Sally Blanchard & CPQ

[dyeman]

I am interested in everyone's opinion of Ms. Blanchard and her magazine. I came across it last year when it was recommended by a friend. I have for the most part found it to be a decent magazine that for the most part has interesting articles. I particularly like the "Friends of" sections.

However, I have noticed that many members here seem to have strong negative feelings about Ms. Blanchard and her magazine. I know she has strong opinions, but then again, most of us do as well.

What is it that you like or don't like about Ms. Blanchard and her magazine? If I am recieving bad information I would like to know about it. I think I am able to sift through most of the information I read for the true nuggets that apply to my flock, but I want to do the best I can for My feathered friends.

I would also like suggestions of alternative resources if this is a source you don't like. I am reading or have read many books, but would like some good magazines to read on a regular basis. I currently subscribe to CPQ and the AFA Watchbird.

Thanks,

Scott

[Skyebirdsmom]

Originally Posted by dyeman

I am interested in everyone's opinion of Ms. Blanchard and her magazine. I came across it last year when it was recommended by a friend. I have for the most part found it to be a decent magazine that for the most part has interesting articles. I particularly like the "Friends of" sections.

However, I have noticed that many members here seem to have strong negative feelings about Ms. Blanchard and her magazine. I know she has strong opinions, but then again, most of us do as well.

What is it that you like or don't like about Ms. Blanchard and her magazine? If I am recieving bad information I would like to know about it. I think I am able to sift through most of the information I read for the true nuggets that apply to my flock, but I want to do the best I can for My feathered friends.

I would also like suggestions of alternative resources if this is a source you don't like. I am reading or have read many books, but would like some good magazines to read on a regular basis. I currently subscribe to CPQ and the AFA Watchbird.

Thanks,

Scott

My only gripe about Ms. Blanchard's methods are they are for the most part antiquated and she needs to update her thoughts. Some are ancient, LOL.
Linda & HRC~

[BirdsUnlimited]

Poorly edited, why do I need to read why she thinks her neighbors dislike her, or how Dell computers sold her a bad computer. She tells people on how to raise baby birds and to my knowledge she doesn't breed birds. I puke every time I've got to hear about Spikey Le Bec and how he pooped today. As the editor she's responsible for the contents of the magazine (whatever she calls it now), it could be half the size if she just kept to the article content and not went off on tangents about all else. Does anyone proofread?
Phoebe Linden, another regular contributor, in my opinion set back hand feeding 20 years with her "hand weaning formula". Let's see, soak a bunch of long pellets and go from bird to bird, back to the bowl in between and don't worry about any bacteria, virus, or any other pathogen that a bird may have and pass on. I still use a different syringe for every bird, never redip, and I still have never had any problems w/ disease.
Liz Wilson, another regular and remember she's a vet tech, used to trash Bird Talk Magazine (at our club meeting) while she was writing for Bird Times,the worst bird mag going.
Toweling a bird from above makes the bird think a bird of prey is after it? Interesting considering my birds have never been attacked by a hawk. Maybe the last time they got groomed and didn't care for it. How about this one, birds take a bath when the vacuum cleaner is going because it sounds like a waterfall. What?
Sally calls herself a pioneer of bird behavior, sorry maybe in her house, not mine.
It's not gonna kill you to subscribe to it, but question everything you read whether it's her magazine or anything here for that matter. I've done this 30+ years and am still learning..... and questioning.

[Casa Amazona]

Personally I find her magazine delightful. Yes, there are typos that another editor might have caught but that doesn't really bother me. If it did I would contact her and offer to proofread the publication for her at no charge. Other than the Bible, I've never read any publication with which I totally agree and Sally Blanchard's publications are no exception. Not having any knowledge or experience in breeding, I am not qualified to comment on anything along those lines and don't read those articles because they don't catch my eye. My personal opinion is that all information about avian behavior is largely speculative, so the fact that some theories (whether they're presented as "theory" or "fact") may turn out to be incorrect doesn't bother me. I read her materials for her opinions, not for something I'm certain she knows. As I do with all other input, I sift through, discard what I believe to be incorrect and incorporate what I believe to be correct as it applies to my situation. I enjoy the stories about people with their own birds. This is something I used to find in abundance in "Bird Talk" but see almost none of over the past few years. This isn't a criticism of "Bird Talk," merely a comment on a type of article I enjoy reading. The day I have to polarize my thinking into absolute black and white on anyone involved in this wonderful world we call parronthood is the day is the day I'll become a hermit -- and what a loss that would be to me, as we all bring something to the table.

