Bird lover without experiance

[handyman]

many of my friends who love birds. when they came to my house and see my birds. they said " i wanna keep birds but i don't know any thing about keeping birds" they want to buy birds from me .

what should these bird lovers do who wanna keep birds at home haveing no experiance

[parlasl]

There is no way to get experience except owning birds, really... unless you work in an animal shelter, or the zoo, or somewhere else like that. I had no experience with birds when I owned my first ones, but that was the only way to get experience for me, as I work full time and really don't have time to work or volunteer anywhere else.

Basically, if you think they're good people, who won't grow tired of the bird once the novelty wears off, the best thing you can do is give them the right advice and information they need to make a happy home for a bird. Impress upon them that it's a life-time committment, especially for those longer-lived birds. Get them to read books and join an online community like this one.

[handyman]

thx parlasl for advise. yeah i inform them about committment in taking care of birds. so they have to learn by experiance.

some people have temprary emotions to have birds by seeing other enjoying birds. they don't realize how hard they work for years and still doing duties on daily basees.

yeah i suggested them some web sites and forums.


regards

[The Outlaw]

Handyman:

Why not print out some bird instructions from this site or even have folks come here first and read some threads BEFORE they buy a bird? There is so much information on the internet now. Its no longer a valid excuse to say "I just didn't know any better."

I think that so long as you make yourself available to help them for many years when problems arise, then there should be no problem. Birds are fascinating and delightful creatures, but they shouldn't be toys for people. They have feelings and needs, too.

Its good that you care enough about your birds to try to find them the right homes.

THE OUTLAW

[CKD]

When people come to my house as well they always say I want a bird. I tell them if thats the case to as much research FIRST. The internet is a great place as well as speaking to someone who own birds. I also tell them to start out with a bird like a Keet or Tiel. Also forgot to say tell them to come to BB for info. There is a lot here and great EXPERIENCED people who would LOVE to help.

[Peregrine Harlequin]

Most people like how birds look and how they sing. But until they have one of their own they don't know how much effort goes into owning one (or more!). If your friends lack experience with birds, why not have them help you with yours? They will learn there is more to owning birds than holding them and hearing them sing. They could help you care for your birds one or two days a week, and everybody wins. You get help with the feeding, cleaning, etc. and they get experience with and knowledge about birds and bird ownership.

Also, teach them that there are many different birds with different needs. For example, someone might like your cockatiels but may discover that he loves canaries much more. He might even get into falconry. I like African Greys and macaws the most, but I do not think I am ready to care for one yet. So I read as much as I can about them, listen to people who know how to care for them, and spend as much time around them as possible.

So help your friends learn about birds. Let them be around birds and the people who care for them. Some may decide that they do not want birds, but that is a lesson best learned before buying birds. But learning is the key.

[handyman]

hi all

yeah my friends help me when i call them that i wanna shift cages our some renovation work in my aviary. one of my friend is making aviary like mine i am helping him.

[MaryG1959]

I have people ask me about birds all the time. When I explain the expense, commitment, time, attention etc it requires---you often find you talk more "out of birds" than "into getting birds"

I think that is the only thing you can do---lay it on the line and then let them make an informed decision.

I also think you could pull together a "booklet" of information on care and feeding and give it to them when they ask.

Unfortunately people will do what they will do, we have little control over it in the end. Hopefully your good examples and explanations will be enough to make sure they take care of the ones they have.