What's the view from your place?

[darklinensuit]

Originally posted by jwd
Green grass, trees, sunny skies, and my chow chow snoozing on the back patio. Ahhhhhhhhhh, Spring has arrived!

I like chows. Black or red? (I'm partial to the red ones.)

- Jake

[jwd]

Well, he's neither really. His coat is predominantly red and fawn with hints of blue(gray) and black. He has a black snout and ears. His hindquarters and the underside of his tail are cream. Weird, I know, but he's one beautiful dog. "Bear" is celebrating his 13th birthday later this month!

[darklinensuit]

Originally posted by jwd
Well, he's neither really. His coat is predominantly red and fawn with hints of blue(gray) and black. He has a black snout and ears. His hindquarters and the underside of his tail are cream. Weird, I know, but he's one beautiful dog. "Bear" is celebrating his 13th birthday later this month!

Sounds like a good-looking pet. You've had him since he was a puppy?
I'll send him a fountain pen for his bar mitzvah.

- Jake

[sparky]

Originally posted by Nixxxed


When I think about it, it seems birds are the only truly free land animals left on earth. All the others have been compartmentalized. Birds can go anywhere they want at any time.

All of my pet birds have been adopted from people who weren't able to keep them. They all have their wings and are free to fly throughout my 3-room little apartment when I let them out for playtime.
By the way, here's Rocky:

Bird fanatic here too.

Rocky is cute ! So are the lovebirds ( I had one for 10 years, but she recently passed away ).


I have a 30 year old umbrella cockatoo named Wilbur(a rescue), plus a parrotlet. I keep the wings clipped so they won't crash into a window or accidentally get out and fly away. I'd never forgive myself.

They enjoy a view of downtown LA, and all the trees, birds, deer, skunks, raccoons, and wildness on my property. No houses though, we can only see nature or the downtown skyline.

[The Tower]

Originally Posted by darklinensuit

I can't imagine living in your present area is cheap, either.

- Jake

Average rent for a one bedroom in my neighborhood is about $1750 a month. If you want to BUY a condo- one bedrooms start at about $350,000 / two bedrooms are about $500,000.

When I bought my 1600 sq ft condo (in a bldg built in 1961), my two bedroom went for $187,000. It's worth a lot more now, thank gawd.

[Nixxxed]

Originally Posted by sparky

I keep the wings clipped so they won't crash into a window or accidentally get out and fly away. I'd never forgive myself.

When I first moved into my current place and installed the perches and cafe curtains on the windows, all three birds did a LOT of window-crashing, but they figured it out quickly and thankfully were never hurt. The minute I let them out of their cages now, they fly immediately to their favorite window to see what excitement is going on on the bird feeders, etc. outside. They love it.

As for the wing-clip issue, I totally understand your feelings. However, all three birds came to me clipped and pretty tame, but they were depressed (in a sense) and not very playful. I made a conscious decision to let them have their wings and what little freedom I could give them. Everyone told me that they would immediately revert to being wild and that the cockatoo, especially, would become aggressive. The thinking being, "Once they have their wings, they don't need you anymore." To me, that just sounded like slavery. I let them re-grow their wings, installed the afore-mentioned perches and a few other play areas, and the change in their mood, their physical condition, their feather coloring, and their personalities has been drastic. I let them out, they fly around chirping their heads off, and then they fly over to me and practically demand for me to pet them. I think they have become more loving for the change, not the opposite like everyone said.

As for the escaping the house issue, I'm lucky in that if they ever got out of my main area, they would fly into a great room area of the house I live in. (The setup is a duplex of sorts, no direct outside access.) But if I leave this place and have to move into a more conventional apartment, I'll just be very very careful. The extra work on my part is fine with me if it makes them happier.

Anyway, I'm not trying to tell you what to do or that you're wrong or anything. Just to relay a positive message about what I feel to be a misconception among the bird-loving community.

And something else interesting (and I can't believe I'm typing this), but it's currently mating season, and I've seen all three of my birds ... um ... masturbating. Last spring they were still in wing-growing phase, so I guess they were preoccupied. But this spring -- sheesh! I hope they're not picking up my bad habits.

