best place for this Starter Bird

[texsize]

no starter birds by wes mcfaden, on Flickr

 

[ParrotGenie]

Love this one. My cockatiels will agree. Especially Wylie my male cockatiel that love to hang on me and demands head scratches, just as much as my U2 Baby does. The two most attention demanding birds I have out of the flock.

 

[SailBoat]

Truly a great Thread to highlight the value of all Parrots!
Thank you for starting this Thread!
Great Title by the way, it is a great attention getter!

 

[noodles123]

They really should raise prices on little birds so that people think twice...I wonder why these types of smaller birds are cheap...Is it because they don't live as long?
Even so, I feel like $150 would at least cause people to pause before purchasing, and people will spend thousands on dogs (who only live 10-14 years).
I know that plenty of clueless people shell out a ton of money for large parrots and then end up neglecting them, but at least with a higher price tag there would be fewer impulse buys as gifts to children...

 

[Laurasea]

I sometimes see sizeism even on our forum. The parakeets and other little bird posts get few replies.... I always tell myself may this is because other members don't feel they have experience with them...

 

[noodles123]

I sometimes see sizeism even on our forum. The parakeets and other little bird posts get few replies.... I always tell myself may this is because other members don't feel they have experience with them...

My experience with parakeets was limited to childhood when we did most everything the wrong way
They are highly intelligent, but so many people don't know that...Just look at disco the talking parakeet. Any bird that can do that easily rivals the largest parrot in terms of intelligence.


Just wanted to add: Obviously a non-talking parakeet is just as smart as one that doesn't (same with other types of parrots). I just mention talking because that seems to be a trait people associate only with larger parrots.

 

[SunnyGirl]

makes me miss my budgies so much, I'd love to have a budgie one day again :heart:

 

[ParrotGenie]

They really should raise prices on little birds so that people think twice...I wonder why these types of smaller birds are cheap...Is it because they don't live as long?
Even so, I feel like $150 would at least cause people to pause before purchasing, and people will spend thousands on dogs (who only live 10-14 years).
I know that plenty of clueless people shell out a ton of money for large parrots and then end up neglecting them, but at least with a higher price tag there would be fewer impulse buys as gifts to children...

Thankfully Cockatiels are now selling for $200 at most pet stores in my area. Hopefully same will happen with Parakeet, Love birds and other a like. Then people will think instead of impulse buying them, because they look cute, or consider a starter bird? Especially with Cockatiels they were as cheap as they were before $50 to $75 as they are like large parrots but prefect size and very social and intelligent for size. I wish my first Cockatiel live longer then about 22 to 24 years, or bluestreak lory that live to about 29 years, that the only downside is lifespan not as much as the larger parrots.

 

[noodles123]

They really should raise prices on little birds so that people think twice...I wonder why these types of smaller birds are cheap...Is it because they don't live as long?
Even so, I feel like $150 would at least cause people to pause before purchasing, and people will spend thousands on dogs (who only live 10-14 years).
I know that plenty of clueless people shell out a ton of money for large parrots and then end up neglecting them, but at least with a higher price tag there would be fewer impulse buys as gifts to children...

Thankfully Cockatiels are now selling for $200 at most pet stores in my area. Hopefully same will happen with Parakeet, Love birds and other a like. Then people will think instead of impulse buying them, because they look cute, or consider a starter bird? Especially with Cockatiels they were as cheap as they were before $50 to $75 as they are like large parrots but prefect size and very social and intelligent for size. I wish my first Cockatiel live longer then about 22 to 24 years, or bluestreak lory that live to about 29 years, that the only downside is lifespan not as much as the larger parrots.

Interestingly, from the perspective of impulsive pet ownership, the long lifespan of larger parrots actually ends up being a big drawback/deterrent for many inexperienced bird owners (not always, obviously...because some people don't even think about it)...but, my point is, in many cases, a shorter life-span is actually viewed as more desirable within this crowd...but again, higher desirability should translate to a higher price. I get that breeders sell larger birds for more because of lifespan, clutch-size etc and I know that parrot people want their birds to last forever, but for those purchasing a pet for a kid (on impulse) the thought of an ancient bird hanging around for 50+ years is not a positive one...Then again, with higher prices, fewer bird would be bought on impulse, which would mean a loss of profits for chain stores like PetSmart etc.

