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From: rdmiller@matt.ksu.ksu.edu (Ruth D Miller)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: INDOOR--"tips" for new bird owners
Message-ID: <1991May3.190809.14977@maverick.ksu.ksu.edu>
Date: 3 May 91 19:08:09 GMT
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There have been several requests for advice on selection of "first
birds" in this group lately, and I now feel morally obligated to
summarize "our" story that others may learn from it.  Please don't
anyone get offended: consider this a penance on my part...

When we got married 5 yrs ago we "gave" ourselves 2 Fischer's love-
birds.  I love all critters and am allergic to hairy ones so we
got birds--without looking into _any_ reading matter on care of
birds.

Since then we have lost 3 birds, each before he reached he first
"hatchday".  Jade died suddenly; we waited 2 mos and got Cadmium.
He died suddenly (same symptoms): we waited 2 mos and got Tangier.
She lived but turned out to be female, so we got 2 males.  One
(Jasper) paired with Tangier and began a family; he died before
the 5 chicks fledged.  By this time we were wise enough--I saw
him listless and fluffy, but did not try to catch him, and he
was dead next morning.

Finally, when Cinnabar became sick we got him to an avian vet--
again later than we should have; we force-fed him sugar water with
a spoon first or he would not have made it.  3 months, 2 coursed
of injections and one course of oxycycline later he is finally
well.  NOW I know I should have read BIrdTalk before buying any 
pets.  NOW I know I should have insisted on _avian_ vets.  NOW
I know what a sick bird looks like and what to do for it--but
now Jade, Cadmium and Jasper are gone; I took responsibility for
them and did not give them the care they deserved/needed.  I'm
going to feel guilty for the rest of my life, but if those of
you considering getting "first birds" at least do some research
first and find and avian vet first their deaths may be worth
something, anyway.  Especially if the bird you are considering
is a large parrot, do not take the responsibility w/o the same
thought you should give to having a human baby.

Again please don't be offended--I just thought my experience 
ought to be of value to someone else.  Thanks for listening.

Ruth