J-Birds, L.L.C.

This week we become an official limited liability corporation. Apparently there are significant tax advantages in owning a farm that does "alternative farming" such as raising parrots. At least our accountant friend is jumping up and down about being able to fill out Schedule F. We may also qualify for Schedule T (Timber).

Being a corporation is tiring. We spent the weekend painting our corporate headquarters and only got half painted. The corporate refrigerator is still broken and the corporate lawn is about knee deep.
- posted by J-Birds @ 5:44 AM |

 
Sunday Comics

- posted by J-Birds @ 7:24 AM |

 
Paint Chateau Plumage

We'd like to thank the many volunteers who came out today to help us at the new house. For those of you who missed out, tommorrow will be another paint day. We were thinking of having T-shirts made up for everyone who participates saying "J-Birds Staff".

It's not all work. The day comes with free food, libations and a tour of the facilities. Call Craig at 504/415-3493 to reserve your spot and get directions. Hope to see you there.
- posted by J-Birds @ 8:21 PM |

 
Window Magnets

Yesterday, someone came to the blog through MSN Search. They entered "birds magnets for windows" in the search field. We have our doubts about ever selling them a parrot.

What's more scary is that our site popped up as a search result.
- posted by J-Birds @ 3:31 PM |

 
A Visit From Maryanne

Maryanne Stroud Gabbani lives in Abu Sir, Egypt. We are a big fan of her blog, Living in Egypt. She wrote a comment that we prefer to answer in the blog:

Wish you all the best in your move. Are your birds in movable cages or are you going to have to take them from cages to move them. That was my scenario when I moved my gang from the aviary in Maadi to the big new flight cages in Abu Sir. Try as I might, I couldn't get the Greys and Cubans to stop biting me even though I explained that they were going to be MUCH happier. Ingrates.
Maryanne

One of the reasons for our move is to be able to establish our six breeding pairs in cages that are more spacious. We now have all of our birds in 4x4x4 cubes. While adequate, we want to spoil them with larger, zoo-like displays.

We will have to remove the birds from their cages for transport. Hopefully, we won't have any eggs to deal with although one of our friends will incubate them if necessary.

Like you said, they are going to a better place. We just have to deal with the inconveniences.
- posted by J-Birds @ 1:15 AM |

 
Referrals

Debra and I breed some of our babies and buy others "out of the nest" from a few breeder friends in the area. Some of these breeders will raise a baby until it is weaned, most just breed and sell the babies young to people like us.

We list the babies we have in the house on our website. When we get a request for a bird we don't have, we call our friends and either refer the prospective buyer to them or we buy the baby and raise it.

Yesterday a lady that owns a petshop called and asked if we had an Umbrella Cockatoo. One of her customers had a friend that was looking for one and was prepared to have it shipped in from out of town. She felt there was no need to ship if we could find one locally.

We called our friends and the third one had three. The lady looking for one was thrilled. Another happy referral.
- posted by J-Birds @ 7:41 PM |

 
Fun In The Country!

Haven't mentioned the move in a while. Debra, her sister, Carole, and I spent two days cleaning the new house. After being unoccupied for four years with one of the two air conditioning systems broken, it was in bad need of a scrubbing. We washed down all of the walls with a mildew preventive. The kitchen got a complete sterilization thanks to Carole.

We did have some pleasant surprises...the trash compactor, dish washer and garbage disposal all worked. They are very dated but at least we don't have to worry about replacing them in the immediate future. The refrigerator is still broken but my serviceman has great hopes to have it repaired this week.

I replaced all of the flood lights outside so the place looks lived-in at night...and it can be soooo dark at night in the country. Today began the process of refinishing floors in the great room. We have a great guy that seems to be doing a wonderful job.

Meanwhile, our present house is going to h--- in a handbasket. We're trying to keep a positive attitude.

In the spirit of Tom Sawyer we are having a paint the house party this weekend. If any of you are free you will be most welcome. We are a little bit overwhelmed by the amount of work to be done out there. Wish us luck. -Craig
- posted by J-Birds @ 7:16 PM |

 
Eclectus Syndrone

All owners of Eclectus describe the same conditions after two or three months of ownership. Rick and Carla sent us the following description of the symptoms:

What an acrobat. Tiki is always challenging himself with obstacle courses, trying new ways to get from point A to point B. He loves making his way around his perch/gym from branch to branch and exploring his toys. For a while he was a little shy about being held for more than a few minutes, always looking over his shoulder to make sure his perch or cage didn't vanish. He also preferred to perch on hands versus shoulders. (I've read a lot of the articles pro and con about shoulder perching, agressiveness, dominance, etc. - I personally don't think it's a bad habit.) He's becoming much more comfortable being held now, and will sit on my shoulder while I work or (his favorite) during dinner. He also loves water - showers, bath time - he gets so excited spreading his wings and dipping his head into a stream of water. I think he'd sit with the blow dryer on him for hours.

