Questions for bird owners.

[peteen]

Hello,
I am new here, my name is Hailee! I am 13. Some of you might think I am nuts with my questions...Hehe...

I want to get a bird in about 2 years, yeah it's not a typ-o, 2 years. Lots of things are keeping me from getting one now. I don't know much about birds and thats why I am collecting information now.
Why I want a bird: Well my first spark wanting a bird was when I went in to a lorakeet exibit at the zoo where you go in and feed them and all, I was in love. And I own a dog who is 11 and I am realizing she is not going to live for ever, she is my baby, I love her with all my heart and I know it will nearly kill my soul when she passes on. And I thought wouldn't it be great if I had a pet that I would not have to worry about saying good by to any time soon (hints large birds tipicly live longer than humans, yeah I know a little about birds ) And my family are past bird owners and they said they are a wonderful lifetime companion.

What I am looking for in a bird:
I definantly want a larger or medium bird. Small quick things make my nervise.
One who has a lesser tentency to bite. Ok I have a confession to make...I used to own a hamster, and it bit through my finger nail one time and I could never trust it again, and when you don't trust an animal it don't trust you. But my dog was abused before I rescued her and she has some aggression issues, and I have been bitten many times and never lost trust for her. But I was raised with dogs and in rescue with my mom for 4 years (still volunteer sometimes too) But I do understand at sometime in my life time I will get bitten by this bird. But if it is a daily or weekly thing I might get weery so I definantly want one who will only bite if something go's wrong.
I definantly want a cuddly bird, one who will sit on my shoulder and that I can kiss. I am definantly a cuddley wuddley person with my kids....Hehe.
I plan on having a family in my lifetime and so I want it to be good with well behaved kids. I believe in having kids who understand pets are NOT toys and should be respected and treated preperly with care and love. So abusive children will never come in the picture!
I want one who will live many years because I want to be able to get attached to it with no thoughts in my head about it might die in 10 or 20 years.
Talking would be good, but if It had the right personality then I don't really care!
I do have a job, only 3 or 4 days a week and not ALL day, and it would be (of course) in my room, where the computer is, and it could have play time when I am on the computer. I spend half of my life on the computer...lol But I would also have time where I would interact with it.


I am a person who belives once you get an animal it is your responsibility. I am not a welthy person but even through rough times any pet of mine has had food, they come first. And I well never get rid of a pet because of moving...EVER. Would you move without you kid?

And I know you are going to ask, are you ready to clean poop and feathers for the rest of your life? Are you ready for a lifetime commitmant to a living creature? Yes I have thought it through and I am!

Also I am not a person who has a LOT of money, we are about uper-middle, we struggle every once in a while with a bill or two but out pets ALWAYS come first no matter what! And if some emergency arose, from doing rescue I have alot of vet friends who would make sure I am taken care of and if I ever needed a large amount of money I didn't have we have a family friend who would happily give it to us and let me pay it back. I also work for her so i could work it off.

Ok I am sure you are wondering why in gods name am I asking you these questions 2 years before I get a bird????? Well, for one I cannot stand not knowing what kind I want. So I need help narrowing it down. I don't know alot about diferent breeds personalities. So could you tell me what would be the best bird for me? I want to be able to read and do research on it's housing, care, all that good stuff. I believe that it is very stupid to get a pet and then look and see how to care for it. When I get my baby I want to know every detail about everything...hehe!

This is a cage I was kind of thinking of, is this big enough? If not do you have any other ideas in this price range? I hope it is big enough because even that takes up lots of space. but for my future fine feathered friend anything is possible.
http://www.petsmart.com/global/produ...N=2033663&Ne=2

Well I appologize for the loooooooong thread...I am a big yacker...lol

Thanks for any help.
Hailee

[felisdomesticus]

Your best bet is to start doing some reading about various species of medium/large-sized birds. Research their typical behaviors, attention requirements, cage requirements, specific dietary needs, etc. You might find that a specific species jumps out at you when you really start looking at the differences between them all.

