Good first bird?

[Parrotlover101]

I'm not looking to get a lovebird or anything but I've read that they are good first birds and that they aren't. So I was just wondering if they are a good first bird.

 

[merlinsmom13]

Look @ this post, the pictures really tempt me to get a lovebird.

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/11360-am-i-meant-only-have-lovebirds.html

 

[xreinx]

well from my experence with my aunts bird, Cherry, a blackface love bird, The choice is up to you, she was evil, mean tempered when you entered her cage, and I still have scars from her from when I had to clean her cage and change her food and water, but I Loved her, vary much.

If I had a place where I could get a handraised one here, Id get a lovebird in a heartbeat. But the ones I do find are wild and already 4 to 6 years old and arnt handtamed.

The choice is up to you, they are small and fit in a apartment life and can accually be in a slightly smaller cage then a teal. They arnt major loud, and thought they form a strong bond with "their" person, cherry had room for other "favorite" people and would chat quietly at us when we came in and said hi to her as if she were part of the family.

My aunt never had trouble with her when friends came over, she could keep her uncovered and cherry would "chat" quietily with them too, even while visitors sat just feet from her cage.

 

[pittiepride]

My dad raises lovebirds and these guys are the friendliest most loveable things. They have free range of the house and gladly fly to meet you when you come in the door. They live communally so you can have more than one but are super happy to be with their people. Even his babies that went from hand raising to avery life still fly to him when he enters the avery.
kara

 

[Hochimama]

yes ~~ they are good companion ~~ if you only kept one lovebird better make sure he/she have ebough attention and plenty of toys ~~ or else it would be quie noisy ~~ i used to have this fischer lovebird, is very tame and not noisy at all ~~ easy to play with and attach well with me.

 

[xreinx]

lmao, I dont know how Cherry ended up the way she did then, cause she was a little demon when she wanted to be, if you started opening her door, she would give this... I called it her eagle scream. it was loud and short, and she would go into attack mode, anything, everything was fairgame, and if she ended up outside her cage while you tried to defend yourself, then that just meant she had more room to attack, then auntie would walk in and she would calm down.

And I guess as a child Id torment her, we played hide and seek, Id sit under her cage and peak around the bottems, she would give this.. Cute little "cheep" every time she found me, and now and again, when she found me at the back of her cage, id reach up and poke the door. after a while she would just... I dont know, it sounded like a warble, and she would pin me with a look. Id jeark my hand away and give her a grin and we would start playing again.

I miss her, she wasent mine, but it was almost as if she was... Id say yea, a Lovebird is a wonderful first, or even main bird to have. I loved Cherry, she had such a big personality for a tiny parrot.

 

[nofearengineer]

A first bird should be one that could be re-homed easily should you find out, against all expectations, that you are not really a "parrot person."

By no means am I encouraging the revolving door of rehoming. I am simply a realist, and I know it happens. It is a lot easier to find a loving, qualified home for a Cockatiel than an Umbrella Cockatoo.

Budgies, Cockatiels, Lovebirds, Green Cheek Conures, etc. while no less deserving of a forever home, are much easier to rehome if absolutely necessary. And should you need to, you won't have to worry as much about "bird flippers", as there is less potential profit in these less expensive birds.

 

[SnuggleBird]

I have raised dozens of these cute little birds and the personality varies from one to another. With lots of gentle handling and a good understanding of Lovebird behavior, you should be very happy together. They are so much fun and very intelligent. Some will even surprise you with talking ability! Toys are a must. They love to be with you too.

 

[Winston1Smith2]

If you are speaking of a good first bird you might also want to consider a pidgeon or a dove. They are not parrots and they will never learn how to talk, but I read they make very intelligent and affectionate pets. I only read about two drawbacks to having a pidgeon as a pet. First, they are very messy and will require more cage maintnence than most birds. It is also very important to keep thier cage clean because pidgeons are groundfeeders. The second drawback (some people might not consider it a drawback) is that they breed very easily, so it is a good idea to only have one, unless you want to be drafted into becoming a pidgeon breeder.
I have never had a pidgeon or dove as a pet. I was considering getting one as a second bird. The reason I did not get one was because I was afraid Cracker would bully it to death. I also read that GCC do not play well with other birds, especially, peaceful and nonaggressive birds like pidgeons or doves.

 

[IcyWolf]

I've kept ringneck doves and recommend them quite often as first birds. I kept mine indoors and I don't think they were any messier than any other bird I have had either.

 

[kerry]

A friend of mine & her husband had a pair of Peach Faced lovebirds & they called them screech faced hate birds. They were incredibly LOUD!!!!

 

[Amber]

If you are speaking of a good first bird you might also want to consider a pidgeon or a dove. They are not parrots and they will never learn how to talk, but I read they make very intelligent and affectionate pets. I only read about two drawbacks to having a pidgeon as a pet. First, they are very messy and will require more cage maintnence than most birds. It is also very important to keep thier cage clean because pidgeons are groundfeeders. The second drawback (some people might not consider it a drawback) is that they breed very easily, so it is a good idea to only have one, unless you want to be drafted into becoming a pidgeon breeder.
I have never had a pidgeon or dove as a pet. I was considering getting one as a second bird. The reason I did not get one was because I was afraid Cracker would bully it to death. I also read that GCC do not play well with other birds, especially, peaceful and nonaggressive birds like pidgeons or doves.

Yep, their are some awesome birds besides parrots out their. Though I do prefer my little Alex

My family's first bird was an Australian magpie that fell from the nest and we took home and raised. He never had a cage and was free to fly around the yard and neighbourhood. Used to sleep inside on a chair. But that's what you get when you let wildlife into your house! After afew years he found a mate and just drifted away from us, but that was ok, we expected him to leave one day.

Parrots are awesome companions, but their are some other species that make great pets too! I'd LOVE another magpie one day.

 

[dirtpoor]

What about a Dusky Conure? That was my first bird and just a total sweetheart