What makes you ready to own a parrot?

[Dana64]

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

Maybe I am unique... but my feeling is that when you commit to a pet, of any kind, you commit for the duration of that pet's lifetime. Example: My 18 year old Flame Point Himalyan died in his sleep last October of old age. He had been with me since 6 weeks of age. He was 6 years old when I met my husband. My husband has asthma and was/is very allergic to cats. Steve wanted me in his life and I wasn't coming without my Oscar... so Steve learned to adapt. And Steve came to love Oscar as much, if not more, than I did.

My point is, a person shouldn't give up a pet because of "life events" like marriage, moving, new babies, etc... the pets WILL adapt... why can't humans? WE were the ones that wanted them... WE picked them NOT the other way around...

Sorry.... off my soapbox now...

[missysue29]

Maybe I am unique... but my feeling is that when you commit to a pet, of any kind, you commit for the duration of that pet's lifetime. Example: My 18 year old Flame Point Himalyan died in his sleep last October of old age. He had been with me since 6 weeks of age. He was 6 years old when I met my husband. My husband has asthma and was/is very allergic to cats. Steve wanted me in his life and I wasn't coming without my Oscar... so Steve learned to adapt. And Steve came to love Oscar as much, if not more, than I did.

My point is, a person shouldn't give up a pet because of "life events" like marriage, moving, new babies, etc... the pets WILL adapt... why can't humans? WE were the ones that wanted them... WE picked them NOT the other way around...

Sorry.... off my soapbox now...

You said it perfectly.

[hollyhawkz]

Maybe I am unique... but my feeling is that when you commit to a pet, of any kind, you commit for the duration of that pet's lifetime. Example: My 18 year old Flame Point Himalyan died in his sleep last October of old age. He had been with me since 6 weeks of age. He was 6 years old when I met my husband. My husband has asthma and was/is very allergic to cats. Steve wanted me in his life and I wasn't coming without my Oscar... so Steve learned to adapt. And Steve came to love Oscar as much, if not more, than I did.

My point is, a person shouldn't give up a pet because of "life events" like marriage, moving, new babies, etc... the pets WILL adapt... why can't humans? WE were the ones that wanted them... WE picked them NOT the other way around...

Sorry.... off my soapbox now...

I like it up there on your soap box, got room for a few more of us? LOL

I am often torn between my ideas, sometimes I think if a teenager is going to get a bird no matter what, why not a cuddly, challenging little sot like a conure. Provided they have approval from their family. It would sure keep them busy and perhaps out of trouble LOL.

[hollyhawkz]

sorry double posted!?!?!

[LoveMyBeak]

May I add that you need a good pair of ear plugs as well......LMB

[RockysMom]

One thing I have really learned about birds from owning my first one is you can't expect that they will love or trust you instantly. The relationship between you and your bird is always work, but once you can gain the love and trust of your bird and maintain it, the relationship is so rewarding and they will be a lifelong friend!! Just do lots and lots and lots of research before picking your bird!!!!

[jdlilfan]

If I didn't have my mom & dad, we wouldn't have our birds. I know all of us on here won't hand over our birds to just anyone when we have to go someplace. My parents keep the birds when we go out of town and one of us can't be home with them.

Plus, living in a smaller town, we don't have "bird hotels" or bird boarding services...you have to drive quite a ways to find one. It helps when you have family or friends who have a relationship with your fids and know what they're doing as far as bird care. I don't have to worry about my mom and dad cooking with Teflon or handing them a piece of avocado or doing something else stupid. We never have any worries with Mom & Dad!

[Ashling]

I've successfully owned parrots since I was 9- caring for them by myself- and I'm still a teenager lol... so I just wanted to pipe that in :) Age CAN be a factor, but anyone is capable of caring for a parrot if they have the compassion, patience and knowledge.

[usamma]

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..."

I think budgies or smaller birds are okay for a particularly sensitive, caring teen. I had budgies and a cockatiel as a teen and loved them. Unfortunately many times the parents don't want to take care of the birds when/if the kids go to college. That's why I just got my newest arrivals today, they were surrendered for that reason. Another bird at the rescue place had been with his owner for 9 years, they grew up together. The person has now moved out of state for grad school, living on campus, parents don't want to care for the bird.

I guess the bottom line is that the parents have to be willing to care for the birds for life even if the kids move away.

[Jag]

Um, things DO come up that is out of a parronts control and they may have to give up the bird. In those circumstances, there's just no way you can fault someone. Things happen that you can't control.

People who get birds who have NO idea how to care for them, time for them, or who get them because they 'saw them' on TV or something and ran off to buy one only to turn around and dump it when it's inconvienent or messy... after (of course) they screw it up for someone else to have to try to fix... now THAT'S my soapbox. However... I have found in the medical field that people are generally lazy about getting information. This just astounds me when we have things now like the INTERNET when you can get info. on just about anything.