|
A little insight into why we raise parrots for a past time
Deciding to start an aviary was the easiest part of starting an aviary. Seemed pretty simple, considering the thirty years experience I had training and handling wild imported parrots.
Breeding parrots has been an enjoyable and sometimes hectic endeavor. These creatures of god are rulers of the roost around here. We understand they are very intelligent and need to have care and attention.
A long time ago, in the early 70's of the last century my first parrot was a Military Macaw. A great companion bird very loving and attentive. My fascination with parrots grew and my desire for knowledge enabled me to become a certified vet tech in California.
I moved to Louisiana to be close to my family and took a position with an import, quarantine station based out of New Orleans. At one time there would be 500 or more parrots arrive by airline in crates packed with standing room only. I felt such great sorrow for those poor birds, being taken out of their natural habitat and having to endure this type of treatment. The ones that did make it were frightened, and usually at least one third of them did not make it from the quarantine station to the wholesale aviary.
I left that position, but continued training and socializing parrots of the wild for the next twenty years. You can be assured that a pirate did not jerk a mature parrot off a branch, and sit him upon his shoulder. He cut the tree down, killed the parents and robbed the babies out of the nest.
With the Federal regulations tightening on the deportation of parrots from their native land and stricter regulations in the United States on importation, the quality of pet parrots will improve. The more generations bred in captivity the better the outcome for the pet parrot. I have witnessed parrots that are so much more responsive and loveable being hand fed, coming from hand fed stock, than even the youngest wild caught parrots. Most of your breeders do care about personality and temperament and will not breed mean birds.
Please copy and paste the link below to view a film on the wild parrots of Indonesia, being kept in ungodly conditions.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoFjn59v798
We start hand feeding when the babies are five days old or less. When they open their little eyes for the first time they see two very sleepy people. From that point on we are mom and dad.
Most of the parrots we raise are the original color. When a rare color happens, it is not from breeding closely related birds. We do not line or inbreed we are interested in the personality and overall health and quality of a potential breeder.
WE ARE GROWING
Carl Schmidt has joined the Bodcau Aviary clear view cage division. We welcome him. With over forty years experience in design, development and deadlines we should get our goals accomplished.
We are still working on our Aviary, and I will be updating our About Us page to include photos.
Please do what you can to support your USA raised parrots and your independent aviaries, please do not buy an imported parrot. Help strengthen the laws to prevent anymore wild caught birds to endure the suffering.
Thank you for dropping by.
K. M. Setters Handler/Trainer/Breeder
Chi Chi the African Grey Rescue
Chi Chi is almost two years old and has been with about three months. She was owned by a very inexperienced parront and Chi Chi was neglected. I don't believe it was intentional, I just think the thought of having a large bird over weighed the room they actually had to provide her a cage. She was in an 18 by 24 inch cage, so cramped she just sat on the water bowl and pouted. I could not even take photos I felt so sorry for her, and she was having no positive reactions to us. A bigger cage was our solution, so of course the photos below are of her new home. For the time she has been here with us, she has shown fear and even will fall off her perch and scream when you came near. This morning in her new cage, she let me scratch her head through the bars, and follows me when I move around her cage. Chi Chi is coming along and I believe we will be able to make a pet of her yet. She was so traumatized I feared she would end up a breeder, and I hate to do that to a parrot that was hand fed. Her wings were so improperly clipped that she has very little balance. African Greys are a little clumsy anyway so a good wing clip is imperative. I will keep you up to date on the progress from abused to loved and tame.
  |
