The Beginning of It All!

[jaimmorr]

Hooray!

I went to a bird fair yesterday... And dropped about $500!

Bad news?

I spent $500.

Good news?

The cage I bought retails for $600. I got it for $250. :11:


Anywho...

I am 80% sure I have narrowed my choices down to a BCC or a G2. The other 20% is because I'm still kind of considering an Amazon... Anyway, no matter what, I bought a cage that suits all of them! It's 36X28X65 with 7/8 bar spacing. I decided to get a dometop so that the parrot will have extra room in his cage, and I'll get a separate play area. Anyway, I also bought a bunch of toys and perches!

If you guys are interested, I will be more than happy to take pics to show everything off! I just wasn't sure if I should go through the effort if no one was really interested LOL.

I am visiting a rescue in Ohio in two weeks! I'm so excited! This rescue has 2 G2s and a BCC, as well as an Orange Winged Amazon! They have a picture of their BCC on facebook and he looks so pitiful, but soo cute. He has plucked his feathers all out. But I still think he's beautiful! Everyone that I show his picture to says, "Ew why would you want that bird? He's ugly!" It makes me want to cry! He's not ugly, he just had a bad home. Anyway, I can't wait to go visit these birds... Who knows, maybe one will pick me!

 

[cdog]

7/8 is too big of bar spacing for a black cap conures. Black caps should have a Max of 5/8 but better if it was 1/2. I have my three of my gcc's in 1/2 and my pair is in one with 5/8.
And I'm sure I speak for all of us when I say, we want to see!

 

[jaimmorr]

7/8 is too big of bar spacing for a black cap conures. Black caps should have a Max of 5/8 but better if it was 1/2. I have my three of my gcc's in 1/2 and my pair is in one with 5/8.
And I'm sure I speak for all of us when I say, we want to see!

Oops! Sorry, I guess I thought BCC only stood for Blue Crowned Conures, but it makes sense that it would be an acronym for Black Capped Conures as well! Sorry for the confusion! Lol. I meant a Blue Crowned Conure.

 

[cdog]

Oh ok then, I'm not sure what spacing they should have but I think it should be closer to 3/4 just to be safe.

 

[jaimmorr]

Well, I talked to a couple owners of BCCs and did some research on the net that says BCCs do well in up to 1inch because of their size. Thank you though!

 

[Mozzie]

The cage sounds perfect! I would also love to see pictures! Blue crowns are wonderful parrots! But then again they all are. Let us know which one you get or should I say which one picks you! Sounds like you are all ready!!! Exciting!!!

 

[BillsBirds]

Bird shows & bird fairs are some of my favorite places to go! Cages are less expensive, you see birds you may not see anywhere else, a great selection of toys & supplies, see new gadgets & stuff, and meet other people as crazy & passionate about birds as me! Down side...I never get out without spending more $$$ than I wanted to.

 

[cdog]

I would love to go to a bird fair sometime to see a hyacinth macaw, just to see how big it is in person.

 

[KatherineI]

I've only been to one bird fair (in SC) and I was kind of disappointed in products but LOVED all the birds!!! Soooo many varieties! It was awesome. I hope there's some in Phoenix.

I'd love to see the cage and the set up (once it's complete). Keep us updated, I can't wait to see which bird you decide is yours!

 

[jaimmorr]

Interesting! It's the exact opposite here. There's a HUGE selection of cages, toys, etc. But not many birds. Pretty much finches, budgies, and cockatiels. They had a U2 and a Catalina Macaw, and that was it for the big guys. Lol. I still always have fun, though!

 

[KatherineI]

Interesting! It's the exact opposite here. There's a HUGE selection of cages, toys, etc. But not many birds. Pretty much finches, budgies, and cockatiels. They had a U2 and a Catalina Macaw, and that was it for the big guys. Lol. I still always have fun, though!

The Charleston Bird Fair (this was 8 years ago, mind you) is where I saw my first in-person Eclectus. There were tons of birds.

Since then however, more people are diligent and somewhat paranoid about taking their birds, be them vendors or visitors, to things like bird fairs for fear of avian diseases. Rightly so, as I've heard horror stories of birds being bought at, or attending a Bird Fair and then their bird falls ill within days Which is why most people also do a quarantine period when bringing a new parrot into the home when they already have one (you don't, so no worries there).

 

[jaimmorr]

Yeah, I could see that.... I love bird fairs, I think they're fun!

Can anyone recommend stores to shop at for bird toys? Other than petco, etc. Like, are baby toys good? If I go to a garage sale that has baby toys, what should I look for in a toy for a bird?

Thanks!

 

[KatherineI]

Yeah, I could see that.... I love bird fairs, I think they're fun!

Can anyone recommend stores to shop at for bird toys? Other than petco, etc. Like, are baby toys good? If I go to a garage sale that has baby toys, what should I look for in a toy for a bird?

Thanks!

