What is your dream bird to be owned by and why?

[Totecs_Mum]

My dream birds (probably never going to happen) are: Gang Gang cockatoo, Palm Cockatoo, Toucan and I would LOVE to have a raven. Not only am I a big Game of Thrones fan but they are really awesome birds in their own right.

Gang Gang cockatoos are SO cute!!

 

[Wings]

Totec, you can get gang-gangs in the US here for around $15,000, in Aus (if they are available), they would most likely run for around $6000. Here in the US we can get African Ravens (pied mutation) for around $1500-$2000. Palms here run from $12,000-$20,000. Although we have a wider selection of birds available, they are almost all expensive. ($1000+), you have your Galahs that are like $300, we have our galahs for $1500....but then again we do have our macaws >

 

[Totecs_Mum]

Thanks for the info Wings, I wasn't too sure if gang gangs were available as pets even in Australia. You're right about price difference (very interesting actually), and we're lucky here in Australia that we have such beautiful native parrots like our cockatoos. A good example of price difference would be the black cockies. They're very expensive and "exotic" I believe over your side of the pond however I know of several pet black cockies around the small town I live in. I can't believe how much a Galah goes for in America!! I commonly see them advertised for $300-500 most of the time including cage etc.

I didn't think palm cockatoos would be available as pets either - they are sadly endangered and the bauxite mines in their habitat are threatening their survival further. They are really amazing birds.

I envy you guys your beautiful Amazons though - love those parrots but I would say not very common over here. We do get macaws but they are very expensive.

We have ravens in Australia that are native, I'm not sure what the legalities are but I've never heard of anyone captive breeding them. It would be cool to find an injured/orphaned raven to raise.

 

[Wings]

How much do Amazons run over in Aus? hey are $600-$30000, lower end being the smaller amazons, higher end being the blue mutation yellow-naped amazon, imperial st vincent/lucia amazons. ( the "st." amazon and imperial are very rare with only 500 in captivity mainly in zoos)

 

[Totecs_Mum]

Found a Blue-fronted for $3000, Double Yellow-headed for $6500, Yellow-crowned Amazons for $3800. Can't really find any more prices in Australia.

 

[Wings]

jeez, how about conures, senegals and caiques? Thanks

 

[Wings]

In AUS, do you guys get any glossies or baudins? I've only ever heard of the rtb2 as pets there in the black 'too category. US is a nice place to live for parrots. no prices are at extremes which is nice, but I wouldn't mind seeing some prices drop

 

[Klaery]

A lot of the species you are talking about come from here so it isn't so bad. Black toos can be had for 1000-1500ish (and yes we have baudins etc). Gang gangs are about 1500-1800 (where the hell did you pluck 6000 from???). Galahs, corellas, sulfur crested toos etc can all easily be found under 200. Amazons, macaws, africans etc are more expensive granted, but they can still be had for a lot less than the prices Totecs_mum found. Nowhere near as low as usa prices for exotics though.

Generally if it is native here then it is cheaper here. If not then it is expensive (or not even here).


Edit: Oh and to put my 2c in my dream bird would be to see a night parrot in the wild

 

[lotosha]

My dream birds are already with me: sweet cockatiels and CAG.

 

[Wings]

I read a while back gang-gangs where 6000, guess it was wrong...thanks I think gang-gangs are some of the coolest looking 'toos on the planet

 

[Klaery]

I read a while back gang-gangs where 6000, guess it was wrong...thanks I think gang-gangs are some of the coolest looking 'toos on the planet

They are very cool not very suitable as pets though

 

[Wings]

If you look at it that way NO parrot is suitable as a pet.

 

[kc_y0]

A falcon!

 

[Klaery]

If you look at it that way NO parrot is suitable as a pet.

Haha you lost me. By that I meant that most parrots are not as hard/unsuitable to keep happy as pets as gang-gangs (or as kea! you pick some not so great pet species haha)

Gang-gangs are unsuitable because they are very hard to keep without having them pluck. I have only seen one pet individual in person that had good feather and that individual was supplied with fresh tree and gum nuts to chew through every single day, often twice a day. He needed constant availability to small seed pods to chew. Not everyone can provide this. Even aviary birds need the similar entertainment or they seem to get stressed and pluck very easily.

There are a few theories out there on why they almost all end up plucking and a few keepers think they have cracked the code on keeping gang-gangs happy. Many have failed though and it is very sad to see.

 

[Wings]

You make a good point! I do pick some wacky birds to talk about huh? I wish I would have known that (scarce info on gang-gangs out there), do you know where their name originates from? Thanks!

 

[Klaery]

You make a good point! I do pick some wacky birds to talk about huh? I wish I would have known that (scarce info on gang-gangs out there), do you know where their name originates from? Thanks!

I know it's aboriginal but I don't know what it means or why the called it that sorry.

 

[Wings]

Oh, okay I will need to visit AUS sometime, seems like a wonderful country....

 

[Nocturnal]

I know I have already posted... but... here's a list of birds I would like to take on someday in my future.... realistic birds.

These would be birds I would go out and buy.
Harlequin, Greenwing or Blue and Gold macaw
Hawkhead

POSSIBLY one or two of the following. These I would probably look for in rescues or not actively search out, but get if the opportunity presented itself (and not all of them! haha)
Blue crown conure
red bellied parrot (male!!)
meyers parrot
cherry headed conure
queen of bavaria conure
blue throated conure
blue headed or bronze winged pionus
nanday conure
possibly an eccie (any species or gender)


To be honest though, my caique is kinda a dream bird come true. I never really considered a caique, but when she came into my life and had the opportunity to stay there, I was not going to be looking back! She's a perfect fit!


OH: Also, very, very, very much interested in obtaining one of those black hybrid australian ravens.

 

[Wings]

You know, I love when people post dream birds that are realistic, it gives you a sense that you actually CAN accomplish that goal, but it looks like you have quite the flock already!

 

[Nocturnal]

Yes I do but when I finally move out only Cayenne, Katana and Onyx will be coming with me. I will probably rehome the budgies if they are still alive then. I might possibly take Mika as she is no trouble at all, but she is dad's bird, as is Tautaun (and I do not want him, lol!). Monk belongs to my little sister. If he is still around when I can finally move out, I might take him only if my sis is not caring for him well.

And then two, maybe three dogs.... My two and possibly the one that only likes me providing all are alive and well by then.