What makes you ready to own a parrot?

[missysue29]

What do you think qualifies a person for bird ownership, lets say for a conure and then for a macaw. I have heard people recommend parakeets and cockatiels for teenagers, who would you recommend medium and large parrots for?

[DarwinTheSun]

1) People with their own source of funding, for general care and vet bills.
2) People that have time to spend at home for at least part of the day.
3) People that have patience, because guaranteed they will misbehave.
4) People that look for a bird to match their lifestyle best, rather than picking a bird for its pretty colors or talking ability.
5) People that have support from all members of the household, because even one unhappy person (parent, spouse, kid) can make for troubled waters.

[Phenomenon]

Originally Posted by DarwinTheSun

1) People with their own source of funding, for general care and vet bills.
2) People that have time to spend at home for at least part of the day.
3) People that have patience, because guaranteed they will misbehave.
4) People that look for a bird to match their lifestyle best, rather than picking a bird for its pretty colors or talking ability.
5) People that have support from all members of the household, because even one unhappy person (parent, spouse, kid) can make for troubled waters.

Don't forget:

6) People that realize that they will turn the house upside down, are a lot of work, and are messy as all get out! But they don't mind, because they appreciate the beauty and intelligence of these animals.

7) People in stable environments (not expecting any major life upheavals for 50 years) ie, marriage, children, moving.

[Dana64]

All of the above answers plus...

8) Someone who understands the true meaning of COMMITMENT... someone who understands that parrots are among the longest-lived creatures on our planet.

We have become a fast-food/disposable society and the pets we have are paying the price. Too many people get a pet and 6 months or a couple of years later, move or get married or have a baby and all of a sudden "we have to get RID of our pet"... (I feel a rant coming on) I have yet to see a Craigslist ad for someone wanting to re-home their child because of "allergies, moving or, god-forbid, ANOTHER baby"...

The smaller parrots aren't as demanding of time/money/attention as the "big boys". Budgies and cockatiels live anywhere from 10-20 years, so have a much shorter life-span than the larger parrots... so therefore, when a younger person wants a bird, they are good choice, because by the time a young person has finished school, found a career or job, settled into adulthood (mid to late 20s?) the parrot that they started with as a young teen will be heading toward the end of it's life cycle and the adult should, by then, know whether they want to commit to another bird and if so, what kind of bird that will be. Also, by then, they would/should have the financial ability to honor any commitment made to the larger parrot.

Hope this helps answer your question....

[NotEnoughTime]

Originally Posted by missysue29

I have heard people recommend parakeets and cockatiels for teenagers, who would you recommend medium and large parrots for?

I don't recommend any bird for teenagers... My budgrigar (or, for some reason in the USA, "parakeet") lived for 12 years. My cockatiel lived with me for 10 years (so he was probably much older). So even a small bird is a long-term commitment.

Any pet requires a commitment on the part of the person who adopts the animal. Without this commitment then I would not even bother going any further in asking "what type of bird/dog/cat." Commitment involves not only the money needed, but the *time* needed to properly care for another living being.

Parrots can be a big time commitment.

The bigger the bird the more money and time need to be committed. Lots of money, lots of time for the larger parrots.

Edit: Dana64 - "great minds..."

[Astrid660]

1) Teenagers are not all incapable, many have parrots and take excellent care of them. I started having them at 15, but I wouldn't recommend a bird to many of the adults that I know either. It takes a special *person* regardless of age to take care of a parrot. Just trying to stop people from generalizing here, as there are teens here on the board and I recently was one and see this particular statement a lot. Why don't people ever say someone is too old to have birds, or why did they get one at 45 if they won't live long enough to care for it, etc. All stereotypes and generalizations can and should be avoided because not everyone fits in that slot of how a teenager acts.

2) I think if you're going to live, you're going to have upheavals like marriage, children, moving, travel.. I think rather than avoiding those things, it's about accommodating the birds. I've moved several times with them and had different relationships.. but they adjust. If their life is the same for 20 years straight and nothing changes, the bird would probably get stressed.

3) You have to be able to let go of some things, have a lot of patience. My birds test my patience to the max some days with their antics. I have had many things destroyed in the past from headphone cords, camera lens to beautiful pairs of earrings, laptop keys, display case for my earrings... All wrecked by the birds!
Not to mention the ones my parents aren't too happy about, like the windowsils and carpets being chewed on.

4) Renting! It's hard to find a place to rent when your birds are loud.. I'm sure one or two is not nearly as bad as the nine that I have, but even one Macaw can be hard on the ears. So someone who has their own place or knows their landlord would be ok with it ! I find myself back at home in the basement suite once more, hoping to find a suitable rental soon...

