Cozy Conures!

Home Made Incubators!

2010-04-18T13:49:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! I just wanted to give you all a quick and affordable way to make an incubator for hatching your chicken, quail, or parrot eggs. I've used this several times and I can honestly say that it works quite well.

How to Build a Chick Egg Incubator

Materials

large styrofoam cooler
piece of picture frame glass
screwdriver
dimmer switch
light socket with cord
small electric fan
thermometer
carpenter glue
small plastic bowl
water
65 watt bulb

First, take the light socket and place it on the side of the lid that points into the cooler. Carefully cut out a hole the same circumference as the socket. Place the socket into the hole and secure it with carpenter's glue. Place the 65 watt bulb in the socket

Take the picture frame glass and place it on one side of the cooler. Now cut a hole into the side a little smaller than the area of the glass. Carefully place the glass into the hole and secure with carpenter's glue.

Poke about 8 holes on each side of the cooler near the top using the screw driver. These holes are important for incubation.

Place the small fan into the cooler on the top. Cut a small hole on the top and run the cord through it. Fill in any extra space using carpenter's glue.

Place the plastic bowl into one of the coolers corners. Place roughly one inch of water in it. The evaporating moisture from this water will keep the eggs from drying out and assist the chicks in hatching. When the water gets low make sure you refill it.

Place the thermometer on the side of the cooler that faces the window. Make sure the end that guages the temperature is at the same level as the eggs, any higher and you will not get an accurate reading. You want the temperature to read 100 degrees farenheit. If the temperature is hotter, add some more ventilation holes in the cooler. If the temperature is too cool, cover some of the ventilation holes with tape.

Turn the incubator on a couple of hours prior to placing the eggs inside.

Oh Nila, Nila, Nila...

2009-08-16T12:39:00.000-07:00

Nila is seriously a nut! I just returned from a trip to Florida and obviously I couldn't leave my feathered friends unattended so they got to stay with my father for a week.

The first thing he said was that Nila was a spoiled nut! She constantly wants someone to hold her, and she is always trying to snuggle up to your neck while sitting on your shoulder. My father said she was spoiled and that taking care of her was like trying to take care of a toddler. The other birds not so bad, Nila...OMG!

I love my "Nila-Girl" but she can be a handful at times, but then she wouldn't be Nila if she weren't!

Best of Everything!

Some old photos of Nila....

2009-05-26T15:04:00.000-07:00

I'll post some new photos soon. She has gained many new colors on her plumage. Depending on the light situations when I take the photos, you can see red, orange, and yellow pastels on her chest and head. Thanks for looking!

Cute Video!

2008-08-27T17:38:00.000-07:00

I just thought this was too cute not to put up here.

A neat training article.......

2008-04-23T11:08:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, here's a must have article for all novice parrot owners out there. Teaching your bird to "Step-Up" or the command, "Up, are crucial to you interacting well with your pet bird. If you can't create the bond necessary for your bird to step up onto your hand or forearm, then you're probably going to have quite a few problems further down the road. The article below is by a lady named Nora Caterino. She trains parrots to talk, perch, etc. She has much experience in the field and can probably point you in the right direction in regards to a problem you're having if I can't. I hope you enjoy the article:

How to Quickly and Easily Teach Your Parrot the 'up' Command!
Author: Nora Caterino

The "Up" command is the very first behavior you should teach your parrot. Whether you have a tame, loving, hand-fed baby that is just weaned or you have an older, untamed parrot, the process is still important. It's a question of good manners!

Of course, the process for teaching the behavior to a hand-fed, young bird is much, much easier and quicker than teaching an untamed bird. It is, however, nonetheless necessary.

When you work with a parrot that is untamed, you'll find it works best to use a spare perch or untreated wooden dowel which is rather long.

