Checked the FAQ - Now More Confused

[RatAtaT2693]

Main Questions:

I'm definitely not in a position to get a bird now, but I guess my main question is "What kind of bird would be good for an adventurous, fairly young individual who enjoys coming up with new enrichment techniques?"

Can any of the birds I've been looking into (macaws, conures, Hawk-Heads) fulfill my requirements for a good pet/companion? Are they affectionate, especially the hawk-heads? I know there are differences between individuals, but it's usually safe to say that a chihuahua shakes a lot and a husky runs more than your average dog.

(Dumb question alert Are there birds that can handle change/being outdoors? Am I not finding information on hiking with your bird because it's never been done/not healthy for the bird/not possible?

I read somewhere about moving sickness; is that more common in some species?

Am I even right for a bird? The moving around a lot will stop in the next few years, which is when I'll be serious about getting the bird, but the adventuring I doubt will ever really cease. Is there a different pet that is like a bird that I just don't know about?

I apologize for the wall of text, but I really want to know what I'm getting into before committing to thirty to sixty years. I want my first bird(s) to hopefully be my last. And if I decide that living with a bird is right for me, I want to make sure the bird has more of a life than just sitting in a cage.

As I'm sure you know, there are more types of parrots than I have fingers, so I thought I'd check out the "What Parrot is for Me?" thread before posting another one of those. But honestly, it just opened a whole other box of questions.

Before I get into the birds, here's a some background on me:
I'm currently in my early twenties, a bit of a traveler, and have two dogs and a cat. As my name suggests, I have rats as well, who I adore. The problem with rats is that they only live about two or three years. At first I thought I'd be okay with the constant turnover, for lack of better words, but I'm getting emotionally exhausted with it. My one dog is getting older as well, and while I hope I have a good number of years left with him, I know it's going to go by faster than I please. Not that I love him any less, but I put a lot of my time and energy and resources into my animals, and for as much as I put in, I don't seem to get enough time back with them. I know I can't stop time, but I think I'm setting myself up to fail by having animals that, in relation to me, don't have a long lifespan. Which brings me to birds. Long-lived, intelligent, trainable, and able to be kept indoors. (Affectionate, too?) I know if it's just a sheer number of years I'm aiming for, I should probably get a tortoise, but they're about as entertaining to me as most pet rocks. (Sorry herp people. Just not my cup of tea.)

The problem is I'm not very experienced with parrots, and the nearest rescue I could volunteer with is two hours away. (Welcome to Vermont.) I'm currently a nomad (by choice), so fostering isn't in the picture. I do have some experience with birds; I've been volunteering at a local raptor center. While I'm not going to even try to compare a hawk to a macaw, my point is that I know what it takes to care for a large bird, and I'm really not afraid of big beaks or talons/claws. I would love to go into falconry some day, but that's a set of hoops I'm not ready to jump through yet. I've trained dogs since I could walk/talk and have worked with and ridden horses since not long after. I'm also currently rehabbing four biting rats. So, I do have a little background in animal behavior/enrichment, pain, and researching positive ways to curb unwanted behavior.

On to the birds. At first I was really into the macaws because I'm pretty sure that's what everyone thinks when they think "parrot". Once I discovered conures - more specifically sun conures, however, I was floored. And then I saw all the different types of conures and my head did a 360° until I ran into the Hawk-Heads, who stopped me dead in my tracks.

I'm not going to even try to deny that I pick my pets partially on aesthetic. I have a blue rex rat with a star on his head. Don't get me wrong, I'd rather have a run of the mill mutt with a good temperament than a flashy but angry purebred. That being said, I'm looking for a colorful, intelligent, hardy, good tempered, and affectionate bird, with an emphasis on the latter three traits. The ability to talk is a bonus, but I have an acquaintance whose blue and gold likes to yell, "HEY SEXY," and, "F*** YOU," over the phone - which can't be untaught. So I'm really not worried about whether my bird can learn words, especially since my family has a potty mouth.

It would be nice if I could take it outside with me; I'm an avid hiker. I would be interested in flying it, most likely with a harness until further notice. And I ultimately would love to build a large free-flight cage for it and any raptors I may get. (Obviously not to be used at the same time since that would get... messy.)

