New to the Forum!

[PlanetLove]

Hello there,

I would just like to introduce myself to the forum! My name is Jordana, I own no parrots or birds, nor have I owned them previously however I am extremely interested in feathered friends. I hope to one day own a bird, but I would like to ensure I have learned all I possibly can prior to getting a feathered friend of my own.

Let me tell you a little about myself. So as stated before, my name is Jordana. I am a 17 year old animal lover of all sorts .. Well .. Perhaps excluding spiders, though even they I pick up on a sheet of paper and take outside. I like to do my research on things and be well prepared before I get myself into anything. I own two furry muchkins of dogs and a mouse -however by the time I would get my feathered friend my little mouse will likely have passed since they only live until two, and he is already one. I am in grade 12 but plan on doing another year of high school to bump up the grades I can. After that I plan on going to college for Paramedicine.

I don't plan on getting a feathered friend until I reach the following criteria I have set for myself -feel free to add to my list though!-

-am financially stable and have a steady job
-own a home of my own (I don't like putting any stress on my animals so less amount of moves or stressful situations, the better)
-have an ample amount of information of all I can and until bird owners such as yourselves find I am well enough educated to have a feathered friend
-have found an aviary vet, a well known or educated one (I would hate to put the life of a feathered friend in the hands of someone who knows only the basics on birds but only mostly deals with cats or dogs)
-have calculated approximate costs of things such as vet care, food, the bedding on the bottom of the cage, boarding costs and so on and so forth for my feathered friend
-have a large amount of time daily that I can find to spend with my feathered friend to ensure a healthy amount of stimulation, care, training, etc.

I just would like to ensure I am fully educated as I can be, so I thought instead of just looking at the information on the internet, why not do that and get advice from those who own birds and have owned birds for many years. Those who have the experience.

Anywho! I am going on and on! Please feel free to as questions about me, I without a doubt will be looking to many of you for your experience and information you have! I look forward to making my way all through the forum!

Sincerely,
PlanetLove

 

[cdog]

Welcome to the forum. Is their any particular bird that you would like to own someday?

 

[PlanetLove]

Well, I would really like to perhaps own an African Grey (or the Congo Grey, whichever you guys typically call it here on the forum) or perhaps a Cockatoo. However I am open to all types of birds, I would like to see what others opinions of which bird would suit myself and my lifestyle better.

I would hate to get a bird just because I found it beautiful and then have the bird be miserable and depressed since my lifestyle and the birds preference of lifestyle did not mesh well. I just want to make sure the bird has a happy life, and if the bird is happy I am happy. So truly I have no set bird that I must get, I just find the African Grey and the Galah and Goffins Cockatoo very interesting and comical.

Thank you for the welcoming!

 

[MikeyTN]

Welcome to the forum! How are you able to do another year in HS? How you able to own a home at 17? Im just baffled.....you need to do the extra research on your own as it is listed all over the internet the care each individual bird needs. The same question been asked countless times and we're repeating our answers.

 

[headfeathermistress]

Welcome Jordana!
Those are great goals to set for yourself before getting a bird. If only more people thought like you.
An idea for you.....can you volunteer for a rescue in your area? That would teach you a lot too.
Christa

 

[PlanetLove]

In Canada we are able to do a fifth year of high school if we decide to do so, I find that it is best I do that to ensure my grades are as high as they can be and to fully prepare myself for college.

After high school I will be going to college, by then I will be 18. The college program is 2 years in length and I find it irresponsible to take on the responsibility of owning another pet while trying to maintain focus on my schooling. It would be unfair to the bird to do such a thing. Plus I will be waiting until I am at a steady job, being financially stable and in a home that I own -will be in my 20's by the time I own a home of my own.

I am just beginning my research on all of the proper care and preparations that should be done prior to getting a feathered friend. I will be looking into this for years and ensuring I have my "ducks in a row" so to speak before I even start looking into breeders or more likely rescues.

As stated in my first message I will be looking at both the ample amount of information and the advice and information from the experienced people of this forum. I understand that people of this forum are likely frequently pestered with questions, so I will be keeping my questions minimal but will be looking through previous posts on this forum is what I had meant, I should have clarified. Don't worry, you will not be pummeled with questions by me, only if I can not find the information on the internet or unable to find it through the search tool on the forum.

I understand the high demand of questions pouring in from unexperienced people such as myself, but my experience from other forums is that constantly people ask, ask, ask and they all ask the same questions, however I tend to look both on the almighty search engine of Google and using the search bar often provided on the forums. I understand the frustration that comes with the same questions being asked and repeatedly being answered just the same.

I believe that the biggest question I'll ask is that based on my personality what species of bird would best suit me and whether a breeder or a rescue would be a better option for myself, being inexperienced with birds.