I like to work with the parrot outside its cage, but if that isn't possible, you can perform the process with the parrot inside the cage if you have a large door opening and can move the perch about easily. Be sure the selected perch is comfortably sized for your parrot species.

image used from www.knowparrots.com

Place the perch just above the parrot's feet and just below its breast while saying "Up" clearly. There is no need to be loud or sharp, just say "up".

Move the perch slightly toward the bird so that it will naturally step onto the perch. Once the bird steps on the perch, reward it with loving sweet talk, telling it what a wonderful smart parrot it is. Repeat this process for about 10 minutes per session with two sessions per day if at all possible.

The #1 Element You MUST Know About When Teaching Your Bird This Trick - Or Else You'll Ruin The Training Session!

Consistency is the key!

It is important that you do not allow your parrot to refuse to perform the behavior after it has stepped up the first time for you. You want your parrot to understand that this is something it must do when requested. In return, you will provide love, attention, foods and playtime.

As your parrot becomes comfortable stepping onto the perch, you can slowly shorten the distance from your hand to the parrot. I usually find that with untamed parrots, shortening the perch more than once a week can stress them and actually create a loss of the trust you've built.

image used from http://media.canada.com/idl/vitc/20071116/36292-11938.jpg

==> Don't rush the process! Take your time and be certain your parrot is comfortable with each training level.

Eventually, you will reach a point that the distance from your hand to the parrot on the perch is very small. Once your parrot is comfortable with your hand being that close to it, begin the final step - offer your hand or forearm (depending on the size of your parrot) instead of the perch.

How Long You'll Take In Teaching This Bird Trick!

It depends on you, your consistency and your parrot. If the parrot has been stressed or made afraid through abuse or trauma, it can take a long time.

If your parrot is simply unfamiliar with you and you just have to prove to it that you won't hurt it, the process can occur quite quickly.

If you parrot was hand-fed, you can count on the entire process taking a very short time - in fact, you'll probably start at the final step with the parrot stepping right onto your hand.

I recently brought a budgie home that was just weaning. He was not hand-fed but very young and trusting; he was trained to the "up" command within a week and consistently performs the behavior whenever requested.

Be sure to watch your parrot's body language for clues to the level of trust and level of comfort with the activities you are performing with it.

About the Author:
Nora Caterino helps parrot owners from over 14 different countries in taming and teaching parrots to TALK. If you want to learn more about her parrot training videos - to instantly solve annoying behaviour problems like biting, screaming, or feather plucking - then join the 'Elite Parrots Club' and get super coaching from the 'Bird Lady':

www.eliteparrotsclub.com

Nila's first video!!!

2008-04-20T15:47:00.000-07:00

I thought you guys might enjoy a new video from Nila the Pineapple Turquoise Green Cheek Conure!

You can also find this video on Youtube.com along with Baby's and Lucky's videos as well. If you guys have any ideas about video footage that you'd like to see of the birds, please let me know and I'll see what I can do.

Thanks and ENJOY!

Green Cheek Mutations

2008-04-20T12:46:00.001-07:00

A listing of the known mutations found in Green Cheek Conures...

Green Cheek Conures come in a variety of color combinations that can be obtained by contacting most breeders. Keep in mind that most of these mutations are very expensive still, but some of them can be obtained at quite a reasonible cost.

Mutatuions like the Cinnamon Green Cheek and the Yellow-Sided or Opaline Green Cheek are relatively affordable usually ranging in price from $200-$350 depending on the location, breeder and the splits that the bird may carry in genetic structure.

Photos obtained from www.aracaris.com.

Mutations like Nila the Pineapple Turquoise Green Cheek Conure still range in price from $1000-$1450 depending on the breeder. The plus side to mutations like her are that depending on who the male bird is that she is paired up with, you can end up with practically every color that the green cheek conure comes in!

There are several other mutations that are still not easily obtained by the public such as the American Dilute (follow this link to see photos of them...www.feathert.com)and the pied which is rumored to exist!