 

[JerseyWendy]

I generally don't like voting on things like this, but couldn't help myself this time. I will probably get slammed silly over this, but I voted for the Macaw. No, they are not more intelligent than the others, but the experience I've gathered with mine over the years, certainly make them SUPER smart, calculative, and uber funny. (Now I'd be happy to share the 'less' positive attributes as well, if you are interested :54

You absolutely can take any bird on a hike or on car rides. The vast majority of the pet birds who get to go on adventures LOVE it and THRIVE on it. Just be smart and safe about it. Either harness train your bird, or have him/her in a pak-o-bird. Celltei Pak-o-Bird - the high quality light-weight carrier for your birds and parrots

If you're looking to free flight your bird, I'd encourage you to do TONS of reading, research, and possibly take some (online) courses. Here, have a look at this thread: http://www.parrotforums.com/free-flight/60774-training-day.html And this one: http://www.parrotforums.com/free-flight/58755-recall-flight-training.html

 

[Piasa]

Hiking can be done multiple ways. I've tried a lot of what you are aspiring to, even once bought a bird to train for free flight (though that failed, I'm not the right temperament).

The pack Wendy linked to, you can get just about any bird to accept and enjoy that. Being outside, out and about is very healthy for any parrot. They may be a little scared at first, but will acclimate quickly. Motion sickness isn't an issue.

Not every bird will accept a harness. It is very hard to train them to let you put it on and off. One of my 2 birds will go on harness. She hikes with me and will ride on me when I jog. She very rarely flies on the leash, definitely just wants to tag along, but she loves it.

Small bird outside, like conure or hawkhead you must be VERY aware of dogs and sometimes cats. Mostly dogs. If you are hiking popular trails, tons of people bring their dogs and not all are well trained or leashed. A flapping parrot will make them go wild.

Big bird outside hiking, do you trust them on your shoulder? I wouldn't. Your arm is going to get tired, haha!

I didn't vote because I don't know. I've never owned a macaw, and even though a female hawkhead is one of my dream parrots, I've never seen one in person. I love my conure, but he will fight to the death not to be put on a leash

 

[SailBoat]

Sorry, but your poll is a little thin on selection since it has two open groups and one very specific species (hawk-heads). Based on my knowledge of hawk-heads, I find myself voting out of my favored group (Amazons) and sharing support for MAC's.

Hank-Heads are a highly specialized segment of the Amazon family and their rarity and higher knowledge base demands make them a poor choose for most people.

Although, the majority of parrots easily adapt to our lifestyles, they also require that we equally adapt to their needs. If your lifestyle is far more about you; you may want to wait until your lifestyle is ready for another, whether that is a parrot or a human.

When you are wilderness hiking, how aware are you regarding what surrounds you? Most humans think little about what is around them, which is considering them as a meal! Parrots are not anywhere near the top of the food chain and for that reason can easily spook. Without months (years) of specialized training and/or equipment your parrot is now gone. Point is, there is much more to think about and know prior to taking your parrot wilderness hiking, a trip downtown, not so much.

The larger parrots are a lifetime commitment and you need to be open to that reality prior to making them a part of your life.

Sorry if this is a little to hard hearted, but: Been There, Done That!

 

[Birdman666]

The hawk heads I've been around have been fairly one-person-ish, and fairly territorial with other birds... that's another one of those birds that requires extra socialization if you get one, or they tend to bite strangers.

I'm a macaw addict, so I'm quite biased on this one.

And a conure is really just a shrunken macaw. Same basic behaviors, smaller package.

"Am I not finding information on hiking with your bird because it's never been done/not healthy for the bird/not possible?"

YOU JUST HAVE TO "OUT AND ABOUT" TRAIN THEM. MINE GO OUT WITH ME ALL THE TIME. YOU'RE NOT FINDING INFORMATION ON IT BECAUSE MOST FOLKS DON'T DO THIS KIND OF EXTENSIVE TRAINING WITH THEIR BIRDS. IT'S 100% DO-ABLE.

FREE FLYING IS INVOLVED, IT'S A LOT OF WORK, AND YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF THE HAZARDS. YOU TAKE YOUR BIRD OUT THERE, YOU ARE RELEASING YOUR BIRD INTO THE FOOD CHAIN. IF HE ISN'T WELL TRAINED, YOU COULD EASILY LOSE HIM, AND THAT IS USUALLY A DEATH SENTENCE FOR THE BIRD.

