First Parrot

[marrmarr]

So I'm going to assume most of you are old, retired, and spend all day at home?
perhaps you guys need to get out and experience bird keeping by people who have been keeping birds way longer than any of us, through tradition.
yes birds are delicate, yes they require attention. But is it difficult? i'd vote no. just effort and love is all it takes.
you guys are scaring this guy out of creating a relationship of a lifetime.

 

[DoubleTake]

So I'm going to assume most of you are old, retired, and spend all day at home?
perhaps you guys need to get out and experience bird keeping by people who have been keeping birds way longer than any of us, through tradition.
yes birds are delicate, yes they require attention. But is it difficult? i'd vote no. just effort and love is all it takes.
you guys are scaring this guy out of creating a relationship of a lifetime.

My main concern with being 18, he/she will eventually move out. If it is truly his/her bird, the bird will go with them. Now most people will not have the money at this age to buy a home... so the only option is to rent. Condos/apartments may have rules against pets and a sun conure is definitely not an apartment bird, but it can work depending on the individual bird. I help out at the local exotic bird store a lot and what I inform parents with younger kids if they do end up getting a bird, choose a bird they would want because most likely when their child goes off to college it will end up being their bird. As Ellen stated, a lot of things can happen in life before one settles down and unfortunately those turn of events may or may not have room for the bird in the new chapter of their life.

 

[marrmarr]

yes that makes sense. that's what my point was before I was attacked haha, making it work one way or another. the real issue is being dedicated 100% to your parrot, not that this person isn't capable of taking care of the bird.

 

[chris-md]

So I'm going to assume most of you are old, retired, and spend all day at home?
perhaps you guys need to get out and experience bird keeping by people who have been keeping birds way longer than any of us, through tradition.

Want to talk about offensive? Clearly you don't know what happens when you assume.

As a new member, I suggest stepping back and getting to know the very kind members of this forum who give very generously to anyone asking for help, work hard to educate the larger public.

The people here are incredibly kindhearted people, some of whom have kept birds for decades, or work at parrot rescues. So "suggestions" such as yours are a bit of an affront.

You're entitled to your opinion about how people should keep their birds. However, if you're going to play in the sandbox, understand the sandbox you're playing in.

yes that makes sense. that's what my point was before I was attacked haha,.

Nobody attacked you. You made a flippant statement - offensive to many here - that could have potentially damaging consequences. which you do sound like you're walking back a bit. it needed to be pointed out and disagreed with. Believe it or not, we are good about disagreeing with out being disagreeable.

 

[itzjbean]

One thing I have to add in here is, to keep a bird you need an income! So many students forget that owning a bird isn't just buying the bird and cage and it ends there. There are continuous monthly expenses such as toys and food that you need to set aside and make sure you have covered every single month, FOR 20+ years. It adds up -- expect to spend around $50-100 a month on food and toys for a conure.

 

[itzjbean]

So I'm going to assume most of you are old, retired, and spend all day at home?
perhaps you guys need to get out and experience bird keeping by people who have been keeping birds way longer than any of us, through tradition.
yes birds are delicate, yes they require attention. But is it difficult? i'd vote no. just effort and love is all it takes.
you guys are scaring this guy out of creating a relationship of a lifetime.

I'm 29 and working full-time! When I was 13 I got a conure and it was the worst decision ever. After 4 years he began to get neglected and was rehomed. If I had found this forum and heard the advice here, I would have waited and been able to spare my Jenday the sub-par care I had given him. We aren't 'sensitive', we all have had past experiences with this topic and most students end up getting too busy and rehoming their birds. We're trying to prevent a situation like that. We just care a lot about the birds!

 

[marrmarr]

Not "walking back" on anything. I never suggested anything that could cause harm. Neither did OP. he/she seems genuinely interested and determined on a bird and everyone on this thread decided to shut him/her down even after OP showed parrot knowledge. Just think you guys need to chill out a bit instead of telling people not to get birds. better this person on a parrot forum than someone who doesn't bother imo.

 

[itchyfeet]

Very rarely will you find a cuddly IRN, IMHO.
Amazing birds, just not usually snuggle bunnies.

