanie said, the only way I would consider it wrong would be if you seeked out a specific color as a decoration.

[CKD]

When I went and met with the breeder that I was buying my tiel from she had Lutinos , normal greys , & pieds. I told her I was interested in her Lutinos because thats what I liked. The Feather coloring of just being white. She brought them all and I ended up walking away with a pied because he bonded to me imidiatley and I loveed his grey patches on his back side. Here is Chopper

[Rue]

...the colour issue can get a lot of people going...LOL...

My favourite colour horse is black and white...my least favourite colour is chestnut....but there are lots of other colours I like too, my next favourite are the roans, then buckskins, then bays...

...guess what colour my horse is? Red dun...which, for all intents and purposes...looks like a chestnut...

...but I love him...his colour doesn't matter in the least any more...

[BirdzRmylife]

YES(LOL)...No...like Franciscus, I think personality should come first in your relationship, before colours. I too like pretty birds, but I really could care less if my bird was as grey as the pavement. Just as long as the bird has a temperament, and charming personality.

Hense why I got Buddy! When I got him he was a little ball of pure grey feathers(not very attractive), but I loved him for who he was. And heck, his first molt he sported a new array of yellow head feathers. He's gorgeous and charming now, even though his body is mostly grey(And I still get comments on Buddy's beauty.) I'd take a charming personality over colour any day.

[basketbagley]

Michael,

I don't think you would be committing any kind of Fid sin if you picked what color tiel you most wanted.

Besides, depending on what breeder you get him/her from you may not be able to just go and pick one of the flock. The breeder I'm in love with has a closed aviary. At the time I didn't care what color my tiel was just that it was tame and well socialized.

If I were to get another one though, I think I would wait till she had a specific color I wanted. She sends video clips and pics of all the babies and you can pick one out or have her pick the one of your color choice that she thinks would suit you best.

All of Mary's babies have been so well socialized and tamed that they all have great personalities. So I trust her to pick ones for me that she thinks would be the best for a family w/kids.

So I guess I've traded being able to let the bird pick me, for the closed aviary, peace of mind about health issues.

All of that being said, of course I love my birds for who they are and not their color. I don't think it is any different than what breed we pick! You just dont walk into a petshop or breeder and take the 1st one that is friendly. we all pick differnt breeds to suit our needs and situation and what we are attracted to!!!!

So you get your whitefaced pied teil!!!! oh and if you'd like to see some of Mary's babies - she has a wonderful website - and is outside of Frederick, maryland. not sure how far that is from you. but when you are ready to add a tiel, hers are wondeful!

www.mandtexoticbirds.com

[dyeman]

The only problem I ever have with this issue is when people buy a bird for appearance without researching the species. For instance buying a Sun or Jenday Conure for their beauty and not finding out how loud they can be at times. Getting a Lory without knowing they poop for distance, etc.

I have my issues with color mutations in 'Tiels, you can hardly buy a normal grey anymore. But the mutations are going to be there, so why not satisfy your preference if you can find one that seems to like you?

Scott

[The Outlaw]

Since I NEVER come home with the bird I think I want, I'm the last one to ask. Each and every time, they've eyed me up and said, "Let's go, fat lady". All I do is write the check and make the food. They call the shots.

THE OUTLAW