Daisy...thanks...they are very unique little birds, and can become the ultimate Velcro bird, and you become their 'human pets'
Below is a couple of pix's of Belle. She is a BN (blue-naped) mousebird and thinks she is a Southern Belle and has to be pampered. And lastly are some BN chicks that hatched X-mas day.
Daisy...I did a trade with Discovery Cove in Oct. I traded some white-backed and blue-naped females for some Speckled mousebirds they had. Below are pix's of the Speckled I got, and a grouping showing the Speckled at Discovery Cove. Captain jack (in hand, and hanging on my husbands shirt) is a 6 year old Speckled female that is the friendly bird in the flight at Discovery Cove. One pair of the Speckled just went to nest. I am so excited because there are very few private breeders that have the Speckled.
That's awesome! I never new that they would take them off the public, then again I bet you are one of the very few out there that do breed them! They seemed so lovely when I was there. What are they generally like as pets/to keep?
Mousebirds make great pets...BUT, it is best for someone that prefers a Velcro or needy type bird, and has the time to give them lots of attention....even if it is just in the same room talking to them. They consider a human as a flock member when no other mousebirds are around, and will do contact calls when your out of sight.
They are a quiet bird, non-destructive, very social, comical and arcobatic. The only drawback is that since they eat a soft food diet (fruits) and alot, they also poop alot. Many can be potty trained because they will give you a little notice if holding them as a signal they got to poop, and then they can be held over a trash can, or a paper towel under them.
Oh wow - I've seen videos of snuggly mousebirds and they really tug at your heart strings I want a mousebird or a java sparrow that is tame, they are just so gorgeous and so cute! :lovehearts: I got to speak with one of the aviary caretakers at Sea World in November, I chaperoned a highschool field trip and got to go on an educational tour and she stayed to chat with me. Their breeding programs are extensive and quite complex. She said they had the most successful breeding program for Palm Cockatoos in the US and they breed many exotic bird species. We got to go behind the scenes and see their aviaries and breeding facilities for the whole Sea World complex, though Discovery Cove has it's own facilities. It was very cool!! When you did the exchange with Discovery Cove, did you meet with Beth? She's a friend of a friend and at one point was the head of the aviaries at Discovery Cove, but I don't know if she's still there or not
Daisy...yes I did my own site. I use www.weebly.com which has some simple to use webdesign tools, and is free. In the US the average cost for a mousebird is $250-300.00 There are breeders in the UK, and I beleive they are less expensive.
Jenny...for over a year I had been emailing a lady named Sherry, whom is the bird curator. When I went up for the exchange Tiffany gave me the tour. I'm not sure if I met Beth.
It was interesing to see the huge diet board that had a listing of everything each species and aviary gets, times, etc. Tiffany is the one in the collage with the grey go-away-bird. The other collages are of some of the birds in the mixed flights where the Speckled mousebirds were.
Thanks for sharing the site, and thanks for the price estimates. What sort of cages/aviaries do you keep them in? I mean is there certain requirements?
Single birds or a pair can be in a large cockatiel sized flight cage. If it is a new handfed pet then a keet sized cage for the first week to make sure it is eating, and can be moved with you as the mousebird gets familair with you and your routine.
I am in the process now of making 4'W x 8'L planted walk-in flights for the mousebirds. Towards the end of my handfeeding page shows the various cages they graduate from til they are weaned: http://www.mousebirds.com/hand-feeding.html
Cool! What I liked about SeaWorld is just about all the birds had names, and each employee was very knowlwdgable about each species. Plus it was interesting behind the scenes to see the open playground area for the macaws and larger birds. They put large cardboard boxes over the ends of the large branches on the playstands for the birds to chew and play with. The Amazons each had a phone book to shred and chew.
Over the past 15 years between several hurricances and hurricane damage there have been cative birds that escaped. Since our weather is mild, many adapt and thrive 'in the wild' There are lots of fruit trees, and native trees with flowers/fruit that that are continually blooming, so have a steady food source they can eat from. In S. Florida there are several flocks of feral quacker, a couple small flocks of Amazons, and around Miami a flock of Macaws.
Most likely the macaws you seen flying over may have been some that escaped and turned feral.
They may flying around the aviaries because they hear the ones inside. The staff may also be putting out food for them. I beleive they have their show birds recall trained, but not the ferel ones...they are extra entertainment
Ah, hello, and welcome! I'm on TalkCockatiels as well.
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