Carla has become a true bird person. She and Tiki have really bonded, and he loves when she sings to him. He warbles some sounds back, and will sometimes prompt her to sing more by opening and closing his beak like a silent opera star. He has "spoken" a few words and sentences in a language all his own, but is clearly interested in vocal communication. His health is perfect, his appetite still strong, and he is a treasured member of the family. Sarah continues to be fascinated by his antics, and has done a great job sharing in his care and upkeep.

- posted by J-Birds @ 5:59 AM |

 
Sunday Comics

- posted by J-Birds @ 7:57 AM |

 
Hurricane Charley

We don't think about it but thousands of animals were displaced when Hurricane Charley hit the west coast of Florida. This Article begins to describe some of the problems with domestic animals as well as parrots and other exotics.

I'll try to find out if there's anything we can do to help and pass it on.
- posted by J-Birds @ 6:00 AM |

 
Sad

I know a man who had more money than sense and bought a significant number of breeding birds many years ago. He kept them at his farm in the country in a commercial greenhouse. One day the workers forgot to turn on the ventillators and over 100 parrots perished.

I visited his place three years ago and he had four pairs of Blue and Gold Macaws in black wrought iron Mexican cages that were three feet in diameter and four feet high. All of the birds were related and two pair were laying eggs. He might have had males with males and females with females. He also had several other birds, some of which have since died.

I convinced his caretaker to offer them vegetables and fruit in addition to the all seed diet he had them on. It's been three years and I still think of the sad situation often. Now that we have the room I'm tempted to approach him again about letting us have them to provide them with a decent life. It will cost us $600 a pair for cages and $100 a year per pair for food. Last time I mentioned it, he wanted to sell them to us. Sick man.
- posted by J-Birds @ 8:19 PM |

 
By The Way

We closed on our new house yesterday. Spent four hours there last night absorbing the new atmosphere. Now the work begins...new air conditioning today, refinished floors next week, replacing the garage doors with french doors and windows...and then the move in during the week of September 7. We'll see how Debra holds up to the strain. Wish us luck. - Craig
- posted by J-Birds @ 4:28 PM |

 
Dewey?

Got this email from Dave regarding his new Caique:

Craig & Debra,

I wanted to write and tell you how happy we are to have our baby caique. Dewey is doing well. He still gets his formula in the evening and doesn't seem like he's even thinking about quitting any time soon. We rearranged the inside of his cage to make it a little easier to get into his happy hut, he seems to like it better now and he spends every night inside.

We had a hard time getting him to eat first thing in the morning. He seemed hungry but didn't like what we were offering. We started putting a little warm birdie bread in with his fruits and vegetables, this did the trick. The birdie bread gets him started then he moves on to his veggies. I hope its ok to give the birdie bread every day because he really counts on it now.

He is getting along with our dogs pretty well. The dogs were nervous at first but Dewey wasn't nervous at all. I think this helped the dogs because Dewey acted like it was no big deal and the dogs eventually agreed.

He seems to have fun no matter what he's doing but being in the bathroom when somebody showers seems to be his favorite.

Well, that's the update. I'll write again soon and keep you up to date on Dewey's progress. Thanks again for all your help. Dave

- posted by J-Birds @ 3:09 PM |

 
Sunday Comics

- posted by J-Birds @ 5:02 AM |

 
African Greys, The Perfect Pet by Craig and Debra Johnson, J-Birds
(Psittacus erithacus erithacus)

African Grey parrots are the most popular of all of the domestic raised parrots. They are perfect pets for people looking for an intelligent, articulate and entertaining companion bird. Known as the best speaking parrot in the world, Greys also have superior intelligence when compared to other parrot species. Greys are relatively quiet birds and make great apartment pets. By quiet, we mean that the volume of their speech is not nearly as loud as a Cockatoo or a Macaw. Greys make sounds and speak frequently when their human families are present.

Subspecies. There are two subspecies of African Grey parrots: Congo Greys (Psittacus erithacus erithacus), and Timneh Greys (Psittacus erithacus timneh). Congo Greys are sometimes referred to by region and size as Ghana, Togo, Cameroon, Congo and Angola Greys. These subdivisions are unreliable and are used indiscriminately by breeders and owners regarding the size of the parrot rather than a scientific sub-division of the Congo.

Congo Greys are the nominate subspecies of African Greys. The word “nominate” refers to the first of the subspecies to be discovered. A medium sized parrot, the Congo is 13” long and weighs between 380 and 575 grams. Congos are light to medium gray in color with a white skin patch surrounding the eyes and a bright red tail.

