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[ashenfeather]

Hello,

I am new to the forums and to bird ownership as well.

A little about myself! I am a 25 year old part-time student, I currently live in Montana but soon that will change. In a few months, the boyfriend and I are moving a little closer to his family and purchasing a home. It's at that time that I would like to look into getting my first bird and I am terribly excited!

I have raised and lived around animals my entire life (my mother was a vet and she also bred dogs and horses). So, I do understand that with this comes responsibility. I currently have two other pets, two dogs. Though one is currently off finishing her championship title with her handler and won't return home until late summer or early fall. Both dogs are incredibly intelligent and well-socialized, so I don't foresee this being a problem with good supervision and training.

I am not certain what type of bird I am going to add to the family but I am currently considering pionus, princess of wales parakeets, lovebirds and green cheeked conures. I am also open to rescues. Right now though, I simply would like to research bird ownership and learn as much as I can. Any suggestions or advice would be most welcome!

 

[MikeyTN]

Welcome to the forum!!! Go visit different type of birds in rescue centers, pet shops, etc. You'll find the bird your meant to have. Good Luck!

 

[ashenfeather]

Welcome to the forum!!! Go visit different type of birds in rescue centers, pet shops, etc. You'll find the bird your meant to have. Good Luck!

Thank you! I will certainly be looking into the rescue centers in the area, at least when we move into our new home. I am a little leery of pet-stores, mainly because the condition of the birds in the pet-stores here locally are not exactly the best. I'm sure that's not the case everywhere though.

 

[antoinette]

It is extremely exciting when deciding what bird to get, so many great species around. Browse through previous posts, so much info available, any questions just ask. Great members always willing to give great advise.
I would personally avoid obtaining a bird from a pet shop, besides the condition they are in, who know what diseases they have etc. Best from a rescue centre of breeder, where you will be able to obtain papers, and you know exactly where the bird come from.
Good luck
Keep us posted

 

[Spiritbird]

Welcome to your forum and the world of birds. I second what Antionette says about not buying from a pet store. We often see birds that get very sick when purchased there. We look forward to sharing your excitment.

 

[mtdoramike]

Welcome, I applaud your wanting to looking into rescuing a bird. But I would reconsider this especially for a first time bird owner. Rescued birds usually come with a lot of baggage such as plucking, mental & social problems meaning they can be very stand offish or aggressive and not to mention noisy. Most of them takes a long time and a strong commitment and experience.

Try and find a breeder in your area and look for a hand fed baby bird first. Once you have gain experience with that bird for awhile, then look at rescuing a bird. But this is just my opinion and may not be the views of the majority. I just hate to see rescued birds get bounced back and forth due to well intentioned yet inexperienced people. Remember, birds wind up in rescue centers for a reason and quite often its not the birds fault. It's the fault of well intentioned people who had no idea what they were getting themselves into.

Good luck & keep posting and let us know what you decide.

Mike

 

[MikeyTN]

I do have to disagree with pet shop comment!!! NOT all pet shops are like that!!! I've been to one up in Sioux Falls, SD. A pet shop called Mini-Critters. They're VERY well known in that area for the quality of their pets and I bought lots of birds from them, they're all banded from a breeder, great feather shape, all on pellets, and super sweet babies. The employees plays with ALL the birds on a daily basis and they all know their animals VERY well!!!!

The main reason why I suggested a pet shop, it's mainly for browsing to see the variety of pet birds being offered that he doesn't see at a rescue center or else where. Some Humane Society doesn't offer much birds at all. Nor is there a rescue center for birds by me, my only option is pet shop or near by breeders about an hour away. Depending on where he lives, he may not have one either!

 

[ashenfeather]

I do not mean to say that all pet shops are terrible, certainly there are a few out there that are acceptable or even exceptional. However, from what I've seen when I have visited the shops in my area, I have to say I would not buy from any of the shops here locally.

I do understand that a rescued bird is a large commitment and I will reconsider. The only reason that I have and would consider a rescue animal is that I have rescued and rehabilitated animals in the past (including wild animals.) But I do understand that birds are completely different and have their own special needs and requirements.

