What advice would you give to a person wanting to purchase a new bird?

[94lt1]

I want to know what our Members would say to anyone thinking of buying a new bird.. Anything from a budgie (cause that's still a great bird, we love ours) new inexperienced owners, and even people with a little experience that still need to be educated..

An Amazon, a macaw, a conure... Any kind of bird... What would you tell them?

What should they buy right away?

What, to you, is the most important thing they should have or be prepared for or look for, before buying a bird of any sort??

This is your chance to spread your wisdom.. Or your hard learned experience... Even if it's just situational... (I wished I had had, or had known this before we lost...) anything like this... Share it here... I want to know..

Nothing is trivial.. If you think it, put it down..

Thanx for the help :)

[kendrafitz]

Hey Brandon - are you thinking for a person who never had a bird before?

[94lt1]

Yep... Or even semi experienced users...

[Pinkbirdy]

Brandon , be more specific. Do they have a house or apartment , school and full time job,kids or babies other animals . These play a big part in answering.

[jessicas94lt1]

You Should NEVER EVER EVER buy a bird right away. Or any animal for that matter. You must do a lot of research before even considering a pet of any kind. Especially a bird.
1)Anyone who is looking to have a bird for a pet must understand that they are like children they need constant interaction. So they must decide if they have enough time for the bird. If they do not have time a bird is not for them. (yes even a parakeet /budgie).
2) Do you have the space necessary to own a bird. If so how much room do you have. That will determine the size of bird you can consider.
3) other pets. Do you have other pets? If yes then YOU SHOULD NEVER EVER HAVE A BIRD IN YOUR HOME. SALIVA FROM DOGS AND CATS ARE DEADLY TO BIRDS. IT IS UNSAFE AND Irresponsible To have other pets in your home that at ANY Time can come in contact with your bird.
4) can you tolerate Noise and messes.
5) expense, are you going to be able to afford the proper food, toys, vet bills.
These are just some of the things you must consider before you purchase a bird. (yes even a Parakeet).



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[94lt1]

This is for anyone who is contemplating buying a bird... Throw answers in for all the above...

[jessicas94lt1]

PLEASE ALWAYS DO YOUR RESEARCH ON EVERY SPECIES OF BIRD YOU ARE CONSIDERING. FROM DIET, TO HUMAN INTERACRION. NOISE LEVEL OF THE SPECIES. WEATHER YOU HAVE AN ACTUAL AVIAN VET CLOSE TO YOU. A BIRD IS A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY THAT SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED.


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[94lt1]

First, make sure you can handle the noise and mess (Not bad if you keep up with it every day) of having a bird.. Do you have time to have a bird, please don't buy a bird just to lock it in a cage all of its life, because you think it will talk or is pretty..

Are you able to truly care for a bird.. Do you have close neighbors who will complain when the bird makes noise..

Don't kid yourself.. If you're slightly unsure about any of this.. DON'T GET A BIRD....

#1 locate an avian vet.. Not a vet that also takes birds.. If there isn't an actual avian vet.. Then ask around to SEVERAL bird owners and see who they use.. And always call and ask that vet if they're taking new exotics.. At the very LEAST find out who the pet shop uses..

#2 create a safe environment for the bird.. Get rid of ALL non stick cookware.. We use cast-iron... If you have a self Cleaning oven.. Don't use it.. It can be just as bad as nonstick cookware.. (this isn't a joke.. When burned this gets into the air and causes a horrible death for birds.) we're talking flapping, screaming panicked death.. Please don't use these pans with a bird in your home..

Blinds in front of Windows and keeping over head fans off while the bird is out of its cage.. Stuff like that..

#3 before the bird ever comes home.. It's a good idea to have a bird first-aid kit... Ask your vet what you absolutely should have on hand to try to help your bird should an accident occur.

#4 these birds are both curious and standoffish.. New toys are like bombs.. To some.. others.. They appear to be skiddish but will be daredevils when you turn your back.. You must be ever vigilant to prevent accidents.. It's alot of responsibility...

[kendrafitz]

If a person has never had a bird before and is enamored with Rosie I tend to discourage them. Bringing a bird into your home is huge and can't be decided in a whim. There are tons of birds in shelters for that reason.

However, if it is someone who has thought about it and done research that is a different story.

My biggest bit of advice is: just know your life will change greatly. You will now be sharing your life with a wonderful creature that will stay a toddler forever. Your life is no longer just about you. Much like bringing a first baby home, nothing can prepare you for the changes. But it's a great ride!!!!

[Minamommy]

I agree with Kendra. People that see Mina love her ooooo I want one how do you get one. I usually say well you may want to put the breaks on bird ownership is a labor of love with the emphasis on labor. They need a lot of everything. Attention toys fresh fruit and veggies nice food. Not crappy seed. They need a lot of room for a huge cage that needs cleaned once of not twice daily sweep sweep sweep sweep did I say that enough. Be prepared to be bit and screamed at and pooped on. Maybe they will like you even love you but MOST OF ALL!!! now I'm crying as I write this. THEY ARE TRUSTING YOU TO CARE FOR THEM AND DO ALL THESE THINGS BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN TAKEN OUT OF THE WILD AND STUCK IN YOUR CAGE.


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[94lt1]

Agreed... Now... How about a person that is a worthy owner... A person who has been around birds and has made the conscious and informed decision to get a a feathered friend... What should they equip themselves with...

[Mare]

Armor! Oh, yeah..an umbrella works well, too :)

They can, and most do, take on a mate and not of their own species. They will choose some person in the household that they wish to bond with and it may NOT be you! A large cage is NEVER large enough. One more thing that is close to my heart, please consider adoption before buying from a breeder. There are so many birds that are bought and then given up on because the buyer had NO clue as to what they were getting into to..these are birds that need a loving home.

[Lady]

Oh I think it would be great if they could go to a rescue and volunteer for a few weeks.

[Macaw Lover]

.... I take you (birdie name) to be my loved and cherished baby,

for better or worse (even when you bite me)

richer or poorer (you own your own piece of real estate now what with the cost of that stainless steel condo you are now sitting in and I just went broke once again buying it)

until death do us part (that is right, you are stuck with me forever)



More people need to understand being owned by any animal is something to take seriously and not because you get bored with it that it is ok to sell it.