Okay, so this has been bugging me for quite a while and I would like to get it off of my chest. If you agree with this post or do not agree, post and tell me why or why not. Okay let's get started
Budgerigars, and Cockatiels are often very underrated pets. Many people do not even think either are parrots! Many people recommend Budgies and Cockatiels as good pets for kids, and are great starter birds as they do not have emotional problems and difficult needs to be met. The word "starter" before an animal usually makes people think they are throwaway pets. I beg to differ. Budgies and Cockatiels make terrible pets for children. Birds in general aren't good for kids. Kids usually don't understand all that goes into having a bird. However, some kids are great bird owners and get along swimmingly! Usually this is not the case. Let me tell you, I fostered U2's and M2's before i got my budgie, and i'm going to say this right off the bat, my budgie is much harder to read emotionally than the cockatoos (I don't recommend a cockatoo before a budgie though) Anyway, back to emotional needs. Parakeets and Cockatiels are labeled as starter birds because their bite isn't as hard or their screams aren't as loud. This just makes them more advanced birds. Allow me to explain. If they do not scream as loud or bite as hard, people don't usually recognize the discontentment the birds are displaying, and can end up emotionally hurting the bird, as they think their feelings do not matter. This causes them to be flighty or aggressive. I can see where people are coming from with "starter" bird, as they are usually even tempered, and not as messy as larger birds (still very messy). Also, considered "throwaway" birds, (they aren't) people don't think they need the mental stimulation of being interacted with for several hours a day, and yes, although budgies don't do this very often, i have seen M A N Y plucked budgies. (makes me cry) please note i do not believe in "practice" birds. Lastly these birds are cheap for a reason. They breed at almost all times of year (not hot summer months or very cold winter months), meaning it takes a semi-experienced owner to be able to negate breeding behaviors in pet birds. I do think these birds can make great first birds, but i feel finches and canaries should be the first step in bird ownership. This helps people understand the health concerns and mess birds can create. Parrots should be only kept by people who thoroughly understand bird ownership and can deal with the emotional problems of all birds in general. I actually think that all places that sell animals should have a digital quiz on the animals care they are selling and the person has to pass the quiz to purchase the animal. If they do not pass, the animal cannot be bought. Might make sales less frequent but supplies sell more anyway. If people really want a first-bird as a parrot i recommend bourke's parakeet and lineolated parakeets. These birds are much better at conveying dissatisfaction, and bite harder than budgies/cockatiels (i know it's odd)
Budgies are considered one of the smartest parrots alive, and without amazing conditions (i'm sure all of you have A M A Z I N G budgie care), these birds suffer. As I said before people do not usually recognize screaming in smaller birds, so the bird becomes depressed, and ultimately have a bad life. I think that since these birds aren't capable of playing with puzzle toys made for the larger birds such as grays, (which parakeets really have the mental capability to do), they aren't as mentally enriched. However these birds love playing with bells. It takes a more experienced owner to know what is best for such an intelligent species. To all those who do have ANY parrot, and are on this forum, you are some of the best owners out there. Something as simple as joining a webpage about birds, just shows how much you care about your Fids <3 Cockatiels: Cockatiels are in fact a type of cockatoo. A type of cockatoo that is more advanced than they may seem. No,they aren't prone to the behavioral issues as the larger birds, which makes them so much more complicated. People need to start thinking of the well being of the parrot itself, and it's mentality. In nursing homes, these birds are put in a small cage with one perch, and wild bird seed. If it was an umbrella cockatoo i'm sure a whole room would be dedicated to the bird. It just sickens me that just because the bird isn't as expensive doesn't mean it doesn't get as well of treatment. (maybe not a whole room but at least decent living). Again anyone on this forum reading this, I am not referring to you, as i know everyone heres bird is probably a spoiled brat
I am just getting my feelings out there, and anyone you know wanting budgie and/or cockatiel, that it isn't just a cage with wild bird seed. It is much more in-depth, with hard-to-understand mentality. Amazons for example are much better at displaying body language and showing discontentment than a budgie or cockatiel because people ignore body language and screaming. The birds stop using both vocalizations and body language and people wonder what happened to their "little singing bird" often put in small ornate hanging cages in their living rooms. For them, i am truly sorry that they do not experience the budgie, or cockatiel for what they truly are. Sweet, happy birds who just want to be part of their lives. BIGGEST PET PEEVE: BUDGIES AND COCKATIELS ARE PARROTS TOO
Thanks for reading my rant, i hope you agree with me.
