Baby Bird vs Older Bird

[pmoonbeam64]

Which is better a baby just weaned or an older bird that has already lived in at least one home? I have heard pros and cons on both. Having adoted a bird from another home already who came with issues hes frightened to death for you to hold him but will step up when the issue is pressed( shakes profoundly) I only make him step up when hes in danger or something but he will come down off cage and sit in your lap to be petted go figure, he was mistreated when he was held by human hands so hes scared. We have had him for 10 months and have come a long way,but my husband ,me and the kids want a bird we can take places and hold & interact with more. I have to lure him into smaller cage to take him anywhere which is a real pain and he screams the whole time not fun but someday things will get better. We still love him and just give as much as he will allow hes very smart goes inside his cage on command stops bad things( chewing my window seat) when his name is called out hes not really a screamer only when we are playing with him, he'll let anyboby pet him. Now back to the ? at hand would it be better to get a baby and teach him/her all our bad habits instead of one that has already leant someone elses

[Monica]

For you I think you may be looking for a younger bird that will bond to all the humans in the family rather than an older bird who may only bond to just one. I have a cherry head conure though not abused was neglected and even once attacked by a ferret, she is mainly a one person bird though if I tell her it's alright she'll occasionally get onto someone else but then remains very nervous. She doesn't like much handling but she is so much further than when I first received her!

I have recently received (within the past few months) an adult male cockatiel that was just neglected. He has been showing some signs of improvement though I haven't really worked with him as he was most likely parent raised. As far as his new LOVE, she is completely different. I received her when she was 5 months as a gift, handraised baby and she loves just about anyone who will give her a headscratch, though with strangers its usually now on her terms but she is a love bunny!!!

So for you I do suggest getting a young bird so that it can interact with the whole family and not pick favorites as long as everyone gives the bird even amounts of play times or one on ones!

[pmoonbeam64]

Thats what I was thinking too. Sydney likes everyone in house but we are limited to what we can do with him he too has made major progress since coming to our house. He was raised as a breeder for 6 years of his life don't know about first 2 years a woman owned him first so at some time I believe he was loved and now its just going to take a lot of time to get him to forget 6 awful years of what that man did to him.But we want a bird that everyone can enjoy cause this will probably be our last.

[Vankarhi]

I have very quickly read the answers this thread and would agree. I have only ever owned baby birds either parent raised or hand raised. Hand raised are definetly easier to handle right off, but with time and patience the parent raised ones make excellent pets as well. The only way I would take an adult bird was if I could handle it for a while before I could bring it home, to see how it interacts with me. I am basically the "bird person" in my family, one younger daughter handles the birds on occassions, so I would need to see its personality and would like to know its history etc if possible.
But if all that was ok, I would have no hesitation in "adopting" or buying an adult bird if I felt it would fit into my family. I too like to take my birds with us. Bo (galah) has gone camping with us on many occasions and Skye (eclectus) goes everywhere with us.

Just remembered, I have bought adult birds, but for breeding purposes or just as a companion bird in the outside aviary, not as family pets. I also have a lovely male cockatiel who I saved from attack by crows and magpies about 18 months ago and I bought him a lady friend, but I don't think he is interested in her. He was an adult when I saved him and I have no idea is age.