 

[MGMork]

Very rarely will you find a cuddly IRN, IMHO.
Amazing birds, just not usually snuggle bunnies.

Good to know! They are quite beautiful

 

[chris-md]

Not "walking back" on anything. I never suggested anything that could cause harm. Neither did OP. he/she seems genuinely interested and determined on a bird and everyone on this thread decided to shut him/her down even after OP showed parrot knowledge. Just think you guys need to chill out a bit instead of telling people not to get birds. better this person on a parrot forum than someone who doesn't bother imo.

Sugar, Bless your heart. Stick around, you might learn a thing.

...or 10.

 

[PickleMeDickles]

Hi,

You are so thoughtful to take the time and figure this out beforehand. I can't tell you how much time birds take. I am able to care for 3 horses and a whole bunch of sheep and 4 dogs in quarter of the time it takes to care for the birds. Plus other stuff that you wouldn't even think of.

I recently had a Sun who became ill very quickly and was barely showing any signs. If I literally didn't room with my Suns 24/7 I doubt I would have picked up on the sick symptoms or I would have thought he had a bad day and was just in a foul mood.

Plus conures are NOISY. Any bird is to some degree. My daughter was forced to live in a dorm at San Diego State her first year. We got her a hamster and he kind of became the dorm mascot. The girls would go to great lengths to smuggle his cage in and out of the dorm during vacations. There is no way she could have cared for a bird at this time, and for your bird, separation is like death. They have a really hard time with it.

Only you know ultimately what the right thing is for both you and a future feather friend. You and a conure might be the perfect match for you, just make sure the next 30 years or so are consistent and without small children. Oh, and get an extra job. These things are expensive. My Winny cost 85 for his chest cold.

Oh, and the grocery shopping for fresh fruit and veggies, cooking weekly for beans and quinoa, lots and lots of cleaning. At 19 I would have taken it on, all of it. And I really would have thought it would be okay. I am so glad now that I waited (I am 48 now and my last kid is off to school so I have my 3 monsters at a very stable stage in my life).

Do let us know, and if you do make the choice to bring a winged one into your like right now stay in close touch with this forum. A few people may seem a little wigged out at questions like these, but it is only because they have seen the horror stories that didn't work out. Good luck.

-Jen

 

[Owlet]

I got my bird when I was 17. I am gonna be fully honest and say I regret it. I love Lincoln and I will do absolutely anything for him but it comes with several challenges and downfalls that I wasn't prepared for. I have lost a friend over prioritizing my time to caring for him over wanting to hang out with her. She called me many mean things and we haven't talked since. In the end I don't regret that because I never did anything wrong in wanting to care for my responsibilities, but I still lost a friend and that hurt.
By adopting a parrot at a young age you are essentially becoming a teen mom in every sense of the word. Parrots are described as having the intelligence and social complexity of a 3-5 year old and they do. Adopting one would mean sacrificing lots of social aspect of your life and the like.
sorry this is jumbled I have had a long week.

 

[Sunnyclover]

Hi Ellen,

Let me just say: this is exactly the response I was looking for. Thank you so much for taking the time to address each of my points, pointing out what I may have missed, and giving me REAL advice rather than just saying what everyone else has said (even though I do value what everyone has said.) I'll definitely make sure to double-check and prepare for everything you listed here, especially the issues regarding my dog. I hadn't thought about whether the bird itself would be comfortable living with another animal under the same roof, and I would never want to force either of them into conditions that, to them, are not ideal. The only reason I wrote it off as a non-issue is because we've had small animals in the house before, and he's never been an agressive dog... But I see what you mean, and I'm glad you pointed that out. I'll definitely consult the family on this one. Every member has agreed to this commitment (even though, yes, it will be my bird) and are, in fact, eager to interact with a lovely new addition to the family. I've been browsing multiple pet supply stores, planning for food, toys, and cages, and have budgeted appropriately. I even have money set aside for emergency situations. And I do realize that all of you here are just making sure that I don't rush into a commitment that I won't be able to handle, but that's exactly why I came here. I do believe I can take proper care of a parrot, and I'd really like the chance to do so. I have always been an animal lover, and would never want to do bad by any creature. I know life gets in the way, trust me, I do. But I know that people, such as everyone on this forum, has been and are willing to sacrifice their time to care for their own parrot, no matter the breed.