I have done it. I still occasionally do it with a couple of my birds. But I've also had mishaps, and two of my birds died because of it. So this is not something you do on a whim. There is a lot to it and you need an experienced teacher... or chances are very high that you will lose your bird.

 

[RatAtaT2693]

I appreciate everyone's input/advice. I learn new things everyday, and I'm kind of leaning towards a macaw. The hawk-heads are gorgeous, but I need a more gregarious bird. Everyone keeps calling their conures "flighty" or nervous.

And on a more superficial note, I think I'm in love with the Catalina colors.

I can't remember who mentioned free-flight, but I've been hanging out with the falconers, and they don't even entertain the thought of loosing their new birds until at least three or more months of training. Obviously parrot≠hawk, but animal training all works on the concept of "move when they seem ready to progress." And a lot of the methods they use are similar to what I've read/watched for free flying a parrot. I doubt I'd ever trust my bird enough to let them fly sans harness, but it's a nice thought.

Sorry, but your poll is a little thin on selection since it has two open groups and one very specific species (hawk-heads)...

If your lifestyle is far more about you; you may want to wait until your lifestyle is ready for another, whether that is a parrot or a human.

When you are wilderness hiking, how aware are you regarding what surrounds you?...

The larger parrots are a lifetime commitment and you need to be open to that reality prior to making them a part of your life...

I know the poll isn't exactly all-encompassing. Honestly, I just wanted to try it out.

I won't be getting a parrot for at least a few more years. I ideally would like to own my house before I get one. I'll be hiking the Appalachian Trail next year, and hopefully the rest of the Triple Crown in the years following. While you might be able to take your bird hiking, backpacking with a large bird isn't something I'd even fathom. My dogs (and even the cat) love it, but the thought of trying to perch a bird in camp or on my shoulder for 2000 miles is comical/ridiculous/dangerous.

If you ever want to talk about adapting your life to fit your pets, sans bird, get a husky. Mine runs me two miles a day, has a special pulling harness, needs a specific high energy diet, goes to daycare, and needs a seat belt to travel. I was a video-game couch potato before King. Now I'm a travelling nomad with an owner-trained sled dog and set up. I had to buy an Subaru Outback to accommodate my dogs.

To answer your question, I am painfully aware of my surroundings, particularly while hiking. I currently hike with my cat, who gets walked frequently, but lives indoors with me. Just like birds, cats are easy dinner that can't fly away. I have to spot the strange dog on the trail before she does and get her in her bag/carrier before it shows up. I've chased off red tailed hawks, and talked her through an encounter with a box turtle. The first requirement of walking in the woods is observing; the hawk above you, the rustling in the bush (is it a bear or a fawn?), where you step. The one time you let your guard down is the time you break your ankle on frost and spend two hours crawling to the trail head.

I joke a lot, I have vain moments, but I take my animals, my companions, seriously.

I might be young, but the concept of dedicating the rest of my life to another living being isn't out of my reach. I am actually pursuing a bird because it lives that long. I like the idea that it will most likely be with me, and possibly any kids I have, for the rest of its life. It's why I'm starting my research - looking for rescues to volunteer for - five years before I even start buying cages/equipment.

And I wouldn't worry too much about marriages/kids/life changes. I've been given a "me or the dog" ultimatum (from my father), and guess who still has her dogs?

 

[RatAtaT2693]

Also, if I wanted to try for a bird that is easy to take out for walks, maybe hikes, would I want to get a baby/young bird (under 10) or would it be wiser to go with an older rescue bird (25-30+)?

I always tell my new dog clients who want a husky to pick one up from a good rescue since the rescue can tell you about a dog beforehand. But I personally prefer puppies since it's easier to train them and I have a relatively clean slate to work with. Granted, I can tell you more about dog behavior than human behavior, so who knows. There are a ton of birds in rescues who need homes, I'm just worried about getting a lot of baggage while being a first time owner and not being able to handle it.

 

[Bandespresso]

I work with birds of prey and also parrots...I would much rather handle an angry hawk than an angry Mac! I adore birds of all shapes and sizes though.

