Red Legged Honey Creepers

[NewTampanian]

Ok so I have the opportunity to buy a pair of red legged honey creepers, and I would really like to purchase them. However, I was wondering what their care consists of? I know that they're fruit eaters and that they need to be fed softbill pellets not seeds, if I'm right. I'm familiar with finches and I've had them for years but nothing really as complicated and honey eaters. Is anyone familiar with this species?

[finchmix22]

NewTampanian
I don't keep them, but a friend does and she told me they are very messy. The eat the nectar/fruits and other soft foods, which they fling around, apparently. They need lots of flight space too. That's all I know from her experience and she has several pairs of the different species of the softbills.

[Gráinne Barrett]

As finchmix22 said they are messy, well that's a factor to consider. But they're very beautiful birds, wouldn't see them in Ireland!!!

[Sally]

They are definitely messy but oh so beautiful. They eat Lafeber's fruit pellets, lori nectar, and various fruits. You can offer them canned fruit nectar like guava, mango, etc. They also love insects, so if you have them in an aviary where they can get insects, they will eat them. A friend used to have them, and hers ate all the spiders that dared to enter her aviary.

[NewTampanian]

Good deal, it would be easy to give them fruit and whatnot since I always have a fresh supply of it in the backyard (several mango trees, sugar apple, and avacados year a round) so that wouldn't be an issue. The only think that I think would be a challange is obtaining the pellet food, I'm sure I would have to have that shipped to me. Also the pair is being sold for $375 a pair, I'm thinking that's a good price? Apparently they're being shipped from Guyana and being held in quarentine until Saturday in Miami by the owner. I'm supposed to pick them up on Sunday. He also has a few tanagers and other exotics but nothing is under $200 -.- I have a feeling my wallet is going to be a bit skinny by monday.

[Sally]

That is a really good price, they go for $500 a pair in this area, and unless they come from Texas Pride Aviary, they have to be shipped in. I don't know about the avocado, that is supposed to be harmful to some birds, but I believe papaya is relished.

[NewTampanian]

I figured that would be a good price for them, the guy also has violet backed starlings that I'm interested in. He has those listed for $450 a pair. I would like to have the larger softbills but the size and temper of starling worries me just a bit.

[MiaCarter]

NewTampanian --- That's a great price for the starlings. They are absolutely gorgeous, smart as a whip, but very bold and not so good with smaller birds.

I've heard they can be trained to speak, but never witnessed it myself. There's a poor heartbroken woman in my area who lost her (talking) starling and is posting classifieds to try and find him. So sad.

[lovezebs]

NewTampanian
Avocado IS supposed to be toxic, as far as I know.
From what I've heared (and I think I've asked about these pretty birds myself at some point) is that they are MESSY eaters, and even MESSIER poopers. I decided against the messy poopers... but, to each his own.

[Colt]

sunbay has Blue Dacnis and may know some people. With the honey creepers. I imagine their care is similar.

Su Yin in Texas has them in a large flight with Amethyst Starlings. She told me the starlings are fine with the other bird. She even has them in with some small waxbills.

[NewTampanian]

Ah thanks for the advice on the avacado, I'm thinking about putting the honey eaters with my goulds and bleus so hopefully that'll work well.

[NewTampanian]

So I decided to go with a male amethyst starling and a male superb starling. I asked the seller and he said that they'll be fine together in the same aviary. I got them both for $225, not bad I think.