Need advice on selecting a bird

[Tiki]

Originally Posted by Valo's Moirana

if i could ever wrap my head around that opinion that there's sort of a ranking amongst the birds based merely on their size... it's not like a skiing hill: budgies are the green and easy slopes, while macaws, greys etc are the black diamonds... let's get over that.... by now we should all know that they require equal attention and time, the only thing that increases with the size of the bird is the size of the bills paid for cages, toys, and cleaning supplies.... JMHO

i think that clara and sarah made a good point - the time devoted to any bird has to be appropriate... how's life with your budgie? how much time can you spend with him, how often do you cook for him and clean his cages and playstands? ask yourself how this time schedule changes with 2 birds, since you most likely have to keep some distance between them (at least at the beginning) due to size differences... another important question - can you handle the noise that comes with larger vocal cords... and are you willing to deal with issues that might come along during the 50yrs those birds live?

i guess my point is - if you would like to have a larger bird, research the various species... greys are great companions, macaws are gorgeous and smart birds, ekkies are wonderful as well, and the list goes on.... but if you look at clara's first posts, she starts pointing out things that you have to consider for the different species... i guess people can give you recommendations, but you have to decide whether a certain type of bird fits into your lifestyle - your lifestyle as you have it planned for the next 30-50yrs!!!

Well said, Bee, Clara and Sarah!!

I should also point out that vet care cost the same for a small bird or a large bird. You pay for the vet's time and expertise, not based on size of the bird. Small birds have huge hearts and are capable of forming wonderful bonds with their humans. Maybe even better because those smaller beaks being less intimidating means the humans are more outgoing in paying attention to the bird. Large birds like macaws are visually stunning but so are some smaller ones like conures and Aussie grass parrots. Please do consider your neighbors in your decision if you live in an apartment. I would recommend large birds only for home owners because the noise does cause problems with neighbors. Also consider that larger beaks destroy toys more frequently and you need to keep a constant supply of toys.

There is no difference at all in amount of time, vet care and quality of food required for a small bird and a large bird. My Quaker, Chaska is as spoiled and demanding as they come-no wonder I am so crazy about her!

[Valo's Moirana]

Originally Posted by GreetingCardReligion

I didn't mean to imply that budgies were any less deserving of care, commitment, time and devotion!.

I personally didn't get the impression that you implied that....

Originally Posted by GreetingCardReligion

They are just very very -different- in their personalities and how they play and how they interact with people and the sort of time required to keep them happy and social.

agree and disagree... agree wrt the difference in personality and how they play and interact.... the sort of time thing, i disagree with... people are just generally more content to keep a budgie in the cage if visitors are around to avoid non-pleasant interactions... budgie bites can be hard, however certainly not as damaging as a macaw bite but still.... hence often the misconception that budgies require less time to socialize... and they sure need to be kept happy... and with any type/size of bird this means AS MUCH TIME AS POSSIBLE....

Originally Posted by GreetingCardReligion

I like greys better than I like macaws, this isn't a question of slighting, but they are different and have different demands, it's ok to point that out - imo.

agreed... they are different, and have different demands.... and i don't think i ever said anything different - on the contrary, i agree with you... the only cut i make is that the different demands DO NOT include the time committment.... i hope i made myself understood without upsetting anybody

[GreetingCardReligion]

OK :) I just wanted to make sure that the "ranking amongst the birds based merely on their size" was directed towards my comments :)

[bekfreak]

And yes when a bunch of macaws of varring sizes want to excerise their lungs they do! And it is loud! I spent my summer bonding with Bella at Bird Paradise and at that time the boarding/bonding lounge were in the same room....I felt like I spent my summers in the deep Amazon sometimes. And it was funny when it would rain...they got nutty. :) But I developed a love for them during my time there because when one had something to say...everyone had to chip in their two cents. It would have me wondering what the conversation was about.

But I also saw the mess, demandingness, and the expense they have on toys...Your large macaws can split through wood better than any beaver. :)

Bella is a Timneh African Grey and she's got the little diva personality on her. She'll get mad and sulk if she has something happen that she really does not like. She finally got over the top of the cage issue...mommy does not like her up there. So I got shunted for a couple days. They're smart greys. Very smart. It's like sharing a home with an spry elderly person or two-year-old. And they never grow out of this either.