To HeadFeatHerMistress

Thank you, I think its better to be well prepared and understand the commitment you are getting into, not only for yourself but more so for the birdy. I want to ensure I can give the bird a happy and healthy life, and not just buy on impulse and learn purely through mistakes. I'd rather learn ahead of time and through other's experiences! Just my take on it!

Thanks to both of you for the welcomes! Also apologies for the long replies!

 

[MikeyTN]

You do sound very organized!!!! Seriously, any bird is a possibility. Just depends if your willing to work them into your life style, birds will adapt to new things together with you. All they needed is properly cared for and loved.

 

[PlanetLove]

I do like organization and preplanning for sure! My family is like to that too, so I was brought up that way!

I do find both the African Grey and Cockatoo's to be my favourites. I have heard that from a local pet store that it is better to start off with a starter bird so to speak.. Would that be useful or not particularly? I do know a couple that own two cockatoo's that perhaps I could go and help them with theirs and at least get a little bit of handling experience with them. Perhaps taking care of them if they were to go on a trip or something? Learning at least a little bit on care without actually purchasing a bird fully or is it a better idea to actually buy a bird?

What would you do if it were you and having not owned any birds previously but knowing what you know now?

 

[MikeyTN]

I started out with small birds and I still enjoy them today even though we have bigger birds now. It doesn't change me either way, I'm glad I started out small. My first bird was a Cockatiel. They are still one of my top favorites!!! I do still own 5 tiels cause I enjoy them a ton...

 

[headfeathermistress]

I volunteered at a rescue. I got to know all different types of birds and just had one or two at home. Great experience!

 

[PlanetLove]

Hmm, well then perhaps I shall seriously look into perhaps getting a little guy to at least learn the ways of the birds, however I know that they all are different. Any suggestions of a certain type of smaller bird? I will definitely look into the type of smaller bird as well to sort of get me into the bird life.

Since 50+ years is half a lifetime, and a very large commitment. One which you would even have to work into your will and such. A suggestion on a bird who would be a good "starter" bird would be wonderful, I've always been so intrigued by all birds, watching the birds at my grandmothers house and being to a park where you could hand feed the wild birds. That experience stuck with me. Standing their with my hands spread out with little handfulls of seed, and the chickodees coming down and landing all over me. I always have remembered and cherished that memory. It was so peaceful and relaxing.

I have looked at all the rescues around my area but everywhere I look it seems they don't have birds. Its mainly dogs, cats and barnyard animals. I did however volunteer at a wildlife rehabilitation center dealing with all kinds of birds, which I adored. The raccoons were cute, the fawns were sweet, baby rabbits were fluffy and adorable, the squirrels and chipmunks were so sweet to hand feed, but the birds. The owls, the hawks, the eagles. They were so incredible to work with, help them from the point of a wounded wing to watching them take their first flight again. I loved working with them all.

I would continue volunteering there, but I have since then moved into an area with no rescues for at least an hour and a half away and not having a G2 I have no way to get there. I miss it dearly and help out with fundraisers they hold, but its nothing like being there and helping with the animals frequently.

Anyways! Rambling again!

 

[Sulphiria]

Welcome to the forum. You've come to the right place

 

[solobaby]

i would say a good starter bird would be a green cheek conure, they are all round great birds. little birds with huge personalities. cuddly friendly balls at energy. I'm 16 and i have 3 birds but my parents are commited to them in terms of money and a place to stay if ever i can't supply of they need

 

[PlanetLove]

Sulphiria, thank you! This seemed to be an extremely informative website so it would be very beneficial in my eyes.

Solobaby, I shall definitely look into the conures, they sound like a good kind of bird to get me used to the ways of birds.

I know of a couple that own two Cockatoo's and I'm considering seeing if there are ways to get involved with the birds, since they are one of the two that I am highly interested in. Getting used to one of the species, knowing however every bird is different, slightly learning a pattern in the ways of at least the Cockatoo.

 

[ann]

hello and welcome to the forum! it sounds like your doing your research and will be a fantastic bird owner someday !

 

[PlanetLove]

Thanks Ann, I think the best thing to do is educate yourself the best you can before doing something impulsive. Becoming educated seems like the best way to calm the overwhelming effect that owning a bird may come with. At least having some knowledge based on others experience of what to do. Learn from others mistakes instead of making your own. I think I have decided on getting a Budgie to start out, they seem like a quirky little bird with a lot of personality. A friend of mine had owned one and when I was there to visit (which was frequently) I would always have Bubbles out and playing with him. He was a bit nippy but even then the bites didn't hurt too awful much will be good to I can work my way up from a pinch to a chomp!

Thanks to all for the warm welcome and sincerest apologies for taking so long to respond, school work and preparing for my exams. Thanks again! Looking forward to speaking to you all on the forum!