Am interested in having a bird as a pet. I need answers to some questions I have.?

Question

I have been considering purchasing a cockatoo, cockatiel, parrot, or macaw. I know very little about them. Please give me your recommendations as for which bird would be best for a beginner. I also need to know price ranges, availabilty in Georgia, and good and bad points. I'm also interested in adopting an abused or abandoned bird. Does anyone know if there is a shelter for these birds anywhere in the middle Georgia area? I would truly prefer giving a good, loving home to one of these birds. Even though I don't know much about them I am willing to work hard learning and taking care of my pet. It is not so much a matter of money as it is that I would prefer to put most of my money into making sure my bird has everything he/she will need and a few luxuries as well, not to mention good vet care. I will very much appreciate any suggestions anyone may have. BTW, when I was much younger I had a parakeet I kept for many years. His name was BJ and he was truly a joy.

Answer 1

Hi, I can tell you that parrots can be the best companions in the world. But, they can also be the very worst. First, as a beginner I would not suggest adopting a bird that needs rehoming. Displaced Parrots unlike your average pet such as a dog or cat need specialty care that a beginner just is not equipt to give. Most parrot rescue will not rehome their birds to beginners. Now, on to your question...

All of the birds that you mentioned are Parrots :)

Cockatoos----little cuddles bugs often referred to as 'velcro birds'. Not reccommended for a person that works out of the home. They need constant attention through out the day. They are proned to fleather plucking and self mutilation if not given proper attention and/or diet. Not a good beginner bird at all because it requires an experienced person to be able to mold the behavior of this parrot and make sure that they do not develop behavior problems such as being too clingy or screaming. Go to http://www.mytoos.com to get a good description of the cockatoo. If you MUST get a cockatoo and again...i wouldn't recommend it...then go for a citron or lesser sulpher crested as they are able to entertain themselves for longer amounts of time. Depending on the species they run $800-$2000


Macaw---what kind of macaw? ----all macaws are little clowns. some more than others are capable of being very cuddly. Such as the greenwing macaw which is 2nd largest of all macaws. Is referred to as the gentle giant. But, do not be decieved...they can dominate any situation if not properly reared. Macaws are not good first birds. They are prone to behavior problems and need a skilled hand to properly raise them. Depending on the species they run $500 for a mini macaw-$15,000 for a hyacinth macaw

Cockatiel---is the bird for you :) They are famous their sweet disposition and loving attitudes. They are fairly easy to take care of, love their human companions, and are able to bond to more than one family member. My cockatiels especially peachy is my very favorite parrot. She is completely tame and super sweet. She sits on my shoulder and goes everywhere with me. Even grocery shopping. She perches on my plate and shares my meals with me. She wolf whistles, blows kisses, plays dead, gives kisses, and is just the sweetest most loving bird ever. They need at least 2 hours a day to become tame and loving like this. My cockatiels have full run of my house most of them time. They run from $25-$200 depending on the color mutation you are looking for. Make sure to get a hand fed tame baby.

A few other suggested birds that would fit into your life:

Sun conure $300
Jenday conure $200
Quaker!!! so cute with a BIG parrot attitude. They talk very well too.
Solomon Island Eclectus...bigger parrot yet not so demanding. Go for a male. $800
African gray timneh not to be confused with the congo..$800
Indian Ringneck
and don't forget a lovebird :)

Here is a list of breeders in your area:
http://www.birdsnways.com/birds/brad2.htm
and here is a parrot rescue in your area...again i wouldn't suggest it for you. start with a baby and learn the ropes first. Parrots can be difficult to take care of.
http://search.petfinder.com/shelterSearch/shelterSearch.cgi?animal=&breed=&age=&size=&specialNeeds=&declawedPets=&children=&status=X&id=&internal=&contact=&name=&shelterid=GA84&sort=&preview=1

Hope that helps.


MORE ADDED: I just read your profile. After doing so now more than ever I think that a cockatiel would fit perfectly into your life. They are very easy to take care of. Just feed, water, and clean their cage out daily and give them lots of cuddle time. That's it. Spend lots of time with it and it will be your friend for life. You would not be able to handle a macaw or a cockatoo. Please don't let anyone such as a pet store owner (looking to get your money and get rid of the bird) try to convince you other wise. They require much more attention than you would be able to give them. A cockatoo can destroy a wooden chair and just a few minutes. I have a greenwing macaw and literally have to chase him around the house to keep him out of stuff that he will destroy or hurt himself with. I really feel that it would not be a good experience for you at all and I hope you take this into consideration. A cockatiel will also be great around your grandkids!!! A macaw and cockatoo....might not be. You would have to keep a constant watch on them they are very mischevious and not to mention strong! Remember, a cockatoo can crack through brazillion nuts in a matter of seconds, imagine what it can do to fingers. Not pretty when bitten. A macaw can crush your hand and worse yet take it off. And eventually you will be bitten. All parrot owners are. Go with a sweet little cockatiel to fill your day with lots of fun and cuddles. :)

Answer 2

Birds are great! For a first time parrot bigger then a parakeet but not as large or loud as a full sized Macaw or Cockatoo would be a great start.

