Jean (The African Queen)
Pattison
6615 New Tampa Highway
Lakeland, Florida 31815 U.S.A.
My
dream was to
have three pairs of Greys and three pairs
of Senegals (Poicephalus
senegalus senegalus ). As the saying goes, "Be careful what you
wish for". I started trying to breed African parrots in 1984. Early
on I noticed very obvious behavior patterns in the Senegals. Having so
many pairs, I learned what displays, behavior patterns and body language
came to mean. I had the five pairs of greys
a
bout the time I got the
Senegals figured out and since my
production wasn't good on the greys, I
would apply some of what the Senegals had taught
me. Well, as we all
know, the only real outward displays greys show are phobias and
plucking. after that it's anybody's guess what they are thinking or why
they do some of the things they do. Little did I know I really had my
work cut out for me.
Fortunately, I
acquired all fairly recently
imported stock for my breeding birds. This eliminated a lot of the diseases associated with
qu
arantine facilities housing numerous different genera of birds. I knew the diseases they may have when coming from Africa. Once housed in a warehouse, aviary, or store with other birds from other continents, it was anybody's guess what
the birds may have come in contact with. In acquiring newly imported stock. I pretty much knew which diseases they may have been harboring. All new birds got a complete vet check, at least as complete as it was in those days, about two weeks after being in my quarantine. I tried to buy most of my birds in groups. Pairing up groups with much easier than working with one or two pairs.
I firmly believe in annual
preventative veterinary medicine. I have
been using Margaret W. Wissman, DVM, DABVP, Avian
Practice since
about 1988. I do not have a single year of poor production, low fertility, dead -in-the-shell and the infamous
FIRES to put out. When deciding any treatment protocols of my
b
irds all decisions are made taking into account seriousness of illness, ease of administration, efficacy of treatment, expense, and long-term effects. We can only do this because of Dr. Wissman's in-depth-knowledge of my flock. Her knowledge is gained through blood work, viral screening,
serology, hands-on physical examinations, culturing, prophylactic deworming and doing necropsies
of eggs, as
well as birds.
I admire
her for seeing
this as a tool
for learning
and knowing my
flock and
giving her
insight, as
well as
sharing some
of the
load. She
is always
willing to
teach and
share her
knowledge with
me and anyone
else that will
take the time
to listen to
her. She also
writes for
Bird Talk as
an expert in
her field.
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