[CrazyforCockatiels]

I hope this isn't too presumptious of me to post this as I don't pretend to be an expert but after reading myriad posts from people who are unable to care for their birds and are looking to rehome them, I thought perhaps this would be in order unless this has been posted elsewhere.

Also, my intention is not to bash those who are unable to care for their birds, especially owing to illness or unforseen circumstances. This is geared more toward those who purchase a bird and then realize it entails more care than they thought or those who adopt a bird and are not able to give the bird the time he or she requires to thrive emotionally and physically. Also, there are those who say, "He's just too loud!" or "I can't deal with the mess."

I would also welcome others' advice to people contemplating bird ownership as I think it's heartbreaking both for the new owner and the adopted bird when the bird must be given up.

Ideally, any potential bird owner, before getting a bird, should

1. join BirdBoard, read posts and ask questions.
2. join a local bird club, attend meetings and interact with the members and their birds.
3. read anything pertaining to the species of bird in which they're interested. Use the Internet, the library, the bookstore.
4. if possible, help care for a bird and see all that it entails.
5. decide what kind of cage the bird will need and the food and toys required on a monthly basis. Also, find out how close is the nearest avian vet and call to find out their fees.
6. decide what will be done when traveling. Will the bird be boarded, cared for by friends/pet sitters or taken on the trip?
7. plan ahead. Find out the bird's average lifespan. Ask yourself where you'll be a year from now, five years, ten years, etc. If you're planning on joining the Peace Corps, maybe you should rethink adopting a bird.
8. research how well the bird in which one is interested gets along with other pets and other people (consider all ages).

I can think of more, I am sure, but I must run. Hope others add to this.