need help with choosing good bird for a specific situation

[inthedark]

Hi all,

Newbie here.

I live in a 1 bedroom apartment and work odd hours (2PM to 11PM).

Would these living conditions be compatible with either a:

a) budgie
b) canary
c) finch
?

If so, which would be the best choice?

Thanks much!
Frank

[Lady]

Hi Frank,

:th_welcome2: to the forum.
New to birds or just to the forum? There is a lot to think about besides your hours and that you live in apartment altho those are good things to consider.

There are many more things involved, and like any new companion it is a forever decision. Birds have feelings and emotions and should become a cherished member of your family.

How long have you been researching any of the birds you listed? Which would you think would thrive in your care and the surroundings you provide? What kind of space do you have available for them? Have you ever gone to a rescue and met one? Asked about them or read all the details about them in the wild as well as a companion? How about their medical needs? Know of a good avian vet? What about the foods they need for a well balanced diet? What are you looking for in a bird? A talker, a whistler, one you can build a relationship with or just something to look at?

I don't want any answers to the questions, just food for thought. I love my bird of course but I sometimes think I should of done what you and others are doing. Get all the information I can to be sure I can be a great pet parent. Just like with any animal. :)
There is much information all over this forum that you can read to help you in your quest to make a good choice. I'm sure the other members will chime in and give you suggestions as well.

[PlaxMacaws]

Hello Frank. I think Alice (Lady) has emphasized some important considerations with her questions. And I would add a couple of others: Are you at all concerned about the sounds/noises associated with certain species and how they may impact your living environment and the people around you? And are you prepared to care for a pet bird for the extent of its natural life? There should be no trials when it comes to purchasing a pet bird. We should either know what we're getting into, or simply refrain. If not, a bird's future can enter an abyss of uncertainty. And that, all too often, turns tragic :(

[spiritbird]

It is natural for birds to wake up in the early morning and begin signing to the world. Since you get home late and most likely sleep late in the am how are you going to deal with the early risers who are hungry and thirsty? A cat would be a better pet for you than a bird. Do not mean to rain on your idea of a bird but there are many considerations. Do you have the finances to take care of a bird? They need at least a yearly wellness exam, toys, food and most of all your love and attention. Like said no need to answer here just think about our questions.

Both budgies and finches really need to be in a flock. In otherwords not just one bird in a cage.
They also do better with the cage located in the busy part of the home where people gather. Would not work well for the birds in a bedroom where it is quiet. They need a quality 12 hrs. of sleep at night when it is dark. No other human activities going on like TV, music or conversation
Birds also need supervised exercise such as flying or as we call it out of cage time.

[froggij]

Frank, birds kind of suck in apartments, but it is possible with the right level of dedication on your part - I would know, I have three and only recently upgraded from a one-bedroom to a two-bedroom on the end away from most people. If there's a dog in the building (which we've got a lot of), my birds try to talk to it when it starts barking - plus, they pick up sounds from other apartments. My conure barks now because we had a little yappy dog across the hall when I lived in the one-bedroom. If you're in a building full of people with other animals, you're going to be listening to those birds ALL DAY LONG, not to mention your neighbors will hear them when you're not there and the birds are talking to the animals outside your apartment.

Remember, there's no such thing as a quiet "beginner" bird - they're all going to chirp, and some of your neighbors might have a problem with that. If your neighbors are understanding, then any of those species would be okay, but just know that they will be chattering at all times and they're very social animals and will talk to anything they can hear - which is a lot because their hearing is so much better than ours. Also keep in mind that, because they're social, you may want to have more than one - a lonely bird will have more behavioral issues and/or noise issues, so if your neighbors go to bed early, that could be a problem if your birds are up late at night talking to the crickets outside. Also keep in mind that some apartments won't allow certain pets, so check with your landlord/property manager/rental agency first or you could face hefty fines, mandatory loss of birds, or even eviction.

Can you spend enough time with the bird when the bird will be awake? Many birds are early rising and early to bed, but sometimes you can get them to adjust to your hours with gentle practice - my cockatiel is not a morning person, just like his momma (me), but my other two are up at the crack of dawn and banging their food dishes around trying to wake me up. It's not impossible, it's just really difficult and I got lucky. Birds require a lot of attention in general, so if you don't wake up until noon and go to bed at one or two in the morning while you and your birds have different sleep schedules, it may actually be detrimental for the bird.

I'm not trying to scare you off, I think having birds is an amazing and wonderful thing that I wish everyone could experience, but you have to keep in mind that having birds is like having children - you're going to live with them probably around ten years at the least (longer if you get into the larger parrot family members), you have to feed them well (not just junk food!), bathe them, house them, take them to the doctor, make sure they don't aggravate the neighbors too much, and raise them to be friendly and outstanding citizens by spending quality time with them and teaching them the right way to go about doing things. You have to keep them out of trouble (they get into EVERYTHING), you have to do your research, you can't let them free-fly with a ceiling fan on, you can't just open the door for the postman when he's delivering a package you have to make sure they're safe first, you have to be careful about what kind of cookware you can use because they don't handle Teflon well, no scented candles, no febreeze, no Lysol, no harsh chemicals - it's like having a kid with allergies.

If you're ready for that level of commitment and think you can devote as much time and effort to a bird as you would to a human toddler, then by all means, get a bird. Just keep in mind they're not pets, they're family, and that's how they're going to see it. When Orsino adopted me, I had no idea what I was getting into and I am just so thankful that I had friends with birds who could be my support group until I realized just how far in over my head I was and started doing more research. Today he's my pride and joy and I don't know how I lived without him before.

Birds are a wonderful experience, but make sure you know for certain what you're getting yourself into and that you can make these lifestyle changes and properly care for them before you get one.