[Nixxxed]

Originally Posted by sparky

I had one for 10 years, but she recently passed away

Sorry to hear that! I lost a 14 year-old female lovebird about 2 years ago, which is how I wound up with the 2 I have now. (I was very sad, and couldn't say no to adopting either one.) Unfortunately, they're different species, so they'll never become a bonded pair and be true LOVEbirds, but they get along OK, until I put millet seed treats out and then the phrase "the feathers fly" takes on new meaning.

[sparky]

Originally Posted by Nixxxed

Anyway, I'm not trying to tell you what to do or that you're wrong or anything. Just to relay a positive message about what I feel to be a misconception among the bird-loving community.

And something else interesting (and I can't believe I'm typing this), but it's currently mating season, and I've seen all three of my birds ... um ... masturbating. Last spring they were still in wing-growing phase, so I guess they were preoccupied. But this spring -- sheesh! I hope they're not picking up my bad habits.

Whatever works ! My house has so many doors, and is damned near all windows, so the idea freaks me out. The birds are all very happy.

My late great lovebird masturbated all the time. She was so focused and had no shame about it at all. It was hysterical. She only laid eggs once in a while, in spite of it. The other birds never have. She was a very unique little bird. The house is certainly not the same without her.

[darklinensuit]

Originally Posted by sparky

They enjoy a view of downtown LA, and all the trees, birds, deer, skunks, raccoons, and wildness on my property. No houses though, we can only see nature or the downtown skyline.

Sounds nice.
Maybe in my next life I'll be one of your birds.

- Jake

[darklinensuit]

Originally Posted by The Tower

Average rent for a one bedroom in my neighborhood is about $1750 a month. If you want to BUY a condo- one bedrooms start at about $350,000 / two bedrooms are about $500,000.

When I bought my 1600 sq ft condo (in a bldg built in 1961), my two bedroom went for $187,000. It's worth a lot more now, thank gawd.

If you're looking to adopt, I'm house-trained and I'll eat leftovers.

- Jake

[darklinensuit]

Originally Posted by Nixxxed

I hope they're not picking up my bad habits.

What, and we only get a pic of the bird?

- Jake

[darklinensuit]

Originally Posted by Nixxxed

Sorry to hear that! I lost a 14 year-old female lovebird about 2 years ago, which is how I wound up with the 2 I have now. (I was very sad, and couldn't say no to adopting either one.) Unfortunately, they're different species, so they'll never become a bonded pair and be true LOVEbirds, but they get along OK, until I put millet seed treats out and then the phrase "the feathers fly" takes on new meaning.

Explain to us non-bird-people.
What are the characteristics of lovebirds? Just that they pair up & get along?

- Jake

[jwd]

Originally Posted by darklinensuit

Sounds like a good-looking pet. You've had him since he was a puppy?
I'll send him a fountain pen for his bar mitzvah.

- Jake

Yea Jake, I've had him since he was six weeks old. A pen? bar mitzvah?

[darklinensuit]

Originally Posted by jwd

Yea Jake, I've had him since he was six weeks old.

They look like little teddy bears at that age.

- Jake

[sparky]

Originally Posted by darklinensuit

Explain to us non-bird-people.
What are the characteristics of lovebirds? Just that they pair up & get along?

- Jake

They are a specific breed of parrot that includes many types (Fischer's, Black Masked, Peach Faced, etc.). The pictures posted are a good representation. They are one the smallest parrots kept in captivity, and contrary to their name, many aren't that lovable. They can be a little nippy and tempermental. BUT, when in a breeding pair, they tend to be very closely bonded,snuggle with each other all the time, and can very possessive and aggressive towards other people or birds. Put your hand in a bonded pair's cage and watch out. This is why my lovebird was single. She bonded (after years of work) to me. Lovebirds frequently need to be handled every day in order to keep them tame. Mine was an exception, but as I said, only after years of patience. Worth every second. She was an absolute joy to have around, and had more personality than many people I have known for years.