[Franciscus]

I think the magazine has a lot of valuable information and some things are just entertaining. I have found the last two issues to be particularly informative. I have yet to discover a better magazine about companion parrots. "The Original Flying Machine" was comparable but is no longer in production. I also think Sally Blanchard has been working with parrots long enough to know a thing or two about behavior.

[Beaks]

Originally Posted by Franciscus

I think the magazine has a lot of valuable information and some things are just entertaining. I have found the last two issues to be particularly informative. I have yet to discover a better magazine about companion parrots. "The Original Flying Machine" was comparable but is no longer in production. I also think Sally Blanchard has been working with parrots long enough to know a thing or two about behavior.

Just look at her birds and you will see instantly that she doesnt know anything about behavior(just because her birds can talk very well doesn't mean that she knows behavior it just means that she can teach which is the only thing anyone ever hears from her or any interviews that she does)

As for the mag she puts out, i know someone that has written a few articles in it. LOL

Yeah it's funny, Really Really Funny, so i know the sort of stuff that gets printed there and am totally not impressed.

She is no expert but after all nobody is when it comes to parrots, maybe in a few hundred years there will be enough information about birds to create some true experts but right now we actually know very little about what makes a parrot tick and most of the behavior aspect is hit and miss because all birds are as different as their disorders are.

The people that you have to worry about are the ones that claim to be an expert but can't even get their birds straight themselves.(Thats SB)

John

[Franciscus]

Originally Posted by Beaks

Just look at her birds and you will see instantly that she doesnt know anything about behavior(just because her birds can talk very well doesn't mean that she knows behavior it just means that she can teach which is the only thing anyone ever hears from her or any interviews that she does)

The people that you have to worry about are the ones that claim to be an expert but can't even get their birds straight themselves.(Thats SB)

John

Can you back up your statements? I have not heard or read anything about Sally Blanchard's birds not behaving.

[Skyebirdsmom]

Originally Posted by Franciscus

I think the magazine has a lot of valuable information and some things are just entertaining. I have found the last two issues to be particularly informative. I have yet to discover a better magazine about companion parrots. "The Original Flying Machine" was comparable but is no longer in production. I also think Sally Blanchard has been working with parrots long enough to know a thing or two about behavior.

Yeah? Well some BIRD ought to tell her that 'earthquaking' a bird on your finger accomplishes one thing....breaking trust between bird and fingers owner!!! That is one of the most archaic methods of teaching a bird how not to do something I've ever come across. Yeah, just what you want to do, break the trust you are trying to establish. Please people, don't listen to anyone who tells you to 'earthquake' your bird!! I mean, how would YOU like it? And how long would you trust someone who shakes the ground you walk on? Good Grief!!! :eusa_naug
Linda & SKye~

[Franciscus]

Originally Posted by Skyebirdsmom

Yeah? Well some BIRD ought to tell her that 'earthquaking' a bird on your finger accomplishes one thing....breaking trust between bird and fingers owner!!! That is one of the most archaic methods of teaching a bird how not to do something I've ever come across. Yeah, just what you want to do, break the trust you are trying to establish. Please people, don't listen to anyone who tells you to 'earthquake' your bird!! I mean, how would YOU like it? And how long would you trust someone who shakes the ground you walk on? Good Grief!!! :eusa_naug
Linda & SKye~

I have used that with a biting bird. I didn't vigurously shake the bird but gave him a gentle "wobble". Birds that perch in trees would experience that type of movement on a regular basis with the wind moving brances. Being a human I would not experience that and it would freak me out but if I were able to fly I would not have a problem with it either.

[Crebain]

Originally Posted by BirdsUnlimited

Toweling a bird from above makes the bird think a bird of prey is after it? Interesting considering my birds have never been attacked by a hawk.

Some reactions of one animal to another are instinctive. For example, circus-parade horses have vicks put in their noses, because if they smell the lions or tigers in the cage-wagons they'll panic. Even though they've never smelled a lion or tiger in their entire life.

No opinion on Sally. Skeptical of magazines in general.