 

[MikeyTN]

There was one in Omaha, NE I've visited long ago that was absolutely awesome. There's one near by me, in murfreesboro, TN that's very nice too. I've been in bad ones too but there are good ones around.

It doesn't mean they're free of risk being sick with some disease even though they're at a rescue center... I've seen some adopt something out right away without quarantine.

 

[ashenfeather]

I'll have to visit the one in Omaha, NE when the boyfriend and I move, we won't be far from there.

 

[antoinette]

I do have to disagree with pet shop comment!!! NOT all pet shops are like that!!! I've been to one up in Sioux Falls, SD. A pet shop called Mini-Critters. They're VERY well known in that area for the quality of their pets and I bought lots of birds from them, they're all banded from a breeder, great feather shape, all on pellets, and super sweet babies. The employees plays with ALL the birds on a daily basis and they all know their animals VERY well!!!!

The main reason why I suggested a pet shop, it's mainly for browsing to see the variety of pet birds being offered that he doesn't see at a rescue center or else where. Some Humane Society doesn't offer much birds at all. Nor is there a rescue center for birds by me, my only option is pet shop or near by breeders about an hour away. Depending on where he lives, he may not have one either!

Lets not get carried away here, everyone is entitled to their opinion.
No one has mentioned that all pet shops are the same. Here in South Africa, I have come across some of the most disgusting ones, and a few decent ones.
Read the link below..... interesting to read what members have encountered in pet shops

Disgusting FOR A PET SHOP

 

[MikeyTN]

Ant, I value your opinion. But im not doing anything wrong when I voiced my opinion. Like you said everyone is entitled to their own opinion. That's mine. It was one opinion after another on pet shop being bad, no one said any was good. So I point out some are.

Or we just agree to disagree!

 

[ashenfeather]

I do have to disagree with pet shop comment!!! NOT all pet shops are like that!!! I've been to one up in Sioux Falls, SD. A pet shop called Mini-Critters. They're VERY well known in that area for the quality of their pets and I bought lots of birds from them, they're all banded from a breeder, great feather shape, all on pellets, and super sweet babies. The employees plays with ALL the birds on a daily basis and they all know their animals VERY well!!!!

The main reason why I suggested a pet shop, it's mainly for browsing to see the variety of pet birds being offered that he doesn't see at a rescue center or else where. Some Humane Society doesn't offer much birds at all. Nor is there a rescue center for birds by me, my only option is pet shop or near by breeders about an hour away. Depending on where he lives, he may not have one either!

Lets not get carried away here, everyone is entitled to their opinion.
No one has mentioned that all pet shops are the same. Here in South Africa, I have come across some of the most disgusting ones, and a few decent ones.
Read the link below..... interesting to read what members have encountered in pet shops

Disgusting FOR A PET SHOP

The main pet shop here that sells the most birds is sadly the worst. It was also the first shop that I visited because it was recommended to me, another reason why I am personally nervous about pet shops. The birds are kept in cramped little cages, the parakeets in particular are overcrowded (almost sitting on top of each other). And a lot of the birds are fearful and even somewhat aggressive towards people. None of the birds have clean or unbroken feathers and a number of them pluck themselves to the point that they bleed. There are even a few that have dirty nasal passages, clearly sick. The water is normally filled with wood-chips and poop too. I don't remember ever seeing feed out for the birds.

I guess that you can say I was scared out of my wits from that point on, I feel terrible for those birds.

 

[MikeyTN]

You can report those type of pet shops!!!! I do it all the time
Most of them ended up closing after I made my complaint....

 

[ashenfeather]

You can report those type of pet shops!!!! I do it all the time
Most of them ended up closing after I made my complaint....

I have spoken to them about sick birds and the conditions. I've read somewhere that they receive their birds from a breeder that is.. basically the equivalent of a puppy mill. They do advertise their birds as hand-raised but they're clearly not used to people. Anyways, I digress, when I am in the area again I will visit the shop. And if things have not improved, I plan to take some pictures with my camera phone and send them into the animal control personnel. Those birds deserve better, regardless of where they came from.

 

[Spiritbird]

Yes everyone is free to voice an opinion based upon their experience/knowledge but time after time in many threads it gets old very quickly. It may even be considered trolling. We have had trollers in the past and they are banned.