Open question, if you are an animal enthusiast and won the lottery what animal would you buy? The pet of your dreams.

Hi Diana,

A pair of hand-raised Military Macaws and a custom-made aviary. But I have to dream on becuase even if I had the money, my orange-fronted parakeet/half-moon conure, Payno, would never give his ok to such a potential, real or imagined, alienation of his affections. As for my wife, Maria, she would make me wear any new birds on my head!

I have two sun conures that are so spoiled. They even got jealous when I got my bearded dragon. Birds are just to darn smart.

That is a question that takes a lot of thought. There are many birds I'd like to have. The problem always comes down to jealous animals.

If we are talking about the pet of our dreams, I already have that....my horses. So maybe I would add to the herd. I at least would be able to finally have them on a property of my own instead of having to board them out.

If I just focus on birds, then I would like a pair of Hyacinth Macaws, with of course a large aviary for them. The largest bird I ever had was a Congo African Gray. I was always fascinated by the Hyacinth Macaws. I love their color.

Once I almost bought a Harlequin Macaw which I handraised in a pet store where I was a manager at the time, but someone else beat me to it. That bird was a real ham and everybody loved him. I raised his two siblings too, but that one bird was the best.

I have just recently noticed my husband isn't so thrilled about my addition of pets to the household. We shall see. Though, I can see his point of wanting to travel. We have been over the what pets make best travelers many times.

Jealousy is a major issue when adding a new pet or pets. Especially my cats who have major mental health issues

We raised appaloosas for long time. We started when I was a teenager. I thought they would make beautiful English jumping horses It worked and they were beautiful indeed!

I have often dreamed of Hyacinth Macaws. I think I would have to win the lottery to even feed them. They have such a specialized diet. I adore African greys and have had a few macaws over the years, along with conures, Amazons, cockatiels, ect...

I am still pondering my own question. Did I set any limitation to the number of animals with my money no object question? I have thought of a lot of animals I'd love to have.

It would be a hard decision. I am such a bird lover, but they live so long and I worry about that now that I'm older. I might pick a breed of dog that doesn't shed that is already trained and good with kids...or I would love to have an aquarium. If I had a lot of money I would go all out on that.

I have always wanted a salt water aquarium. They are so beautiful to watch but very difficult to maintain unless a person really knows what they are doing. I don't.

What kind of bird would you choose if you had a no money limit opportunity?

I have considered the age thing as well. Once I got past 50 I realize it wasn't fair to consider a bird with a long longevity. Unless I knew someone for certain that would love the bird as much as I would.

I will eventually answer this question myself but I am really having difficulty narrowing it down to less than six.

I think I'd love a macaw. I remember seeing a friendly hybrid macaw once at a bird farm were I had gotten pet birds from before. That or an African Grey. I could always try to adopt an older bird.

If money were no object, we could hire someone to take care of the aquarium.

Rarely do you hear of people that would worry about adding additional pets to existing pets because of jealously. You can tell that people truly love their animals in the exotic pet forum. People are putting their animal's feelings and trust in them first. The people's feelings and their need for more. We all can wish and dream but existing animals have to come first.

The bird farm you go to sounds like one I use to go to. Any chance it is in CA?

I love African Greys; both varieties. Sweet and intelligent birds. I love all macaws even the tiny Hahn's macaw and its Napoleon complex. He was such a monster bird!! But he had me wrapped around his beak, hook, line, and sinker!

I suppose I could have someone take care of the tank, but if I didn't do it I might not appreciate it enough

There are bird rescues many people give up birds for one reason or another. The bird, with love an patience is one animal that is easier to "bring back into the fold." Some animals once they lose trust are near impossible and may remain adoptable.

I wonder what the general feelings are of people adopting birds such as the macaw once they end up in a rescue. Most have set in a cage with no socialization from humans. Ignored, purposely injured. Many have serious behavioral issues.

The bird farm was in PA and has since closed. I had gotten my first red-throat baby conure there and later another red-throat that was eight months old. Plus we had gotten a parakeet to keep company with another parakeet we had adopted (because he was hopelessly in love with our adopted cockatiel and we didn't think she felt the same LOL). It was a great place to purchase birds.

My personal feeling is, since I have adopted so many unwanted or lost and found pet birds over the years, that rescuing would be the only option for me. I appreciated going through the experience of raising a baby pet bird and might like to do that again and would probably enjoy breeding, but it is a hard choice to make when there are so many pets looking for homes.

Your bird farm sounds much like my bird farm. They are wonderful people. They supply many of my bird photos. I was totally smitten by Angel their Cockatoo. Their Angel, not for sale - period!! I tried for a number of years.

Breeding is a difficult decision for any animal these days. I have considered it on a number of occasions. It was never the right place or the right time.

I adore the cockatiel have had many over the years. We had parakeets through my entire childhood. I don't ever remember not having birds and pets and can't imagine life without them.

My daughter and I have had a few discussions lately. She hates that I have become pretty much a recluse (physical - back and legs). She tells me to get out and make a bunch of friends. I enjoy the friends I have. She tells me what would happen if someday George, my husband should pass away. I told her I'd adopt another cat, dog or whatever. She is such a irritant But love her dearly. Life will be what it will be. Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)

I quite agree. Que Sera, Sera. Although I miss the work at the office days, I have church and school functions and friends to socialize offline on occasion. Obviously I appreciate social networking online.

Social networking has many advantages. I personally love it.

I wish I could visit either of these bird farms. I really enjoy Cockatoos. Though, I think they are more of human social need than any other pet bird.

The advice for getting a Cockatoo is to not spoil it right off with attention. The amount of attention it becomes accustomed to is the amount it will always crave. If they don't get the attention they've gotten used to when first brought home and spoiled they will most likely resort to feather picking.

If rescuing one and it has no feathers, there is no guarantee that the right amount of attention and good care will make the feathers grow back. I have a naked Conure with head and wing feathers only that we adopted. She would have been so beautiful fully feathered.

I was surprised at the number of Cockatoo species, 21 kinds to be exact in so many beautiful color combinations.

The advice is sound and you are quite right about the seriousness of feather plucking. It is difficult not to spoil a had-fed baby when you first get it, or any bird for that matter Often the situation can be reversed but certainly a percentage never emotionally or physically recover.

One of every reptile that is legal in the United States. What can I say I love reptiles. Diana's choices will looking like a shopping list.

skunk 2 Mongoose
Birds, two of every variety (is she building an
raccoons 2
ark)

weasels
Ragdoll cat
Fishers
Chelsea cat
Serval

I only have half that many, at least of those specific species lol.

Another dozen or so skunks would be nice. In my opinion domestically raised skunks are the sweetest and smartest animals and make exceptional pets.

I have always adored skunks, at least since I discovered the domestic skunk around 25 years ago.They have a wonderful personality though a tad stubborn, and extremely strong and intelligent. Makes for an interesting combination of talents to get into trouble.