Bird Virgn

[CCNY]

Hello Fellow Flockers~

My name is C.C. & I live in New York with my fiance' and our large pack of k9's and 3 pigs. I've fascinated by parrots as long as I can remember, often my Mom would drop me off at this store called The Bird Jungle, I'd hang out there for hours while she went and ran errands! Different world today huh? I'm 36 now and pretty much settled into our home, same job for the past 8 years (vet tech) and I'm seriously considering bringing either a CAG or a DYHA into our home, really leaning towards the Grey. ALready spent quite a bit of time here trying to soak up everyones experience and insights to all the different behaviors but also looking for some input in the following areas...

1) Why does it appear so difficult to find a breeder who will DNA sex their babies if it is so easy and inexpensive?
2) I am a woman and I think I should get a male bird, pros & cons?
3) Are there any breeders in the northeast that are know for selecting parent stock with great temperaments?

THANK YOU!

 

[Clarissa]

Some people are difficult for no reason when it comes to DNA testing a bird. Liiike... for example, my lovebird is a hybrid, and as soon as I told the lady at the pet store that, she assumed he was sterile (but both his parents were eyerings which makes him not sterile or something? Idk.) and as soon as she made this assumption, she said there was no purpose in testing him as it would be a "waste of time" since he can't breed.

So, with some, probably most. Unless the bird is going to be a mindless baby making machine, there's no purpose in knowing their gender. I imagine that's probably the same mind set of breeders in NY.

Second question, it really depends on your preference... There really aren't many cons to outweigh pros if any to be honest. Given your male bird may see you as his "mate."

Third; I can't really help you there... I'm not sure of any breeders in particular. But to be honest, in my opinion, I don't really think the temperament of the parents matters much in the offspring, it may to some degree, but maybe not much? I think it really depends on how often the babies are handled and how early on this handling begins to get them heavily associated with people... However, I'm sure some nice attitudes in the lineage wouldn't hurt any.

I hope I was at least some help to you... Good luck on your bird hunt.

 

[HRH Di]

Get the Grey! Get the Grey! Sorry, my personaly preference is showing up.

The breeder we got 2 of our birds from DNA's every one of her babies. It's weird that some wouldn't. Seriously, how many dog owners only want to know the sex of their dog to breed it? Granted the bird doesn't care if he/she has a gender specific name and whether or not the name matches his/her gender, but still...

I don't know that the sex of the bird matters. My CAG is a girl and I don't know that she'd love me more if she were a boy.

Birds don't breed like cats and dogs...just kind of willy-nilly. They bond with their mate, so I would think that breeding specific temperments together would be more difficult that the usual companion animals. If you're getting a baby, it's important to visit the breeder to see how they socialize their babies and what sort of environment they have - clean, healthy, etc.

I don't know of any breeders in NY...just my wonderful breeder here in Texas.

Good luck!

 

[oled]

1) Why does it appear so difficult to find a breeder who will DNA sex their babies if it is so easy and inexpensive?
2) I am a woman and I think I should get a male bird, pros & cons?
3) Are there any breeders in the northeast that are know for selecting parent stock with great temperaments?

1. Dont know, but do your self
2. trust not gender is the key
3. I am from Sweden so i dont know

 

[merlinsmom13]

I imagine that any additional cost (dna testing) would cut into profits. It would be great if a breeder took temperment into consideration when breeding. I don't know any breeders. I have a male bird & he's bonded to me, but I think that is because I spend more time w/him, not that he's a male. Maybe you can make a list of pros/cons of both birds & see how they fit into your lifestyle. Good luck.

 

[Rio Mom]

Welcome to the forum! Possibly the reason a lot of breeders don't DNA is because then they would have to charge more to cover the cost of the test, maybe deterring potential buyers? Just a guess there. When I got River, the breeder thought he was male based on his pelvic bone shape, I did the DNA and she was correct. I was hoping for a male, just to have to not worry about egg laying/egg binding problems down the road. As for Grey breeders, I don't know of any myself, so can't help you on that part.

 

[Molcan2]

I would most definitely go with the Grey! Absolutely love them, their awesome birds. They were top of my list, until I was given the opportunity to get an amazing Moluccan cockatoo as a gift.

As for the DNA testing I feel that it is very important to know the sex of your bird. This has nothing to do with temperament but more so that you know what to expect. This will prepare you to watch for signs of being egg-bound (should it be female) once she becomes mature and is capable of laying eggs. Knowing potential problems will save your birds life.

Personality is all on how the bird is raised: good, stable, loving, environment = good, stable, loving bird.

Just because you get a male bird doesn't mean that it will bond to you any different than a female. I'm a female, with a female bird who happens to think that I'm her mate, unfortunately for me it is breeding season.

 

[TonyCagg]

CC, Where in NY are you? I am 2 hours north of NYC myself.

I have been waiting to get a bird for a number of years and decided that the right time was now. I actually wound up rescuing a bird.

I went to the rescue with full intention of adopting a Grey and wound up with the most amazing Eleanora Cockatoo (Woman running the rescue said he was a Grey in a Cockatoo's body)...all kidding aside, she could not have been more accurate.

While his speaking ability is not as clear at a CAG, he does talk and he if far quieter and sweeter than any Grey I have met in my career (I was a zookeeper and vet tech for 15 years).

Point being, you should check into local rescues as well...not all birds there are behavior issues, some are victims of circumstance (as my Nic Nic was) and it is a HUGELY gratifying feeling to help out an "orphan" bird.

 

[CCNY]

Hi Tony, I'm in Orange County. I would definetly be into a rescue and I have sent an inquiry to the closest one to me I could find which is in Dutchess County but I've not heard back from them yet. Where did you adopt your Cockatoo from? And kudos to you for doing so!

 

[suebee]

hello an welcome to the forum! wish i had done the research you are doing now, before i accepted the nut! lol

i researched dietary needs and what was out on the www......

but no where did it say, she would litterally wreak my house, we are now making our home more bird friendly and easy to clean up accidents lol

but think i'd have taken her in anyways, cos everything deserves a chance, especially something that has such an incredible life span
it wasn't till a few months later, when chatting to my mum did the full story of how badly behaved she was, came out (nut was angel, when she was my brothers bird) either way she's here now, and here to stay

good luck with finding a breeder or rescue, but as said above meet bird 1st

 

[rlchic93]

Also just a little side note if you do decide to go with the grey and get a congo there is a way to visually sex them from their tail feathers.

Also I am also a woman and I have had male and female birds and I never have seen a difference. What really matters is the bond that you have with your bird.

I would help you with the breeder however I am in PA and my breeder will not ship her babies.