Thinking of getting a bird...

[Keppeh]

I've always loved birds, and I was wonering what kind of large, friendly bird would be best to get. Also, if anyone has any experience on a recommended bird, could they also supply me with just a few points on the care they require?

Thank you.


Oh, and a big hello to everyone here.

[Mygala]

Doing research is the best thing to do before getting a bird. In order for someone to give a suggestion on types of birds, it would help to know what kind of lifestyle you be putting it in ie.... Do you live with someone? ...In an apartment, condo, house? ....Are there children in the household, smokers, do you use non-stick cookware? How much money do you have budgeted for vet bills? What you expect from it, singing, talking, pretty, big, little, quiet...?

There are different birds that are more suitable for different situations. Some are way too loud to be in an apartment/condo. Big birds have big vet bills (I can figure AT LEAST $120 to walk through the door of my vet, tests or injuries can really raise the price. Some birds require more attention/enrichment than others. Cockatoos and Greys are not birds that (in general) do well without a lot of attention. Some birds, like Amazons tend to be "one person" birds, and have a well deserved reputation for biting anyone not that person.

In general, I'd say a good starter bird is a budgie or a cockatiel. Next up would be a conure like a Green-Cheeked Conure or a Quaker (assuming it's legal in your state). Macaws, Cockatoos, Greys and some of the Amazons are not considered good birds to start out with.

bob

[Keppeh]

I've kept quite a few birds in my past--Budgies, cockatiels, and I've helped hand raise a cockatoo before. I actually have a bank account overflowing with money that I use and will use on vet bills. I live with other people, and no one is loud or irresponsible. Basically, I live with bird lovers. I want a bird that is rather large and friendly, and I don't mind if it's a one-person bird or a many-person bird. I do want it to be able to walk around in my room or house, like I've heard a cockatoo will, and I understand that they need a lot of attention. All birds are legal here, except for poultry, unfortunately. (I was planning on raising ducks and geese, but it turned out to be illegal). I have a large backround with all sorts of animals, and I was looking into getting a bird. A lot of reserach, as usual, will have to be done, but then again, I'm really used to spending hours researching.

Is there any bird now that you might recommend?
Oh, and we live in a pretty decent-sized house. When I say decent, I mean we own it, it's 3 stories high, with 5 bedrooms and a big backyard, if you get what I'm saying. Also, no one smokes.

[Ambieruns10]

Also don't forget that larger birds live 50+ years. It is a very large commitment. You will have the bird probably your whole life.

[Mygala]

I'd say look at the conures (lotsa choices there, I particularly like
Green Cheeks and Maroon Bellys, I'm not a fan of Sun's, Jendays or Nandays, ...to much noise for my taste), Ringnecks/Derbyan/Alexandrines, Meyer's, Senegals, or the mini-macaws.

That's a few small medium sized birds, none get too loud, all are pretty sociable, easy to take care of and not big enough to break the band on cages, toys or vet bills.

bob

[Keppeh]

-Sigh- I wanted a bigger bird, actually.

[thebigwoodgie]

Hi,
Go look at my website first. gtting a bird of anykind is a HUGE responsibility. Getting a larger bird should almost never be attempted by an inexperienced person. Parrots are as complicated as three year old children and anyone here will tell you that is the truth.
Bookmark this page and read the pages here first.

Go To : http://users.nbn.net/winchime/indexbcf.htm

I don't mean to sound rude but getting a large bird is not something to do on a whim or because someone may have the idea that it is neat. It is a life altering experience there will be things you have to change in your life. Things you have to give up. Huge vet bills on occasion. You will have to find a birdsitter if you want to go somewhere. It is not as easy as some may have you think.

Thanks,
Bill

[Keppeh]

So no one can have parrots then?
If no inexperienced person ever got one, no one would even have parrots.

I understand it would be difficult, but at least give a person a chance.
I've found people on pet forums to not be helpful or nice, but mostly just discouraging.

[Keppeh]

Actually, now that I think about it, it would be too much of a hassle to keep a very big bird. What's a small, sociable bird that's good to start with? I want one that I can kiss on the head that will sit on my shoulder and that will be a very personable pet.

