Went from 2 pet birds to 5 in two months!

[patdbunny]

Hey everyone!

I just have to laugh. I keep all my breeders when they "retire". Just last November we had only a parrotlet and a tiel for house pets. My how that changes quickly. Xavier the turquoise ringneck decided he didn't like being in the breeding business, so now he's in my room; daughter kept a sun conure baby (Ducky); and today we officially retired a timneh african grey breeder. To my wonderful surprise the timneh knows how to step up.

Sooner or later when all my breeders retire I'll end up with 30+ pets!

[entrancedbymyGCC]

LOL!

How old are your breeders when you retire them, typically?

[patdbunny]

It's hard to say. It's not necessarily age based since I don't know the age of many of my breeders. When they start looking rough, or don't seem interested in breeding anymore, or something happens to them. Last year I retired a jenday hen for a ruptured air sac. No idea how she did it.

When I decide to retire them, I try to handle them and see how handlable they are. If they're remotely handlable, they can become pets. If not, then they get to spend the rest of their lives in an aviary with other compatible retired companions.

[entrancedbymyGCC]

I'm asking because at some point I think it would be nice to try to find my husband a bird that doesn't prefer me... and since we are not in our 20s I'm beginning to worry about taking in another bird that might outlive us, as Scotty might. It hadn't occurred to me that a retired breeder, from someone who handles their breeders, might be one source of an older bird that doesn't have any outstanding behavior problems.

[patdbunny]

If what you want is an older bird without behavior issues, I don't think a prior breeder would work. I get a lot of my breeders because they were former pets with behavior issues. This TAG, he steps up. That's it. He's fearful, he's flighty, he won't let me touch him, I expect to lose blood. I'm just familiar enough with birds that I think I can turn him into somewhat of a house pet. I also treat any house pet former breeders on their own terms. If they don't want to cuddle, I don't. I do what they want. Not what I'd like from them as a pet. So long as they don't bite or excessively scream, they can stay inside as house pets.

Also, I think it's more common for breeders to unload their burned out pairs on unsuspecting newbie breeders. I just feel I owe it to them to keep them to their deaths as they've given me enjoyment from their babies.

There are older birds out there that don't have issues. A lot of the ones without issues get rehomed due to divorce or having to move, not because the people don't have time for them. I've gotten some older birds that were fantastic pets. Our old M2 was about 6 years old when we got him. He was a doll. I think if you're picky about the bird, regardless if it's a baby or an adult, you can get yourself a bird without a lot of issues. I have a post on my blog about what qualities to look for in a pet quality bird, regardless of age.

[captwest]

The problem with X breeders is that many are X pets and don't have any fear of people ie; they'll bite the crap out of you.But you never know and there 's always exceptions to the rule, i have a couple of pet Xs but i've been lucky. Reading my emails today, some one did offer me 7 birds that their father had ( just died), 3 B/G, 2 Scarlets,and a very tame M2, and very tame CAG, you want the number? I was thinking of taking the Macaws but don't need a tame M2 or CAG. I know entranced needs a CAG.

[patdbunny]

Ohhhhhh!!! Another tame M2!!! I want it so bad!

I can resist though. My interest has turned to breeding and raising babies. I treat each baby as though I'm going to keep it for myself. Doing it like that makes it so I don't really have time for a lot of pet birds of my own. So fun though.

[entrancedbymyGCC]

I don't know if we need a CAG or a 'too, based on the recent close encounter. Actually, what we need is a winning Lotto ticket, but that's beside the point.