Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!att!cbnews!noonan
From: noonan@cbnews.ATT.COM (D. J. Noonan)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: Pet Birds?
Message-ID: <6925@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 26 May 89 17:35:41 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 32


From postnews Fri May 26 13:22:11 1989
In article <5880001@hpihoah.HP.COM>, rdouglas@hpihoah.HP.COM (Robert Douglas) writes:
> I would like to get another bird, but this time I would like one that was
> amiable with humans.  I was hoping I could get an opinion on what birds would
> make good pets from you kind people in net.land.  I am placing a limit on
> what I can get in terms of price.  I do not want to pay hundreds of dollars 
> for a parrot or other such beauty (even though I do love their personalities).
> Robert Douglas ---------------------- rdouglas@hpcup60.HP.COM

I also think parakeets make excellant pets.  They can be extremely friendly.
We have had several over the years (as pets).  They all have learned
to sit on your shoulder, whistle, and respond back to your own whistling.
They have also learned to fly to us.  Once tame, they seen to be friendly
to most everyone.  My wife does clip there wings when they are young,
but as they get older and tamer it becomes unnecessary.  My wife has
been breeding them for a number of years and has hand tamed a  lot of
babies for new pet owners.  Parakeets can be as affectionate and amusing
as other pets.  We also have a small dachsund and both the dog and the bird
can be very affectionate, to the point that sometimes they are both competing
for our attention.  The key to taming is to get a bird that has just been
weened from the nest (this is probably true for other types of pets).
To do this you will probably have to go to a breeder in your area.
Some ways to find local breeders are: Pet store bulletin boards, Ask a local
Veterinarian (especially those that specialize in pet birds), and a magazine
called 'Bird Talk'.

If you have more questions about breeders in your area, or care, feeding,
treatment when sick, or even breeding of parakeets, I will gladly pass them
along to my wife who is pretty knowledgable on all of the above.

Dennis Noonan	asr1!noonan	AT&T Bell Labs Columbus, Ohio.