Here are a few suggestions with links below:

Conures: Jenday, Nanday, and Maroon Bellied

Pionus Parrots: Blue Headed or Bronze Winged

Senegal Parrots

Mini Macaws: Noble and Hahn's

As a first time owner I would urge you against adopting an abused bird. Parrots are much more complicated then other animals due to their higher intelligence. I would say to start with a hand fed baby then when you get your next bird, and you will, that would be a good time to get a bird that may have issues to work through. You'll have more experience in general by then to fall back on.

Parrots need socialization each day. To be played with and petted. They should never be kept locked in a cage all day long.

They also need water to keep their feathers in top condition. You can mist them with a spray bottle, give them a bowl of water to splash about in, which makes a mess, or easier is to get a perch you can attach in your shower with suction cups and pop them in the shower for a nice neat little birdie bath.

They also need to eat fresh fruits and veggies, and forumlated food that is kind of like bird kibble. It is much healthier and nutritious then seeds. Seeds can make a nice treat but should not be the staple of their diet.

Parrots can be loud. Certain kinds are louder then others. The pionus tend to be on the quiet side, more so then others. If you live in an apartment a parrot might not be the right pet for you as they will screech and vocalize to the point of disturbing neighbors. A house is a better place to keep a parrot. Be sure to spend a lot of time around the kind you decide you want so that you can hear exactly how loud they are. Important to know before you bring one home.

You should never use any non-stick or teflon coated items in your home. When heated, and especially over heated the emit a toxic fume that will kill your bird instantly. So no frying pans, waffle irons, clothes irons, counter top grills, etc. If you must use teflon you need to make sure your bird in a different room with a shut door, and that you air out the entire house before bringing them back out.

Buy the largest cage you can afford. My little pionus parrot lived in a standard Macaw sized cage. He used ever inch of it climbing around the sides criss crossing the cage on his manzanita perches and hanging upside down from the underside of the top. One with a built in play pen on the top is even better.

They are wonderfully rewarding and beautiful creatures. Good luck on your search and read as much as you can. I used to have a Blue Headed Pionus parrot. He was a wild-caught bird I found sick in a pet shop before the importation ban was passed years ago. He was on the verge of death. I bought him for $450 then spent $1500 in three days at the vets before bringing him home. It took a year to tame him, he was always skittish but sweet and loved to be petted.

My ex-husband had a noble macaw. He was fun and silly. Talked a lot! A great starter size for the first time owner.

Answer 3

If you don't know anything about the larger birds I wouldnt recommend getting one until you have really educated your self about them. Macaws and Cockatoos can be very loud and very destructive, they can destroy woods, books,electrical cords, and other household items.

I would first start out with getting a Cockatiel the are in expensive and are a great starter Bird. Join bird clubs and meet with local breeders get to know more about the types of Birds that you are interested in so you can see first hand what they are like.

When it comes to the larger Parrots its a whole different Ballgame.

We have raised everythng from Finches to Cockatoos and Macaws. The smaller bird didnt require anywhere near the amount of attention that the larger birds do. In our home we have 4 African Grays and a Cockatoo that are no different the have 5 two year olds running around, I think I chase after them more then I did when my kids were little.

Sapphyre
Certified Avian Specialist
http://www.borrowed-rainbow.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BorrowedRainbowAviary/


If you need any other help please contact me.

Answer 4

First you need to read books on selecting the right bird for you and your circumstances?

Do you live in an apartment then you wouldn't want a macaw or some of the other louder birds.

You can go to your library, read Bird Talk Magazine, books, visit a bookstore, etc.

I highly recommend joining or visiting a local bird club - they often have rescued birds, are knowledgable about birds - seeing and hearing about different types of birds or information on care will help you make the right choice.

Here are 2 clubs in Georgia:


Georgia Cage Bird Society
3611 Whitfield Way, Powder Springs, GA 300073 [phone]

Tri-State Avian Society (Covering AL, FL & GA)
Susan Howell, Secy, PO Box 7544, Tallahassee, FL 31314-7544

Answer 5

I only know much about parakeets, which i raise. they are extremely friendly, as you probably know. if you go with adopting a bird, be prepared to be bitten. most birds end up in a shelter because they are unwanted,mostly because they are mean.but, here are some good points about parakeets:
they sing beautifully and are not quite as loud as bigger birds. they price within $15 ~ $20 (I live in PA, so it may be different there)you can get them at almost any pet store.(you can also buy hand-raised ones from a breeder) they are very playful, and a joy to watch, even when you aren't holding them. they are small, so they don't take up a lot of room, if room is a problem. Bad: they are birds, and because of that, they are messy eaters. if their cage isn't covered, they can be pretty noisy as soon as the sun comes up. They are animals and require lots of care and cleaning. they are social, and if you can't spend more than 2 hours with him, he needs a mate. you can get one of the same gender, even male/male, as all are social. hope this helps!

