Considering a Bird

[HopefulDevin]

Hi there! I'm Devin and I'm considering a pet parrot. I've been involved in exotic pet ownership for a few years now and I always do a lot of research before making any kind of decision. At this point, that means that I'm aware of the potential downsides of parrot ownership (fumes, diet, biting, training, screeching, and so on).

I'm not 100% sure that I want to continue forward with bird ownership at this point, but I'll only frustrate myself if I don't take the time to get to know both sides of the equation before making a final decision regarding what I want to do.

My biggest personal question is one regarding the time that I can commit and invest. I do not work (I'm an adult with two other working adults in the home and I raise my daughter), but I am out of the house more often than I would personally like. That being said, I'm a homebody and enjoy being at home.

I've always loved birds and the more that I learn about the joys of parrot ownership, the more that it sounds like something I want to try. At the same time, I worry about not being the best thing for a parrot. I've tried telling myself that this is a good indication that at least my heart and mind are in the right place, but I'm still struggling with making a decision.

So that's why I'm here. Research is important to me. I've owned snakes in the past and that went very well, but I always researched seriously before I put myself on the line with a new herp. When my daughter was born we transferred our snakes to a friend who kept them due to the risk of salmonella infection during pregnancy.

But a snake (which lacks the emotional equipment) is not a bird, and a bird requires a different kind of commitment, so I'm very much up in the air. I want to do the right thing, but I've always wanted the opportunity to bond with birds.

So that's why I'm here. I want to learn as much as I can before I make any decision at all. I hope that if I decide against a bird that I'll still be able to hang out with you lovely people. In the meantime, I'd also be interested in knowing if there is any feasible way to become involved with parrots without actually owning one?

I'm most interested in a black-capped conure, sun conure, or an African Grey parrot at this point. My girlfriend and I might have checked out the pet store yesterday and the conures were so sweet!

So anyway, that's about me. I'd love to make some birdy buddies here regardless of my ultimate decision and I'm trying to be realistic, so please be gentle with me! Ultimately I want to do the best thing for my pet if I choose a parrot!

 

[plumsmum2005]

Hi there! I'm Devin and I'm considering a pet parrot. I've been involved in exotic pet ownership for a few years now and I always do a lot of research before making any kind of decision. At this point, that means that I'm aware of the potential downsides of parrot ownership (fumes, diet, biting, training, screeching, and so on).

I'm not 100% sure that I want to continue forward with bird ownership at this point, but I'll only frustrate myself if I don't take the time to get to know both sides of the equation before making a final decision regarding what I want to do.

My biggest personal question is one regarding the time that I can commit and invest. I do not work (I'm an adult with two other working adults in the home and I raise my daughter), but I am out of the house more often than I would personally like. That being said, I'm a homebody and enjoy being at home.

I've always loved birds and the more that I learn about the joys of parrot ownership, the more that it sounds like something I want to try. At the same time, I worry about not being the best thing for a parrot. I've tried telling myself that this is a good indication that at least my heart and mind are in the right place, but I'm still struggling with making a decision.

So that's why I'm here. Research is important to me. I've owned snakes in the past and that went very well, but I always researched seriously before I put myself on the line with a new herp. When my daughter was born we transferred our snakes to a friend who kept them due to the risk of salmonella infection during pregnancy.

But a snake (which lacks the emotional equipment) is not a bird, and a bird requires a different kind of commitment, so I'm very much up in the air. I want to do the right thing, but I've always wanted the opportunity to bond with birds.

So that's why I'm here. I want to learn as much as I can before I make any decision at all. I hope that if I decide against a bird that I'll still be able to hang out with you lovely people. In the meantime, I'd also be interested in knowing if there is any feasible way to become involved with parrots without actually owning one?

I'm most interested in a black-capped conure, sun conure, or an African Grey parrot at this point. My girlfriend and I might have checked out the pet store yesterday and the conures were so sweet!

So anyway, that's about me. I'd love to make some birdy buddies here regardless of my ultimate decision and I'm trying to be realistic, so please be gentle with me! Ultimately I want to do the best thing for my pet if I choose a parrot!