I take my 20-year-old rescue grey on small hikes and she does wonderfully. She is harness trained (as of very recently) and will drink out of a water bottle. Those are the two main things to worry about when hiking your bird: safety and hydration. I think a macaw would actually be great for your lifestyle as they are adventurous and not quite as easy prey as a conure or hawk head. Interact with parrots whenever you get the chance and I'm sure the right species will find you! do lots and lots of research too of course but you have plenty of years to prepare.

 

[RatAtaT2693]

I work with birds of prey and also parrots...I would much rather handle an angry hawk than an angry Mac! I adore birds of all shapes and sizes though.

Really? Hahaha. Why? I've been footed a couple of times (once in the cheek), and that's something I never really want to repeat.

But every animal has its risks. Rats took out the mobility in my right index finger, dogs yanked my knee out of place, hawk earned me the nickname "Scar" for three months. Working with horses was the worst (and best). Two broken toes, eight jammed fingers, ripped the skin off my palms twice, a broken ankle - had to bolt me back together. I figure losing a finger/piece of nose to a macaw wouldn't be the worst thing an animal has done to me.

 

[Birdman666]

i work with birds of prey and also parrots...i would much rather handle an angry hawk than an angry mac! I adore birds of all shapes and sizes though.

really? Hahaha. Why? I've been footed a couple of times (once in the cheek), and that's something i never really want to repeat.

But every animal has its risks. Rats took out the mobility in my right index finger, dogs yanked my knee out of place, hawk earned me the nickname "scar" for three months. Working with horses was the worst (and best). Two broken toes, eight jammed fingers, ripped the skin off my palms twice, a broken ankle - had to bolt me back together. I figure losing a finger/piece of nose to a macaw wouldn't be the worst thing an animal has done to me.

hmmmm....

Are you sure you're an animal person?!

Or is this an s&m thing?!

 

[Christinenc2000]

i work with birds of prey and also parrots...i would much rather handle an angry hawk than an angry mac! I adore birds of all shapes and sizes though.

really? Hahaha. Why? I've been footed a couple of times (once in the cheek), and that's something i never really want to repeat.

But every animal has its risks. Rats took out the mobility in my right index finger, dogs yanked my knee out of place, hawk earned me the nickname "scar" for three months. Working with horses was the worst (and best). Two broken toes, eight jammed fingers, ripped the skin off my palms twice, a broken ankle - had to bolt me back together. I figure losing a finger/piece of nose to a macaw wouldn't be the worst thing an animal has done to me.

hmmmm....

Are you sure you're an animal person?!

Or is this an s&m thing?!

NOW I have to clean up water off the desk from where I read this and had a mouth full ......... Where is wendys pic of the girl spitting water and laughing lol . G"s I know better lmao

 

[RatAtaT2693]

i work with birds of prey and also parrots...i would much rather handle an angry hawk than an angry mac! I adore birds of all shapes and sizes though.

really? Hahaha. Why? I've been footed a couple of times (once in the cheek), and that's something i never really want to repeat.

But every animal has its risks. Rats took out the mobility in my right index finger, dogs yanked my knee out of place, hawk earned me the nickname "scar" for three months. Working with horses was the worst (and best). Two broken toes, eight jammed fingers, ripped the skin off my palms twice, a broken ankle - had to bolt me back together. I figure losing a finger/piece of nose to a macaw wouldn't be the worst thing an animal has done to me.

hmmmm....

Are you sure you're an animal person?!

Or is this an s&m thing?!

Tell them I died laughing. Is everyone one this forum always that direct? Lol.

Nah - just if you work with animals long enough (20+/- out of 23 years), you bring home enough stories and scars, especially if you get calls to deal with friends problem pets. By 12/13, I was that backyard witch doctor of BFE that you called when you were too broke to pay a vet. By the time I was 18, all my friends and neighbors were like, "Hey, my dog/horse/cat/rat/guinea pig/mutant fish is biting people - make it stop." I'm just assuming there's an unavoidable learning curve that most likely involves being bitten once or twice, especially since I don't plan on "working my way up" to a macaw. (Maybe African Grey... trying not to get tunnel vision.)

It has made me stop and think the inevitable, "Is it worth it?" Or, "What body part has to be ripped off before I call it a day and get a (safe) desk job?"