Any Pet Bird keepers here?

[plumb4u2]

All good input so far guys keep it coming

Let me explain further.....I should have said better in first post that our new pet will not be just for kids obviously it will be a family pet. My twins are 5 and I realize their attention span

Scottmandue....I realize your post was in green font but again I have nothing against cats they just don't appeal to me or my wife, I was raised with dogs my wife was raised with dogs and cats. My first choice would be a dog however our lifestyle and home does not welcome one. I have the typical single family home with a postage stamp unfenced yard (which was my preference).

Stomachmonkey.....my wife and I had a ferret for 8 yrs when we were first married (before kids). Our ferret was a fun pet and very lovable (never bit) however don't think I will go there again their smell can be overwhelming

I have been an aquarist for over 10yrs I have a 120g saltwater reef and a 90g freshwater aquarium so I understand the commitment pets require

My aquariums our wonderful and the family loves them but I am looking for something a little more interactive

Hendog and Benz......your birds are beautiful however for a beginner with birds I think a cockatiel is a better option for us

I don't jump into thinks like this too fast so I will do my homework


Thanks guys

[LeeH]

We've had a green cheek conure, parakeet, and now a cockatiel.

Bob the conure was very smart... genuine personality. He could be very, very loud at times. He pretty much potty trained himself. He would fly from my shoulder to a perch, poop, then fly back. Bob was over 20 years old when he died a year or two ago.

We got Alex the parakeet from a breeder. Way better than a pet store bird. Alex was hand raised and a great bird. He really bonded to me, which seemed to only slightly bother my daugher, his official owner. Sadly he only lasted a couple of years due to his addiction to bird seed. Parakeets that only eat seed can have serious health complications. By the time we figured out there was a problem it was too late as his liver was so large it crowded out his air sacs. Vet said he had multiple other health problems and felt he died way too young.

Currently we have Bella, a 7 month old cockatiel. She was also picked up from a (crazy bird lady) breeder. We're working on discipline as Bella was allowed free roam of the breeder's house. We're making progress as she no longer trys to walk across the kitchen table during dinner. She does produce more dander than the conure or the parakeet. She's noisy if she doesn't get enough attention and prefers the entire family to be in the same room with her. If Bella had her way she'd just sit on someone's lap and have her head and neck rubbed all day long.

[slodave]

I still have to say that it does not matter where you get a parakeet. Their gene pool is so polluted from the exportation ban, that you don't know what you are going to get. The bird may die shortly after bringing it home or last 15 years.

[Noah930]

Here's a crazy idea: For some holiday gifts this year, we're giving birdhouses. These are outdoor wooden birdhouses about the size of half a shoebox, but the "back wall" of the birdhouse isn't wood like the rest of its construction. Rather, it's plexiglass. And there are suction cups so you can attach the birdhouse to your kitchen or living room window. Apparently this things works. Birds actually use it.

The salesman at the birding store told us to tape some cardboard up against the inside of the window for the first few weeks. The birds (apparently wrens in our neighborhood) would settle in in "privacy." Then after a couple weeks it would be OK to take down the cardboard and the birds wouldn't care. I figure we might as well try it for $20.

[74-911]

Back in the 1980's when our kids were in grade school we got a cockatiel as a pet. As several others stated they can be very entertaining but are also rather messy . The main thing about Jolly which really startled people the first time they saw her was she would spend hours whistling the theme song to the old Andy Griffith show. Kids would come home after school and turn on TV and that was one of the shows they would watch and she picked it up very quickly.

Entertaining at first but definitely would get old after a while.

[sailchef]

The guy on the left is almost 12 now. We got the blue one probably 10 years ago as a companion. These are older photos, they live with the Ex now.

You need to clean the cage everyday, they are constantly preening, and the bottom of the cage fills up pretty quickly with feathers. Startle them once and the feathers go flying everywhere.

We actually found the yellow one behind the restaurant running around with his wings clipped. The staff caught him and bought a cage. We kept him on the deck, under a palm tree, for the entire summer. his cage was within earshot of the diswashing machine just outside the kitchen door and he was always singing and squawkin when the dishwashers were banging plates together.

At the Ex's house now when she does dishes they relive their days on the deck. Its amazing how loud such a little bird can be.

They can be really comical as well.

They can live quite a while so it's a commitment. These two guys were actually written into our divorce settlement. LOL.

