A good kind of bird for me

**Aspen and Misty** · 07-04-2006, 10:45 PM

I will definitly, someday, have a bird. Not any time soon though but I just love them and I really want some more information.

I'm having problems trying to figure out what kind of bird I want. I love larger birds and have decided I do not want a small bird (cockatiel etc.). I love the look of the Sun Conure, they are so bright and beautiful. I know that they are known as screechers and I don't think this would bother me, however I would prefer a bird that did not scream 24/7. I'm worried the African Gray would be too intellegiant. I mean do I need to teach it a new thing every couple of days? I already figure that no matter what kind of bird I get I'm going to be buying a HUGE cage, so size of the bird doesn't matter.

I fell in love with a Cockatoo one time (you know the white birds with the ylloew cheeks and yellow tail feathers) I would love to get one of them! However I was told they are "crazy". If you give them 2 hours of attention one day they will expect that every day and go crazy if you don't give it to them. However when I get a bird it will be at a time in my life when my bird will only be in the cage while I'm gone, but when I'm at home the bird will always be out.

Anyways! If you can just give me suggestions on birds. I'm more then happy to do my own research. I just find that owners of certain animals can tell you so much about more about them then any book.

Ashley

**Chilli** · 07-04-2006, 10:56 PM

A good friend of mine has an Amazon, and its a pretty nice bird. It can get annoying to some people (not me, though). It also absolutely loves being out of its cage. Somewhere I heard the males are more talkative? Unsure if this is true.
One of my fathers friends owns a 4 year old macaw... I've been around it quite a bit, and everytime its just sat on its perch quietly unless my fathers friend calls it over to perch on his arm or to let it give him kisses. It does take it a while to warm up to people, and will bite if it doesn't know the person.
I know every bird differs, so the two larger parrots I've met might not act like others that other people have been around (as you already know^^).
I've never owned any bird other than a budgie and lovebird, so I can't give you any other advise other than that.
Good luck in your search! I hope to own a larger bird someday... not anytime soon, though.

**Logan** · 07-05-2006, 12:48 PM

I would start with a smaller bird. I now know that I could not devote the time and attention to one of the larger ones, although I would love to have an African Grey.

Don't forget aobut perhaps a Cockatiel or two.........(hint, hint)

. We do have 7 eggs!

Logan

**IRescue452** · 07-05-2006, 02:35 PM

How about a gold crowned rosella. The ones I've met are pretty quiet and not crazy active. They are beautiful though and get quite attached to owners. They are about the size of a typical amazon.
http://animal-world.com/encyclo/bird...le_eastern.php

**Aspen and Misty** · 07-05-2006, 04:08 PM

Originally Posted by Logan

Don't forget aobut perhaps a Cockatiel or two.........(hint, hint)

. We do have 7 eggs!

I would take one of your babies in a heart beat!

I have been considering a Cockatiel, expessially if I were to get a bird any time soon. If you don't mind, can you tell me more about them, there personlities and how much time they need. I do think if I were to get a bird right now, I would go with a Cockatiel because I know for a fact that I do not have the time for a larger, more intellegent bird.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'll do more research on them all.

Ash

**Logan** · 07-05-2006, 07:31 PM

OK, Ash, as of this afternoon, we now have 8 eggs, layed over the last two weeks..........I'm starting to get scared!

I am no expert, although we have had Roger since Helen's 11th Birthday (January 29, 2002) and Milly was adopted shortly after that.

Roger was a young baby when we got him from a pet store. He "bonded" with Helen, immediately in the pet store, walking right up her arm and sitting on her shoulder while she walked around the store. I had to go back and get him for her. Milly came later, actually when I had gone to buy a stand for Roger's cage, and saw her up for adoption at the pet store. It took a couple of days, but I couldn't stand it and went back and got her (her owner had gone into a nursing home and her son didn't want the bird).

Anyway, they love attention and Roger is quite talkative. He probably learned more when it was just him. He has some phrases that he says and some specific tunes that he whistles. He mostly flirts with Milly. We have two cages, but they stay together most of the time now.

Many people recommend feeding them pellets, which are more healthy. Mine hate pellets, but I've tried to add some to their diet anyway. They do cockatiel seed and also fresh lettuce, kale, boiled eggs (with some shell broken into it) and sometimes fresh fruit.

Birds are messy, though, so you need to be able to be diligent about dusting, allowing them to bathe (helps reduce the dust a lot), and changing out the paper in the cage often. They poop, like all birds, but there are great products to clean that (the one I use is called "Poop Off"). Mine love to be outside of their cages, so usually, I keep their wings clipped. I have my avian vet do this as I don't have the nerve to do it myself, but most people can do it themselves. In my experience, it needs to be done about every six months. Mine LOVE to fly, but the more freedom they get, the more mess they make! They are great chewers and can make a mess of wires and paper if not monitored properly.

They love company. Mine love music, too. I hate that I have them isolated in one room, but with our cats and dogs, I have to do that. But we are in there a lot and I also take them outside in their cage on nice days when I can watch them and they get showered and enjoy "talking" with their wild bird cousins.

Does this help? I don't mind driving to Atlanta! LOL!!!!! You buy the cage, I'll give you a baby or two. You might contact Amber (CamCamPup) by PM, too, as she has Bennie, from our last clutch (two years ago) and she can give you some insight. I will not be able to handfeed the babies, but Roger and Milly did a terrific job last time, and I'm sure they will this time, too. I'm just hoping that we don't get 8 babies!

Logan

PS. I'm going to crosspost this on my other thread for Kari's benefit.

**Giselle** · 07-05-2006, 07:44 PM

Wow, you want to start big, huh? LOL. Honestly, I would recommend starting smaller. If you don't like Cockatiels, you might want to look into Green-Cheeked Conures. They're often recommended as a "next-step-up" bird:
http://www.petbirdpage.com/breed.asp?breed=grenchek

Similarly, you'll want to look into Maroon Bellied Conures:
http://www.petbirdpage.com/breed.asp?breed=maroonbl

Exotic birds can be fairly difficult to take care of, so it's often recommended you start small (lovebirds, keets, tiels, etc.). Eventually, with experience, you can move on to the larger parrots like Poicephalus parrots, Pionus parrots, Conures, and Caiques. If you're REALLY into birds, then, maybe, you can consider Macaws, Toos, and Amazons.

Having friends with macaws, some of the situations I see are truly atrocious. Macaws and Toos are like perpetual 2-year-olds. They are very difficult to cater to if you've never owned a bird before and I would recommend anybody looking into large parrots to have a basic knowledge of bird behavior. If you have basic knowledge of bird behavior, you can easily curb excessive screaming, which seems to be one of your main concerns. The thing with Suns and Jendays is that while they won't scream all the time if given proper attention, their screams are ear-splitting.

Please please buy Mattie Sue Athan's book, Guide to a Well-Behaved Parrot. It'll help you immensely!

**Argranade** · 07-05-2006, 08:05 PM

This is not your regular pet bird but so many ppl have them all over the world they can live a long life and best they can even be taught to speak very easy because in the wild they love to copy other birds songs.

I got one for my friend but sadly someone opened the window and it flew out because I forgot to clip his wings but he was a great bird and his name was Chico and know what on the first day I got her this bird it actualy sad Choo choo like a train you can also get them in pure white if your lucky.

These birds are starlings and I plan on getting one soon becase they make great pets and actualy came to Canada as pets but some where realesed by mistake.Now there are soo many which some ppl call them a pest