Timneh Greys are smaller than the Congo at 12 inches and weigh between 300 and 360 grams. Timnehs are medium gray to dark gray in color. They share the white skin patch around the eyes with their Congo cousins but their tails are a dark maroon color.

Behavior. With their intelligence comes certain traits that should be considered before you choose this parrot as your pet. They also place certain responsibilities on owners to ensure a happy, healthy pet.

Greys, more than most parrot species, do not handle boredom and confinement well. If left unattended for long periods or not provided daily interaction with their human families, African Grey parrots may develop undesirable behavior patterns such as aggression and, in some cases, feather plucking.

African Greys will entertain the entire family but as they mature they truly become “ one person” birds. If all members of the family maintain contact with the parrot they may all be able to handle the bird but one person in the family will become the obvious favorite. In most cases, a mature Grey will prefer to be handled only by its chosen handler.

Plucking. The biggest fear of buyers of African Greys is their reputation for plucking feathers. Greys pluck feathers for a variety of reasons. Sometimes boredom or not enough human interaction causes an African Grey to pull out its feathers. Sometimes they get too much attention -- with the owner running over every time the Grey pulls out a feather. Others pluck because of dietary imbalances, or environmental problems, such as people smoking or the air too dry. Greys should have regular baths and exposure to some kind of moist air on a regular basis. African Greys who are emotionally abused by someone who bangs on their cage or routinely squirts them in the face with a spray bottle for discipline may pluck. A single frightening experience has caused Greys to become feather pluckers.1

Environment. Wild Greys range throughout Central and Western Africa, and can be found in western sections of East African countries. They live in primary and secondary rainforest, forest edges and clearings.

As a pet, it is recommended that African Greys be housed in a fairly large cage. A good size for Congos would be 23” x 32” x 50”. Timnehs may be housed in a slightly smaller cage. Greys are extremely intelligent birds and, as such, require a variety of complex and interesting toys. They like security and stability as they tend to be more nervous and easily frightened than other parrot species. Their cages should be placed in view of family activity areas but not in the center of activity.

Diet. African Greys’ natural diet includes the fruits, seeds, nuts and berries of several native rainforest species, including the flesh of oil-palm trees. As a pet, their regular diet should include species-specific pellets, a much smaller percentage of a commercial seed mix, and daily fresh fruit or vegetables.

Most experts recommend that Greys be fed items that provide calcium as a supplement to their diet including almonds, kale, figs, beans and broccoli.

Conclusion. If you are looking for the most interesting of all parrots as a pet and you have the time and commitment to make this parrot an integral part of your family, the African Grey parrot is a great choice.

Footnotes: 1 ”You and Your African Grey” by Jane Hallander


- posted by J-Birds @ 1:38 PM |

 
Chateau Plumage Minus Three Days

Everyone has visions of owning their dream home. Very few are fortunate enough to realize their dreams. We've had changing visions over the years of the perfect home as our family and interests changed. Monday afternoon we have the good fortune to close on our dream estate. No more wishing and longing, just a lot of hard work and enjoyment. Stay tuned for information about our open house...coming in October. You are all welcome. (Bring your lawnmowers)

- posted by J-Birds @ 9:44 PM |

 
People's Court

There was a parrot case on People's Court today. A buyer had paid in full for a baby bird. The bird died 17 hours after they received it and the necropsy was unspecific in terms of the cause of death. No aspiration, but they couldn't rule out polyoma. The breeder didn't want to refund the buyer's $960 because they failed to get a blood test that would have proven that the cause was not poly.

Judge Marion Milian ruled that the contract terms had been followed by the buyer and that the breeder had to refund the full amount of purchase.

The contract was very similar to the purchase agreement that we use. Of course, we wrote it to protect us from negligent buyers. But the fact is, when something happens to a new bird, the contract you sign with a breeder defines the recourse you have in getting a refund. Never buy a bird on a handshake. Always get something in writing. If you want to, use ours as an example to craft your own. You can access it HERE.

Debra and I are always available to you to answer any questions you may have. Doesn't matter if you are buying from us or not. - Craig
- posted by J-Birds @ 6:10 PM |

 
No Remorse

Debra has a wonderful insight when it comes to parrots. Last night we were discussing parrot attitudes and the occasional bite and she said, "and they're never sorry".

And she's right. Almost any other pet, after a bite or swipe or some other aggressive act, would show some remorse and act like it was sorry and apologizing. Not a parrot.

If a parrot bites you, in their mind you deserved it. If they believe you deserve another one, they'll bite you again. Sorry? Forget it. So next time your bird bites you...try to figure out what you're doing wrong, apologize to the bird and try to never do it again.
- posted by J-Birds @ 5:52 PM |

 
Sunday Comics

- posted by J-Birds @ 9:01 AM |

 
J-Birds Diet

One of the first questions we are asked whenever we are talking to a prospective buyer is "What do you feed your birds?". We should put together a handout by species to give to them but there is so much diet information available on the internet that we haven't felt pressured to do so.