So again, thank you. I really, really appreciate your help!

If I can, I'd just like to ask one question: is a conure the right type to look into?

Also ask yourself this: If MY bird chooses another family member as his or her mate and wants nothing to do with me and bites me will I still assume responsibility for this bird?
Also: If my bird chooses me as his or her mate and wants nothing to do and bites everyone else and screams while I'm gone to school,to work ect will my family still be willing to take responsibility?
These are things people don't think about but I know for a fact what's it's like to have a difficult bird who bites without warning and there are days/hours/moments he loves me and can't wait to see and be held by me and there are days/hours/moments he decides he doesn't like me and doesn't want to be handled and without warning bites the crap out of me because he all of a sudden feels threatened or irritated ect. Could you love a bird like that? Could your family? I love my bird even with his faults and issues and he deserves the highest level of happiness that I'm able to provide and I wake up each day and treat it like a new day and treat him exactly like I treat my other bird who is very very well behaved. This is where there acting like a 3 to 5 year old part comes in....

 

[Scott]

A warm welcome to the forums! Your thorough and introspective narrative suggests there may be an exception to every rule or guideline. While a person your age can expect uncertainty and upheaval the next few years, having a robust home support system is priceless. Only you can properly assess a level of dedication that can border on slavish to a sentient being who may be with you to middle age!

Spending additional time in the pet shop/breeder or even a sanctuary/rescue might clarify your desires. I voted with the majority for a cockatiel as they tend to be mellow with large personalities. While I've never had a conure, they have varied personalities and challenges.

You might benefit from this well written post post and excellent dialog: http://www.parrotforums.com/new-mem...-students-should-ask-before-getting-bird.html

Good luck, keep us updated with your thoughts and decision!!

 

[MGMork]

A warm welcome to the forums! Your thorough and introspective narrative suggests there may be an exception to every rule or guideline. While a person your age can expect uncertainty and upheaval the next few years, having a robust home support system is priceless. Only you can properly assess a level of dedication that can border on slavish to a sentient being who may be with you to middle age!

Spending additional time in the pet shop/breeder or even a sanctuary/rescue might clarify your desires. I voted with the majority for a cockatiel as they tend to be mellow with large personalities. While I've never had a conure, they have varied personalities and challenges.

You might benefit from this well written post post and excellent dialog: http://www.parrotforums.com/new-mem...-students-should-ask-before-getting-bird.html

Good luck, keep us updated with your thoughts and decision!!

This was incredibly helpful! I can't thank you enough for your helpful and insightful words. Not to mention, the article directed towards students raised a lot of great points to consider.

 

[EllenD]

Not "walking back" on anything. I never suggested anything that could cause harm. Neither did OP. he/she seems genuinely interested and determined on a bird and everyone on this thread decided to shut him/her down even after OP showed parrot knowledge. Just think you guys need to chill out a bit instead of telling people not to get birds. better this person on a parrot forum than someone who doesn't bother imo.

And I did not "attack" you, I answered the dangerous and irresponsible statement you made by telling you it was irresponsible...If you can't take the criticism, then don't make statements like that in a parrot forum...

And I'm 38 and work full-time, so once again, another offensive statement made by you. When I said "life happens", I was speaking to an 18 year old who has just started college and still lives with his parents, not a 30 year old who is working full-time...HOW DO YOU EVEN KNOW THAT HE CAN AFFORD TO KEEP A PARROT AS HE'S A STUDENT LIVING AT HOME? HOW DO YOU KNOW HIS PARENTS AND FAMILY WILL BE OKAY WITH EVERYTHING HE'LL NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO FOR HIS PARROT?

