What kind of bird is good for young children?

Question

I want to buy my 4 year old daughter a bird. My experience has not been good with birds- they always bite her or are nonstop squaking
dont get me wrong I expect noise from a bird- but not this much. So I'm trying to figure out what is a quiet nice breed? If that is the word?!?

Answer 1

I would find a breeder and get a baby bird that was handfed baby bird and always supervise your child when handling the baby bird. Getting an older bird for a child is not a good idea. Because they are set in their ways and more apt to bite if they get scared. Baby birds are still in a learning phase, and both your chid and bird will learn from each other about being gentle.


Sapphyre
Certified Avian Specialist
http://www.borrowed-rainbow.com
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Answer 2

Nine times out of 10 when a bird bites a person, its the persons fault. People usually have limited understanding of bird "Body language" or giving space to birds who are molting or going through a typical faze of nippyness during sexuall maturity.Also birds are quite intuitive and if they sense fear from a person they are more likely to bite. four years old is a little young for hand held birds, quick movments, and squeezing are two of the most common things little kids do with pets that can unintentionally cause trama to both. even if you intend to supervise ,a curious child can still get ahold of the bird. There are no quite birds, all birds greet morning and nite with song or chirping, and through out the day will chatter. From small finches to larger parrots there will always be "noise". . I would start out with a small fish tank, maybe a betta or if you get a larger tank 5 gallons or so you can do differant color fazes of zebra danios. This can range anywhere from 15 $ to 60$ depending on setup. You could also try something like hermit crabs, (although they can pinch) a starter kit will run 20$ or more and you will need to purchase several shells for the hermit crab to grow into.

Answer 3

There are many types but there are 3 great species in my opinion I'll start with what I think is the best

1. Small Toucan-such as a Green Aracari or emerald toucanet. There are many other small toucans as well. They're great because their beaks arent strong enough to break the skin if they bite, Their beak cant do much more except exhert pressure. Great websites on informationa nd to buy a baby one are www.emeraldforestbirds.com and www.summersbirds.com, also the loudest noice the green aracari makes is only a chipmunk like squeak

2. Moustache parakeet-Their small and have nice pretty colors that they come in, they love to be around people of all ages. they're noice is just a few moderatly loud squaks.

3. Lovebirds-Note they do not have to be bought in pairs. They are extremely friendly and are considered rainbow birds because of their colors.

All the birds mentioned make great pets for people with kids, but in my opinion a small toucan is the best. My Friends have them with their 5,6, and 8 year old and they are so playful and gentle. I also plan to get a green aracari in a few months.

When you get a bird make sure you spend at least 2 hours a day playing with it outside the cage. Never feed it chocolate or avacado that will Kill it.

If you want or need more direct info from me e-mail me at [e-mail]

Best Of Luck Joe

Answer 4

Birds are not good pets for children, especially younger ones. I suggest you get your child a less fragile animal that doesn't mind being held or pet. Most birds are also frightened quite easily, really, your child is not old enough to have this kind of pet. If you do get one, I would suggest a dove. They are some of the calmest pet birds. They don't scream, and because they don't have a hooked beak like most parrotlike birds, they cannot bite.

Answer 5

A pet bird isn't really an ideal pet for a small child. The birds are generally skittish and kids move too fast. I have two small kids and as a first pet I got them a rat. Yes! I did say rat. They make great pets and are very hearty. I wouldn't worry too much about the bird hurting your daughter as much as her accidentaly hurting the bird (which can be very traumatic to her if she feels guilty about it.) I would seriously rethink your choice of pets until she gets a few years older.

Answer 6

I wouldn't suggest any live animal that couldn't get away or defend itself from a 4 year old. No insult intended, they just aren't human yet. Yes, I have one, he still isn't human at 12!
Parakeets are good, but they still bite. Not touching them till she gets older is a GOOD idea.

A quiet bird is a misnomer. I have a Senegal parrot, & she can, but usually doesn't scream, & prefers whistling, & talking. She CAN & does bite! They frighten easily.
Maybe a nice finch or two that no one touches!

Answer 7

Why don't you wait awhile before getting a bird. They are not toys and require a lot of care. My yellow nape Amazon can be very dangerous if he doesn't know you . Any bird can peck or scratch and make noise, maybe since you have had bad experiences with birds,maybe you shouldn't get one.

Answer 8

This might sound weird, but... chickens. The are lovable if you get them when they are little, and they make eggs for you. It is also and excellent Item to have you kids ;earn responsibility by taking the eggs, making sure they have food and water and stuff like that. Make sure you get two or more though, and Get them young. People say that these are disgusting barn yard animals, but they aren't. If you keep them in your back yard, they are so clean! they start cleaning themselves around 6 pm. We have a white chicken, and You can never find a dirty spot on her.

Answer 9

My advice is don't get any kind of finch because they can't be played with or if you do, they might panic and die. They aren't recommended for young children. Being around the bird freaks them out.

Answer 10

Most birds are not good for children of this age. Most children are not old enough for this kind of pet utill age 10 or older. If you go to petco or petsmart (I don't know if you have these stores in your area) they have an age guide for their pets. good luck! Eva