How to Pick The Right Pet Bird For You
By admin in Pet Birds | 34 comments
Having a pet companion at home can certainly be rewarding. Having pet birds can be both a rewarding and challenging experience. Birds are intelligent and fascinating to look at. But it is important to choose the right bird for you and at the same time prepare yourself for the responsibilities. Birds when properly cared for can live for a long time.
Before getting yourself a feathered friend, there are some things you need to answer first
• Can you still care for a bird? Birds are social creatures, they also need time. So make sure that you or your family still have the time to care for a bird.
• Is your home and your neighbors okay with some bird noise? Birds can be extremely noisy in several occasions. And can disrupt some neighbors. But you can pick a smaller bird which can still make some noise inside the house but not disrupt the neighborhood.
• Do you have other pets? Some pets interact with each other easily posing no problems at all. But also there are some pets who may harm the new pet due to jealousy. Your pet bird can easily be killed by a jealous cat or dog. These are some factors you would have to consider.
Giving some thought over these questions and still able to identify that you would still like to have a pet bird, then let’s go over to the selection process. When choosing the right bird, make sure to do some research about the birds. There are some birds which are overly demanding in terms of social and physical needs, these birds are better kept in the wild.
Some good bird choices would be canaries, finches, cockatiels, parakeets, and lovebirds. These breeds of birds have long been bred in captivity and have already resulted into some domestic breeds. The good thing about these birds is that the supplies they need can readily be purchased.
On the other hand there are some birds which are better left alone in the wild, like some breeds of parrots, macaws, cockatoos, and toucans. These birds have not undergone the breeding process that the domesticated birds have experienced. These birds tend to be demanding to live with.
When choosing your pet bird, consider the following factors:
• Size – the rule is that the bigger the bird the bigger the responsibilities. If you are just starting to be a bird owner, then it would be best to start with a smaller up until to medium size. The size of your bird will determine how big will the housing and other physical requirements.
• Nutrition- a bird fed accordingly can live up to fifty years! It is important to provide the proper diet to your birds. Bird not only feed on seeds, they also require fruits and vegetables and lots of water. Bird seed are not enough for your bird.
• Housing - let us apply the rule again, the larger the bird, the larger the cage it requires. A proper cage should have the bars spaced closely enough, close enough so that bird heads would not get caught between bars and for small birds to escape the cage. The cage should be spacious enough so that the bird can move freely and have enough exercise.
• Budget and finance – birds, as well as any other pet, can pose some financial obligations. For birds, the cage, accessories, maintenance, food and veterinary care can be costly. When looking for a bird, then you should make yourself familiar with the cost of raising one. You want to have a pet that you can afford.
• Time and maintenance- unlike to what other people think, birds are not really low-maintenance pets. There are some pet birds which would require daily exercise and constant social interaction. Time and maintenance would include feeding, cleaning the dishes and the cage. Some parrots show some behaviour problems if they do not receive regular attention from pet owners.
Buying a parakeet involves visiting a local pet store or bird breeder, deciding whether the desired bird should be primarily attractive or primarily friendly and choosing an active bird who looks healthy. Choose a parakeet, and keep the wings clipped for its own safety, with information from a pet hobbyist in this free video on pet care. Expert: Cordell Jacques Bio: Cordell Jacques has worked in the pet industry for more than 10 years, currently working at Huron Pet Supply in Ann Arbor, Mich. Filmmaker: Travis Waack
Video Rating: 4 / 5
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Question by Honey!: Pet Birds?
I need a website that shows all the different types of birds one can have as pets and how to take care of them. I want to purchase 2 pet birds that can be in the same cage together without killing each other (has happened to me before) and i want to knowledge myself about them before i go get them.
thank you!
Best answer:
Answer by playerettte34
cockotoo’s and budgies work together very well and there easy to keep
Add your own answer in the comments!
