One Shouldn't Visit Bird Loving Friends...

[lovezebs]

Sheather

Oh Dylan, you had a lurker like Babs, that's too funny. I sure got a chuckle out of that, lol. The old kung-fu kick.... tee hee heee

So they never actually errrr 'intermixed', shall we say? That's interesting. You would think that there would have been at least some mixed baby chickies.

[lovezebs]

Barbara Sheather

Great minds think alike, I was just looking up their song as well.
It's not what I would call an attractive song really, they sort of sound like a broken toy, don't they?

[Barbara]

lovezebs they do and the one I heard was loud too not sure if it was just one or if there were other sounds.not to get off subject but you seem to have lots of zebras I have two females and no males don't want babies they have plenty of oyster shells and cuttle bone eat seed veges,egg mix just about anything I put in there.Is there anything else to do so they slow down laying eggs there is no nest I just hear them drop from a perch then yum yum there down there eating.

[lovezebs]

Barbara

Sort of smacks of caniballism, doesn't it.... Sheesh

Zebras and egg laying...

I would cut down on the daylight hours.
Remove the egg food from the menu for a couple of weeks.
Only very very small amounts of veggies/fruit
Stick mainly to seeds and water, and some grit, along with a source of Calcium for a while.

This link will explain things a bit more concisely...

https://ladygouldian.com/content/austerity-diet

[Barbara]

lovezebs thanksad for the advice and link

[Denise]

Wow!! With friends like that...... Very nice! You were able to get some really good pictures of them. Mine just come out a blur. Non bird people do give you the look like you are "the crazy bird lady". It may evn B a step down from "the crazy cat lady".

[lovezebs]

Denise

LOL...
I guess one could call me the crazy zoo lady

Three dogs (one an 87lb baby)
Fish
And errrr a 'few' birds

There used to be two kitties as well, but regretably I lost both a couple of years ago.

[isobea]

Back to the spicies for a second. We had a small flock of 'wild' ones in the fall: about 15 altogether, mostly uncolored young ones but 4 adults in the bunch. They disappeared when the winter rains started and some of them are just now coming back to the feeder in my backyard. Right now I see one or two adult pairs and maybe two young ones (still not fully molted) every day. But we do see them as a flock (about 10) flying overhead. No idea where they are going, but they are definitely back in this area. Once you can identify their call, you can hear them close by way before they actually land on the feeders or in the nearby trees. They are very well camouflaged.
Iso

[lovezebs]

isobea

Saw them again at the Pet Shop yesterday. They must be youngsters (as Dylan thought), seeing as one appears to be getting more scales now on his chest.

They are still asking $129.99 for the pair.

[w.l.]

lovezebs

I wanted to tell you to get those Spices, but that price sounds crazy.
Here they are sold for under 10 cents each, but even in Europe can be had for $20 or so each.
In the US, Iso could probably catch you some for a thank you.

Should the price ever bece more reasonable, you should consider them. Given how you love Societies, these wild relatives could be an interesting addition to them. And ones to breed pure, I'd say...

[Sheather]

Spice have been totally unavailable here for several years. The pet store says the price has gotten too high to be able to make a profit selling.

From my experience, they are very hard to breed in cages, which may be why.

Shame if they die out, as they're nice birds.

[isobea]

lovezebs and w.l. - I like your idea, w.l. I've been thinking about a reason to make a trip up to Calgary... Could hand-deliver them. How many would you like to order, Elana?
Wish things were that easy. The weather here has turned to beautiful sunny days, all the birds have returned and are singing up a storm and thanks to all the rain we got during the winter, everything is lush and green, wildflowers everywhere and even the desert (Anza Borrego) is blooming like it hasn't in decades. You want to come my way, Elana? Escape your cold weather for a while?
Iso

[isobea]

Sheather - Dylan, no danger of them dying out. There are plenty of 'wild' ones now in California (Orange County, Los Angeles County and San Diego County). About half an hour east of us a friend of mine has several big aviaries and he has at least 100 of them hanging out year round.
Iso

[lovezebs]

w.l.

I know it's tempting, but the price, is CRAZY!!!

If you were in the States, how on earth would you catch them?
I have often wondered how people go about catching birds in the wild....I have a hard enough job of it inside of a house, with windows and doors closed

Thanks for the offer by the way

[lovezebs]

isobea

Sounds great, but how would I carry all of my birds with me for the holiday