Keep in mind that even though these birds come in such a wide range of colors that they are NOT HYBRIDS, they are MUTATIONS. These are two very different things. Two different species aren't combined to create these colors. They occur naturally in the bird and birds displaying the desired colors and traits are then bred to enhance those traits.

I am working on my own breeding project now that involves the blue or "Parblue" genes within the Green Cheek Conure. I can't wait to see what I end up with!

Have a great day and remember to check back in with us for more news and updates.

Our New Flock Member! Nila....

2008-04-19T13:00:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone out there, I thought I should introduce you to our new flock member. Her name is Nila (N-EYE-LA), she was born on December 17, 2007 in Pennsylvania. After a 4 hour trip to the outskirts of Pittsburg and back, we arrived home and started settling in our new friend, Nila.

Nila is a Pineapple Turquoise Green Cheek Conure, this means she has ALL of the genes to make offspring that are either Turquoise, pineapple, cinnamon, or yellow sided depending on who her mate is!

She is a pretty little girl that will get more colors on her after her first and second molt. Her father was breathtaking; he was a Pineapple Turquoise as well, and her mother was a Turquoise who was a split to something. I have requested the parents' records and breeder info for any future breeding that I may do with her.

Make sure you check out YouTube.com to see any videos of her that will be coming shortly!

Thanks everyone for helping me welcome this little girl into our family and please remember to email me with any questions or comments you may.

HAPPY SPRING!!!

Related Feature

2008-04-10T12:41:00.000-07:00

The above article features related content.

Is a Parrot right for You?

2008-01-24T07:28:00.000-08:00

I often get asked about my birds when people see them. I hear questions like, "How old are they? What do they eat?" And the big one, "Are they hard to take care of?"

Questions like these are important, since you will ultimately end up being the primary care provider to this wonderful creature. The problem lies in your perception of what these questions mean.

Most people don't do their homework before jumping into a commitment like taking care of an animal and this has usually has horrible consequences. You may end up giving the pet up for adoption simply because you weren't prepared for the added burden and commitment like you should have been, or you may end up neglecting the poor creature, even without knowing it. A parrot doesn't just need seeds and water in order to survive. They need attention, the will usually need a vitamin supplement if fed a primarily seed based diet, they need regular vet check ups to keep them healthy. I believe you see where I am going with this.

All pets alike need attention and the appropriate care for their species, without these things you could ultimately end up killing the animal that put its trust in you.

So back to the question that started this blog entry, "Is a parrot right for me?"

Are you willing to take your pet out of its cage and give him a couple hours out of your day, each and every day? Will you be willing to go to the grocery store just so that you can provide your feathered friend with the necessary fruits and vegetables to keep him/her healthy?

What about vet visits? You will have to locate an AVIAN VET. Not just any vet can do when dealing with birds. Birds have very sensitive pulmonary systems and are very easy to distress. These attributes make them as fragile as glass when dealing with medical situations. Any avian vet you go to should be certified.

If you are confident about dealing with all of these issues that have been pointed out in this entry then maybe you can afford to say that a parrot is right for you. I suggest finding books on your chosen species of bird that concern their care and also locating owners and/or breeders of your desired species so that you can get advice from them on what to expect.

Happy New Year Everyone!!!

Be Careful What You Feed Your Pets For The Holidays...

2007-12-02T19:28:00.000-08:00

Picture used from http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.aoc.gov/cc/grounds/hol_trees/images/ChristmasTree2005_NM_sm.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.aoc.gov/cc/grounds/hol_trees/2005tree.cfm&h=400&w=316&sz=69&hl=en&start=70&sig2=reffk7x3B9paW2UIAYw6nA&um=1&tbnid=AQ5b9be5SVulGM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=98&eid=M35TR4HRNIOQeP7G-cgO&prev=

I know that with all the wonderful foods everyone will be preparing and eating this Holiday Season, the temptation to spoil our furry and/or feathered loved ones will be intense. There's no shame in treating your pets like one of the family but remember to ALWAYS research what types of foods are acceptable for your pets.

