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Second bird on the horizon!

AYA

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So, I've been sitting on some exciting information for a while now, and I was planning on keeping quiet on it longer but I'm just so excited, I can't hold it in any more! I'm going to be getting a second parrot soon! :D

Well, so long as there's a little lad in the clutch, that is!

I've been prepping like a fiend and am super stoked, but I have run into a bit of a problem: I'm super shy, and while I really want to talk more with the breeder, I just can't think of anything to say and then chicken out! So does anyone have any suggestions for things that I could ask? :)
 

camelotshadow

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Talk about parents, feeding & eventual weaning foods. Those are important.
Exciting bringin in new baby & it gives you time to prepare.
Will they let you visit?
 

AYA

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Thanks, will do! :D
(I know that those questions must seem obvious, but I can get in such a tizzy that it's hard to remember what to say lol)

Sadly no visits-- from what I've been able to gather, it's uncommon enough for breeders in Australia to give out the name of the town they live in, let alone let you on their property, especially if they work with the more rare exotic species, which is the case with my breeder (though I do know that she's Melbourne-based and is therefore nearby). I know that you should aim to visit where your new baby is coming from, and I was uncertain at first, but the fact that she uploads a lot of videos of her birds helped me get over myself :D
 

camelotshadow

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True visiting can introduce disease & most breeders won;t allow so its for the best but some petshops allow & its a nice way to know the baby before it comes home so that's a plus.
Pics & vids are nice.
Research the breeder to see if you can find recommend as you don;t know the conditions its raised in & how & what it will be fed & handled...alll important.
 
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bumblebee

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How exciting! What type have you decided on getting?

I hate making phonecalls as well, but the more you do it, the easier it gets. Honestly, I find most breeders in Australia are so chatty and talkative that they do all the work for you... haha. Everytime I've spoken with a breeder they've talked my ear off. :p Just give them a call and let them know what you're looking for or ask them when they expect some babies, how much, can they harness train, do they DNA sex, do they deliver/freight etc... any questions you'd like to know. They'll happily answer your questions and I guarantee they'll start gushing about their birds and you won't have to say much, lol.
 

Tiel Feathers

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How exciting! What kind of birdie are you getting? If you can't remember all of your questions in person, maybe you can send them to the breeder in an email. If you do ask questions when talking with the breeder, just remember that the breeder will probably think that potential owners who ask a lot of questions are more conscientious and make better owners than people who don't!
 
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AYA

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Okay, thanks everyone for all the suggestions! I realise that I was rather vague, so I'll clear up what I already know and whatnot (whoops):
  • I'm getting a male black-headed caique, should one have hatched :)
  • He will be DNA sexed, and paperwork such as MTR will also be provided
  • I will meet with the breeder and pick him up when the time comes (she's only an hour or so away, as she's in Melbourne)
  • The last member of the clutch hatched on the 6th of October
  • She harness trains her birds and will also provide the harness
  • She primarily breeds Golden Conures, but also breeds Caiques, Senegals, Red-bellied Parrots, Golden-capped Conures, Jardine Parrots, and Meyers (she also allows the different babies to socialise with each other when they're old enough and while being supervised)
  • One of her golden conure babies was recently getting some love on this forum :D : Video - Dance of the Golden Conure | Avian Avenue Parrot Forum
  • Finally, we usually communicate through facebook-- actually, if anyone wants to have a look at her gorgeous babies, here's a link to her page and youtube channel: Golden Conures Australia | Facebook Golden Conures Australia - YouTube
  • Other people and breeders also seem to hold her in good regard too :)
So yeah, probably should have led with all of that, but oh well :lol:

I'll definitely be asking about the parents and food though, and I really do want to make a good impression and ask a lot, I'm just a big goob is all :laugh:
 

cassiesdad

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How exciting!

You know we'll all be expecting pictures after he's settled in...;)
 

Sylvi_

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Very exciting! I can't wait to see pics, too! :D

I hope all works out! :)
 
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AYA

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UPDATE
Okay, so we had a little chat and here's some more info I've learned:

  • Once her birds are out of their brooder, she works on getting them used to being touched all over and being rubbed around the head-area.
  • Her birds wean at their own pace (forgot to specify onto what foods :facepalm:, but I'm waiting on a reply for that right now)
  • She also begins to work on nipping and biting behaviours once they start to perch, as well as teaches them to step up and down and eventually start to harness train them by putting it on them and taking it off.
  • Once they start to fly, she teaches them to fly to her arm both with and without their harness on-- was really glad to hear that she aims to raise confident flyers! :D
  • When the babies are both perching and flying well, she allows them to socialise with babies of other species, both smaller and larger than the caique
  • If she does not feel that one of her birds is suitable to be a pet, then she won't sell it-- something that I found pretty interesting :)
Really enjoying learning more, so thanks again for helping me out-- and let me know if there's anything else :D
 

Lodah

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Congrats on your new fid... very excited for you both! :fairy2:
 

AYA

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Congrats on your new fid... very excited for you both! :fairy2:
Thank you Lodah! :D

Update:
She weans her babies onto sprouts, fruits, vegies, pellets, and seeds-- she said that she wants her birds to have a healthy appetite for whatever home they go to, and also said that her babies are normally really good eaters :)
 

Animallover03

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Congrats! You have seem to of found a wonderful breeder, I hope your baby is wonderful to you, seems like they will be an awesome bird. :)

Ps- we need some pictures! ;)
 
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AYA

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I live in a town in the Yarra Ranges called Lilydale :)

If all goes well and there's a male in the clutch, a few months-- the oldest chick is about three weeks old, the youngest just over two. They're getting DNA sexed soon, so I'll know in a few weeks :D
 

AYA

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Congrats! You have seem to of found a wonderful breeder, I hope your baby is wonderful to you, seems like they will be an awesome bird. :)

Ps- we need some pictures! ;)

I'm glad that you think so :)

As soon as there are pics, I'll be posting them! :D
 

AYA

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Aww, her birds look gorgeous! I can't believe she's got golden conures in australia - how cool. I would love to get one if they weren't so expensive!
She really puts a lot of work into them, and it shows! I ws surprised as well when I saw that she bred them-- I figured that they'd be one of the many birds that we don't have in the country
 
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