Glad it was just a joke!
In all seriousness though, if you become the "crazy bird person", people may start giving you birds worth hundreds of dollars, maybe even a thousand or so, for free.
I haven't purchased a bird in 10 years because I found it pointless to do so. People have been giving me birds because I love birds, I have birds, I know something about birds, etc. Why should I purchase birds when people are giving me rehomed birds for free? (and I'm not even looking for free birds!) Technically speaking, my current flock are all free birds. However, being free doesn't make their value any less! I still spend hundreds of dollars on them for food, toys, perches, dishes, medical expenses, etc. My smallest and "cheapest" bird (value wise - i.e. from a petstore or breeder) is my most expensive bird (medically speaking). She's geriatric, and with age comes health problems. She has cancer (tried to remove it via laser surgery, unsuccessfully), had sinus problems, had reoccurring bacterial infections and was underweight. I've surprisingly been able to get her back up to a weight that feels healthy and haven't had to do anything drastic with her. (no meds, no sinus flushes, no daily supplements besides RPO or coconut oil to try and get her to gain weight - which she's currently not on) Right now, I'm just monitoring her. The only 'extra' thing she has is a heat lamp which she uses throughout the day as well as at night.
I do plan on purchasing a bird someday, when I'm ready! Until then... well, I've already turned down one free conure (including everything he owns - and he's an uncommon species within captivity - same species as Jayde), and am on the fence about adopting a free cockatoo. (person who has him would like me to foster to adopt him) If I do take on this cockatoo, it wont be until July. He doesn't scream, he doesn't bite, he doesn't do much 'cockatoo' stuff - except he does snuggle. And he likes to snuggle against your chest. He's missing a couple of toes and a lot of feathers, but besides that, he is not a maniacal cockatoo. Although he would be an easy bird to care for, I'm not sure I am ready for a larger parrot.
Although this 'too would come with a free cage, perches, toys and some of what he's currently eating (everything being free), I still have to consider whether or not I'm ready to expand my flock. Whether or not I'm ready for the extra expenses of owning another bird, and not just any bird, but a larger parrot. I wasn't even looking for another bird when this 'too was offered to me. The person who has him was ready to send him home with me the day I met him, which I guess says a lot about the kind of person she feels would be ideal for this bird (someone like me), so I was kind of caught off guard. (not to mention flock dynamics! and if adding another bird may upset any of my current birds!)
I always thought it was weird when other parrot enthusiasts were talking about having to turn away free birds because they didn't have the room, time or perhaps the expenses to take on another bird, free or not.... and now I'm in a similar position.
You have already inherited one conure. If people started giving you birds, or you started buying more birds, it could be very easy to become overwhelmed without even realizing it. Dogs generally get along ok with each other, but that's not always the case with birds. With multiple birds, it may require multiple cages, which means that you're going to require space. Many people have given up bedrooms (guest rooms), dining-rooms and even living-rooms for their birds, myself included! Some end up building aviaries or additional rooms for their expanding flock. Sometimes it can be a delicate balancing act making sure that you have enough time to clean and feed the entire flock, while giving attention to the birds that require it. (not all birds require one on one attention to be happy)
I'm sure you've already considered some of what I've mentioned, since you have already considered bringing in additional birds into your home. It's not really a far-fetched idea though to get an expensive bird for free or cheap! It happens all the time! And a lot of "free" birds do end up being very expensive to care for, especially if their environments and/or their diets have severely been lacking! There are a lot of health problems related to poor diet and care, which can equate out to a lot of medical expenses.
If you'd like to get more experience caring for parrots, look into a local parrot rescue! I do believe Florida has several parrot rescues and some I'm sure would appreciate volunteers! There you can learn about the various diets and the various species of parrots! It would be a great way to get to know the various species without having to own them! (unless of course you connected with a bird and wanted to take them home with you!
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:54: Thank god Kiwi is not a talking parrot
Dirty feathers, skinny, etc. I didn't even contact them, there's no way I'd have room. It would just make me sad.
I saw an ad on craigslist for a parrot sanctuary not far from here that is looking for volunteers--they don't adopt, but one can foster but only with a commitment to volunteer so many hours per month. It sounds like good experience for me, since I am new to the bird world and don't know much about different types of birds.