[Phenomenon]

Originally Posted by Astrid660

1) Teenagers are not all incapable, many have parrots and take excellent care of them. I started having them at 15, but I wouldn't recommend a bird to many of the adults that I know either. It takes a special *person* regardless of age to take care of a parrot. Just trying to stop people from generalizing here, as there are teens here on the board and I recently was one and see this particular statement a lot. Why don't people ever say someone is too old to have birds, or why did they get one at 45 if they won't live long enough to care for it, etc. All stereotypes and generalizations can and should be avoided because not everyone fits in that slot of how a teenager acts.

2) I think if you're going to live, you're going to have upheavals like marriage, children, moving, travel.. I think rather than avoiding those things, it's about accommodating the birds. I've moved several times with them and had different relationships.. but they adjust. If their life is the same for 20 years straight and nothing changes, the bird would probably get stressed.

3) You have to be able to let go of some things, have a lot of patience. My birds test my patience to the max some days with their antics. I have had many things destroyed in the past from headphone cords, camera lens to beautiful pairs of earrings, laptop keys, display case for my earrings... All wrecked by the birds!
Not to mention the ones my parents aren't too happy about, like the windowsils and carpets being chewed on.

4) Renting! It's hard to find a place to rent when your birds are loud.. I'm sure one or two is not nearly as bad as the nine that I have, but even one Macaw can be hard on the ears. So someone who has their own place or knows their landlord would be ok with it ! I find myself back at home in the basement suite once more, hoping to find a suitable rental soon...

Very good points! I stand corrected.

*when one gets parrots in their older age..usually (should) discuss with adult children what to do if...

I find it easier to use a rescue like Parrots Landing (PL) for the louder birds because they will take the birds back if something happens to me and my children can't cope with the noise.

[missysue29]

Originally Posted by Astrid660

1) Teenagers are not all incapable, many have parrots and take excellent care of them. I started having them at 15, but I wouldn't recommend a bird to many of the adults that I know either. It takes a special *person* regardless of age to take care of a parrot. Just trying to stop people from generalizing here, as there are teens here on the board and I recently was one and see this particular statement a lot. Why don't people ever say someone is too old to have birds, or why did they get one at 45 if they won't live long enough to care for it, etc. All stereotypes and generalizations can and should be avoided because not everyone fits in that slot of how a teenager acts.

2) I think if you're going to live, you're going to have upheavals like marriage, children, moving, travel.. I think rather than avoiding those things, it's about accommodating the birds. I've moved several times with them and had different relationships.. but they adjust. If their life is the same for 20 years straight and nothing changes, the bird would probably get stressed.

3) You have to be able to let go of some things, have a lot of patience. My birds test my patience to the max some days with their antics. I have had many things destroyed in the past from headphone cords, camera lens to beautiful pairs of earrings, laptop keys, display case for my earrings... All wrecked by the birds!
Not to mention the ones my parents aren't too happy about, like the windowsils and carpets being chewed on.

4) Renting! It's hard to find a place to rent when your birds are loud.. I'm sure one or two is not nearly as bad as the nine that I have, but even one Macaw can be hard on the ears. So someone who has their own place or knows their landlord would be ok with it ! I find myself back at home in the basement suite once more, hoping to find a suitable rental soon...

I really like your advice and very much agree. I am thinking about concidering POSSIBLY, MAYBE purchasing another conure/larger parrot, and thats why I asked this question. The way I look at readiness to own a bird is like a commitment to a spouse. Like you are marrying your bird. Through sickness and in health, you accomodate them.

Everybody, keep the answers coming. I love reading these and want to consider everything. Thanks!

[NotEnoughTime]

Originally Posted by Astrid660

I started having them at 15, but I wouldn't recommend a bird to many of the adults that I know either.

Perhaps I was a little blunt in my last post... :-) But I really don't *recommend* birds for a teenager... Not because there are not responsible teens - but because life changes occur so quickly at that age and it is so difficult to predict the future.

That being said, if a teen is going to get a bird, then my view is that they should get the bird they want... Not a "beginner bird" since I don't believe there is such a thing... All birds require time, effort, money and commitment and you will be partners for a very long time. So you might as well get a bird that you can live with for the rest of its (or your) natural life.

[Phenomenon]

Good perspective..but consider the people that are now marrying a "human" spouse and have to give up the bird.

I really like your advice and very much agree. I am thinking about concidering POSSIBLY, MAYBE purchasing another conure/larger parrot, and thats why I asked this question. The way I look at readiness to own a bird is like a commitment to a spouse. Like you are marrying your bird. Through sickness and in health, you accomodate them.