The Complete Pet Bird Owner’s Handbook
- ISBN13: 9781895270259
- Condition: New
- Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
The title of this edition reflects the fact that this book is the most thorough and cuurrent work in print for all bird owners. It covers all aspects of pet bird ownership, including selection, nutrition, behavior, home physicals, emergency medical care, preventive medicine and much more. Keep it by the cage for quick reference. User friendly with an index of signs for medical treatment and applicable for all species of pet birds.
List Price: $ 34.95
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bario46cityhights | Jan 4, 2010 | Reply
he says the same thing for the cockatiel wtf and y are cockatiels called cockatiels
magicalboy9 | Jan 4, 2010 | Reply
that parakeet is trained to go out of its cage and stay close to him
magicalboy9 | Jan 4, 2010 | Reply
sooooooooooooo cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OMGiLikePie123 | Jan 4, 2010 | Reply
@castleoblivion13
no looks like hes just looking around
MRsarullo | Jan 4, 2010 | Reply
How to Buy a Parakeet:
1. go in a pet shop
2. pick a bird
3. pay for it
4. and ge the fuck out of the shop!
its that simple……
MRsarullo | Jan 4, 2010 | Reply
How to Buy a Parakeet:
1. go in a pet shop
2. pick a bird
3. pay for it
4. and ge the fuck out of the shop!
its that simple……
aksehirli42ful | Jan 4, 2010 | Reply
typ aksehirli42ful zie je mijn vogels
marfazz | Jan 4, 2010 | Reply
1:00 hhahaahhahahaa
marfazz | Jan 4, 2010 | Reply
00:55 hhahaahhahahaa
AungTH1 | Jan 4, 2010 | Reply
I really want to get a bird as pet but my father will get mad if the bird is too loud.
MrHomer11 | Jan 4, 2010 | Reply
@mprutherford
hahaha…
ChuckyAndTheRest | Jan 4, 2010 | Reply
LOL that bird is shivering!
ambarawio | Jan 4, 2010 | Reply
cute
castleoblivion13 | Jan 4, 2010 | Reply
i think that budgie is scared cuz it looks like its having trouble breathing o.0?
B4Malfoy | Jan 4, 2010 | Reply
@Koolkid736 It’s my opinion. Budgies don’t have wings for nothing. By clipping the wings, you force the bird to stay with you, even when it’s not in the mood for playing.
When I post MY opinion, it doesn’t mean I’m “retarded” when you don’t agree with me.
Koolkid736 | Jan 4, 2010 | Reply
@Fenhawk11 exactly! i totaly agree!
Koolkid736 | Jan 4, 2010 | Reply
@B4Malfoy wow ur retarded. how is it ANYTHING like that? that would mean the dog couldnt go anywhere but when budgies wings are clipped they just cant fly. but they can still walk, run ect. it isnt mean or anything. it is SOOO ignorent when people say that.
panosadamop | Jan 4, 2010 | Reply
@B4Malfoy
NaMcOKevY | Jan 4, 2010 | Reply
That bird is scared you can tell by it doing the thing with its beak
comandermalander456 | Jan 4, 2010 | Reply
@toughguitar1 You have to find out if it’s sick or not.
Fenhawk11 | Jan 4, 2010 | Reply
@B4Malfoy more like putting your pet dog on a lead or to confine it to your back garden
B4Malfoy | Jan 4, 2010 | Reply
@Studmuffindk A budgie is a parakeet, but not all parakeets are budgies.
B4Malfoy | Jan 4, 2010 | Reply
In my opinion, clipping the wings of your budgie is the same as tying the legs of your dog together.
MzHellinahandbasket | Jan 4, 2010 | Reply
Wing-clipping is rather pointless. A parakeet is meant to fly, and call me naive, but I believe parakeets know not to fly into things. And if one does then it learns – providing it hasn’t flown off to parakeet heaven, of course. Better that it flies around and learns than sits on a perch stagnating.
TheDidlo1 | Jan 4, 2010 | Reply
My friends dad owned a bird with it’s wings clipped (ya’ll know what I mean). He also had three dogs. He fed these dags from a loft above the play pen, he tossed them bread, hotdogs, doughnuts etc and they’d catch it mid air and whoof it down. One day the bird accidentally fell off the edge of the loft…….need I say more. Chuckle out load. I had to try real hard not to luagh whe he told me that story.
