If your 8 yr old wanted their own bird, what kind do you recomend?

[Emily]

I have been thinking of a Tiel. any ideas


Emily

[JThw8]

Assuming the normal stuff like adult supervision, knowing how to care for it...yada yada.... 'tiels are an excellent choice. It was my first fid around the same age, very loving little fids.

I also cannot say enough good about senegals. A whole bunch of big bird qualities in a small bird package very friendly and easy to deal with.

Those would definitely be my 2 favorite choices :)

[cfulhage]

I got my tiel, Dakota, when I was about 9. He was such a great first bird! He was such a cuddlebug when I got him, but whenever he did nip me, he wasn't able to do much harm. I was so fascinated when he learned to talk! He knows about 10 words and phrases and can whistle several different songs. Mostly he just jabbers to himself. He is quite loud, much louder than my grey, although she is only 5 months old right now so I expect that to change some. Dakota is such a little sweetheart, and has so much attitude for such a little bird. I would definitely recommend a tiel!!

[AmandaB]

A tiel sounds good to me. I've heard people say that green cheeked conures are a good bird for kids, but you'd have to ask someone who has one to be sure. My seven yr old wants one, but alas, we have a full house right now.

[Skyebirdsmom]

Yep that is a great idea, I was going to suggest a Tiel too! great first birds, not budgies, tiels!!! Yayyyy ;o)
Linda & Skye(nope he's not a tiel, sorry Skye)~

[Rue]

Yes, I'd recommend hand-raised cockatiel, green-cheeked conure or hand-raised lineolated parakeet before a budgie. But if you can find a hand-raised budgie, I'd also consider one.

[LissaKokoKiwiKaseySam]

Personally, having 2 girls that have grown up with birds,It would depend upon the 8yr old, and how much responsibility you were expecting to put on their shoulders. My girls had parakeets with not so good results when they were younger ( don't go there..believe me)..My 8yr old is good with her hamster however..and I would consider her a bit immature for her age. I can't tell you about teils, because I've never had one... Sennies are great,but they can be one person birds.

My suggestion would be to see how truly interested your 8yr old is in bird keeping by giving him/her some responsibility caring for yours...If they can be consistant, then perhaps a bird of their own would work....and a teil would probably be a good place to start..as long as you wouldn't mind owning one yourself should the child become un interested....

[BirdsUnlimited]

Hand fed cockatiels and Bourkes are usually my two favorites that usually work out great.

[Skyebirdsmom]

Excellent bird for a child or any first bird for anyone! Test it out and make sure it's tame and sweet~
Linda & Skye~

My tiel was so sweet she'd NEVER bite anyone. She will hiss at you if she was mad, but that's the extent of it. We called her ms. hissy when she was that way~LOLOL Oh yeah and if she was REAL mad, she'd bop the table or cage or whatever was in front of her with her beak, LOL> That was the extent of her madness....God love her!!

[Vankarhi]

If it was my child and I felt they were responsible enough to look after a bird at that age, then I would recommend a handraised 'tiel or budgies. The budgies tend to be forgotten, but that was my first bird at the age of 14 (I always thought it was 13, but realised it was my 14th birthday). I had many budgies then went to cockatiels, then to cockatoos/galahs/ringneck/canaries/gouldian finches and now an eclectus.

Something I would also consider is .....................do I want this bird if my child does not look after it. In that case I would probably go for a handraised galah. They are gentle loving and not too demanding medium sized birds. although a handraised one would set you back a bit more than a handraised 'tiel or budgie. But that is what I would pick (if I had the money too of course) and wanted something that I would want if the child did not look after it properly.