upatsix.com - Your Source For Pet Bird Information

Really, my preference for a male was just based on avoiding egg laying problems. I had read alot about egg bound birds and chromic egg laying and I thought it would be best to just avoid it altogether. Is there a big behavioral difference?

I have a female WB age 5 and a male BH age 4. They are very different but I don't know if it is because of the species or because of their sex. I just deal with them how they are. I wouldn't recommend one over the other.
My daughter has two male lovebirds. She use to bring them over to my house but my Caquie's wanted them to die! Needless to say, the visits had to end. I don't know if you would experience this or not because yours would be sharing the the same house.
As far as price goes. The price varys depending on if you buy from a breeder or a store. Store bought birds in the Seattle area range in price from 1,000 - 1,500! It depends on how many are around at the time and if the store bought from a broker. Breeders are always cheaper but I did not want to put my birds through a flight and I also wanted to visit and bond while they were young. This could not have been done if they were not local. WB are usually more expensive probably because they are on the endangered species list.
Hope some of this is helpful...good for you doing your homework. I was told that Caiques were NOt good first birds but they were to be my ONLY birds.

Getting a healthy baby from a reputable breeder who will take the time to answer your questions, as well as who YOU feel is being up-front and professional, is worth the wait! Don't rush into getting your bird from anyone like you've described with this one particular breeder. Lots of babies are just now hatching so it won't be that long before a healthy, properly weaned/fledged baby will be available for you.
Andrea

Finally!!!
I just wanted to say I found the breeder for me! Just tonight I contacted this guy, and he is more than I could have hoped for (in Canada!)
The price is only 1500 (compared to the 1800 I was looking at before) and the baby comes with a supply of food, a 90 day health guarantee, all his papers and DNA.
I'm so excited. These babies just hatched though, so now starts the 11 week or more wait that I have to go through!
Thanks so much for everyones help, kind words and comments! I can't wait until I have pictures and more to update about.

Oh Nikki I'm so excited for you! Congrats. Just busy yourself by buying toys slowly throughout the weeks and such! As far as I know, its really hard to say anything about persoanlities, there will always be birds who don't fit into that. No doubt, caiques are the birds that maybe 99% of the time you will get a bird playful as can be, but the other 1% bird will not fit into that standard. As far as egg layin, yes females do lay eggs, but males can get very aggressive, I don't care what gender my bird is, whatever personality I like will be the bird, and come whatever hormonal things may. Cause that way you have more choices:) And say you go to the breeder and a female falls in love with you, no doubt I think you would bring the little Munchkin home:)

Keep us posted:)

Wonderful news! Patience and persistence is key and you will be so happy you waited until the right situation happened. We'll be looking forward to helping with anything you need. Don't hesitate to ask questions!
Andrea

Man!!! I don't know if it's just MY luck or what.

This guy is not such good news after all. I spoke to him again today and then he emailed me. I was curious, because I found a bunch of different ads that he had put up, and I started to think maybe it was a scam ad that I found.

What it is, is that he is a breeder who supplies to pet stores! But his website is all about avicultural conservation. I can't believe the breeder-finding odysey that I'm on. I don't want to put money in this guy's pocket. I guess if something seems too good to be true, it very likely is.

It's coming down to that I might go with a BH instead, just because I've seen breeders like parrotscanada.com and they seem much better. Finding that quality of breeder for a WB in Canada is becoming an impossible challenge. There seem to only be a handful, they're way expensive and there always seems to be something I get hung up on with the breeder.

This guy tried to tell me today that BHs are behaviorally more difficult to manage, and be nippier and more aggressive, but I've never heard this anywhere else.

I feel like I'm about ready to give up and go with a nice BH breeder. Sorry to keep griping about it on this thread, I just can't believe all this.

Yeah, Nikki just go with your gut instinct. BH's are still really pretty too, they have beautiful coloration under their eyes, kind of like green eyeliner. Better to go with a breeder who will help you down the road with your bird.

Hey Nikki! I found a breeder in Canada who advertises in birdtalk who only breeds wbs Try this website www.bizybird.com Email them to see if any available, sometimes sites aren't uptodate, they seem like a good place to me. However, price is 1800 which includes DNA. Hope this helps:)

Yeah, they seem great! I contacted them too, but they don't have babies right now and there's no nestbox activity expected for a while they said.

It's okay though. I'm keeping my chin up. All this hunting will make me appreciate the bird all the more.

Hows the hunt coming?

Still weird!

Lucky enough I've found someone selling the cage locally that I was going to order online, so I'm paying half what I was going to pay. That's really nice. I go pick it up this week.

But the breeder situation isn't much better. The original woman (With the questionable aviary) got in touch with me again, so I told her flat out that my reservation about the situation was because of my health concerns. She wrote me back and asked what on earth gave me the idea that she takes her birds to bird shows. Clearly, she doesn't remember telling me that, and maybe wishes she hadn't.

On the other hand, she is now offering a 90 day health guarantee, so I just don't know what to do.

I feel like it's possible that somehow I misheard her, but I don't think I did. Also I don't know why other things don't add up. I understand that bird breeders are very busy people with alot on their mind, but I wish at least ONE would be what I had hoped for- just honest and with no weird little things going on.

This woman sent me photos the other day, she said "here are some photos from two weeks ago", but one of them was one she sent me in April, and all the new photos were of the same bird- ie none of the new photos were from two weeks ago. That would not be my bird she's showing me. Now why do that? These are the little things that are driving me crazy.

My friends are trying to convince me to buy from the birdstore supplier guy. I don't know what to do. I really wish BizyBird did have babies. I might write them and go on their waiting list.

In the meantime, it's still nice to bump around here and read people's advice about biting and situations. All the more time for me to prepare.

That is weird. hmm, i dont know what to think! However, i think a 90 day health guarantee is not practical for the breeder. There are so many things that people can do wrong. Seriously, I might just wait for Bizybirds. You'll appreciate the birdie you get even more:)

so I did get my baby, but unfortunately had to rehome her, cause of my dog and other factors. i'm really sad but she went to a good home with another caique to be her friend. I didn't want to be selfish and keep her with my dog wanting to get her and my schedule is changing, so i tried to do the next best thing, but it was really hard.

I really hope you find the baby of your dreams I did, but sometimes things don't work out.