Birds are especially prone to getting sick or worse if fed the wrong things. Due to their high metabolic rates a parrot can literally die from the wrong food items just hours after consuming something their system deems toxic.

I always say, if it is questionable whether or not the item will make your pets sick just don't give it to them.

Below I have included some quick and simple recipes for your birds found at this link http://birds.about.com/od/birdfoodrcipes/Bird_Food_and_Treat_Recipes.htm

Cooking for Your Pet Bird: Banana Strips
From Alyson Burgess,
Your Guide to Pet Bird

If you are in the mood to treat your pet to a tasty and healthy snack, try whipping up a batch of these easy banana strips! These treats are highly recommended by my Sun Conure, Loco, and the simple recipe makes it easy for even the youngest bird owners to join in the fun. Beak Appetite!
INGREDIENTS:

* 1/2 Banana
* 1 Egg (with or without shell)
* 1 cup quick oats
* 1/2 cup wheat flour
* 1/8 cup millet
* 1/2 cup water or unsweetened fruit juice

PREPARATION:

* Blend all ingredients together in a mixing bowl.

* Spread the resulting paste onto a clean, microwave safe plate.

* Microwave on high heat for 3 1/2 minutes.

* Remove from microwave and let cool.

* Cut into shapes or strips, and serve!

Leftovers can be refrigerated and stored for up to 3 days.

Cooking for Your Pet Bird: Toasted Pumpkin Seeds
From Alyson Burgess,
Your Guide to Pet Birds.

Toasted Pumpkin Seeds are a great source of protein and other vital nutrients. Just remember -- don't toss out those pumpkin "guts" when carving time comes around!
INGREDIENTS:

* Fresh Pumpkin Seeds
* 1 tsp. Vegetable Oil

PREPARATION:

* Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

* Cut a hole in the top of your pumpkin and remove all of the seeds and strings. It may help to use a large metal spoon to scrape the inner walls of the pumpkin.

* Seperate the seeds from the stringy bits and pumpkin pulp and place them in a clean bowl.

* Wash the seeds in warm water to remove any pulp that may cling to their shells.

* Grease an alumininum baking sheet with a minimal amount of pure vegetable oil. Please make sure that you DO NOT USE A NON-STICK BAKING SHEET! Place the seeds on the sheet and bake for 30-45 minutes, turning them about every 5 minutes to prevent burning.

* Once the seeds are dry and toasty, remove them from the oven and allow them to cool. Then serve them to your bird and see if he will perform some tricks for you in return for the tasty treats. You may be in for a big surprise!

*If you would like to enjoy this snack with your bird, set a handful of the raw seeds aside and toss them with salt and your favorite seasonings before baking. NEVER share these seasoned treats with your pet. A bird's tender digestive system cannot handle salty snacks like ours can.

I hope that everyone of you enjoys your Holidays as well as your feathered and furred companions!

Splish Splash....Conures takin' a Bath!

2007-10-20T18:46:00.001-07:00

I love watching these guys preen, especially after taking a bath. They are hilarious.

Baby and Lucky!

2007-09-02T18:34:00.001-07:00

I thought that you guys might want to see some more photos and video of my two favorite birds in the whole world. These guys keep me entertained with their antics and goofy behavior. You can see Lucky's scissor beak clearly in the photos within this embedded video.

What type of birds do people have?

2007-08-27T09:23:00.000-07:00

For those of you reading this, I think it would be neat to compile a list of types of birds that you all are keeping. For this question you may also list birds that are not just parrots. I look forward to seeing what you all post in response.

Article on Housing Your Parrot

2007-08-20T23:25:00.000-07:00

The Basics Of Parrot Cages
by: Low Jeremy

People who decide to have pets at home should provide suitable housing for the animal. This means getting one that is proportion to the size and type of parrot because this will greatly affect the lifespan and over all health of the bird.