~~ *Kara* ~~ | Jan 4, 2010 | Reply
http://www.parrot-and-conure-world.com/
http://www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww24eiii.htm
http://www.cockatielcottage.net/
Hope I’ve Helped!! good luck
Goody 2 Shoes | Jan 5, 2010 | Reply
Parakeets and cockatiels are indeed fine together. Lovebirds, however, should really only be kept as single pets to bond with their person or as a lovebird pair, but then they won’t usually be very tame and will bond to each other. There are also many different species of conures that can be kept together and still remain good pets.
Here are are number of RELIABLE websites. Also, if you go to some of these, they will direct you to other reliable sites. Glad to see someone who wants to spend some time educating themselves BEFORE their purchase.
http://www.parrotpages.com/associations.shtml
http://www.parrotparrot.com
http://www.birdsnways.com/birds/assoc.htm
http://netpets.org/birds/birdclub/natclub.html
http://www.bird-net.com/bird-clubs.html
Michelle H | Jan 5, 2010 | Reply
birdchannel.com (the online site for birdtalk magazine)
msminnamouse | Jan 5, 2010 | Reply
The answer is MANY different websites. Also try to meet birds in person.
Many baby bird will have a complete 180 flip of personality after they mature.
Erika A | Jan 5, 2010 | Reply
here is a web sight that will help you choose the birds you want to get , it’s called http://www.petvets.com/petcare/birds.html
Mallory | Jan 5, 2010 | Reply
parakeets and finches. But don’t put the two together.
Dianne Foster "Di" | Jan 5, 2010 | Reply
Good medical advice…..,
Gary Gallerstein is a doctor of veterinary medicine. Although his book presents plenty of material on bird health care and preventative maintenance, his main focus seems to be on diagnosing and dealing with the various ailments that afflict pet birds. His book contains all sorts of graphic illustrations of sick, deformed, dying, and dead birds he probably photographed in his clinic. His photos might prove useful for determining whether or not you need to take your bird to a vet (is the ailment life threatening) or if you can treat it at home. He also suggests first aid for birds before you take them to the vet. The jacket proclaims the book as the definitive work in print on the subject of bird health care, and I have no reason to doubt this is true since it seems very technical.
While Gallerstein has written a useful book (especially his suggestions for keeping your bird healthy via good feeding practices, grooming, and cleanliness), he comes at the topic of living with a pet bird from a medical standpoint. This book is excellent for helping the lay person (and perhaps the professional??) diagnose an ailment. However, if you’re interested in bird behavior, bird psychology, and training your bird, you will have to check elsewhere. THE COMPLETE BIRD OWNER’S HANDBOOK can be a useful addition to your bird book library. However, if you can only afford one book, you may want to buy a DUMMIES book, for example, COCKATIELS FOR DUMMIES which covers all aspects of living with a bird and provides a good deal of useful anecdotal information.
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|Shawn Moses | Jan 5, 2010 | Reply
Not exactly complete, but a good beginner’s guide,
This guide provides general advice concening nutrition, medicine, and equipment for pet birds, but it doesn’t cover any topic in great detail. If you are interested in reading about the pros and cons of different species, keep shopping. This book covers species characteristics in an all-too-brief appendix. Also, this book is mostly aimed at the hookbills – parrots, cockatoos, budgies, etc. If you are interested in finches, mynahs, canaries and the like, you might find this book to be inadequate. However,I found this book to be very useful when I first got my parrot, and I still peruse it from time to time, especially the sections on diagnosing illness and medical care.
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|Natasha L. Laitysnyder | Jan 5, 2010 | Reply
We require this book,
We give this book to all our adoptive candidates, and we test them on their knowledge before they take home a bird from The Gabriel Foundation. We order cases of this book! It is the most comprehensive bird book out there. There are more in depth books on behavior, species, medicine, etc, but if you are only getting one book **which you shouldn’t do- there are many great parrot books and the more you know*** this is a fine choice. The list of safe woods is invaluable.
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