i am getting a new bird and i need all the info i can get for it.please help!?

Question

im getting a a parakeet

Answer 1

I'm going to have to condense my normal answer because I'm short on time, but...

1. Cage. You can expect to spend about $100 to $300 on a good cage. Do NOT fall for "starter kits". They not only give you an extremely tiny cage that I would never subject an animal to living in for more than a few hours (as a travel cage), but they also give you a terrible start to a diet that could lead your bird into obesity, malnutrition, and potentially fatal fatty tumors, mite protectors that do more harm to the bird than protection of any kind, sand perches which can scrape and irritate the skin on the bird's feet, and if it comes with a cage lining, it's probably a bad one. Corn cob bedding absorbs moisture but holds and releases bacteria in the air, and if ever ingested, the bird will probably die. Wood shavings are also bad because most produce some amount of dust that can be damaging to such sensitive respiratory systems, and is even bad for humans in general. Now that that's done with, you'll want a cage made of either stainless steel or powder coated bars so there's little to no chance of the bird ever doing so much wear and tear on the bars that it would reveal toxic metals that could be licked or touched, and in such situation your bird would be poisoned. The cage should be at least twice the size of the bird itself with both its wings fully spread with a bar spacing of no larger than 1/2 an inch.

2. Food. A good diet for parakeets/budgies is 80% high quality pellets (I recommend Harrison's, Roudybush, Zupreem, or Totally Organic Pellets as they are the most well rounded and researched pellets out there), 10% fresh fruits, vegetables, pastas, and grains (NO avocado, chocolate, alcohol, mushrooms, onions, tomato leaves, apple seeds, fruit pits or seeds), and 10% seeds. A 100% seed diet will, as I stated before, lead to malnutrition, obesity, and fatty tumors. Budgies are especially prone to said tumors.

3. Toys. Budgies tend to like colourful toys that can give them a response. Granted, all birds are their own individual personalities, but in general, I've noticed that colourful beads, mirrors, and bells are most interesting to them. Of course, you'll have to experiment with all types of toys to see what your individual bird prefers. Some will like shredder toys, wood toys, plastic toys, bells, mirrors, ropes, preeners, etc.

4. Perches. Birds need a variety of perches or they will suffer foot pain and arthritis. Perches that come with cages normally are dowel perches, which are fine as long as there are other kinds offered. Natural wood perches are great because they come in different textures, widths, sizes, and styles (for example, some are thick, single branches and some have multiple thinner branches stringing off) because they exercise the foot muscles effectively. Perches I would recommend are manzanita, dragonwood, cholla, grapevine, and general "natural wood" ones. Rope perches are fantastic, too, because they are very comfortable and great for tired birdy feet. Watch these closely, though, because some birds will like to pick at the rope threads. Cut these off as needed to avoid the bird's feet or toes getting caught. When you can see the dull undercolours of the perch, you'll know it's time to throw it out.

5. Vet. When you first bring the bird home, you should take it to a certified avian vet ( http://www.aav.org/vet-lookup/ ) for a well-bird checkup to ensure that you did get a healthy, happy bird. An avian vet checkup will cost between $50 to $75 US and I would NOT suggest taking it to a pet store to get checked, as some might suggest. This is because, while they may be experienced in birds or animals in general, they are not vets and will not have the in-depth knowledge that vets do. After the initial visit, your bird should see a vet once every year thereafter, and of course, for any medical emergencies, it should also see a vet.

6. Acclimation and mental stimulation. Birds are so tiny, fragile, and vulnerable that they are easily spooked. Being moved from place to place is stressful on them, so you'll want to leave your bird inside of its cage for a good week or so without disturbance so it can adjust to its new settings. During this time, sit by the cage often and talk to it so it can get used to seeing you and trusting you near it. For mental stimulation, I already mentioned the toys and perches, but what needs to happen in addition to those purchases is you need to rotate them around. Do not allow one toy or perch to remain in that cage for more than a week. It's great to keep the bird busy with all these new, neat toys and keeps it from screeching from boredom, biting from boredom, or plucking/self mutilating from boredom.

7. Taming. Since it's a new bird, it'll obviously be scared of you. As I said, sit by the cage for the first few days. Afterward, take the cage to a bird safe room where there are no places to hide, get stuck in or behind, and there is nothing to ingest or "play" with that could be harmful. You can open the cage door and allow the bird to come out of its own accord. If it doesn't do anything, you can try holding a treat at the door over your hand/arm and see if it's willing to "step up". If it does, reinforce this with a verbal command and praise. If it fears your hands, try putting your hand into the cage a few times a day, not too close to the bird, but inside the cage. If it cowers back, stop. Slowly withdraw. If it lunges, do not pull back. That teaches the bird that lunging at you will make you go away and it'll never get tame. If you get bitten, you get bitten; that's a part of being a bird owner because it will happen. When the bird seems to grow comfortable with having your hand inside its cage and close to it, try laying a treat on it. If it takes the treat, awesome! If it doesn't, give it time and work with it with consistency. You can then hold your hand outside of the cage and hold the treat over your hand so the bird has to step up to get the treat.

Taming is a long process that requires a lot of trust between you and the bird which cannot be forced. Some people find it very difficult, some people don't. Some birds are very easily trusting, some are very wary. Whatever you do, do not give up on this bird who only wants love from you. Be consistent and patient.

Answer 2

a parakeet is a good choice for a first bird. i would suggest getting a book about parakeets it will explain things you have to know. please make sure you get a cage large enough for the parakeet to spread its wings. of course, you need a lots of toys that he can chew up or shred. parakeets love bells and mirrors. please remember parakeets are very messy bird so you need to be dedicated to keeping his cage clean.

Answer 3

What kind? Have a big enough cage, avoid direct air from vents or doors. Cover the cage at night and be patient with it. The pet store will advise you on food.

Answer 4

what kind of bird are you thinking of buying?

Answer 5

first off what kind of bird.

Answer 6

What type?