It is advisable to get one that is as big as you can afford that alsohasthe appropriate bar spacing for your size bird. Most of these birds prefer to climb, stretch and play so there must be enough space for the parrot to do this inside instead of it just sitting on a perch located inside the cage.

The housing should have horizontal bars. This will make it easy for the parrot to grab hold onto the sides whenever it feels like climbing inside the cage. The distance between each bar should also be checked so that the bird will not injure itself during this activity.

Though its true there are some cheap cages that can be found in the market, the owner must not get this based on this criteria alone. This is because the material used in making the cage will not be of good quality that may also pose as a danger for the parrot. It is better then to get one made of stainless steel or powder coated since these are not toxic to the pet.

Conventional bird cages have doors and latches. People who decide to get a parrot should avoid using this because it can cause injury to the creature’s beak, head, neck or wing if any of these body parts get stuck. The best to get those are those that are detachable since this has been proven to be safe.

Most animals produce waste. The ideal parrot cage should have a pull out try in the bottom so the owner can just take this off and wash it before putting it back inside. This is better than going inside and to clear the housing of droppings, which will take a long time to clean.

The parrot cage should come have a designated area where the bowl will be placed. Some manufacturers sell this with a plate inside while others have to be purchased separately. This should also be removable because this needs to be cleaned twice a day before and after feeding.

The perch where the parrot sits must be near where the food is located. This will make it easy for the bird to go to when it is time for feeding.

Having a pet parrot big or small is an enormous responsibility. The bird should have a spacious and safe cage to enjoy many years in a comfortable environment.

About The Author
This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more information on Pet Parrot & other useful information, please visit http://pet-parrot.articlekeep.com

Another Disappearing Act...

2007-08-17T21:38:00.001-07:00

The above image is of a Spix Macaw, in fact it is the last one ever seen in the wild. This is a species which is relying solely on the actions of breeders in designated breeding programs. This bird was once abundant in its native Brazil, but is now no longer flying those skies, or any skies for that matter.

Conservation programs have been put in place to allow this wonderful creature to grace the face of this planet. Unfortunately, every bird now being produced is domestic.

There is a wonderful book written on the rise and fall of the Spix Macaw titled, "The Race To Save The World's Rarest Bird". This is a great read and will most likely make you want to reach out and help the breeding program in any way you can.

This is a wonderful book. It's called, "Spix Macaw: The Race To Save The World's Rarest Bird"

Where are all the BLUE THROATS?????

2007-08-17T20:26:00.001-07:00

When the import of wild birds was banned, two things were accomplished.

1. Somewhat slowed down the decline of wild bird species.

2. Cut off the life blood of avian society!(Ok, a little over the top... just a little)

With some of the rarer species of parrots, we as bird lovers need to make sure that they are being bred to un-related stock! This is a must if genetic diversity is to remain strong and the species is to maintain its strength.

This blog is going to be pointed at a specific species of parrot known as the Blue Throat Conure. These are beautiful birds that are rare in the wild and rarer in U.S. aviculture.

BEAUTIFUL visit this site to see more pics "Click Here!"

The Blue Throat Conure is a gorgeous bird from Brazil. The problem came when the import of wild birds was banned. Europe had imported Blue throats, but the U.S.? Not that many.

More problems arose when Brazil stated that all Blue Throats were illegally exported from the country. This made it appear that whomever owned a Blue Throated Conure was in illegal possession.

Well, now here's the problem. We have a limited genetic pool to work with and a very big blockade in the way, which keeps these birds from making their way from Europe over to the U.S. In Europe you need to register any offspring that are had from the birds before you sell them to new homes. This allows the government and CITES to not only keep a record of how many birds are around but also where they originate from. I have been doing my research on trying to find a way to import a pair of non-related birds so that they could be bred here in the U.S. but after talking to some fellow bird lovers in one of the email groups I am registered with, I have come to find out that since Brazil says these birds were originally exported illegally, that even offspring from these animals are prohibited from being imported!!! Umm...Ok let me get this straight.

