Barraband (superb) parronts out there?

[Freespin]

I dont think i have ever seen anyone besides myself mention Barrabands before so i was wondering if there was anyone hiding out there who has them?
I have always said i have no idea why they are not more popular and everyone i talk to who has them agrees. Since having mine two of my friends have gone out and got one themselves =D Barry is super easy to keep, a great talker, colorful and doesn't screech. The only issue i have had has been his jealousy since i got Nelson but that is settling down now.
Would love to see pics too =D

 

[Mike17]

We had a barraband for a day or so- it was only a couple of days old and it died. It had been rejected by the parents. We never got to experience a grown one, it would have been an interesting part of our eclectic flock, a great pity too, it was my wife's first experience of a very young chick and we may have stuffed it up, and barrabands are not easy to find.

 

[thekarens]

Here in the US I don't think I've ever seen one for sale, certainly not in the bird shops or shows.

 

[Freespin]

Here in the US I don't think I've ever seen one for sale, certainly not in the bird shops or shows.

Want me to send you a few? You could make a killing Haha

 

[thekarens]

Here in the US I don't think I've ever seen one for sale, certainly not in the bird shops or shows.

Want me to send you a few? You could make a killing Haha

I'd love that. They are beautiful birds

 

[RavensGryf]

That is true that in the US they are rare. I'd imagine more Barraband pets and aviary birds in Australia? Makes sense with New Zealand too since you're close to AU.

My mom has a related Polytelis species though Princess of Wales Parakeet. They're uncommon here as pets, but people do have them here as aviary birds. Patches is very active, talks so cute, not noisy, acts like a little clown, loves to run around and play with toys, but although hand fed he doesn't like to be touched.

I've also seen the third Polytelis specie here but rarely, the Rock Pebbler parakeet.

 

[Freespin]

That is true that in the US they are rare. I'd imagine more Barraband pets and aviary birds in Australia? Makes sense with New Zealand too since you're close to AU.

My mom has a related Polytelis species though Princess of Wales Parakeet. They're uncommon here as pets, but people do have them here as aviary birds. Patches is very active, talks so cute, not noisy, acts like a little clown, loves to run around and play with toys, but although hand fed he doesn't like to be touched.

I've also seen the third Polytelis specie here but rarely, the Rock Pebbler parakeet.

We gets kings hand raised here but i dont see a lot of princess' both as aviary birds or pets. One of the most awesome X's i have ever seen i a Crimson wing X King parrot. Its amazing.

 

[Mike17]

We have a Princess Alexandra's Parrot (as it appears on my WA licence) although we just call it a Princess Parrot (since Alexandra of Denmark, for whom the bird is named, seems to have so many titles ). He's a delightful character.

 

[RavensGryf]

Oooh the King parrots and Crimson Wings are gorgeous! Again, not very popular species over here.

 

[Mike17]

Oooh the King parrots and Crimson Wings are gorgeous! Again, not very popular species over here.

Different genus to the barraband, regent & princess.

 

[RavensGryf]

Oooh the King parrots and Crimson Wings are gorgeous! Again, not very popular species over here.

Different genus to the barraband, regent & princess.

Yes I know different genus . Many species are unpopular in the US though. It's interesting to me what is popular in other countries.

 

[Mike17]

Oooh the King parrots and Crimson Wings are gorgeous! Again, not very popular species over here.

Different genus to the barraband, regent & princess.

Yes I know different genus . Many species are unpopular in the US though. It's interesting to me what is popular in other countries.

To a great extent in Oz it's controlled by what's actually available. Some species are rare, and therefore very expensive, or not available at all. There are strict controls on bird imports to this country.

 

[RavensGryf]

Mike, then it does makes sense why Australian native species are commonly kept there as pets. You have so many beautiful native species, and they're legal to keep as pets. We could never keep native wildlife here. Not that I'd want to :19: Maybe with permits for raptors I don't know much about that. I'd love to be able to go down to the park and see wild exotic parrots!

Do you or anyone else out there from 'Oz' as you call it see many Hooded Parakeets (Psephotus grass keets) over there? I mean in captivity - I think they're scarce in the wild?
Reason I'm curious is I used to have one as a hand fed youngster (who passed away mysteriously right as he was getting his adult colors), but it was about 15 years ago, and it was an obscure and rare find even then. I found a breeder of grass keets. Not real expensive, but rare. They're almost exclusively aviary birds, and even hand fed, he never got handleable. But GORGEOUS! I don't know if they are even harder to find here now, but imagine easier to find in Australia where they're from. Just came to mind so now I'm curious about that.

 

[Mike17]

Mike, then it does makes sense why Australian native species are commonly kept there as pets. You have so many beautiful native species, and they're legal to keep as pets. We could never keep native wildlife here. Not that I'd want to :19: Maybe with permits for raptors I don't know much about that. I'd love to be able to go down to the park and see wild exotic parrots!

Do you or anyone else out there from 'Oz' as you call it see many Hooded Parakeets (Psephotus grass keets) over there? I mean in captivity - I think they're scarce in the wild?
Reason I'm curious is I used to have one as a hand fed youngster (who passed away mysteriously right as he was getting his adult colors), but it was about 15 years ago, and it was an obscure and rare find even then. I found a breeder of grass keets. Not real expensive, but rare. They're almost exclusively aviary birds, and even hand fed, he never got handleable. But GORGEOUS! I don't know if they are even harder to find here now, but imagine easier to find in Australia where they're from. Just came to mind so now I'm curious about that.

Raven, they're available, for $100-1000, but not common. They are not exactly scarce in the wild, they just have (by Australian standards) a fairly limited range, plus they nest in termite mounds. Termite mounds have been common in desert areas that I've travelled, but the mounds may be knocked over on cattle stations further north where the Hooded Parrot lives.

 

[dragonlady2]

I have 2 Barrabands. They are brothers. I don't see them often for sale here in Canada and I got mine from a breeder who hand feeds a variety of parrots. Both are extremely good talkers, quick to pick up a word or phrase...even the F-bomb. Mine talk, chatter, call, screech all day. I can see why they would be considered aviary birds as they require a lot of out of cage time to fly around. They love sitting on my shoulder. Neither Joey or Peewee can be out with the other birds as they will harass the crap out of them and each other. It's too bad they are not readily available here as they make awesome pets.
Oh...and I also have a female King parrot. Beautiful, gentle birds, just very mischievious.

 

[RavensGryf]

Thanks Mike about the Hooded. I'd love to track down a pair here again one day if I ever have the opportunity to build an aviary. I guess they're around the US still somewhere (grass keet breeders would know I'm sure).

Seems like here in the States, when a species is on the rare side or uncommon, it doesn't always mean it will be expensive. The number one factor of cost here is the demand. If it's rare but people don't care, they're still reasonable $. If it's a common and plentiful specie but popular and highly sought after as a pet, price can still be pretty high here.

 

[Wawetseka]

We have a lovely male barraband named Magoo that I rescued. Guy did not even know what he was and was selling him as a senegal. All I did was email and tell him what the bird was, he replies that he'll sell him to me for 200 bucks w/o cage, and that was it. Magoo came to us in poor shape at 17 years old. He's a wonderbird now and has the life that he deserves so much after 17 years.