Click on the type of bird you are interested in for some pictures!
Read about the type of bird you are interested in as told by a
bird!
Congo African Grey Parrots. I am
a Congo African Grey parrot called "Butch". Mom met this breeder of greys
who decided to sell out and purchased three imported pairs. Bird breeder
burnout is a very common occurrence. Mom struggles with it herself when
she has wonderful babies for sale and no buyers. Then she has buyers and
no babies! It is often difficult to match supply and demand when you breed
on a small scale. Also check out this photo of grey babies playing with orange-wing
Amazon babies and sharing a carrot. Let me tell you about the fourth pair
of greys. Mom was given an unwanted male from one couple and given an
untamed female from another friend. This pair seemed happy enough but
didn't go to nest so mom decided to have them DNA sexed. Before the
results came back, the "male" laid an egg which was fertile. Buyer beware
in the world of birds. Both of these birds were "free" so mom couldn't say
too much.
Green Wing Macaws The photo
on your screen is of the famous "Belle", a green-wing macaw who travels
with Birdman Dave's show. I hatched in June 1997. Mom and I started
working with my new owner who visited often so I knew him well before
I went to my new home. We gentle giants are my mom's speciality. I wish I
knew what color blind soul named us green-wings! In Europe, we are called
Greater Red Macaws which is more logical. Large macaws are not for
everyone as our beaks can be quite
intimidating, even as a baby. If your heart is set on owning one of us, be
sure to find a breeder who is willing to work with you and help you to
decide if a large macaw is the right bird for you.
Military Macaws . Mom also
raises military macaws and has raised her first blue-throated chicks this
spring (2008). She has started to raise blue
and gold macaws and Scarletts, so she now raises five types of Macaw
Umbrella Cockatoos. My name
is "Big Bird" and I'm a spunky umbrella cockatoo and I can be very noisy,
especially late in the afternoon. I'm very loving and cuddly and like
interaction with my humans. Beware! We are nicknamed "velcro birds". Mom
fell in love with my species after she bought me as the first "family pet"
bird back in the early 90's. She decided to raise umbrellas, too, as they
were such great family birds. She purchased several pair when the
opportunity presented itself. Only a few weeks later, Mama Gay is hatching
umbrella eggs in an incubator in her kitchen!
Green Cheek
Conures. We are a quieter species, suitable for apartment living and
can be very playful and have great talking ability. If you take the time
to work with us we can build a great vocabulary together.
Amazons. Let me tell you
how Mom began breeding Amazons. A friend called her and relayed a story
about a vet who had a very mean red-lored Amazon, Castada, who was left at
his office to be destroyed if the right person didn't come along. This
person had to agree to buy a hen for him. Mom was on the road the next
morning at daybreak and drove to pick up Castada. A friend who heard this
story called and offered an untamed female who needed a home, so Mom got
into the Amazon business. Castada was just a hormonal male, not really
mean, who wanted a wife and a comfortable place to live. You really have
to try to understand a male Amazon and his raging hormones. Male Amazons
can be a challenge when they get to be seven or eight and it is sad how
many formerly good pets are resold at that time, even though we get over
this period. Then the same vet called and offered a white front Amazon
several months later with the same understanding. Mom hit the road again
and picked up this hen. Fate would have it that a male was offered for
sale in the local paper within weeks. Mom also breeds Yellow Napes and
Double Yellow Heads.
Quakers. We are very noisy and
playful birds and can develop a good vocabulary. We are medium sized so
fit well in modern homes
Green Rump and Pacific
Parrolet. Turnip and Collard green, her original green-rump parrolet
pair were offered by an avian vet who no longer had time to hand feed the
babies. We can talk in our tiny voice and are playful, tiny parrots.
Pacific Parrotlets come in a variety of color mutations so we are bred to
specific colors.
Cockatiels Mom raises some
gorgeous cockatiels simply because she loves the species. Cockatiels make
wonderful pets. There are beautiful color mutations, too. We can be on the
noisy side, though. These are the birds Mom recommends as good first
birds. Also, Mom raises spectacular budgies and will hand-raise one when
she has a special request.
Lovebirds. This photo
is of Mom feeding baby peach-faced lovebirds. A collection from Hawaii was
for sale which included many unusual colors so Mom decided to try raising
lovebirds. To remain a special pet, lovebirds demand daily attention and
handling. If a lovebird is not tame, it might be happiest kept with a mate
in a roomy cage (24" x 24" minimum) in an area where they can interact
with the family. They are playful little birds who love toys!
© 2006 -2010 Gay Whitney
Last update: June 5, 2008
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