African Greys are one of the most popular breeds purely for their astonishing vocabulary capacity of 2000 words! Grey’s have the intelligence to speak in sentences and respond correctly to questions like any 5 year old. That said this should never be the sole reason for buying an African grey as like most parrots, they require the same amount of care and stimulation. 

We know most of you have probably come across Einstein the African Grey before but it has to be one of our favourite parroty videos. Enjoy.

Popularity: 35% [?]

Many people find out how charming quails are quite by accident.  There are often used as an agricultural project to start with, and end up becoming a member of the family. 

The Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) makes a terrific pet.

Quails are easy to keep for many reasons; they are small, quiet and friendly.  Not only that, they don’t need lots of attention or space to live.  They are easy to keep clean and don’t cost an arm and a leg to maintain.  They are not only a rare and unique pet, but they also will lay lots of eggs for you and your family to eat.

If you choose to share your home with a quail, you should know that a female makes a much better pet than a male will.  They boys don’t like to be alone very much and they make their displeasure known by crowing loudly.  The female will begin laying eggs at only 8 weeks old and the eggs hatch 17 days after fertilization.

You can easily house them in a rabbit cage, but remember that a Coturnix Quail can’t perch.  Your pet hen may as live as long as 6 years.  An important factor to remember is that a quail will fly up and bonk their heads on the top of the cage if they are startled.  This is called “The Boink Factor.”  A quail’s first instinct when frightened is to fly upwards if they are startled.  This serves them well in the wild as they need to escape predators.  In a cage, it can mean serious injury or even death.  Be sure that the protective padding covers the entire ceiling.  This padding should be solid enough to protect her from the bars of the cage, yet soft enough to do her no harm.

They eat the same food as a chicken…….. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 100% [?]

Doves have quite an interesting past.  They have been domesticated for thousands of years and have been used for food, raised to be pets and were even used as sacrifices to the gods.  The most familiar species of dove is the white Ringneck Dove which can often be seen in magic acts.

A dove will make anyone a great pet.  They are appealing to look at, quiet, except for the peaceful sound of their cooing, easy to tame and an active yet undemanding birds.  They are usually healthy and hardy that require very little maintenance and can be found at relatively inexpensive prices.

The most common species of doves that are kept as pets are the Ringneck and Diamond Doves.  You can find the Ringneck Dove in more than forty color mutations.  Other names that the Ringneck is known by are the laughing dove, collared dove, turtledove or the Barbary dove.  The white Ringneck Dove is commonly called the peace dove or the sacred dove, as well as sometimes being called the Java Dove.

The Diamond Dove was imported to Europe sometime in the late 1800’s.  As early as 1868, the London Zoological Garden has been raising and breeding the Diamond Dove.  They are very popular as an aviary bird and they are an ideal choice for a beginner.  These doves are quite hardy and can easily be kept with other peaceful birds like finches.
You can also raise them inside your home, but they are best kept in pairs.

The dove has an average life expectancy of 10 years……. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 41% [?]

The hyacinth macaw is a magnificent bird.  The blue color is stunning and the yellow ring around the eye gives them a majestic look.  This gentle giant is the largest of the parrots and also one of the most endangered in the wild.

For many people, it may be hard to imagine these beautiful birds in the wild.  The spectacular flash of blue as a wild hyacinth macaw soars through the sky is becoming a sight that is rare to behold these days.

The hyacinth macaw can be found in southern Brazil, eastern Bolivia and in the northeast section of Paraguay.  These are the places where large populations of Hyacinth Macaws are normally found, but it is possible that smaller populations exist in other areas of its home range.

It is thought that there were more than 100,000 hyacinth macaws before the Amerindians arrived in South America.  The wild population dwindled to about 2500 birds in 1990.  Hyacinth macaws that are captive, number probably in the thousands.  These birds are one of the most expensive species of parrots and can cost as much as $15,000.

The hyacinth macaw makes its home in palm swamps and tropical rain forests.  They nest in holes in trees, and with the destruction of the Brazilian rainforest by hundreds of acres each day, it is no wonder that the hyacinth macaw is an endangered species.

The clutch size of a hyacinth macaw is two or three eggs……  Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 37% [?]

Ok so we will forget the loaves… if you’re hungry make yourself a sarnie!

A finch is a small, active, captive bird that originates from Asia, Australia, and Africa.    Finches are native to the forests and grasslands in their country of origin. These tiny, flitting birds are ideal for a community aviary or a flight cage.  You can also keep a pair in a cage in your home.  It is best to buy them in pairs because these birds don’t interact very well with people and having two will keep your finch from becoming lonely and bored. 

Sometimes a few birds have been known to sit on the shoulders of their owners, but most finches are quite content to be admired from afar.

Many species of finches have beautifully coloured feathers, and many sing pretty songs.  The markings on finches vary according to the species.  One of the most remarkable finches is the Owl finch.  Their stunning facial markings mimic those of an owl.  There are many species to choose from, starting with the Owl finch, to the brightly colored Lady Gouldian finch.  This finch is sometimes described as “a stained glass window with feathers.”  If you are a first time bird owner, check with the staff at your local bird store for names of the species that may be best for you.

If you decide that you would like to own finches, keep in mind that you will be buying a pair and that they will spend most of their time in the cage.  Ensure that is large enough for them to fly around a bit.  It is wise to place perches on the opposite ends of the cages to give them more room to fly.

Finches are anywhere from 3 to 8 inches in length and weigh from 10 to 20 grams…..   Read the rest of this entry »