Expert: Marie Charon - 12/1/2009

Question
Were to start?
Breeding is a new adventure for me, Pair of blue Indian ringnecks What is the diet that the need right now and any other vital care.
What is the best,how do i learn to feed babies?
I have read read everything, it seems like there should be more..
Where can I download the best info...

I have rescue birds, my Maloccan Cockatoo I've had 3yrs is always screaming as soon as i leave the room, he is kissing me all the time, he wants my arm 50 times a day.
I give all my birds affection i guess maybe to much.
My Amazon(DYH)screams and sounds exactly like my cockatoo??

I hope you have answers?

Thank you
Wanda

Answer
I can't tell you much about breeding. There isn't a whole lot of information out on breeding birds, really there is just the basics and then everybody seems to come up with their own particulars with practice. I don't breed as a rescue, so I'm woefully under-equipped to give you help on that one. You can try doing a search for bird or parrot breeding on Amazon.com to see if you can find a good book, if there is one you will find it there. Do lots of internet searching and read lots of sites.

You never give a bird more attention than you are able/willing to give it everyday. Otherwise they scream and act out. Birds make a LOT of noise. Your cockatoo is calling out when you leave the room because he is calling out to you, like he would do to locate his flock mates in the wild. You are his flock-mate now. He loves you and want to keep an eye on where you are at!

This sounds funny, and it can quickly turn into a very fun game for your cockatoo and you but when he calls for you ....call back (if you try to sound like him it's great fun for him). They love it.

To calm your birds down from expecting an over-abundance of attention and screaming when you leave the room leave the room, and don't come back until they quiet down, if you do you reinforce the behavior.

Next thing, get a schedule. What time do you let them out of the cages, what time's a day are you going to play with them, what hours are they out of their cages, what time do you clean the cages, feed them, etc. Birds need schedules and over time you will find that they know your schedule better than you and they will come to expect these things at those times and all of your lives will become much easier!!

Blessings,
Marie