Just for the record, we feed a basic diet to all of our birds that consists of Pretty Bird (species specific) pellets, Sleek and Sassy Nutty Garden and Grain seed and nut mix, and Ducote's Cajun Lagnappe dried fruits and vegetables. We vary the proportions of each depending on the species of parrot. Cockatoos, Amazons and Macaws get a larger percentage of seeds, Eclectus get more fruit and vegetables.

To this base diet we add a constantly changing daily variety of fresh fruits and vegetables.

We buy our food from a wholsale bird supply company in New Orleans that supplies food to retail outlets in Louisiana as well as large breeder operations. I have asked them why they don't make their selection of food available on the internet but they just shrug. They have agreed to allow us to sell the products we use on our website and they will UPS the products to our buyers.

If we do this, you will get a much fresher diet than you can buy at most pet stores at about the same price. You also won't have to go to three or four places to find it. Please give us feedback and help us decide whether this is a good idea or not. - Craig
- posted by J-Birds @ 8:38 AM |

 
Did Lucy Make The Cover?

I submitted this photo for the cover of this months Louisiana Aviculture Society newsletter. There's a good chance that this is Lucy from Vidalia since she was one of our first SI females. We like to take photos of our babies before their wings are clipped.
- posted by J-Birds @ 8:08 AM |

 
Crunchie Time

Paul and Debbie at Snowbabies call Friday night, "crunchie time". At J-Birds Friday night is Stargate night. Debra and I are hooked on Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis. I try to get home by eight o'clock and Debra tries to have the babies fed so we can watch the new episodes. Tonight's the night and now's the time.

Some of you questioned how we knew who was visiting the site. If you click on the little blue globe next to the haloscan box at the bottom of the page you will go to a site statistics site. Click the Unique Visitors link and you will see the last 20 visitors by IP address. It's cryptic but you can sometimes infer who is visiting.

Anyway, time for the shows. Later...Craig
- posted by J-Birds @ 7:49 PM |

 
Ramblings

It's been tough to post for the last few weeks. New Orleans is experiencing the hottest stretch of the summer and work in the air conditioning business has been exploding. All of the demands of preparing one home to be sold and planning the move have taken their toll. And did I mention that we have a dozen or so birds that we are handfeeding. Most are sold.

Rocket, the caique, leaves on Saturday. We've decided that he may stay unweaned for a year or two. He loves to have his morning feeding and can't stand to miss the evening feeding. He doesn't eat much...just loves the interaction. He should be weaned by now instead of being on two a days. His new owners are more than happy to spoil him until he decides he's grown up.

We've been having a series of email conversations with BJ in Atlanta about a Congo he is considering buying. He's trying to interpret a ten week old baby's head movements as a sign that the bird may have a nervous condition. I call it pre-buyers remorse. It's so hard to educate a buyer by email. I sometimes wish we could do a mind-meld like in Star Trek and share our experiences with potential buyers so that they could make a wise buying decision.

The Eclectus article, which YOU, the reading public, read on this blog in July, will finally be published in the Louisiana Aviculture Newsletter for August. Just another advantage of reading J-Blog.

Keep reading, we love you all. We see Janis, and Snowbabies, and Doug in Lafayette on the blog almost every day. - Craig
- posted by J-Birds @ 9:13 PM |

 
A J-Bird On "The View"

We finally have a viewable copy of the segment of Shuggie, one of our Vos babies on The View on ABC last Wednesday. Click HERE to see the WMV version. The Mpeg file is 30mb which is a little too large to offer on the blog. Special thanks to Emmeth Funches with JTH Computers for his assistance. (Emmeth owns a Red Sided baby named Emerald).
- posted by J-Birds @ 7:20 PM |

 
Available Babies

We have a few beautiful babies that will be weaned in the next 4-6 weeks.

The baby Yellow Nape Amazon is still a big teddy bear. He has discovered that he can talk and he's entertaining us daily with his versions of "Hello" and "Step Up". Someone is going to get a very special bird. If you know of anyone that has been looking for the "perfect" Yellow Nape tell them that he's at Craig and Debra's house.

Our baby male Red Sided Eclectus is weaned. He was going to Dr. Mike in Indianapolis until Mike bought a female S.I. We convinced him that a male S.I. would be a better choice to avoid any possible problems in the future with crossing sub-species. This baby is big. Almost the size of a Vos and very loving.

We also have a female Solomon Island Eclectus. This might be Lucy's sister. Very gentile and beautiful. Loves to be held.
- posted by J-Birds @ 7:50 AM |

 
Stolen Sunday Comics

- posted by J-Birds @ 7:40 AM |