Conference 7.286::pet_birds

    Cindy,
    
    Do you get Bird Talk?  They have a listing in the back of aviaries in
    each state.  This would be a good place to start.
    
    Good choice of birds, but then again I may be biased since my little guy
    is a white capped Pionus.  Feisty little bird but I love him!
    
    Good luck in your search.
    
    Jeanne
    

Hi,
I got a copy of American CAGE BIRD MAGAZINE and saw some advertised there mostly
in Florida.  I tried to get Bird Talk but couln't find it at Barnes & Noble and
haven't looked anywhere else yet.

Can you tell me a little about your pionus - personality wise - I have only had experience with 
one who was a very sick little bird but he was still beautiful anyway


Thanks,
Cindy

Hi Cindy,

If I'm remembering correctly, someone told me that the Fish Nook in Acton 
has them. I don't know if they're white capped or not. The number there 
is (508)263-9370.

Good luck finding what you're looking for.
Donna

Thanks, I called  Fish Nook and they do have a handfed baby
I'll go down and take a look

Thanks again,
Cindy

    Hi Cindy,
    
    Many years ago I dealt with Nancy at Storyland Aviary in Danville. 
    This was a long time ago and as I recall, Nancy appeared to be retired
    so I don't know if she is still "into" birds as she was then.
    
    She was very helpful and wanted to be sure that she sold the "right"
    bird to the "right" person.  Her number was 603-382-5720.
    
    Jeanne
    
    

Hi Cindy,

Did you ever get your pionus?? If so, where'd you end up going?

Donna

Hi,

I am still looking.  I did call Storyland Aviary in Danville and she is still
in business but she doesn't have any pionus.  The local pet shop which seems
to have good birds (Family pet & Aquarium) said they breed in the spring and to
check back in April - got the same information from a breeder in South Carolina

They go for about $800 bucks - unless I get it directly from the breeder and it
will be half that cost.  Can't seem to find a breeder where I don't have to have them 
them shipped - which is kind of a worry for me

There is one in Littleton mass which isn't far from me but the price is in the
$800s again - which is a little steep form right now (I hate winter bills)!


Thanks for asking

Cindy

    I believe you can get those birds for under $500. handfed, if you shop 
    around.  I check with a few of my club members and see what I can dig
    up for you.  Does it have to be a white capped?   The Maximillian is a
    wonderful little bird, and one of the most attractive is the Blue
    Headed (I believe it is blue headed, or blue capped, not sure),  Which
    also makes an equally good pet.  They are all about the same size and
    look, with just color variations.  The Bronze wing is beautiful too!
    
    Great little birds.  Very quiet and gentle, even the imports are sweet.
    
    Denise

Hi Denise,
Please check around for me $500 is certainly better than 800+.
I have never seen any pionus other than a white capped, if the
 other colors are as pretty as the white capped it really wouldn't matter.
It's not the head color that I like but the body colors - 
but I wasn't sure if the others were as pretty.  Someone told me there were 
7 variations of pionus.  I know of three, white capped, blue capped, bronze wing
..I don't know what the other 4 are - I just know I like them based on the 
short experience I had with the white capped --
anyway thanks for your help


Cindy

    well, according to the book I have, the colors are:
    
    bronze-winged
    dusky
    Maximillian's (also known as the scaly headed parrot)
    blue-headed
    white-crowned (also known as white-capped)

Hi,
Well I took a trip to just outside of Burlington Vermont and am now the owner
of Blue Max - whom I  call max.  His or her parentage is Blue head (father) and
maximillian (mother), born in December.  He's very sweet and adjusting to his
surroundings.  Seems to get along with my nanday tho i'm keeping them in 
separate cages.  He still wants to be hand fed even though he is eating other
food too.  Should I supplement every day or every other day?  He already knows
up.

Thanks to this notes conference and the people who read it I got a good
price too - not that I'm any expert


any advice greatly appreciated

Thanks,
Cindy

    Congratulations on your "Max".  I just know you'll love him (or her)! 
    I would keep hand feeding as much as Max wants.  My Pionus supposedly
    was down to two hand feedings a day when I got him at 10 weeks but I
    think the change in atmosphere sometimes makes them revert for a while. 
    We hand fed Taco until 19 weeks old and then "bingo" one day he didn't
    beg or anything.  I feel it's important not to rush the weaning
    process.
    
    Good luck and enjoy!
    
    
    Jeanne
    

    How's Max doing?  Are you enjoying your new bird?  Let us know!
    
    Jeanne
    

Hi,
Sorry I've been slow to respond.  Too much stuff going on.
Thanks for asking about MAX.  He seems to be doing just fine.  His personality
is so much different from my Nanday!  Hes so much quieter but he likes to be 
out of his cage.  I'm hoping to get a new cage at the auction this weekend to
give him more room while I'm at work.

One thing about birds is that I always seem to be worrying about what they are 
eating - seems like there's more food at the bottom of the cage than inside them!

He knows up but I seem to have some difficulty in the down.  I'm not sure how
to teach that.  Not talking yet although I thought I heard a hello but haven't
heard it again so maybe it was just my imagination!

I've notice he seems to kind of a clutz but may be that's because he is still 
young (born in december).  When are birds considered adult- does that vary by
breed?

Anyway we are all getting along fine

Thanks,
Cindy