*****Might not be the best thing to just tell an 18 year old who is a student living with his parents "Yeah, buy all means, go out and by a parrot, it'll be awesome!!!"****

 

[charmedbyekkie]

As someone who desperately wants to adopt an eclectus, I don't need people who echo my emotional wants of an ekkie. I need people who ground me in reality with honesty.

OP, I'm done with my schooling years and am in the workforce. But even now, I hesitate to adopt a bird:

Am I really ready for that level of responsibility? The daily cage cleaning, the particular diet, the banning of non-organic cleaning supplies, the replacement of most of our cookware (do your parents know about those facts?) And after changing my entire family's lifestyle for the new family member, the little guy might turn out to absolutely hate me for months, refuse me to let me touch him for years, never take to a harness, scream for hours on end, etc. Am I prepared for that emotional input and drain?

And what about my friends' circle? Are you ok with forcing your friends to follow your bird's schedule? Quite a few of my friends have their first child already, and we hardly see them nowadays and they even have a nanny to help them. Are you ok with losing friends over this, prioritising of your new bird-child?

Are you willing to choose your bird over your future girlfriend/boyfriend? Or, if they ask you to give up your bird because maybe your bird might hate them or they find your bird inconvenient, what will you do?

What about housing? When you move out, will finding a parrot-friendly place be your first priority? When starting classes or full-time work, are you willing to wake up beforehand to spend time with your avian family member? Are you willing to rush home after to let them out of their cage and socialise with you? Or will you put grabbing drinks with friends first?

I see the folks here keeping an eye on their birds during the workday (yay for webcams!), and they rush home when their birds get injured (just like a parent would for a child). Sometimes they risk their jobs to take care of their parrots. Are you willing to put aside your school time for your bird? University, should you choose to go, is time-consuming with long hours and late nights. But parrots need schedules to be kept; they need stability. What will you choose?

Answer those questions, then perhaps people here will be able to understand you better and give you more advice.

 

[Anansi]

I think that it's great you are doing the necessary research before getting a bird. Yes, we here on this forum do get a bit antsy when a teenager said they want to get a bird. But that is looking at teenagers in general. Fact is, young people's lives do tend to change fundamentally between the ages of 18 and 25. This doesn't mean that you as an individual can't make it work. Just that we would be remiss if we didn't address the tendencies of your current age group while answering your questions. Know what I mean?

I was in college when I got my first parrot. (Well, not counting parakeets that I got as a child, but I'm focusing on pets that I took care of by myself.) And it went well. I had Suzie for nearly 18 years before he succumbed to kidney disease, and I've never regretted a single moment. But my temperament back then was never what one would consider typical for a young adult. Your temperament might not fit into the typical category either. But it is imperative that you continue asking yourself the questions posed by several of the members here. And those posed in the link Scott provided.

Also, I'd like to tag on to one of the great points Ellen made in her initial post. Namely, that of the dog. I'm not belaboring the point, as I was quite happy to see how seriously you took her advice. I only want to add that even if your dog seems as utterly uninterested in your parrot as he was in previous small animals you've had in your home, you still can't take for granted that all will be well. Dogs are predators. Some have a more vigorous prey-drive than others, but they are all predators at the end of the day. And that predator instinct can only be suppressed. Never eliminated. There are people who had dogs or cats with parrots for years without incident, and were one day horrified to find that their utterly uninterested dog/cat had "inexplicably" turned on the parrot and killed him. But it's not really inexplicable, is it? It's just a dog being a dog. Or a cat being a cat. The fact that they suppressed the instinct for so many years is laudable, but hardly any consolation to the mauled parrot. It only takes one slip.

I said all that to say that predator and prey animals can never be left in the same room unsupervised. Ever. No matter how well they seem to get along. It's not worth the risk.

 

[clark_conure]

anouther good thread..... http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/71897-cost-owning-parrots.html

cost of owning a parrot. I have a gcc and I think I'm the third one down that's the expenses your looking at.

Good luck, good job educating yourself, I has a happy. GO GREEN CHEEK!

 

[itzjbean]

Oops I see clarkconure beat me to the punch! Be sure to give that link above a read...this year alone I have spent around $400-500 on a brand new cage, about 15 new perches and toys for my one cockatiel.