Hey welcome to the forum. You have made my day - someone who wants to make a careful and considered decision. You're alright in my book.

I am thrilled that you already know some of the pitfalls and dangers regarding owning a parrot. Please stay whether you do or whether you don't.

Have a real good mosey round on here and get a feel and definitely go visit more birds. Do you know that quite often the bird chooses you, yeh wow how great is that? So happy reading on here and if you don't mind fill in your details so that we know where you are in the world?

 

[HopefulDevin]

Have a real good mosey round on here and get a feel and definitely go visit more birds. Do you know that quite often the bird chooses you, yeh wow how great is that? So happy reading on here and if you don't mind fill in your details so that we know where you are in the world?

That's one of the things that I love about the idea of birds. I don't want to wind up in a situation where I feel pressured into buying the first bird that I encounter because it's what's available. I can't tell you how often that's happened to my husband and me with dogs. Time after time we're told there are puppies to choose from and then we get pressured into taking the last puppy in the litter. Fortunately right now we have an excellent dog we chose.

Yesterday at the pet store, two baby conures stood out to me. The Sun Conure was a little bit younger (I think -- both had great feathers) and very docile and sweet while the black-capped conure was super social and wanted to get to know us. This was the closest that I've gotten to parrots in the last twenty years or so. The last time was an aggressive African Grey who liked me in spite of being mean to just about everybody else lol

My girlfriend is very on board with this. My husband is not so much. We both agree that if he took the time to get to know a parrot that he'd probably love them for their intelligence but he doesn't consider himself a "bird person." I think that to some extent it's because he doubts their actual intelligence.

Either way I'm not going to force a parrot on an unwilling family member. I'll either get him fully on board or not buy the bird -- just to be clear. Thanks to general experience with exotic pets though, he does understand the requirements of Avian veterinarians and so on, so that's a bonus!

 

[JerseyWendy]

Hi there, Devin, and a very warm welcome to the forums.

You've come to the right place for research and questions. We are pretty passionate about our birdies, and other people's birdies, too.

 

[plumsmum2005]

Have a real good mosey round on here and get a feel and definitely go visit more birds. Do you know that quite often the bird chooses you, yeh wow how great is that? So happy reading on here and if you don't mind fill in your details so that we know where you are in the world?

That's one of the things that I love about the idea of birds. I don't want to wind up in a situation where I feel pressured into buying the first bird that I encounter because it's what's available. I can't tell you how often that's happened to my husband and me with dogs. Time after time we're told there are puppies to choose from and then we get pressured into taking the last puppy in the litter. Fortunately right now we have an excellent dog we chose.

Yesterday at the pet store, two baby conures stood out to me. The Sun Conure was a little bit younger (I think -- both had great feathers) and very docile and sweet while the black-capped conure was super social and wanted to get to know us. This was the closest that I've gotten to parrots in the last twenty years or so. The last time was an aggressive African Grey who liked me in spite of being mean to just about everybody else lol

My girlfriend is very on board with this. My husband is not so much. We both agree that if he took the time to get to know a parrot that he'd probably love them for their intelligence but he doesn't consider himself a "bird person." I think that to some extent it's because he doubts their actual intelligence.

Either way I'm not going to force a parrot on an unwilling family member. I'll either get him fully on board or not buy the bird -- just to be clear. Thanks to general experience with exotic pets though, he does understand the requirements of Avian veterinarians and so on, so that's a bonus!

That is really good of you. Just keeping reading and visiting and see what transpires. Obviously one point to remember is that parrots should live a lot longer than dogs so the commitment is far greater. If you can be up on diet especially for the ones you have seen and like then that will be good. You will need to explore appropriate cages and the necessary items that go with that and probably price it all up. I firmly believe that if something is worth doing it's worth doing it well!

 

[chris-md]

I would say it depends on the size, in some respects. Bigger birds are more messy and take more time invest.

My assessment is that the investment is similar to a child, especially for the medium/large sized parrots. When done right, you find yourself always on because they are as smart as a kid. I'm always finding was to enrich his life, like any parent would. You don't do that for other animals like dogs, you run around the house, they laze about. You don't have to worry about what they're up to. You MUST worry about the bird, if it's out.

