Conference 7.286::pet_birds

<    of pet birds.  She would be delighted with most anything but seems to
<    be drawn to doves.  Would anyone be able to suggest a particular
<    breed that might be applicable to a novice owner?  Also, any pros and

    I don't know anything about doves, but of the hookbills I'd suggest a
cockatiel.  They are small, relatively quiet, some talk a little bit, very
personable (they have personality). Those that are hand fed as babies seem
to be very tame and affectionate. They don't cost an arm & a leg and there's
a decent market for them if things don't work out.

    I find the lovebirds to be very noisy (shrill), the larger birds are
expensive (which is ok if you know the owner likes that kind of bird) but due
to the price, resale can be difficult.

    If you find your friend just loves the cockatiel, then there's plenty of
time later for the bigger birds. Keep in mind, a bird is much like a puppy or
a kitten, it demands your time and attention. It's not like a fish or a turtle
that only needs to be fed, watered and kept warm. They're like little kids, just
as spoiled and just a lovable.

Al

    I hope that your freind has expressed a strong desire for birds, if not
    the best bird is of the ceramic or porcelain species.
    
    If your freind is really wants a bird and can devote the time, both
    immediately and for the next several years, thats good. I would
    disagree with -.1 in that Birds needs MORE consistent attention and
    affections than Puppies and Kittens, in that usually pet Birds have
    the power of free flight denied them. Also most responsible cat and
    dog owners nueter their pets where I have never heard of that in birds.
    With all of this Birds depend on their owners for Affection and
    companionship.
    
    In your case I see you have already decided on a pair, so a lot of this
    is not applicable, as long as if one dies it is replaced.
    
    I have seen people with Pet Doves an they can be nice pets and
    surprisinly interactive with their owners, although the cooing seems to
    bother people sometimes. I don't know about the different variaties of
    doves , but if space is limited , Diamond Doves are very small and can
    get by with a smaller cage.
    
    I am not sure if they are sold but not 14.15 in HUMANE::CLASSIFIED_ADS
    has some doves for free. 
    
    Let us know what you decide and good luck,
    Doug

    In this months issue of Bird Talk, there is a whole article on
    Doves.  They said they are quiet, except for occassional cooing.
    They don't really play with toys so keep their lives interesting
    with different kinds of foods.  You may want to pick up the magazine
    and give it along with the birds.  It always has very good articles
    in it.
    
    RS

    Thanks for all of your input and advice.  The lack of affection and
    attention would not be an issue.   It is not necessarily a prerequisite
    to have a pair of birds.  It only seemed, to a novice, to be a better
    composition than one.  I realize that this also introduces different
    factors and behaviors in birds.
    
    If I were to consider a single bird, would the recommendations remain
    the same?
    

    
    Doves are wonderful, sweet, gentle, and rather nondemanding for a pet
    bird (unlike ALL hookbills - which need constant attention).  Most
    doves I've owned or spent time with have been easy to tame, and once
    tame, quite affectionate.  I had a little diamond dove that would
    follow me around my aviary, landing on my head, shoulders, and hands,
    and pecking at my rings.
    
    Diamond doves are lovely, small, and pretty, especially in the blue and
    silver varieties.  They are about the size of a sparrow or a lovebird. 
    They can be housed nicely in a 30" long x 15" x 15" cage.
    
    Other doves are larger - pidgeon size - and come in a multitude of
    varieties - ringnecks are fawn with dark rings, there are white doves,
    plus a variety of fancy whites with fanned tails.  There is also the
    exquisite bleeding heart dove, which is a shiny, irridescent green,
    with a white breast, and a red spot in the middle of the breast.
    
    Please consider involving your friend in the selection of her new pets. 
    My recommendation - since she is drawn to the doves so strongly - would
    be to get her a pretty 30x24x24 flight cage, a pair of silver diamond
    doves, and a pair of silver button quail (which will coexist happily on
    the bottom of the flight).
    
    Some other considerations - all pretty and easy to care for, but less
    demanding than hookbills - a single male canary (which will sing and
    perhaps get fingertame) or perhaps a pair of pretty finches - try nuns,
    weavers, zebras, Gouldians, strawberries, red ears, or orange wings -
    which come in a myriad of colours, have easy upkeep (see various notes
    in this conference) but will not get tame or interactive.  They are fun
    to watch with each other, though, and many have wonderful songs and
    noises.  A canary can live in a standard canary or cockatiel cage, a
    pair of finches have caging requirements similar to the diamond doves.
    Finches are the thing to get if she wants a "for pretty" bird - having
    finches is closer to having an aquarium than it is to having a
    cockatiel :-)
    
    Another fine choice if she wants a more interactive bird (besides the
    cockatiel, which is a *wonderful* pet) is a parakeet.  A single baby
    parakeet will become strongly bonded to her, and may talk as well. 
    Some get HUGE vocabularies!
    
    Let us know what she's looking for in a pet bird - that will help
    narrow the choices.
    
    
    						/Rita
    
    
    

    Thank you for your time, and for being so kind and patient...
    
    Strange that you would mention that type of dove.  I believe that was
    actually what she had admired.  I did not realize that the cage
    requirement was different for a dove (i.e. larger) than for other
    types. 
    
    I should have added, that I plan to purchase a specific antique bird
    cage (she is extremely fond of antiques) and present the total gift to
    her.  This is a pretty standard size commercial cage which now seems
    too small for doves.  Is that correct?  I would not wish to house a
    bird in an unfit environment.
    
    Other considerations were a canary or a cockatiel.
    

    
    Finches and doves need room to fly, and their cages should be longer,
    to allow the adequate exercise.  A carary would be better suited to the
    antique cage, as well as more appropriate for the "period" (canaries
    were popular Victorian birds).
    
    Be aware that ornate antique bird cages are MUCH harder to clean and
    maintain than their modern counterparts.  They are propably ok for a
    canary, but materials used (lead solders, paint with toxic components,
    etc.) can be fatal to a hookbill, which will chew...never keep even the
    smallest hookbill (ie; a cockatiel) in an antique cage.
    
    Given that the cage is an important part of the gift, I believe a
    canary would be your most appropriate choice.  Even canaries come in a
    wide range of choices, from singers which have somewhat plain colouring
    but exquisite songs, to the bright yellow canaries that most folks
    think of, to little fringey-headed gloucesters (which my husband calls
    "John Lennon canaries", as they look like they have little "Beatles"
    haircuts), pretty orangey-red colourbreds, and the bizarrely shaped
    Italian and Dutch frills... Try and get a male (a reputable breeder or
    pet shop will help you pick one) as a single pet - males will sing,
    females will not.
    
    
    						/Rita
    

    
    Aside from trust, how does one differentiate between a male and female
    canary?  Assuming that the bird is not in full song at the time.