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When you look into choosing the right bird, you should consider the cage and size, noise level, character, how much time and commitment you can give, and the price range. Many birds are given up for adoption each year due to owners not doing the proper research before buying and taking home a parrot. Think about the following before choosing your next family member.
Cage
First, think about the location and size of cage you can
afford and where it will fit in your house. Put your bird in
the largest cage you can afford. If you live in an
apartment, consider the smaller birds, such as a Budgies,
Lovebirds, Parrotlets, Cockatiels, Grey-cheeked Parrots,
Poicephalus, Mini macaw, or a small Conure, such as a
Maroon-bellied or a Green-cheeked. These birds do not need
huge cages, but they do need a lot of free time out of the
cage. A Canary or a pair of Finches is another good choice
for the apartment dweller. If you have a lot of space, you
may consider larger birds: Lories, Larger conures, Eclectus,
Amazons, Macaws, or Cockatoos. These birds need their own
cage and you should think about adding a play-gym as well.
These birds tend to run around the outside of the cage and
will appreciate space. If you own a home and have room to
build an aviary, even better - you can house your birds in
style! Give them space to exercise their mind and body.
Noise
Level
Smaller
birds in small numbers tend to be the least disturbing -
Canaries, Finches, Budgies, Meyer's, Senegals, African
greys, Eclectus, Pionus, Lovebirds, Rosellas, and Cockatiels
won't usually cause your neighbors to complain in an
apartment. Smaller macaws, like the Hahn's and the
Yellow-collar can be good choices as well - one bird usually
won't make too much of a racket in town houses or condos.
Cockatoos, Macaws, Amazons, Quaker parakeets, and some
Conures, however, may cause your next door neighborhood to
sign a petition for you to move! These birds can be noisy,
and people in their own house or out of town would be the
best owners for these birds. If you live in a home and are
not disturbed by screeching, then consider a larger bird
like a Cockatoo or Macaw. Indian ringnecks, Lories, Caiques,
and Pionus are in the moderate noise range and are not known
to be excessively loud, depending on the individual
Personality
Want
a sweet, cuddly baby? Then a Cockatoo is the bird for you -
cockatoos will literally act like they want to be surgically
attached to your body. They like to be one of the family.
Macaws can be very affectionate as well, and so can Conures.
Amazons, are moderately affectionate and will like some
petting and close contact, while African greys will tolerate
the occasional head scratch. The Eclectus is a good
in-between bird that likes the cuddle like the Cockatoo and
yet can be independent like the African Grey. Canaries and
Finches would rather not be touched at all. Realize that,
like with people, temperament varies. "It's hard to
generalize with temperament. Each bird is an individual. You
can't say that you're going to get a bird because you've
heard that a certain species behaves a certain way, I think
there has to be a rapport between you and the bird. The bird
should pick you rather than you choose him. I have had some
of the best friendship start right in front of me and they
are still going stronger to this date.
Talking
ability
One
of the first questions most people ask is, "Can they talk?"
First you should know most birds will only talk when they
want and not in front of strangers. Greys are best talker.
They repeat and communicate by mimicking your voice, whereas
the amazons will repeat and communicate in their voice.
Generally Macaws are more talkative than Cockatoos, then
Eclectus and then Senegals.
Time
Commitment
Caring
for a bird takes time. You have to clean their cage, play,
feed and water them. The smaller the bird, the less mess
they make. The larger birds seem to have a goal in seeing
how far from their cage they can fling food. Canaries and
finches are content to spend all of their time in their
homes, while parrots need a good deal of supervised playtime
out of the cage. Having two birds need less attention from
you than a single bird does but you may not get the best
pet. Parrots may bond to each other instead of you. So
having two birds can be done. If they live in two cages, in
the same room, they can keep each other company while you
are gone but not together in the same cage.
Price Range
Price should not be the first consideration when buying a bird. First consider the species and characteristic that you would love to have. The price might be good but the bird may not be the one for you. I don't sell birds to someone because they have the money. The bird must like them and they must know what they want and why. Larger and rare birds usually come with a higher price tag. A Budgie usually sells for the cheapest while a similar sized bird, the parrotlet, can sell for much more depending on color. Prices will vary with each bird even if they are the same species. Birds may have been handle and worked with more. Price difference should not be too much but paying a little more may mean you are getting a better pet in the long run.
The Most Frequently Rehomed Birds
In my Sanctuary I have found that the bird most commonly given up for adoption is the cockatoo, The first impressions of these birds is that they are so charming, but they are also so demanding for attention, noisy, and destructive that people end up giving them up. The other most commonly given up bird is the Amazon. They become aggressive as they get older, and will often attack their owners. Breeding is one of the most common reasons for giving the bird up. Birds may not bond with their owners and are still looking for their mate. The female may just laid eggs while males may get loud and territorial. Owning parrots can be a lifetime commitment, so do the proper research before buying these birds on impulse.
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© 2003 Look Who's Talking Aviaries |
Drayton Valley, Alberta Canada Phone: 780.542.4822 Email Todd |
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