Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!yale!mintaka!spdcc!ima!cfisun!susans
From: susans@cfi.COM (susans)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: Lorikeets, Senegal parrots
Message-ID: <1000@cfiprod.UUCP>
Date: 22 Jan 91 19:22:01 GMT
References: <21499@netcom.UUCP>
Reply-To: susans@cfiprod.UUCP (Susan Scheide -CFI-)
Organization: Consumer Financial Institute, Waltham, Mass.
Lines: 68

In article <21499@netcom.UUCP> jfh@netcom.UUCP (Jack Hamilton) writes:
>
>
>The Goldie's Lorikeet was by far the most playful bird I've ever seen.
>S/he climbed through little rings in the cage, jumped around, and swung
>upside down by her toes from the swing.  

	Birds don't have a problem with generic language, so 1) either
	find out the sex or 2) pick one and dispense with the S/he
	stuff--so annoying!!  Now, on to the heart of your questions.

>The Rainbow was gorgeous, but didn't like to be handled as much as the
>Goldie's.  S/he's also a fruit eater, but is about the right size.

	My friend has a couple Rainbow lorries.  So tame they ride her
	dog.  Wonderfully friendly, gorgeous.  Kind of messy eaters,
	and their droppings, which they can spray right out of the cage,
	or disgusting.  

	Don't try this at home kids--she lost a lovebird when the dog
	decided it didn't want a bird to ride it anymore.

>- When I expressed concern about the messiness of fruit eaters, the woman
>said that the droppings ARE a lot more liquid, but in some ways they were
>much easier to clean up than the more solid droppings of the seed eaters.

	She really said that?  I suppose if you have a solid plexiglass
	cage guard covering the bottom 8 inches of the cage and never
	take it out...
	You should go back and observe for yourself.  
	I personally find them too messy to bother with--
	both what and how they eat, as well as their droppings.  My
	friend's birds are often covered with fruit juice, etc. giving
	them a distasteful feel and appearance.

>Is any of these birds likely to be happy just sitting on my shoulder at,
>say, chorus practice, or will they all want to squawk and fly?  I know I

	It's a BAD idea to take any pet bird out in public regularly.
	You expose them to too many dangers (theft, accident,
	that pesky flight feather you didn't notice that allowed your
	bird to fly away, disease).  Also, with a lory, you are NOT
	going to want to go out in public with it on your shouldder
	unless you're wearing a rain coat.

>The prices were $350 for the Goldie's, $395 for the Senegal, and $425 for
>the Rainbow.  Are those typical prices? 

	Yes, but this is Boston, so who knows.

>I'm amazed at how the descriptions of birds vary from book to book.  For
>example, one said that the Senegal is not very friendly and shouldn't be
>considered as a "pettable" pet, and another said they were sweet and
>affectionate.  All of the birds I saw were at least somewhat friendly.  Are
>they likely to change as they grow older (assuming that I didn't mistreat
>them)?

	Yes, birds change as they reach sexual maturity.  Some become
	quite unfriendly without a mate, and not "pettable" with a mate.
	Some become nippy, and never quit.  Some become overly dependant
	on you, but for the most part, as long as you know how to treat
	the bird, they're great pets!


-- 
                        Susan S. (susans@cfi.com)

                        Another Friend of Bill's