1. Original birds exported illegally from Brazil
2. Ban on all wild bird imports
3. Blue throats dying off in natural habitat.
4. Not many breeding programs in place for this animal.
5. Aviculturists are unable to import new blood from domestically bred animals to mix with their breeding stock.
6. Some people in Europe who own these birds let them colony breed season after season without separating out the related blood lines.

Ok, maybe it's just me, but I feel that if this animal is to be resurrected in captivity, then we need a little more leniency in the regulations.

I am all for the registration and tracking of all animals of this species, and even understand that all animals should be given to a breeding program once imported. I just don't understand how you could be trying to save a species by limiting its interaction with people who would like to breed offspring in order to increase its numbers and diversify its genetic pool....

I don't know, seems like one day we're gonna have to ask, "WHERE HAVE ALL THE BLUE THROATS GONE???"

Survey Says????

2007-08-16T20:14:00.000-07:00

Please partake in some of the surveys on my site. I think its good for me to get feedback on things you guys like and dislike. There will be monthly polls, and even a grade my site button! I look forward to hearing from all of you.

SUPA Star!

2007-08-16T19:30:00.000-07:00

Here she is ladies and gentleman! In the near future we will have some nice actual real-time videos posted so that you can see Baby interact with her crazy companion Lucky.

I threw this together just for fun....

See what happens when you get bored?

Not a parrot but still a talker!

2007-08-16T08:57:00.000-07:00

I thought it would be fun to include a neat video of a bird that most Americans consider pests. Most people don't realize that starlings can talk! The shiny little birds you see running around outside are actually great mimics of the human voice! The person who posted this site gets major kuddos from me for sharing the abilities of his bird as well as their beauty! Here is his Myspace.

Training your bird

2007-08-16T08:41:00.000-07:00

I have used many ways to get my birds to be as friendly and as loving as they are, but had trouble trying to figure out where to begin with the parrot training techniques. What I have done instead is post a video that contains one of the best ways to train your bird..... Clicker training.

The below video was found on youtube.com ENJOY!

I hope you enjoyed this video. These techniques really do work and I would advise anyone who has a problem bird to give these practices a try before thinking about giving their pet up. Too many people want a parrot to naturally be "touchy-feely" and they don't give the animal enough time or attention to make that kind of bond. Trust me, by taking the time to train your parrot companion, you will make a relationship that could last longer than twenty years.... that alone is worth the little bit of hard work :)

What are you feeding your bird???

2007-08-16T07:06:00.000-07:00

Every morning I wake up and prepare a nice breakfast for my feathered friends. I have found that smaller hookbills like my budgies and cockatiels prefer things like cucumber, fresh greens, and when breeding, hard boiled egg.

My medium sized birds (the conures) always seem to be drawn more to the sweet foods like raisins, apples, bell peppers, tomato, and sliced grapes.

Here you can see two of my conures' favorite food items, red bell peppers and sliced apples!

Occasionally I will dust the fresh foods with a vitamin powder to make sure they are getting the proper nutrients and enough calcium.

I thought I would list some food items NOT to give to your birds, These items can cause DEATH!

1. Chocolate
2. Apple Seeds
3. Avocado
4. Onions
5. Alcohol
6. Mushrooms
7. Tomato Leaves(Do not let your birds eat anything on a tomato that is green, including the stem!)
8. Salt
9. Caffiene
10. Dried Beans

Here are some toxic plants that may be around your house! (I have gathered these plant names from several different resources)

1.Holly berries and American mistletoe berries
2.Peanuts (contain a type of fungal toxin)
3.Rhubarb leaves
4.Stone fruit: the seeds of plums, peaches, apricots, and nectarines contain cyanide
5.Sweet Pea
6.Tobacco
7.Nutmeg

I hope this helps everyone!