Answer 6

Please come join my email lists. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cockatoo-list and http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sun-conures
One is the famed Cockatoo List and the other is Sun Conures.

We don't just deal with looking for Cockatoos and Conures, but all parrot species and there are many experts there who can give you solid advice about how to go about choosing the right bird for your family.

By the time you do, you'll have been properly educated about what it intails.

I'd love to have you join either of these lists. :) Just introduce yourself with the same type of question you asked here and tell them the owner invited you.

Parakeets are wonderful pets. They are not as long-lived as larger species of parrot, but they are a wonderful starter-bird.

I truly hope this helps you out, and I think that in the long run joining a forum where everyone can help you who lives, eats and sleeps "birds" is the ultimate guarantee that you can get the advice you're seeking here.

Good luck!

Answer 7

I have a jenday conure, it's a small parrot and the price can run from $400 to $600. It's my first bird and they are very loving if hand raised
They can be loud but not as loud as a macaw.
They can also be taught to talk, do tricks, and are very loyal. Mine is just a sweetheart, loves to cuddle and play. I would say it was a good choice for a first bird. Also look into quaker parrots.

Answer 8

If you're interested in adopting abandoned or abused birds, the best way to begin is to talk to people who do rescues, learn as much as you can about handling rescue birds, their behavior, problems, health,. etc.

Often owners get rid of birds and animals for behavior problems that the owners themselves caused, and the more you can learn about behavior and how to correct problems in behavior, the better equipped you are to take on a bird who possibly needs help dealing with its past experiences.

As far as a species for a beginner, the cockatiel is ideal in many ways. It doesn't require as large of a cage as many other parrot species, it is relatively inexpensive compared to most other parrot species, and for this and many other reasons, is a good species to start with. raised. Male cockatiels often learn to say a few words, hens rarely talk or make much noise although there are of course, individual exceptions.

Whatever species you decide on, if you decide to purchase a bird that isn't a rescue, make sure to get a hand raised baby because a bird that has been hand raised has become imprinted on humans and is a much more social friendly pleasant bird than those that are parent. Make sure you can meet the bird's requirements. For example macaws require a very large cage, ideally they need a cage big enough to stretch their wings out completely and where they can perch comfortably with plenty of space above and below, including space for their very long tail length! They also require a cage that is heavy duty enough with thick enough bars that they can't snap the bars with their beaks.

Cockatoos, macaws, and some other species can become very annoying if they develop the screaming habit. Feather picking is another common problem some pet birds develop, African Gray parrots are one species very prone to develop feather picking. African Grays are also the best talkers, they can talk to well that they actually may mimic the owner's personal voice very accurately!

There's so much to learn that its impossible to put it all into a small reply here. Checking bird forums, googling for the bird subject you want more information on, etc, are great ways to start seeking information and advice. A good source of books for reasonable prices, is ebay. Good reference books on health and behavior, bird care, etc, will always be useful for you to have.

Learning as much as you can about basic and common elements of bird care, behavior, andhealth will also prove to be very useful to you. Getting to know bird breeders is also a great way to learn many things. Most of the time a breeder is very willing to educate newcomers to the hobby if the newcomer genuinely is interested in learning. A breeder can also tell you where to find a good avian veterinarian, etc. Good breeders are often the best sources to get recommendations of equipment to use, foods, veterinarians, and other resources because of their experiences and the experiences of other breeders they know.

Rescue people also often are very willing to help educate a newcomer if that newcomer seriously wants to learn, and the more you learn about bird behavior and the common things a rescue person has to deal with, the more prepared you will be to succeed in taking on a rescue bird. Good luck!

Here are links to a few sanctuaries who serve your area.
http://www.freewebs.com/exoticsanctuary/

http://www.parrotsr4ever.com/

http://rescueparrots.tripod.com/

This link has all sorts of pet rescue sites on it, including a parrot rescue located in Georgia.
http://www.petstation.com/central.html

Answer 9

i have a pet bird and its a cockatoo and its really easy to take care of
and i forget were i bought a bird in georgia but i remeber there price was nice and affordable in that place were i bought my bird so im sorry if i cant give enough information about the question i just answer cause i never get a point so im just trying my best to get a point so goodluck in finding a bird