I started researching medium/large birds about a year before I brought my girl home. After a couple of months of serious research, I was leaning towards an Eclectus. But I am an oddball and was determined to adopt one from the local bird rescue. I applied, went through an extensive phone interview, and was pre-approved for a medium/large bird that matched my requirements/situation. (I was a novice bird owner who was willing to put up with almost any behavior issue aside from incessant screaming)

Wouldn't ya know--10 months later I was offered an Eclectus! Scar and I were meant to be together, I think!

The cage you are looking at is not suitable for a bird. You'll need to look at bird-specific cages that are made of thick, sturdy metal and that have 2-step latches. You need to plan on spending several hundred dollars on a cage--it really will depend on the species you choose and what types of habits they have.

Good for you for starting your research early and for asking questions. The more you learn about various species, the more questions you will have to ask about them. Good luck!

[peteen]

Thanks for the advise.
And thanks for telling me about the cage thing. I will be doing some major collecting of money before I get my baby, I was thinking of getting one from here http://www.petfinder.com/post/post.cgi?action=2&type=P they are normaly people who are having it rough and cannot care for their baby or maybe the owner died or something. And most of these come with cages they are used to. And another plus is I would be more likely to be able to make a payment plan with a person than a breeder and definantly not a pet shop.
Can any one make any sigestions on what breed I should try to research? I only know a few names of breeds with birds, so I have trouble researching details on something I have no name for...lol
I have heard african greys and macaws are more likley to bite. And conures I heared only live about 30 years, I really want something that will live longer. What is a Eclectus? And what about cockatoo's are they unpredictable or anything?

Thanks bunches!

[bekfreak]

Cockatoos are not good birds for first time bird owners. And ALL birds will bite. These guys demand ALOT, MORE, AND ALOT of toys to destroy, attention, and people who can understand them. I am not a cockatoo expert by any means, but during my research for a Timneh African Grey I opted to read everything about everyone. And toos are worse when it comes to the damage done they've got meat scoopers instead of crushers like a macaw. A parrot is akin to having a tiger, lion, or big snake as a pet as these guys are just as unpredictable be a too or grey. I had a cockatiel for fifteen years and he was one of the sweetest little birds I have ever owned. While it was not 40 years or 70 years like one of the big guys it was the best fifteen years of friendship I could of ever asked for.


Never underestimate the power of the little birds like tiels, sennies, or other pois. They're nice birds and have wonderful spunk and spirit. If they're legal in your area Quakers are awesome birds, and that would be something to consider if you may move from another state. Parrots are unlike any other animal in that they're not domesticated so please do your homework before you consider a medium/large sized bird. They have hormonal mood swings, make messes, destroy toys like it's going out of style, and demand alot from their people.

Due to your age a rescue group may not give a large parrot to a child. You have to make sure that your parents are willing to accept the responsibility of vet bills, paying for the oddles of toys they require, or the occassional hole in a piece of furinature. Not to mention the noise that a parrot is capable of making. Not to mention you will may end off going away from college, high school activities, bird may or may not bond with you, marriage, and possible kids. Your husband/wife may be despised by the bird who will would love nothing more than to put a few holes into'em. This isn't to scare you away from bird ownership. I got my cockatiel at your age and he was with me until this past April. I now have the abilities to pay for the upkeep of a larger bird and knowledge under my wing to feel comfortable to bring a larger bird into my home.

[peteen]

Ok well a cockatoo don't sound good lol.
First of all I get 150.00 a week child support that is given to me. Sometimes I pay a bill or something but if I needed to get supplies or something I can. I also work 3 or 4 days a week at 5 $ an hour, 8 hours a day. I am capable of withstanding the finantail part of a large bird. Before getting the bird I will collect money in my bank account for the bird costs and annitail supplies. And the link is not to pet finder shelter and rescue groups, it is pet finder classified ads, it is people, indevidual people who are unable to care for their pets and put them on there free or selling them. There is only one bird rescue near me and they don't handle anything but small birds. So I either buy from a breeder or a personal thing out of a paper or classified online ad.

I had thought before about getting a cockatiel but they are smaller and handleing everyday I would rather have a large bird. And also we have 3 cats and none stay in my room, but they have all been around birds befor and they look at a small bird as bait and a large bird as "i better not" even just a medium they won't try anything. And even being that it would be in a cage they would still be a threat.

