Top 3 Birds That Make Great Pets for Kids

[LiOnex]

Children are often fascinated with birds, and those that are usually don't waste much time requesting to have one as a pet. For those parents wondering what type of bird would make the best pet for their child, I give you the Top 3 Bird Species that are with kids. Hopefully this information will help you make the best decision about which species will work best with your little one






1. Finches

Finches and Canaries are number one on the list because they require minimal interaction and are easy to care for. These birds make pets for very young children because they are beautiful, fascinating to watch, and provide soothing "music" with their soft chirps and chatter. Finches don't usually care much for interacting with humans, so if you decide on a finch, get two or more so that they will have some company. Finches should not be taken out of their cage and handled, so if your child craves a bird that they can really interact with, you may want to consider numbers two and three as a better option



2. Budgies (Parakeets)


Budgies or Parakeets are a close second on the list of great birds for kids. These colorful little birds can be a lot of fun for young aviculturists because they tolerate being handled quite well, are small and relatively easy to care for, and yes, can learn to talk! They have gentle personalities and can bond quite strongly with their owners, making them wonderful companions for young bird lovers. Choose a Budgie if your child wants a bird that can truly be his or her best friend -- most handfed Budgies are very sweet natured and will gladly oblige



3. Coockatiels

Cockatiels are the largest of the Top 3 Best Birds for Kids, and do best with older children who have the time to devote to interacting with their pet. Cockatiels can learn to talk, whistle, and do cute tricks, making them a delight for kids to work with. They relish their time out of the cage, and require a bit more work to keep than Finches or Budgies do, so choose a Cockatiel for those who really have a desire to keep birds and learn about them. Doing so will ensure that both your child and their bird has a happy experience

Edited by Jenseits to give attribution. The original source for this article is: http://birds.about.com/od/breedsofbi...rdsforkids.htm

[MissV]

Thanks for sharing!

I wouldn't put finches on the list at all though. They may be low maintenance, but getting an animal that should never be touched and let out is a terrible idea. I can't count how many times as kids we'd dunk our hands in the fish bowl to interact with the fish.

Kids NEED interaction. Budgies go number one for me for kids. Number two would be Cockatiels....maybe Quakers as number three? They're pretty gentle and sweet, I find.

[hollyhawkz]

I have a problems with the statement being so generalized as it could lead to a great deal of debate. Let's not let that happen.

Unless the family is a "bird people" family and the parents are good bird owners, no bird is right for a child.

Bird people will know what type is right and at what age their child is ready. They will be there to supervise and guide.

[FloorCandy]

Originally Posted by MissV

Thanks for sharing!

I wouldn't put finches on the list at all though. They may be low maintenance, but getting an animal that should never be touched and let out is a terrible idea. I can't count how many times as kids we'd dunk our hands in the fish bowl to interact with the fish.

Kids NEED interaction. Budgies go number one for me for kids. Number two would be Cockatiels....maybe Quakers as number three? They're pretty gentle and sweet, I find.

I would agree, as a young child, my best friend had a budgie and a quaker. We spent hours with those birds, talking to them, making play gyms for them, having climbing contests etc. The two of us and her little sister loved those 2 little guys. We were so sad that no matter how much we talked to the budgie, and repeated words, he never spoke, then a year or so later a friend of her parents gave them a quaker that was "mean and couldn't be handled". Well within a month that bird was lying on its back and wrestling, talking, playing etc, as kids we didn't care if we got bit, we persisted, and the quaker soon learned to tolerate the interaction, and then crave it, screaming while the kids were at school, begging to come out the second they got home. Plus after not very long the budgie learned some of his words lol. Budgies and quakers are great for kids! However, when I was a child, I feel like children were more responsible as a whole. Nowadays you do get responsible kids, but they are the exception, not the norm. When we were young, my friends mom explained to us what would happen if we were too rough with the birds, she bought us books to learn about how to care for them, and what kind of activities they enjoyed, and we never hurt the birds, we never let them get loose outside. I could not have a bird because my aunt nearly died of psiticosis (sp?) and my mom was scared, so I lived through them lol. We all took turns feeding and cleaning, giving water etc. Many years later, when we were teens, they had a BBQ, and someone's young child killed the quaker, the parents weren't watching, and the kid must have taken him out, and we found him dead, we were devastated. The budgie died soon after, we think he was pining for his buddy, they didnt live in the same cage, but they spent a lot of time on top of their cages playing together, talking to each other etc.

[jenseits]

Hi Lionex - I appreciate your wanting to share information you've found elsewhere, but simply copying an entire article from About.com (Top 3 Pet Birds for Kids) is a violation of copyright law. At the very least, to show you have good intent, you would want to properly attribute and give credit to the source.

In the future, if you want to point people to a resource you like, just describe it and link to it; do not copy the entire thing, and certainly don't pass it off as your own.

