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From: dole@clipper.ingr.com (Harry Dole)
Newsgroups: rec.birds,rec.pets
Subject: PARROT ADVICE NEEDED!
Message-ID: <1991Jun18.063720.26518@clipper.ingr.com>
Date: 18 Jun 91 06:37:20 GMT
Organization: Intergraph Advanced Processor Division - Palo Alto, CA
Lines: 85


The following is submitted on behalf of a friend:
 
Dear Birdnetters,

I am logged in under my significant other's account.

I sorely need your advice.  I am currently TECHNICALLY birdless, but have put a deposit 
on a baby Eclectus which is due to come home the first week in July.  Understandably, I
am counting the days.  I have wanted one for over 10 years.

Meanwhile, I agreed to keep a Congo Gray, Buster (a.k.a. The Great Bustard), while his
owners are away for two weeks. We don't know whether "he" is male or female. The owners
don't know that I've started calling him The Great Bustard.

The Bustard is up for adoption.  He LOATHES the man who bought him, although the man is
gentle and was hoping they'd become good friends.  The man, who is well-loved by his
other animals (horses, dogs, cats) and is anything but a wimp, worked diligently with
the Bustard, but now is ready to throw in the (bloody) towel.  He'd rather see the bird 
where it can be happy.  He'd also rather keep all his fingers. 

I thought I was going to recommend that the bird be sexed and sold as breeding stock.
He was wild-caught and is supposed to be 2 years old, and I expected the worst: a 
frightened and frighteningly snippy bird, malnourished from his seed-only diet.

In the week that I've had him so far, he has shown great buddy potential. He eagerly 
eats from my hand, has nervously stayed on my hand for 15 or 20 minutes, lets me touch 
his feet, and has let me scratch his head (only once, but for half an hour). I've
weathered 3 or 4 medium-hard bites, but nothing I can't pretend doesn't hurt.  Generally
he has been very gentle with his warning bites when I call his bluffs. We were both
nervous when he wound up on my shoulder, but he has perched on my - ahem - bosom a 
couple of mornings when I was wearing my terrycloth robe. He easily could have run away,
since his wings have grown out. If clipped, I think he'd be a pushover to hand-tame.   

I suspect he thinks he's an Amazon.  He eats an amazing variety of fruit, some vegetables, 
cooked beans, whole-wheat bread, and only afterwards looks in his seed cup. He is not
afraid of much, although he is disdainful of plenty.  He is secure enough to make beautiful 
jungly sounds and repeat the couple of human words he knows many times a day, and
is quite the acrobat in the morning.  He prefers David Byrne and reggae music and 
Screaming Jay Hawkins to Mozart or Chopin, although he'll also softly sing along to
classical music.

But he hates Harry, my POSLQ of many years.   He instantaneously hates our other male 
friends, but seems neutral toward women he doesn't know.

We had decided on an Eclectus because they are somewhat less likely to arbitrarily bond
to only one person (among other important considerations).  Our last cockatiel loved 
Harry, but thought I was the antichrist, and this time we wanted to have a cuddly 
friend in common.  Also, I have three dogs, four cats, a thriving brand-new business, 
and a very small house. I am not sure I have either the time or room to both tame the 
Bustard and properly socialize my new baby Eclectus.

QUESTIONS:

1) If I do not keep the Bustard, what are the chances of finding a nurturing WOMAN
to take him?  Do you agree that this bird has both pet and breeding potential?  I 
cannot believe that I am the only one he will respond favorably to, and I am not sure 
I will be able to provide the best home possible for him. But I'm getting so attached...

2)  What is a fair price?  I know the owner bought the bird for $500, plus toys and
good cage and travel cage, etc., from a pet shop just over a year ago.
 
3)  What are chances of a female Eclectus and a Congo Gray tolerating each other?  Is 
there hope of comraderie and shared playtime? 

4) How come there's never any mention of Eclectus on the net?  (I've been quietly 
observing for some time.)

5) Can a Gray eat TOO MUCH apples, kiwi, strawberries, corn, etc., in proportion to seed? 
The Bustard is frisky and gives every other sign of good health, but his breastbone is too
sharp. (A thorough veterinay exam and 45-day quarantine would be mandatory for both
birds, which further limits my funds and my ability to give enough attention and
socialization to either bird during their respective crucial periods). 

6) What other information should I be seeking to make sure that the Bustard winds up in 
the environment that's best for him?  

7) WHAT SHOULD I DO? 

Any advice will be most appreciated - although I expect all you Gray fans to tell me 
to keep the Bustard and forget about my Eclectus!. 

I apologize for sending such a long communication, but only a few days remain before 
the rightful owners return and I must declare my intentions toward this little guy.
Please help!