Parrot Chat

[Serin]

I stopped in a pet shop last week and met the most endearing parrot I ever met (sorry Nemo), a green cheek conure. She rolled around on her back and wrestled my hand like a puppy, then nuzzled into my hand and snuggled and I melted. So much personality in tiny package. I would have bought her right there but she was $700. And that is not in my budget.

However now I am really wanting one, and am looking into local breeders. A young one would be able to be brought up with Nemo, the quaker... who is doing well but still won't eat by himself.

 

[Serin]

I found this ad online.

It would seem thre are two photos of baby grey parrots... but according to the photo the first photo is of a pair of parrots (so one must be the rare invisible breed)... and the second a blue and green and orange lovebird!!! Wow! What a deal!

 

[Parront]

I found this ad online.

It would seem thre are two photos of baby grey parrots... but according to the photo the first photo is of a pair of parrots (so one must be the rare invisible breed)... and the second a blue and green and orange lovebird!!! Wow! What a deal!

View attachment 1919632

LOL what a deal is right! Craig's list is full of scam ads!

 

[Compost King]

How easy are parrots to breed? how often do they lay eggs?

 

[Parront]

How easy are parrots to breed? how often do they lay eggs?

The small parrots like cockatiels and budgies are very easy to breed. My cockatiels would sometimes lay twice a year, 4 chicks per clutch is pretty average. They start breeding in their second or third year, depending on when they are hatched. Good parents will do all the raising, I had one female that was such a spoiled pet she would not feed her babies, she left it all up the the male. So we hand fed her chicks, the male could not keep 4 fed and we lost 2 of her first clutch before we realized what was happening! You can end up with too many parrots, just like with chickens. Parrots like Dylan, my African Grey, are a whole different animal. They are not mature enough to breed until they are over 5 years old. They usually only have one clutch per year, (although some guys try for 2 it is not a good idea). They can have a clutch of 4, but sometimes only 2. They hatch so helpless that the parents really should do all the raising, some people hand feed them to make them more tame, but that is not the best for the birds, I believe. They stay in the nest with mom feeding the chicks for ~6 weeks before they are able to climb out. The most adorable chicks on the planet! I would love to find a male for Dylan, since she lays eggs anyway. But, they are very picky and will decide for themselves if the like the male, and then you could have an expensive non-breeding male! So it is best to breed a proven pair, which can be pretty expensive.

 

[Compost King]

The small parrots like cockatiels and budgies are very easy to breed. My cockatiels would sometimes lay twice a year, 4 chicks per clutch is pretty average. They start breeding in their second or third year, depending on when they are hatched. Good parents will do all the raising, I had one female that was such a spoiled pet she would not feed her babies, she left it all up the the male. So we hand fed her chicks, the male could not keep 4 fed and we lost 2 of her first clutch before we realized what was happening! You can end up with too many parrots, just like with chickens. Parrots like Dylan, my African Grey, are a whole different animal. They are not mature enough to breed until they are over 5 years old. They usually only have one clutch per year, (although some guys try for 2 it is not a good idea). They can have a clutch of 4, but sometimes only 2. They hatch so helpless that the parents really should do all the raising, some people hand feed them to make them more tame, but that is not the best for the birds, I believe. They stay in the nest with mom feeding the chicks for ~6 weeks before they are able to climb out. The most adorable chicks on the planet! I would love to find a male for Dylan, since she lays eggs anyway. But, they are very picky and will decide for themselves if the like the male, and then you could have an expensive non-breeding male! So it is best to breed a proven pair, which can be pretty expensive.

I will stick to Seramas for now, but I figure after I get more experience with caged birds I might be able to move to something different.

 

[Parront]

I will stick to Seramas for now, but I figure after I get more experience with caged birds I might be able to move to something different.

They are not big enough to eat, but are great pets. Big parrots are so smart, and they really get attached to their people. I never made much money breeding my cockatiels, but they sure are a lot of fun to raise.

 

[Serin]

My little feral rescue parrot is finally beginning to eat on his own after 6 weeks! Loves apple slices.

 

[Pyxis]

My little feral rescue parrot is finally beginning to eat on his own after 6 weeks! Loves apple slices.

View attachment 1921573

Awesome news! He's such a cutie Have you tried him with pellets yet?

 

[Serin]

Awesome news! He's such a cutie Have you tried him with pellets yet?

Yes. He nibbles pellets, apples, broccoli, millet, boiled egg and "nutriberries" parrot food. He's still on two formula feeds a day, one small in the afternoon and one big one to last the night later. He eats really well in the morning and by the end of the day he just wants to be a baby again. But every day he is a little more independent.