I want a bird?

Question

I saw a bird in the pet shop. It looks like a parrat but the lady called it a Rain Bowlerkeet or something like that. It was blue and red. Can I keep this as a pet? Will it talk? Do I need a cage? What do I feed it? I have a goldfish.

Answer 1

Rainbow Lorikeets! They are extremely colourful (one of the most colourful of all parrot species) can become excellent talkers and are full of personality. They are known as the clowns of the parrot world. They can tolerate a wide range of temperatures with no drama. They breed readily. Although many people would recommend against Lorikeets because they have a different diet, they are easy to care for, and in someways easier than seed eating parrots. Their poop is actually easier to clean than other parrots and their diet is a simple, just add water lorikeet food. All you need to do is add fruit and give fresh nectar daily, perhaps more frequently in hot weather and they are happy. Several of mine live inside with me, and I don't find the droppings to be any more bothersome than the perpetual seed scattering of my cockatoos and galahs.

Answer 2

NO NO NO! DO NOT FEED IT THE GOLDFISH. :)

There are many good books about parrots. I have never heard of a bowlerkeet which means either you misunderstood or there's a bird I never heard of.

Parrots are hardbills, they eat seeds and nuts. The pet shop owner can guide you. They also will eat some vegetables, and grit helps their gullet grind seed (not so much in parrots). A calcium source is helpful. There are bird vitamins that go in the water; some owners swear you need them but I never have.

Since I don't know what kind of bird it is, I don't know how well it will talk. Parrots do talk; it's a matter of degree. It takes some work to get them to start talking but after the first few words they usually learn quickly.

A cage will be necessary unless you want to learn to clip wings and do it every couple of weeks. The cage must be roomy and tall -- mostly they like to climb as much as fly.

Two important things: parrots bite and they can bite very very hard. A macaw can bite through a finger bone. Remember, they break nuts with that beak. Also, they need attention. Even if you just hang with the bird (after she's tame) that's OK. If you leave the bird alone it will pluck feathers and do other destructive behaviour just because she's BORED

Do some research. Most parrots are great pets; some are borderline psychotic (see Timnehs, for example).

And if you're really tired of that goldfish, get an eagle. :)

Answer 3

The pet shop will be able to advise you on what you need to set it up. Being that you only have a goldfish (for those that couldn't figure it out and thought you would feed it to the bird)... be sure you get books and do researching on the internet before you buy the bird. There are things like chocolate, avocado, salt,. et al. that birds absolutely cannot have. Another thing is the teflon from non-stick cookware - this is TOXIC and can kill a bird. You should be sure your bird is NOT in the kitchen area and in a room where you can close the door when you cook because the "fumes" (which we can't smell) will travel through the house and harm the bird.

Answer 4

Birds are absolutely nothing like fish.
1. It was a rainbow lorikeet.
2. Yes, you can. But it's very difficult. Especially with this species, you can't even feed it seed at all. Lorikeets require a high natural- sugar diet of nectar in powder and liquid form and fruits. They will not eat seeds, so if you even try to skimp on a food bill for this bird, it'll suffer and die. Also, they can shoot sticky poops up to 20 feet in any direction, including up, so keep this in mind. Cleaning sticky poop = not fun. They, as all other birds, need a variety of perches, toys, and out-of-cage time, at least 3 hours a day for sufficient exercise and socialization.
3. They have the ability to learn to talk, but that does not mean they will. You have to be consistent. And this doesn't mean its normal calls will be abolished. A lorikeet can be extremely loud. They squawk, they burble, they scream whether you like it or not, and while it can be "trained" out of them, it will happen.
4. Yes, all birds need cages for their own safety when you can't supervise their activities or you run the risk of coming home to a dead bird and sticky poop all over your home.
5. I addressed the high-sugar nectar diets required for them already.

Don't go on a whim and buy a bird. They're long-term commitments and bond strongly to their people. A lorikeet could probably live 20+ years and they're VERY expensive pets to keep. Now that you know the real name is a Rainbow Lorikeet, research them in great detail, whether you choose to go into an avian pet store and ask employees or Google because there's a wealth of information you need to know before even thinking about considering the possibility of maybe getting a bird. It's a HUGE decision.

Answer 5

if you really wanna a pet bird that does speak and talk back to you then i will just pick those birds that does do those kinds things that no other birds cant do much . but here is some few birds that you might want to check out or even think about to get one for raising as a pet . if you want to buy a small birds like Canary that are yellow talkin bird but they wouldnt able talk maybe making noises like beepbeep . there is these smalll little singing birds call the parakeets they can sing and whrister but they cant talk alot like other bigger birds like those ones that costs more then other pets birds that does sell in the pet store like Parrots that sometimes got different beautiful colors wings . if you really want a talkin and singing and doesnt make so messing then you should think about getting the Parrot bird instead . cause my couins has three of them as pets and keeped indoor with a larger bird cage with a wooden sticks that can have the bird sit on when its in the cage . and also they do love chew and play toys when they do get bored or alonely . you can find alot of cool and fun toys that use for birds to put in the cage . like a mirror, swings, they do like to play some thing like that makes noises like my couisn he got his parrot a toy keys have the bird play with them . for the foods habits for feeding the bird . will you can be any birds food you want and there are some birds seeds treats that you can gave to birds to eat , ect.. alot of birds does like to eat flower seeds too its healthy for them. or you can also gave them slice of apples , grape, or crackers for useing as snacks . but you dont like messing cage you should place a clean newspaper inside the cage so that the bird can go to pee or poops . and will keep clean . you odnt need to buy a big bird cage if its just a small birds . well if you dont have any children or even got any other big animals that does live with you then be okay if you do let the bird out side the cage but you must close the windows and doors so that the birds cant fly away outside . but if you do only just got a pet fish thats is good cause not many birds wouldnt eat any gold fish for food maybe wild birds will . but its comes from pet stores then it wouldnt harm the fish at all might just look at it .

Answer 6

A Rainbow Lorikeet is a nectar eating hookbill. It is a very difficult bird to keep for a beginner. They need very specific food that is very high in natural sugars, which means the containers need cleaned SEVERAL times daily.

I reccomend if you want a bird, to start out with a bird like a cockatiel or a budgie (parakeet). They are both great beginner birds and can learn to talk.

Purchase bird books to learn about the birds and start looking at Bird Talk Magazine.

Here are some sites for you:

http://www.cockatiel.org

http://www.cockatielcottage.net

http://www.budgieplace.com/

http://www.janetszoo.com/careguide.html

http://www.birdchannel.com/bird-magazines/bird-talk/default.aspx

Answer 7

maybe you should just stick with the goldfish

Answer 8

Don't do it. Birds wont shut up plus you have to teach it how to talk if you want it to plus its expensive

Answer 9

Yes, you can, yes, if you train it, yes, you need a cage, and you feed it birdfood,
NOT GOLDFISH!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 10

hahahaahah what was the whole " i have a goldfish thing?? lol hha but u can just ask the petshop lady!! duh