Beginners - Recommendations

First posted on Jan 29 2007

aqua crazz wrote:
Hi bros,

I am new to Shama keeping.Had been going round seeking for a shama.
But as new to Shama keeping ,may I know what type of shama do u guys recom to me to keep as a start?

eg.. young baby bird,half-jadi or old bird?

Thanks.

Xavier

The first thing I have to ask is: Have you carefully considered what is required of you if the shama that you intend to get is to be kept in good health? Shamas are insectivorous and need to have at least part of their daily diet in the form of live food since there is no dry food that is completely suitable. This means that you will need to keep a small supply of mealworms, crickets, fish etc in the home. These will need to be replenished by weekly visits to the pet shop. If all you want is a bird that sings and brings some cheer to the home, a seed eating bird such as the canary will be more convenient to keep. Even if a tropical song bird is wanted, a species such as the Peking Robin should be considered as a first tropical song bird as it is easy to keep and will reward you with his tuneful whistles.

If, after due consideration, you still want to keep a shama, I would suggest that you get a tame (or jadi) shama that is already singing well. The bird need not cost alot but you should expect to pay at least $300.00 for one with 7" tails, in good condition and which is singing well. Remember, that the owner has put in effort over months or years to get the bird in that condition and $300 is not really a large sum for the amount of care that has been expended on the bird. However, prices are variable and you may be able to find one that is priced lower or higher. If possible, buy from a hobbyist as his bird islikely to be in better condition than those from the bird shop.

I would advise against acquiring a shama with long tails that may cost a great deal as your first bird. Such birds are more difficult to maintain and improper care could result in it shedding its tails.

It is also inadvisable to get a newly wild-caught male. Such a bird may prove to be a traumatic experience for the novice. Often, they die in the hands of a novice. The bird will be terrified and may bash its head on the bars, refuse to eat and generally cause a lot of worry to someone who does not know how to care for them and tame them. Also, a newly wild caught bird may take many many months before it sings anything at all and this often proves discouraging to the novice.

While juveniles are easier to care for, they should only be kept if there is a good tutor at home which can teach them to sing a wide repertoire.