Bird keeping

CaptainRAVE

CaptainRAVE

CaptainRAVE

Man of Honour
Joined
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We have fish threads, but not sure there’s a bird thread? Any bird keepers here?

I used to have big aviaries growing up with budgies, canaries, finches, doves and am looking to set a couple of smaller aviaries up again, probably with a couple of love birds initially. Always useful to share some tips/experiences!
 
CaptainRAVE said:
We have fish threads, but not sure there’s a bird thread? Any bird keepers here?

I used to have big aviaries growing up with budgies, canaries, finches, doves and am looking to set a couple of smaller aviaries up again, probably with a couple of love birds initially. Always useful to share some tips/experiences!
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back in 70s 80s early 90s even it was a big thing avaries but its kinda died out. we had canaries and finches. pretty easy to make.
 
We had a budgie when I was a kid. Never closed the cage door, was no need as it never wanted to come out. It had a small brass bell and it would just sit all day with its head inside of it and pick the occasional feather out of his chest. Towards the end of its very short life he managed to pick almost every feather out of its body. It died not long after. I couldn't understand why when I was a kid but it was clearly mentally ill. Not surprising really. It's a terribly cruel hobby, I indirectly cause animals enough suffering with all the meat I eat, no need to purposely torture more of them!
 
I want a parrot, but my job will not allow us to have birds
 
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I think @Chris Wilson is your guy for this!

I'd love a pet bird. Growing up we had canaries and a cockatiel at my grandmothers and I've always loved them. We now have a cat, dog and a 1 year old so I'm not sure the time is right. Plus we only have a small house and I'm a bit worried the dander would effect my chest in the size house we have.

I'd love a Sun Conure or a Senegalese parrot... I can dream!
 
I don't keep as many as I used to as the workload is huge, but I still have kookaburras, peafowl, Guinea fowl, an eagle owl and 4 emus. Used to keep a lot of fancy pheasants and 2 rheas. (And a wallaby). Make no mistake, they are time consuming and some speciality feeds are expensive. Just 2 kookaburras and 1 eagle owl eat ten chicks a day, it mounts up. £20 a week for the emu feed.

Then there's the noise aspect, both kookaburras and peacocks are very loud, the male peacocks call at the slightest disturbance at this time of year for over two months and it carries a long way. Some fancy pheasants are incrediblly noisy.
 
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I got a bird of prey experience for my birthday just before covid. Got to fly a few owls a barn, tawny, some south African one and a Eagle Owl. What took me by surprise of all of them but the Eagle Owl especially was how light they were. I know birds aren't heavy but they weight much less than I thought.

I also got to fly a Harris Hawk outdoors which was amazing and really made me want to take up falconry. He was super friendly and sat on my head and it also shocked me with despite how sharp their talons are, they are super gentle with them
 
There's something about Zebra Finches which makes me yearn to keep a few. It's the buzz-cheep noise they make. I make do with binging on youtube.
 
Never been a fan of the idea of keeping birds, unless of course they can fly away and choose to be where they are.

I do miss NZ birds - the sound of a tui and fantails being overly friendly. Can't beat a kea though, they are absolutely awesome clever birds.
 
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Bubo said:
There's something about Zebra Finches which makes me yearn to keep a few. It's the buzz-cheep noise they make. I make do with binging on youtube.
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haha these are the first birds i had. a male and female. they just make a meep meep noise. :D
 
Chris Wilson said:
I don't keep as many as I used to as the workload is huge, but I still have kookaburras, peafowl, Guinea fowl, an eagle owl and 4 emus. Used to keep a lot of fancy pheasants and 2 rheas. (And a wallaby). Make no mistake, they are time consuming and some speciality feeds are expensive. Just 2 kookaburras and 1 eagle owl eat ten chicks a day, it mounts up. £20 a week for the emu feed.

Then there's the noise aspect, both kookaburras and peacocks are very loud, the male peacocks call at the slightest disturbance at this time of year for over two months and it carries a long way. Some fancy pheasants are incrediblly noisy.
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i was considering getting a wallaby looked into them was surprised how cheap they were. then thought about it bouncing round smashing stuff and thought better of it. if i had bigger amount of land maybe so.
 
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