[raddaughter]

Macaws are one of the most expensive birds out there. Not only that, but they are also demanding. They have different needs than a budgie or grey. They are very sweet, but if you are serious about getting one, weigh out the pros and cons. Every bird is different, and so is every person's lifestyle. Are you prepared to rearrange your daily routien to fit your macaws? Are you willing to spend the money on their expensive diets and the even more pricy toys? Macaws are destructive, and go through toys quicker as they get older (from what I have been told) They are literally, a lifetime commitment. They are great though.

Macaws are need large cages. The bigger the macaw, the larger the cage. Most good cages cost about $300+. Not including toys and perches, which will be destroyed. If you don't think you can afford a larger macaw, then a smaller one is always an option. Hahn's (sp?) could be an option. They are smaller, by a lot, but have just as big a personality.

There are a LOT of different birds out there that could fit your lifestyle. Greys and eclectus have already been mentioned. I love both very much, and will hopefully be able to have a grey and a male/female ekkie soon... *sigh* if only I won the lottery 8)

[Abby]

I feel like I need to chime in here. Tara and others brought up the noise level. This is a really important consideration. I have a variety of birds both pets and breeders. At this stage we're looking at having to rehome our 'too due to the neighbour not coping with the noise. It really hurts falling in love with a bird only to have to lose it because of others. Trust me it's heart breaking having to go through this. Please put this into your considerations as to what to get.
What do you want out of a bird? Looks, companionship, potential talking ability? Birds regardless of size take time and money and commitment when looked after correctly. The bigger the bird, obviously the bigger the noise, accommadation required etc. Mess I think depends on the bird. My biggest grots are the lorikeets (big surprise) and the budgies for sheer spreading ability with the mess. I've very recently got my first quakers and they are fantastic. If legal in your state I really recommend them.

[Quito's Qage]

300+ for a large Macaw cage? I think you could easily triple that. I've heard folks say they budget 80 to 100 dollars a month for toys for a large Macaw, though I'm sure with creativity it could be done for less. It is a huge financial commitment though.

As regards to time commitment, I don't see any reason why a well tamed, socialized and loved Budgie would require any less time. All birds have the same needs, just scaled for size. Sure, you can get away with leaving a Budgie in a cage and ignoring it easier than you can a Macaw that can rupture your eardrums, but that doesn't mean the Budgie isn't entitled to the same treatment as the Macaw. JMHO.

[Grillis]

Originally Posted by svolk

Budgies also do not like to sit in their cages all day, especially with their high energy levels and high metabolisms - much higher than a macaw. Budgies also need a place to scream and fly and play.

The messes are bigger with macaws, the food supply is bigger with macaws, and the screams are louder if macaws are having a fit - but this does not mean that anything smaller than a macaw needs any less quality time.

Budgies are extremely intelligent and statements like the above will only perpetuate the misconceptions that already exist about small birds.

well said!

[Machelle]

Originally Posted by kensbuns

Macaws need much more attention than a budgie. The dont like to sit in their cages all day.

I'm sorry, but I find this statment horribly insulting. All birds, no matter what size, require the same amount of attention. It does not matter. The only difference is, the bigger the bird, the bigger the cost, and time on cleaning, etc Everything is more EXCEPT the attention. The smaller the bird, the smaller the food costs, the shorter the time to clean after them (because of their smaller cages and playstands), the less destruction, etc. There are only 2 things not affected by the size of the bird - attention and intelligence. They all deserve the same amount of attention. Just because a bird is small doesn't mean that he deserves to be bound in a cage all day with no human interaction. All birds are intelligent creatures and deserve time with their humans and out of cage time. Small birds are not better than larger and vice versa. All birds are wonderful, you just have to find the right species for you. Do alot of research. That's the best thing you can do.

[svolk]

Originally Posted by Machelle

I'm sorry, but I find this statment horribly insulting. All birds, no matter what size, require the same amount of attention. It does not matter. The only difference is, the bigger the bird, the bigger the cost, and time on cleaning, etc Everything is more EXCEPT the attention. The smaller the bird, the smaller the food costs, the shorter the time to clean after them (because of their smaller cages and playstands), the less destruction, etc. There are only 2 things not affected by the size of the bird - attention and intelligence. They all deserve the same amount of attention. Just because a bird is small doesn't mean that he deserves to be bound in a cage all day with no human interaction. All birds are intelligent creatures and deserve time with their humans and out of cage time. Small birds are not better than larger and vice versa. All birds are wonderful, you just have to find the right species for you. Do alot of research. That's the best thing you can do.

Very well said, Machelle!