Deciding on a bird?

[Elliriyanna]

How did you pick what species was right for you? Most species I am considering are parrots... but honestly I am also considering a dove. I dont know what would be the right pet for me. Doves seem a bit too sedentary and a lot of parrots are very loud and I know some can bite pretty hard.

I know I don'y want anything very big. People have recommended green cheek conures... which are very adorable birds, my friend has one and I love her cricket sounds.

i am just curious how other people made the choice, because it is a pretty big decision.

 

[ZephyrFly]

Pigeons and doves can peck but i dont know much about them really.
All birds can bite/peck, all can be noisy, spend some time with a variety of birds and gauge your noise tolerance. You might find you like budgies or cockatiels.

 

[Terry57]

Doves can be awesome I have 4 Diamond Doves who will step right up for you, and my friend's son has a Ringneck Dove who will do tricks!
Is there a rescue or pet shop near you where you could go visit several different types of birds to help you make a decision?

 

[Elliriyanna]

No, Petfinder was my first choice but there are no rescues near me. We do have a pet store but its a big chain store and they really only have parakeets and finchs.

Some noise doesn't bother either of us, we other pets who can be vocal when they want. its the constant high pitch shrieking some birds do that bothers me, and that worries him.

 

[Terry57]

Ours doves make a cooing noise, which is kind of soothing. I've never heard any of my doves louder than the soft coo.
Maybe you could Google different types of birds so he could hear them...although in my opinion birds are ALOT louder in person than on the videos, even with the sound turned way up.

 

[chris-md]

Here's a fun way to start in the absence of visiting options. Somewhat hokem, but worth a look. There are any number of online quizzes that will match you with various appropriate species based on your available space/time/temperment/bird size requirements.

I say hokem because they aren't exactly always accurate. When I was looking (wound up with a male eclectus) some quizzes were saying a finch or canary was my best bet. I coul do better than that for sure, but some give you a range of species.

Also look on places like birdbreeders.com, which can tell you if various birds available, and in what state they are located. You can have your bird flown via airplane to you.

Good luck in your search. Any number of conures (not just green cheeks) would be a wonderful place to start.

 

[Elliriyanna]

Honestly I am not looking to buy a bird, I want to find one someone just doesn't have time for anymore. I just want to know what species I should be looking at.

I do like doves, but I think they may be a bit too sedentary. I will always admire the mourning doves I see though.

So far I know what conures, doves, parakeets and lovebirds sound like lol.

 

[torrap]

Honestly I am not looking to buy a bird, I want to find one someone just doesn't have time for anymore. I just want to know what species I should be looking at.

I do like doves, but I think they may be a bit too sedentary. I will always admire the mourning doves I see though.

So far I know what conures, doves, parakeets and lovebirds sound like lol.

They say the best way to go is for a bird to pick you not you to pick the bird.
IMHO the best place to go is a local Parrot Sanctuary or Rescue. That's where my bird found me.... . I was actually thinking to get an African Grey but got an Amazon instead, because she decided that I am her mom.... .
I don't know if you have one in your area but you can always check thegabrielfoundation.org which is located here in Colorado, but let you adopt from out of state. They have doves too and plus/minus thousand of parrots. I volunteered there, and they are the best in taking care of their flock. They are on Facebook as well. Just a suggestion. That's where Simba found me.... .
Also you learn so much about Parrots when you go to volunteer to a local bird sanctuaries.

 

[Elliriyanna]

I have already looked for rescues and sanctuaries ... with no luck. I do not want to ship a bird. I dont like shipping animals

 

[torrap]

I am glad you are thinking of adopting instead of buying, that's very nice of you. Shipping is not the best way, I agree.
My second bird I found on Craigs List, which could be a tricky and emotionally difficult way too. I still can't forget an African Grey I went to see that was set in horrid conditions and the lady was asking for a tons of money for her. Poor thing was grabbing my finger through the bars of her cage. I have it imprinted in my mind for life. She was probably begging me to get her. The other African Grey I went to see was with his owner who smoked, and I couldn't even stay in the same room with them for longer than few minutes because the room was filled with smoke, you couldn't even see through such thick smoke. Poor bird. I was ready to give up when I came across Marley who is an Amazon.
Marley just happened to work for both of us. She was not in the best shape either, but she is fine now.
You are doing a great thing if you are willing to adopt whichever way it will work for you. Good luck!

