Marion,
   I bought Carita when she was about 6 months old, in March of '89.
She is a very small yellow nape (which ones are the smaller sub-group
anyone?).  The people I bought her from had *lots* of yellow napes, they
must have had at least 10 breeding pairs.  When I bought Carita, they
had at least 15 young napes, apparently of various subspecies. Some were
larger than others who were the same age, and some were a little older
or younger.  Carita was the smallest.  But, she picked me. When a bird
picks you, that has to be the one who comes home .  I named her
Carita, because she would say Chiquita (name of one of the breeder
hens).  I figured if she could say one, she would be able to say the
other.  And, she does talk up a storm!  From the age of one to about 5
1/2, I had to keep her well away from my husband.  She wanted to drive
him away (and was perfectly capable of it).  In the last year she has
mellowed, and is at a point where she just ignores him though.  I have
never had her sexed, but she is obviously a hen.  During breeding season
she acts like a complete nut--"assuming the position" and
clucking--looks like a chicken fixing to lay an egg .  As napes go
she is a really sweet bird. Her one abiding hatred in life is my lilac
crown.  If she gets a chance, she will get on his cage and try to open
the door to get at him.  I have to keep his cage locked for this reason.
 But even when she is totally worked up, tail flairing, eyes pinning,
full display mode, I can manually pry her off his cage without her
biting me.
   Well, I'd like to talk longer, but I have to go to the dentist :--(
It is also my twins 8th birthday, and I have to finish their cakes and
wrap their presents before they get home from school.  (There is nothing
like getting things ready in advance-right?)
                                    Michele (Spottie@aol.com)
--- InterEcho 1.11
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