Budgerigars, and Cockatiels are often very underrated pets. Many people do not even think either are parrots! Many people recommend Budgies and Cockatiels as good pets for kids, and are great starter birds as they do not have emotional problems and difficult needs to be met. The word "starter" before an animal usually makes people think they are throwaway pets. I beg to differ. Budgies and Cockatiels make terrible pets for children. Birds in general aren't good for kids. Kids usually don't understand all that goes into having a bird. However, some kids are great bird owners and get along swimmingly! Usually this is not the case. Let me tell you, I fostered U2's and M2's before i got my budgie, and i'm going to say this right off the bat, my budgie is much harder to read emotionally than the cockatoos (I don't recommend a cockatoo before a budgie though) Anyway, back to emotional needs. Parakeets and Cockatiels are labeled as starter birds because their bite isn't as hard or their screams aren't as loud. This just makes them more advanced birds. Allow me to explain. If they do not scream as loud or bite as hard, people don't usually recognize the discontentment the birds are displaying, and can end up emotionally hurting the bird, as they think their feelings do not matter. This causes them to be flighty or aggressive. I can see where people are coming from with "starter" bird, as they are usually even tempered, and not as messy as larger birds (still very messy). Also, considered "throwaway" birds, (they aren't) people don't think they need the mental stimulation of being interacted with for several hours a day, and yes, although budgies don't do this very often, i have seen M A N Y plucked budgies. (makes me cry) please note i do not believe in "practice" birds. Lastly these birds are cheap for a reason. They breed at almost all times of year (not hot summer months or very cold winter months), meaning it takes a semi-experienced owner to be able to negate breeding behaviors in pet birds. I do think these birds can make great first birds, but i feel finches and canaries should be the first step in bird ownership. This helps people understand the health concerns and mess birds can create. Parrots should be only kept by people who thoroughly understand bird ownership and can deal with the emotional problems of all birds in general. I actually think that all places that sell animals should have a digital quiz on the animals care they are selling and the person has to pass the quiz to purchase the animal. If they do not pass, the animal cannot be bought. Might make sales less frequent but supplies sell more anyway. If people really want a first-bird as a parrot i recommend bourke's parakeet and lineolated parakeets. These birds are much better at conveying dissatisfaction, and bite harder than budgies/cockatiels (i know it's odd)
Budgies are considered one of the smartest parrots alive, and without amazing conditions (i'm sure all of you have A M A Z I N G budgie care), these birds suffer. As I said before people do not usually recognize screaming in smaller birds, so the bird becomes depressed, and ultimately have a bad life. I think that since these birds aren't capable of playing with puzzle toys made for the larger birds such as grays, (which parakeets really have the mental capability to do), they aren't as mentally enriched. However these birds love playing with bells. It takes a more experienced owner to know what is best for such an intelligent species. To all those who do have ANY parrot, and are on this forum, you are some of the best owners out there. Something as simple as joining a webpage about birds, just shows how much you care about your Fids <3 Cockatiels: Cockatiels are in fact a type of cockatoo. A type of cockatoo that is more advanced than they may seem. No,they aren't prone to the behavioral issues as the larger birds, which makes them so much more complicated. People need to start thinking of the well being of the parrot itself, and it's mentality. In nursing homes, these birds are put in a small cage with one perch, and wild bird seed. If it was an umbrella cockatoo i'm sure a whole room would be dedicated to the bird. It just sickens me that just because the bird isn't as expensive doesn't mean it doesn't get as well of treatment. (maybe not a whole room but at least decent living). Again anyone on this forum reading this, I am not referring to you, as i know everyone heres bird is probably a spoiled brat
I am just getting my feelings out there, and anyone you know wanting budgie and/or cockatiel, that it isn't just a cage with wild bird seed. It is much more in-depth, with hard-to-understand mentality. Amazons for example are much better at displaying body language and showing discontentment than a budgie or cockatiel because people ignore body language and screaming. The birds stop using both vocalizations and body language and people wonder what happened to their "little singing bird" often put in small ornate hanging cages in their living rooms. For them, i am truly sorry that they do not experience the budgie, or cockatiel for what they truly are. Sweet, happy birds who just want to be part of their lives. BIGGEST PET PEEVE: BUDGIES AND COCKATIELS ARE PARROTS TOOThanks for reading my rant, i hope you agree with me.
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