Depends, IMO on the bird. Some birds would do well with baby toys, I've seen many cockatoo's have them. Not sure about Conures. I have to wait until after the move, but I plan on trying a few baby toys. I really would like to get the block with the shapes where you have to fit the oval into the oval hole, the star into the star hole, etc. I forget the actual name.

Also, something I've found for Sugar that works well is childproof-capped pill bottles with coins inside. The coins jingle, because of the childproof cap they can't open them, and she will explore the bottle for hours! Obviously, we clean and sanitize them, peel the label off and such before giving it to her. Homemade toys are awesome if you can do it. Right now, each of my guys has half an dozen-egg carton with seeds, nutriberries, cheerio's, paper they can shred and yarn inside, hanging up in their cages. Sugar is on her second in a week, Loki is still working on his. Great foraging toys, made from materials already in my home that I didn't have to purchase (except the rings, but I already had some extra).

Also, look for a local Avian Supply store and not a box chain like PetCo. I didn't think there were any in my area at all, and then I found one online, randomly made a friend who has Cockatoo's and introduced me to another store and then MollyGreenCheeks told my husband of one where we ended up getting Sugar at (and he got Cody). Internet searches didn't come up with the latter two. Plus, you can always order online, mysafebirdstore.com has good deals on toys, perches, etc.

 

[jaimmorr]

Yeah, I could see that.... I love bird fairs, I think they're fun!

Can anyone recommend stores to shop at for bird toys? Other than petco, etc. Like, are baby toys good? If I go to a garage sale that has baby toys, what should I look for in a toy for a bird?

Thanks!

Depends, IMO on the bird. Some birds would do well with baby toys, I've seen many cockatoo's have them. Not sure about Conures. I have to wait until after the move, but I plan on trying a few baby toys. I really would like to get the block with the shapes where you have to fit the oval into the oval hole, the star into the star hole, etc. I forget the actual name.

Also, something I've found for Sugar that works well is childproof-capped pill bottles with coins inside. The coins jingle, because of the childproof cap they can't open them, and she will explore the bottle for hours! Obviously, we clean and sanitize them, peel the label off and such before giving it to her. Homemade toys are awesome if you can do it. Right now, each of my guys has half an dozen-egg carton with seeds, nutriberries, cheerio's, paper they can shred and yarn inside, hanging up in their cages. Sugar is on her second in a week, Loki is still working on his. Great foraging toys, made from materials already in my home that I didn't have to purchase (except the rings, but I already had some extra).

Also, look for a local Avian Supply store and not a box chain like PetCo. I didn't think there were any in my area at all, and then I found one online, randomly made a friend who has Cockatoo's and introduced me to another store and then MollyGreenCheeks told my husband of one where we ended up getting Sugar at (and he got Cody). Internet searches didn't come up with the latter two. Plus, you can always order online, mysafebirdstore.com has good deals on toys, perches, etc.

I would love to find an Avian Supply store, but I know there aren't any in my town. There is one an hour away that I visit frequently.

I want to make some, definitely, but I'm not very crafty at all! Lol.

 

[KatherineI]

Yeah, I could see that.... I love bird fairs, I think they're fun!

Can anyone recommend stores to shop at for bird toys? Other than petco, etc. Like, are baby toys good? If I go to a garage sale that has baby toys, what should I look for in a toy for a bird?

Thanks!

Depends, IMO on the bird. Some birds would do well with baby toys, I've seen many cockatoo's have them. Not sure about Conures. I have to wait until after the move, but I plan on trying a few baby toys. I really would like to get the block with the shapes where you have to fit the oval into the oval hole, the star into the star hole, etc. I forget the actual name.

Also, something I've found for Sugar that works well is childproof-capped pill bottles with coins inside. The coins jingle, because of the childproof cap they can't open them, and she will explore the bottle for hours! Obviously, we clean and sanitize them, peel the label off and such before giving it to her. Homemade toys are awesome if you can do it. Right now, each of my guys has half an dozen-egg carton with seeds, nutriberries, cheerio's, paper they can shred and yarn inside, hanging up in their cages. Sugar is on her second in a week, Loki is still working on his. Great foraging toys, made from materials already in my home that I didn't have to purchase (except the rings, but I already had some extra).

Also, look for a local Avian Supply store and not a box chain like PetCo. I didn't think there were any in my area at all, and then I found one online, randomly made a friend who has Cockatoo's and introduced me to another store and then MollyGreenCheeks told my husband of one where we ended up getting Sugar at (and he got Cody). Internet searches didn't come up with the latter two. Plus, you can always order online, mysafebirdstore.com has good deals on toys, perches, etc.

I would love to find an Avian Supply store, but I know there aren't any in my town. There is one an hour away that I visit frequently.

I want to make some, definitely, but I'm not very crafty at all! Lol.

The one I got Sugar at, is a 45 minute drive. No lie. The closest one is still roughly 30 minutes away. And they're not that far. Traffic here is just that bad

Check out the DIY section, there's a lot of great ideas in there. You don't have to come up with it yourself, just steal the ideas there