 

[Elliriyanna]

I don't drive so its a bit hard, but I am sure I will find one that's a good fit for me

 

[sailchoc]

I have parrots and my mom had doves. Doves are way quieter. Also if the bird bites and it is a bigger parrot it can hurt. I have an Amazon, Love Bird and Senegal, all have bitten me. The Amazon is bigger so it did hurt but he did not break the skin. The Senegal goes for blood. She does not want to go back into her cage and bites when I try to put her back in. It hurts a lot when she bites. I had to go back to putting her in on a stick. The love bird bites but it does not hurt. All are rescues and need to feel comfortable before the biting stopped. I have heard some hand raised birds biting when they got to puberty, so it not always a rescue thing. I never saw the doves bite. So if you are scared of being bitten, try the doves. Also the noise may not bother you but most of my friends don't like it. I go to their house most of the time due to the noise level at my house. The parrots love being the center of attention and tend to get louder when I have friend over or talk on the phone. I love my parrots and if your up for challenge they are great. Just remember they can out live you and you need to have a plan if they do.

 

[Elliriyanna]

I am really only looking at small birds, and from the research I have done most of the species I am considering only live 20 years so they aren't likely to outlive me unless an accident happens ... and if it did my best friend is a bird owner. She also said she would be my bird sitter if I ever needed it.

I am just researching little birds. Parakeets, Lovebirds, cockateils and doves are mostly what I have been looking at.

 

[RavensGryf]

Personally, my favorite small bird is a Budgie. Specifically, English Budgies. They're quite a bit larger than a standard budgie. Some are nearly twice the size. They were originally bred with their exaggerated features for exhibition.

Here is an example of my girl Mink. Notice her puffy crown hiding her eyes lol. It's one of the adorable traits of English. Mink was handfed and tame. She doesn't really like petting, but I can't always resist, and she's so soft! They're not as easy to come by as a standard, but they make such cute little companions. I've had parrots for years, and I'm hooked on budgies for life .

 

[Elliriyanna]

I do want something I can love and stroke, which is the one downside to a budgie.

 

[RavensGryf]

I do want something I can love and stroke, which is the one downside to a budgie.

Budgies CAN be handled and even petted if made accustomed to it from an early age, especially one which was handfed, and kept as an only bird . Mink is in a cage with a wild standard budgie, and she is not handled a ton, but despite that she stays fairly tame. I make sure I pick her up and have her with me at least once a day. If you get a rescue though, then probably not.

 

[Elliriyanna]

I didn't say handled though I said stroked, you mention yours doesn't like being petted

 

[RavensGryf]

I didn't say handled though I said stroked, you mention yours doesn't like being petted

As I said, Mink was not handled a lot after I got her, and lives with a wild budgie, but I know from hearing enough about others, it is definitely possible to have a tame budgie who will let you pet and cuddle it, but again, started with a handfed baby.

That said, there is no guarantee that ANY species is going to like petting. Each individual is different, and some birds will take to becoming tame enough to pet much more easily than others, while some individuals just don't like it regardless of how tame they are. That goes with any species.

 

[Elliriyanna]

Thats why I am looking for an already tame bird

 

[Peppo]

No matter which way you go, classified, rescue, etc. you will just know when there is a click between you and the bird. Wait for that click, you will know it in your heart. It is so hard to pass on birds that just don't give you both that special feeling, but it is worth it to both of you in the end. The last thing I was looking for was a mature male DYH but it was love at first sight for both of us. I just had that feeling when I saw his picture and drove 2 hours to get him in 7 degree weather, I will never forget it.