Thank you for discouraging me, actually, because making the wrong decision would have been very bad.

[robibobi]

If you are looking for a smaller bird that in my opinion is both beuatiful and not too loud and can be very loving...I would say a cockatiel or a conure of type...I know Sun Conures can be loud but they can also be very loving. I have 2 cockatiels that are both about the sweetest birds I have ever had.But its also a matter of where you get them from how old they are and willing you are to put in the time to train them...Birds don't just come loving...unless they were hand feds.None of my birds were hand fed...But I put in a lot of time taming them and spending a lot of quality time with them. But then I have always had birds so I knew what I needed to do to make them friendly sweet birds.

As far as the aprrot thing...ts not that anyone is tryin to discourage you we just want you to be aware of what you would be getting into...Do you know hwo many parrots are sitting in bird shelters because their owners couldn't handle them and gave them up.I would just like to see you start with a smaller bird first.I myself have had birds for years and it was just this year that I got a quake parrot...which yes, is a smaller parrot but she is just as full of attitude as a larger parrot.She requires a lot more attention than the Tiels or parakeets do. I hope you don't take this the wrong way I would just rather see both you and a very special bird happy. Look for some breeders in your area go take a look and a listen to their birds...if you can handle that sound...and I say sound because to be its a beautiful sound but to some its noise...you need to decide if it a beuatiful sound to you or noise you don't think you can handle. The biggest reason peope give up their birds is the noise level.
Robin

[Ambieruns10]

I don't own a bird because my dogs. I used to work at a petstore though so I have been around a few different types. I really like Cherry head conures, sun conures(loud though), and maroon bellied conures. I also love, love, love African Greys but that is a large bird. What you could do though is go to a bird specialty store. Spend some time there getting to know the different kinds of birds.

[Keppeh]

I love going to the stores. Everyone is always bothering this lone african gray, but I sit there for sometimes hours talking to him. I think he only lets me pat him on the head. Anyway, I've seen the budgies--they're incredibly noisy and fearful. Just so you know, I have a budgie of my own, who has gained simply the name Birdy. He's a strange budgie, though, because although he does sing a lot (and make a strange quacking noise at us sometimes), he has also learned to mimick our speech. I've learned that this is sort of rare.

[thebigwoodgie]

Hi,
I think it's important to say that I am not trying to be discouraging, just realistic. It was mentioned that their are so many parrots in rescues because they turn out to be a lot more to handle than some folks expect them to be.
I have more than twenty parrots here. Some like Casper and Dory show the after effects of not having the kind of attention they required by their former owners.
Some of the birds I rescued were in abusive situations. Understand I am not saying that you would ever abuse a bird but birds can become feather pluckers, screamers and just plain tough to handle for a lot of reasons , not just being in abusive situations.

I've seen so many birds that were given up to rescues that in a sense, I do try to talk people out of getting a larger bird.

I do it not to be a pain in the butt, I do it to perhaps make someone think a little more about the awesome responsibility it is to live with a parrot of any kind.

The folks that have read my posts here and elsewhere know that I am an advocate for parrots and love them enough to stick my neck out in an attempt to give people realistic information.

Bill

[robibobi]

Bill,
I can understand where you are coming from. I have a friend who also does bird rescue. She has one now that when she ot her was not just covered in mites but roaches as well. It looks like this poor thing will pluck the rest of her life because of it. I have been with her and she is a beuatiful bird but requires a lot of attention. And special care. All of this plays a part in the reason I do not have a "big" bird. I don't know that I have enough time to give to it. I just barely manage with the tiels and The quaker and Keets too. Never mind the reptiles and kids of course. So right now a "big" bird is just not in the cards for me. But I enjoy all of my animals and spend as much time as I can with them.It makes such adifference in their personality ...how much quality time you spend with them.
Robin

[Keppeh]

I was thinking of getting a sun conure. I love birds, and they're pretty small, and I'll read up on all their needs. Do you approve of this?