 

[ParrotGenie]

They really should raise prices on little birds so that people think twice...I wonder why these types of smaller birds are cheap...Is it because they don't live as long?
Even so, I feel like $150 would at least cause people to pause before purchasing, and people will spend thousands on dogs (who only live 10-14 years).
I know that plenty of clueless people shell out a ton of money for large parrots and then end up neglecting them, but at least with a higher price tag there would be fewer impulse buys as gifts to children...

Thankfully Cockatiels are now selling for $200 at most pet stores in my area. Hopefully same will happen with Parakeet, Love birds and other a like. Then people will think instead of impulse buying them, because they look cute, or consider a starter bird? Especially with Cockatiels they were as cheap as they were before $50 to $75 as they are like large parrots but prefect size and very social and intelligent for size. I wish my first Cockatiel live longer then about 22 to 24 years, or bluestreak lory that live to about 29 years, that the only downside is lifespan not as much as the larger parrots.

Interestingly, from the perspective of impulsive pet ownership, the long lifespan of larger parrots actually ends up being a big drawback/deterrent for many inexperienced bird owners (not always, obviously...because some people don't even think about it)...but, my point is, in many cases, a shorter life-span is actually viewed as more desirable within this crowd...but again, higher desirability should translate to a higher price. I get that breeders sell larger birds for more because of lifespan, clutch-size etc and I know that parrot people want their birds to last forever, but for those purchasing a pet for a kid (on impulse) the thought of an ancient bird hanging around for 50+ years is not a positive one...Then again, with higher prices, fewer bird would be bought on impulse, which would mean a loss of profits for chain stores like PetSmart etc.

True as when I tell customers when they ask age that my oldest U2 is around 28 years as I bring them to work with me, they are shocked she is still around. Then I tell them they can live up to 80 years you sure see their face.

I was pissed off at one lady a month ago as she had bought a baby U2 cockatoo from a well known local breeder and thought they only live about 6 years as her die at age of only 6 years and had lost all feather around 4 years. She didn't even bother take her to a vet, as I ask her what happen and she said she didn't get to take her to the vet in time was her response? When I told her mines was 28 years old she was surprised and didn't realize they live that long. One could only imagine what that poor Cockatoo when through. She could not believe how well behaved mines was and how I had her just perch on my shoulder. Obviously her poor cockatoo was likely cage bound.

What scares me more is the fact she was looking to buy another one a African grey this time around due to they can talk more? Someone told her that I knew a few other breeders in the area well and train them and likely could help her get one. Needless to say I set her straight and hope I scared her enough never to buy another bird again. Needless to say warn with pictures as well of her to all breeders and rescues I know about her and not to sell, or adopt a bird out to her. One breeder supplies the major chain pet stores around this area.

 

[Laurasea]

When I got my first bird, no information on was shared with me. I did buy some books to read up on them. I very much wish pet stores and breeders took more time to inform first time owners, providing handout sheets with info, or website links, or parrot classes.

When I was a little girl, many people kept dogs chained in the backyard, and rarely have vet care. But the message had gotten through to the public that this isn't an acceptable way to care for your dog. We need the same revolution with parrots so the general public is more aware of the needs of parrots..

 

[noodles123]

Half of the time, the stuff they tell you at a pet-store justifies their own errors. Like, "Oh yea, corn cob bedding is fine- we have used it for years!" or, "Birds in cages are fine as long as they have a friend" etc etc (or---YES, sure you can have that bird in an apartment, and yeah, they are GREAT with kids, look how sweet this baby is)---Sell, sell sell...


With the internet, that cockatoo woman has NO excuse...Ugh...

 

[Anansi]

Loving this thread! My cockatiel, Suzie, only lived to around 18, as he was taken early by kidney disease, but in that time we bonded so very deeply. I found that his intelligence and personality definitely rivaled any of the bigger parrots. Anyone who pays the proper attention to their smaller parrots will learn very quickly never to underestimate them.

 

[Inger]

Bumble thanks you for this post. Although parrotlets aren’t nearly as common and do have a higher price tag (and also a sort of deserved bad reputation for being bitey and obnoxious), I still see a lot of people getting them as pets for their kids and it horrifies me. This smart, loving, beautiful little soul deserves so much more.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk