Sell the house and buy up big!

[Nephrurus]

Yeah, i thought you might like this Hix, you dont need a BK licence to keep them.... My diamond firetails on the other hand....
I've been offered blue and golds for $5500, but the best looking Macaw is the beautiful Green Wing. Problem is, like most parrots, they quickly destroy a beautifully planted aviary. And are so damn niosy! I love my finches....

-H

 

[AGAMIDAE]

Should hope he can send a photo... ro... I will stick with Mia my Galah...I love her

 

[fishead]

Beat me to it there fly2high, sspot on.
I've got pairs of eclectus, sun conures, green conures and lutino princesses and I'd love a pair of hahns some day..... too many critters

 

[instar]

You guys can always go for 2nd best and dye a cockatoo Hyacinth blue! Bit hard to make anything else look like a Toucan! :lol:

....Only a Toucan Can !!! (had to add that )

 

[Hickson]

Bugger! I forgot about the Hahn's - thanks for reminding me fly2high. I saw some at the bird sales last year for $3,000, and they were handreared. Haven't seen any yet this year tho. And I have to agree that the Greenwing beats both the B & G and Scarlet Macaws for beauty. Actually, I think I'd prefer a Greenwing to a Hyacinth (but I wouldn't knock back a Hyacinth if I had the opportunity!)

Inny: Toco Toucans used to be the most widely available of the toucans sold as pets overseas, although there are lots more varieties now available, and from what I remember they tame down well and become really good pets. Fairly intelligent too, as far as birds go. Diet is primarily fruit and insects.



Hix

 

[instar]

Are you allowed to import/keep Toucans here? what would they be worth , out of curiosity? they really are fantastic!

http://www.hbw.com/videos/Ramphastidae/Ramphastos_sulfuratus_1g.wmv

 

[Hickson]

From memory, they range from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand depending on the species. Toco's I'm guessing are the cheapest as they've been the most widely available for the longest.

You can't import birds into Australia at present - maybe someday in future when they allow imports again under the strict guidelines like they did back in the mid-90's for a short period.



Hix

 

[Nephrurus]

Yes, i was very upset that in the last shipment of birds people imported stupid stupid things.
Instead of interesting species like Stellas lories and Hawk headed parrots or anything else for that matter... they imported wretched european and american budgie and cockatiel mutations..... Honestly... WHY???? i dont understand!!! They did import a few species previously unknown in Aussie collections, but budgies? cockatiels?....Argh!
Hopefully one day I'll get my Hawk Headeds....and still live in Australia.

-H

 

[Hickson]

The first shipment was all pigeons.



Hix

 

[Nephrurus]

The first shipment was all pigeons.

hmmm... I did'nt know that.... ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

 

[Jarvis78]

who would win out of a maccaw and 40 midgets?
:lol:

 

[Hickson]

That's a stupid question, Jarvis.

Anybody that knows about birds would know the answer - the Macaw (esp. a hyacinth). They can fly away and then launch aerial attacks. The midgets are unarmed, macaws have a beak that can crack macadamias and demolish houses, plus enormous claws on their feet which would do lots of damage to a small person.

Midgets would lose easily. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Stick to herps Jarvis. LOL.



Hix

 

[Jarvis78]

what about a maccaw vs 40 scrub pythons?

 

[Hickson]

Now you're just being silly. A better question would be 40 scrubbies vs 40 midget scrubbers.



Hix

 

[Jarvis78]

Now you're just being silly. A better question would be 40 scrubbies vs 40 midget scrubbers.



Hix

we would have to go to the red light district of munchkinland. you could walk down the road with ya pants down and sample them all :twisted: :lol:


ooohhh boy

 

[fly2high]

interesting species like Stellas lories and Hawk headed parrots

As far as I know Hawk Headed parrots are here and did you know that the first English Show budgies that went for sale went for around $13k a pair and still now days if you visit any of the Budgie auctions there are still some budgies going out the door for $3k ea.

 

[Hickson]

Did I know that?

Yes. Budgie breeders are complete loonies and waste inordinate amounts of money on their birds. The British budgies have been described by some friends of mine as "mega-budgies" because they are so much larger than the average budgie, and they have this enormous boof-head which makes it difficult for them to look upwards!

If I had to have a budgie, I'd want a Bush Budgie.



Hix

 

[Nephrurus]

Hawk Headed parrots are here... the first English Show budgies that went for sale went for around $13k a pair

Wretched budgies!..... nice in the wild though. Quite a sight to see a flock of 500 pass overhead.

I did not know Hawk Headeds existed in Aussie collections! I assume they'd go for a similar price as birds whose presence in Australian collections are little known. Until two years ago i did'nt know Black Lories, Cardinal Lories and Duvenbodes existed in Australia. Now you can pick them up for a lazy $15k a pair. I visited a breeders place and there they were, in three aviaries, side by side. He also had a free flying blue and gold Macaw... a magnificent sight.

 

[fly2high]

Budgie breeders are complete loonies and waste inordinate amounts of money

Exactly my point. I used to be in a budgie club and amount of money they spend on bigger boofier budgies is unbelivable.
Other point I have read somewhere that with British blood lines that came in 90s they also brought with them number of deseases such as megabactiria for one and its spreading around other birds ( including wild stock).

 

[fly2high]

Hawk headed are here in low numbers from what I hear from people that have seen them. Price wise could not tell you how much they are but I would think not cheap.

Black Lories, Cardinal Lories and Duvenbodes existed in Australia. Now you can pick them up for a lazy $15k a pair

I think even cheaper now.
I like them personally but wouldn't spend that sort of money. If i had money to spend I'd buy Black cookies instead and Gang-gangs.
And few reptiles as well.