Smaller birds like conures are a bit easier, and I treated my old conure more like a dog than a kid; not worrying so much. He was in his cage more though. Smaller birds are more apt to take off and fly around the house, in my experience. Bigger birds tend to walk more.

My eclectus I have now? There's not an hour that goes by where I'm not contemplating something about him. Always making sure he's amongst the hubbub.

 

[JerseyWendy]

.....You don't do that for other animals like dogs, you run around the house, they laze about. You don't have to worry about what they're up to. You MUST worry about the bird, if it's out.

....

HA! Chris, my Ziva must have forgotten to read that instruction manual. She HAS TO HAVE enrichment, lots of it, lots of exercise, too, or we'd have no furniture left. :54: (She's 6, and hasn't slowed down....yet)

 

[HopefulDevin]

^^ LOL I've owned a Corgi. There's absolutely no letting them go without spending a lot of time on enrichment. It definitely depends on the breed of the dog. He was a difficult one to keep up with, that's for sure!

I think that to some extent all (intelligent) animals need enrichment, it's a matter of how much and what type of enrichment they need. I've had rats when I was a teenager that required constant training and attention of they'd wither.

Clearly with birds it's a lot less individual in that parrots in general need a lot of attention and enrichment.

I'd forgotten to add that peach-faced love birds also very much attract me. My uncle had one when I was a child but he never let it out of its cage. I feel bad for it in retrospect. Smaller birds are appealing but it's always been the Greys that I find the most attractive.

If I do wind up getting a bird, I want it to be the one that I really want because this is such a long-term commitment and I don't see my household handling more than two birds. That's why I tend to stick with the thought of the CAG and the Conures (probably a sun, but darn that black-capped baby got me yesterday!).

 

[ClatteringConure]

Hello, Devin!

You've certainly come to the right place!

I know you're interested in a certain kind of conure but I own a 3-year-old pineapple green cheek conure Loki. The beginning of April I've had her for two years. Before her, I had parakeets, a lovebird and cockatiels. I found those birds easier to take care of than Loki.

It was somewhat of a transition for me going from parakeets and cockatiels to a conure. Loki's a busybody so when I have her off the cage I have to watch her. Loki gets into everything and chews on everything she can get her beak on. However, the investment I put into her and the time I spend with her is well worth it. Far outweighs the negatives. Although I don't see any negatives... haha but then again I'm home all the time and can give her the attention she needs and can watch her when I take her off her cage.

I haven't owned a bigger bird than Loki but from what I've seen of the bigger birds, they require even more attention and do act very much like children like chris-md said. Loki can act very much like a child herself! haha For, example, sometimes when I cover her cage up for bedtime she'll squawk because she doesn't want to be put up. I just ignore her because if I gave in she'd do it every night and it'd become a problem. She only does it occasionally.

I agree all birds need attention and enrichment. You can't put them in a quiet room by themselves or you'd have one very unhappy bird.

Good luck in your decision making!

 

[HopefulDevin]

One of my biggest questions is actually whether the joys of ownership will outweigh the downsides of ownership. It's always nice to know that other people are happy with their investment!

I'm not set on any one species. It's going to be tough to choose a species before I choose the individual since I'm such an individual person, and parrots aren't different breeds of the same species -- they're different species with vastly different requirements depending on their species.

Lovebirds are actually also on my list. I love, love, love the large parrots, but the little guys can be so sweet too!

 

[plumsmum2005]

One of my biggest questions is actually whether the joys of ownership will outweigh the downsides of ownership. It's always nice to know that other people are happy with their investment!

I'm not set on any one species. It's going to be tough to choose a species before I choose the individual since I'm such an individual person, and parrots aren't different breeds of the same species -- they're different species with vastly different requirements depending on their species.

Lovebirds are actually also on my list. I love, love, love the large parrots, but the little guys can be so sweet too!

Wow you are going to be busy reading aren't you. There should be plenty here for you to get stuck into.

 

[Flboy]

Hi and welcome!
JoJo is my companion! When our first bird, Tango was killed, it crushed the family! Having now lost a daughter is the only time I felt greater pain!