And as far as husband and kids, I am a major animal lover, any man who wants to be with me will have to be an animal lover, I work closly with 3 rescues for dogs and cats. I plan on being a veteranary assistant, I have volunteered at many shelters and low cost spay and neuter clinics, animal are most of my life. So any man who is with me will have to be an animal lover and accept what I come with. And kids will be raised around all types of animals and will most definantly know how to behave around animals, and respect them.

[felisdomesticus]

Originally Posted by peteen

And another plus is I would be more likely to be able to make a payment plan with a person than a breeder

Most people would probably hesitate to give/adopt/sell their bird to someone who needs to make payments on it. That usually indicates that if there was an emergency and the bird required immediate (and expensive) medical attention, the person would not be able to pay for that.

I'm not exactly sure why a 13 year old would be getting a child support check or is working (isn't the legal age 14??) for less than minimum wage, but my advice to you is to start saving your money. If you do decide that you still want a bird in a few years, you will need lots of money for the proper cage, toys, food, vet visits, and purchase price.

[peteen]

Well, a long time family friend is a avain vet at a trama center. And I have met her in the middle of the night when a stray cat got hit in front of my house.

I work because I want to work. It is a farm and I help her care for her animals, it's not a meat raising farm or anything, she rescues horses and dogs and things, if they are disabled she makes sure thay have everything they need.

Now I noticed that you zero'ed in on work, but did you read this
"if I ever needed a large amount of money I didn't have we have a family friend who would happily give it to us and let me pay it back. I also work for her so i could work it off."

And all I do at work is brenda (my granmother) mows her many acres. Mowing is brenda's hobby. And while she does that I just feed the horses or I give some elderly dogs their arthrites meds. And maybe walk a dog or two.

Alot of the people on those classifieds are desperate, they have to find a good home for their pet quick, and I don't care what you say I am a good pet owner. And Brenda (my grandmother) who I live with has owned many birds, she had a large one before I was born but we moved here to KY from CA right after I was born and her best friend who also had birds out in CA took her Henry. And he is still living the life and doing fine. So I can also count on her for advise and help caring for him/her. Although he/she would be my pet and my responsibility. Brenda also said if anything ever go's wrong and it needs medical emergency help she would be happy to help.

[Jackie C]

Hailee,

Be very careful about buying a bird sight unseen. Not everyone who tries to find a home for a bird through a classified ad has an emergency that prevents them from keeping their pet. Some people want to get rid of birds that bite or scream all day, or have other difficult problems. They may have older birds that have never been trained and that would be a difficult problem for a young, first time bird owner. Even if it is true that the bird is as sweet and loving as advertised, you might find that it dismantles and chews up furniture. I'm not saying that all the advertised birds will be bad birds, but be careful and make plans to meet and get to know a bird before you spend the money.

[LMPego]

Whatever the other issues are, I give you kudos for planning ahead and starting your research now for getting a bird in 2 years. I think that's terrific, and when the time comes, you will make the right decision. Just one question I had is if you are planning to go to college, what would you do with your parrot?

Other than that, my advice would be to focus on a family rather than a specific kind of bird and then let the right bird find you. Maybe you're interested in an Amazon, but if you don't get too specific about wanting an Orange-winged Amazon or something like that, then you will be more open to the individual bird and not the species. When we got Cory, I knew I wanted a Poicephalus and we looked at a couple of Meyers, but wound up with our wonderful Senegal and I couldn't be happier.

[peteen]

Thanks bunches!

As far as college go's I am not planning on it, the vet assistant I mintioned above is a online 6 week corse. And I am home schooled now. But if things changed I a wanted to go Brenda (my grandmother) would take him/her. But I doubt I will go.
Yeah I am not narrowing it down like that. I just want to read as much as possible and know everything I can. I would hate to be stuck in some type of situation and not have a clue what to do.

And when I get my baby I will have several meetings with it before buying, to let the bird get used to me and my voice and smells, I don't want it to come home to a new person, new smells, new sounds. I can only protect it so much but I want it to know me. And I want to interact with it as well. So I will pretty much know if it is a bitter. And I will try to make some kind of arrangment where I can return it if something bad go's wrong. But I am not one to do that over anything, it would have to be something bad.

Thanks for everything.