Cool Vid from YouTube!

2007-08-15T22:14:00.000-07:00

This guy put an awesome video up of his Green Cheek Conure, Winston, playing with him.

This is so awesome!

Mine are soooooooooooo moody, they're like, "Scratch my head, rub my belly, now go away!"

Anyways, here's the video.....

Using Your Bird's Old Feathers!!!

2007-08-15T13:45:00.000-07:00

I save my conures' old wing and tail feathers and place them around the house to spice up the interior's appearance. Alot of people have asked me if I have to dye the feathers to get themthe colors that they are.... OF COURSE NOT.... We're talking parrots here people! LOL :) Anyways, just thought I'd throw the idea out there to ya'll!

I just stuck the feathers into the top of an incense burner made from stone.... I think it's neat.

Baby's mate Lucky!

2007-08-15T12:56:00.000-07:00

Another wonderful member of Baby's flock would be her mate, Lucky. Lucky was purchased in Central Florida roughly one year ago. He was sold to me by a breeder who said he had only had Lucky for a year and that the bird was only about two years old. LIE LIE LIE. Lucky has an aluminum I.D. leg band on his leg that identifies who he is and what parent's he comes from as well as his HATCH DATE.

The person who sold Lucky to me didn't know that I was as into the bird world as one generally can get, so he blurted out the name of the breeder to me. Lucky's breeder is a wonderful guy by the name of Richard Cusick. This guy is the top of the top when it comes to breeding rare color mutations in many species of parrots.

I knew that I was going to buy Lucky regardless of his age and background just by looking at his wonderful demeanor. Lucky was found to be 6 years old and happens to be one of the first Turquoise Green Cheek Conures produced in The United States!!! Like I said a remarkable little bird.

Lucky was born with a condition called scissor beak. His upper beak crosses side ways over the lower beak creating a scissor effect. He always needs to have his beak trimmed down because unlike a normal parrot who would rub the lower beak against the inside of the upper to keep it trim, Lucky can't. If you can get past his awkward beak you will be able to see one of the most beautiful birds.

The bird to the left is Lucky. This photo was taken with a cell phone the third day after I had brought him back from Florida. You can see how his beak is over grown. He looks like a rhinoceros. It is very important that his beak stay trimmed or else he can impale himself with his own beak. In the future I am going to take him to a really good veterinarian whom I found in Gaithersburg, MD. She believes it is possible to remove his upper beak and replace it with a prosthetic which would allow for the new beak to grow in at the correct angle. This way Lucky would have the full use of his beak and be able to climb like a normal bird would.

P.S. If you have a bird who has scissor beak please research the veterinarian whom you intend on taking the bird to for treatment. A lot of vets say they take care of birds when in reality they learned how to take care of birds but they are not certified! A bird can drop dead on you with just the smallest amount of medication or stress. Do not allow your birds to succumb to an early death or life long injury due to an inexperienced veterinarian out to grab a quick buck. DO YOUR RESEARCH!

About my Passion!

2007-08-15T09:32:00.000-07:00

Here's a little bit about myself. I have been breeding and training all types of parrots (except for the large macaw and cockatoos) for years and have a passion for these wonderful creatures and their antics.

Currently I have turned my attention to the wonderfully colorful and playful Green Cheek Conure! These guys are wonderful! They are like curious little explorers that climb allover the place looking for all types of mischief to get themselves into.

The pretty little GC Conure shown above is my favorite little feathered companion. Her name is Baby and she can be a handful at times. Baby is a MUTATION. She is what breeders call a CINNAMON colored bird. Basically all of her black pigment has been reduced down to a soft fawn or cinnamon color, hence the name cinnamon.

Some of Baby's favorite foods are raisins(that she dips in her water bowl!), sliced apples, and hot chili peppers!

Another great thing to see Baby do is take her baths. She will literally go completely under the water and explode to the surface while spraying everything in sight. Towels always have to be handy for this little clown!