[vash]

Originally Posted by Noah930

Here's a crazy idea: For some holiday gifts this year, we're giving birdhouses. These are outdoor wooden birdhouses about the size of half a shoebox, but the "back wall" of the birdhouse isn't wood like the rest of its construction. Rather, it's plexiglass. And there are suction cups so you can attach the birdhouse to your kitchen or living room window. Apparently this things works. Birds actually use it.

The salesman at the birding store told us to tape some cardboard up against the inside of the window for the first few weeks. The birds (apparently wrens in our neighborhood) would settle in in "privacy." Then after a couple weeks it would be OK to take down the cardboard and the birds wouldn't care. I figure we might as well try it for $20.

get ready for the seed buying!! we have lots of seed, lots of cool seed containers, scoops, additives..my wife is a bird lover.

my cat thinks it is "Baiting"

[EarlyPorsche]

A quiet and intelligent bird would be the pineapple green cheek conure. I've owned many birds and this has been the best. They need someone to play with them often. No bird should just be left in a cage. No matter what anybody says, no one breed is systematically quiet or loud. You have to go meet each bird and you will learn about that specific birds habits. I've seen silent sun conures and incredibly loud and annoying cockatiels. The green cheek and or it's higher priced and more rare mutation the pineapple green cheek conure would be one to consider. Make sure you don't buy a biter because they almost never lose that habit!!!

[Baz]

On the subject of leaving a bird in it's cage and not played with. I give Matilda a shower every week with me in my shower. She loves it!

I also make a point of taking her out a couple times per week and holding her against my chest while talking to her softly and stroking her across her head and back. I know this helps her sense of security - that she is loved and knows the meaning of affection and touch.

Also her cage is along a line of windows which are always open (blinds are up - not open windows) so she can enjoy the trees and watch the cars and people going by, etc.

She also shares the living room with our two blue heeler girls - her cage and their crates are within' a few feet of each other. They make quite a gruppe! Right now all 3 are staring at each other....ha ha...they love each other.

All 3 are very smart which always makes things interesting. My advice is to get smart pets - whatever species you decide!

[john70t]

For bird lovers: If you you haven't seen it The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill (2003) - IMDb (wild parrot flock in SF)

[mgatepi]

We currently have a Cockatiel and an African Grey. My wife and I have also helped keep large birds associated with a bird rescue. We love our birds and we have strong feelings about people who make snap decisions on bird ownership. Whatever you do make sure you do your homework and this is a great step in that direction! Also, try to get involved with a local rescue and spend time with the birds, learn how to properly handle them and care for them. IT is not easy and it is a huge commitment as they have a very long life expectency and can be extremely demanding!! We have had large birds that would scream at a very high decibel until you removed them from their gage and played with them!!!!
We have had Blue and Gold Macaws in our house many times with different issues very time. Each bird has their own very unique personnality and with rescue birds you never really know what hell they may have been through. We had a Blue and Gold that had gone through house fire and had at best 30% of is feathers. He absolutely loved my wife! He could not get enough of her!! With me, I could handle him but he really did not like me. And if he was nervous he would bite!! And it hurt BAD!!! We have also had Macaws that were extremely loving to anyone that came into our house! IT really depends on the bird.
Try to get to know the bird prior to purchasing or rescuing for every bird is different! Just make sure your entire family is ready to make a BIG commitment!
mg

[plumb4u2]

Hey guys.....I am still in the research process, I have visited a few pet stores and been exploring the net for breeders

I want to research all different kinds of birds so I know which would be right for us

I'm not rushing it cause this is not a Xmas present for the kids

[Baz]

Hey Justin.....just an FYI......when I got Matilda she was a baby and as such she bonded with me as she grew much more I think than would have happened if she was older.

Birds have personalities. Big time. You want to get on the good side of that as much as possible...trust me.


Good luck sir!

[RANDY P]

NOOOO.

I had a pair that did cat calls, all day, all night. They also live forever. Imagine listening to "woo wooo!" for 30 years.

Don't do it- it will shorten your life expectancy by 20 years at least. They ash everywhere too.

[VINMAN]

I have an African Grey. Had him about 20 yrs so far.
Great bird but messy as hell. I have 3 dogs and they dont make a fraction of the mess the he does. They need attention, cant just leave then in the cage and ignore them.