[MissV]

Okay, I had no idea that came from about...lol! I should tell about about the finches too ;P

We spent hours with those birds, talking to them, making play gyms for them, having climbing contests etc.

Oh, another great point here...Active small animals, particularly birds, offer kids a GREAT opprtunity to stay creative and experience education through play. Building toys and stands, reading about diet and behavior, learning about different materials and how they affect birds and work in general.

And of course, there is the teaching of responsibilty for another creatures existence. I had pets all growing up and each one was a lesson in care, kindness, love, and compassion.



But I also agree that any kid getting a bird should have "bird people" for parents, or the parents should spend a great deal of time educating themselves on what's proper. My first bird was a peach-faced lovebird when I was just about 8 or 9. The breeder didn't do very right by us and let us know all we need to (come tothink of it, when I think about what her facilities were like, I think that maybe she didn't know that much either....it waaas in the early 90's). I loved that girl, but I didn't quite do right by her, because I had no idea the amount of care, time, and attention they needed was more equivalent to what I was giving my spaniel. Looking back, I feel the whole thing was an unfortunate incident that could have been avoided had my parents and/or the breeder better educated themselves.


But...if all this is taken care of, I'm all for fids for kids. XD


Oh....maybe I should start an educational program. Maybe once I get my teaching degree I really will! (think they'd let me take Etty into the classroom? Man, I always loved classes that actually allowed pets....we had rabbits, and rodents, and fish, and hermit crabs and iguanas...)

[FloorCandy]

Originally Posted by MissV

Okay, I had no idea that came from about...lol! I should tell about about the finches too ;P

We spent hours with those birds, talking to them, making play gyms for them, having climbing contests etc.

Oh, another great point here...Active small animals, particularly birds, offer kids a GREAT opprtunity to stay creative and experience education through play. Building toys and stands, reading about diet and behavior, learning about different materials and how they affect birds and work in general.

And of course, there is the teaching of responsibilty for another creatures existence. I had pets all growing up and each one was a lesson in care, kindness, love, and compassion.



But I also agree that any kid getting a bird should have "bird people" for parents, or the parents should spend a great deal of time educating themselves on what's proper. My first bird was a peach-faced lovebird when I was just about 8 or 9. The breeder didn't do very right by us and let us know all we need to (come tothink of it, when I think about what her facilities were like, I think that maybe she didn't know that much either....it waaas in the early 90's). I loved that girl, but I didn't quite do right by her, because I had no idea the amount of care, time, and attention they needed was more equivalent to what I was giving my spaniel. Looking back, I feel the whole thing was an unfortunate incident that could have been avoided had my parents and/or the breeder better educated themselves.


But...if all this is taken care of, I'm all for fids for kids. XD


Oh....maybe I should start an educational program. Maybe once I get my teaching degree I really will! (think they'd let me take Etty into the classroom? Man, I always loved classes that actually allowed pets....we had rabbits, and rodents, and fish, and hermit crabs and iguanas...)

I would be careful bringing a pet into a school this day and age. Parents are so lawsuit happy that if their child pokes your bird, or abuses it, and the bird bites, the parents can sue you, and AC will put your bird down as a menace. I wouldn't even have a hamster in schools now the way parents want to blame everyone but themselves and their child. Its a sad world we live in.

[MissV]

Good point, Candy. Maybe it would be possible at the beginning of the semester to inform the parents, get their opinions, and get some nice waivers signed? XD

I agree. this country is so daggom Sue-happy, it's sick sometimes. I loved how when Obama was talking about redefining malpractice to reduce overall cost, people FREAKED OUT OH NOES I CAN'T SUE MY DOCTOR FOR A MISTAKE.
I know, I know, I'm not one to defend doctors, but sometimes those malpractice suits are just so completely unfair.

Anyway, back to pets in classrooms:
Well, the big ones (rabbits, iguanas, rodents) were all in DOD (base) school classrooms...so I suppose there's less of a danger there for lawsuits too.

Heck, I was actually allowed to take my lovebird to class a handful of times. Even had her out during freetime so other kids could play with her.


...she chewed on the calluses on one of my friends hands. It was totes gross D:
And no pencil survived her wraaath.


Also, the bus driver dropped her cage, which broke, and I had to coax her out from under the bus.

....I just remembered that. How weird o.0
A travel cage (or knowing that they existed) would have likely helped...

[xafsmom]

Top 3 Birds That Make Great Pets for Kids


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Kids don't have parrots. Adults have parrots and allow kids to interact with them.

[jenseits]

Originally Posted by xafsmom

Top 3 Birds That Make Great Pets for Kids


1.

2.

3.


Kids don't have parrots. Adults have parrots and allow kids to interact with them.

HAHAH.. I think you forgot Squawkers McCaw, though He's a gorgeous B&G who shuts up whenver you take the batteries out.