From the article: Ten Things You Should Know Before Buying a Bird
The thought of owning a pet bird can be appealing -- but all too many people rush out and buy a bird without properly thinking it through. While you might think that you are quite well prepared to dive into the world of bird ownership, there are many aspects of keeping a bird that most owners don't find out about until after they've purchased one, and most of the time, they wish they had known beforehand.
Don't learn the hard way that a bird is not the right pet for you! Look here for tips from real bird owners that will give you an idea of what you can expect when caring for a parrot or other pet bird. Share Your Experience!
Don't learn the hard way that a bird is not the right pet for you! Look here for tips from real bird owners that will give you an idea of what you can expect when caring for a parrot or other pet bird. Share Your Experience!
Nothing has ever snuggled me this much
- I am nineteen and own an approximately 1 year old sun conure. He pulls the keys off my keyboard, pinches my neck, and loves to poop and squawk; but I don't care. Birds, like any pet or person, require patients, love, and knowledge. My cute little Mango is a handful but with those three things I have taught him enough to accompany me to Walmart and Baskin Robbins in under three weeks. If you never yell at them, share the bird-safe parts of your meals with them, and spend hours with them on your shoulder they will probably love you so much that it will frighten you a little bit. Remember, you are adopting a mini toddler that might live longer than you, so make sure you are dedicated and financially capable before buying a bird. Thanks for reading.
- —Guest TricksterWhiskers
A pet bird will surprise you..
- I have never regretted getting Marley, I got him about a year ago after his owner couldn't keep him and I had lost my cats. He is a 4yr old Meyer parrot with a minor frosties and brussel sprout addiction and I wouldn't change him for the world. There's no end of thngs he surprises me with and always makes my day better, like all pets he has his flaws and as I didn't get him from 'new' so to speak there are occasional behavioural issues. It is a really big commitment to make as they do want to be with you all the time but what you get back is nothing you can ever imagine until you try it. I had a phobia of birds when growing up, and I still dislike pigeons but they really are amazing companions!
- —felixrises
loud
- the birds are loud. the fun part is when you train them. you can put a song on and they will sing. you be mean to them they will bite. thats all
- —Guest jade
Cockateils
- I live my cockateil I've had for 11 years but if you don't have time to keep a clean cage and interact with your bird it's probably not the best pet for you! Otherwise they can be lots of fun!
- —Guest Bird
Frustrating At Times...
- I found a bird on the street and took him in, and that's how I became a bird owner. The little budgie was quite aggressive, though. He'd walk across the room just to bite me! After two months with him I really started to hate him, so I bought a companion bird for him. The new bird, an albino budgie, hates him, but LOVES me, and for the first time I am seeing why some people love birds so much. She is very sweet and protective of me (she attacks the other when he bites me), and if I put the other's cage outside the room, I can let her out and she will happily sleep on my finger while I scritch her head feathers. She never gives me any trouble. The original bird has actually become a nicer bird since I got the albino, and he will give me kisses and whistle with me. But he's still got his bad days, like today... He somehow got it in his head I'm trying to kill him and since this afternoon has been very loud and will scream and scream if I pick him up. He must have been abused in the past.
- —Guest Brooke
birds are challenging but worth it
- I currently have a female eclectus and she was very nippy at the start, and whoever said birds are a biter are wrong they obviously have reinforced his behavior in the bird by shouting and screaming, ive had a few nasty bites but dont then them put you off, i love my little scarlett like a baby, when i get home from school she screams hello, and i let her out and have eat an apple with her on my arm eating when she wants to, it depends alot on the birds personality how independant it is, like scarlett hates cuddles and will only put up with it if i have food, after her shower(she gets a lukewarm shower every 2 days) she would take the hand of me if i dared to go near her without her cup of lemon green tea, she is spoilt and all birds should be, dont judge a bird based on general chararaterisrics of the species all birds are different they have thier own personality, thats why im planning on getting a greenwing next because i want a cuddely bird, im 16 if i can do it anyone can
- —evangilchrist
birds are challenging but worth it
- I currently have a female eclectus and she was very nippy at the start, and whoever said birds are a biter are wrong they obviously have reinforced his behavior in the bird by shouting and screaming, ive had a few nasty bites but dont then them put you off, i love my little scarlett like a baby, when i get home from school she screams hello, and i let her out and have eat an apple with her on my arm eating when she wants to, it depends alot on the birds personality how independant it is, like scarlett hates cuddles and will only put up with it if i have food, after her shower(she gets a lukewarm shower every 2 days) she would take the hand of me if i dared to go near her without her cup of lemon green tea, she is spoilt and all birds should be, dont judge a bird based on general chararaterisrics of the species all birds are different they have thier own personality, thats why im planning on getting a greenwing next because i want a cuddely bird, im 16 if i can do it anyone can
- —evangilchrist
birds are challenging but worth it
- I currently have a female eclectus and she was very nippy at the start, and whoever said birds are a biter are wrong they obviously have reinforced his behavior in the bird by shouting and screaming, ive had a few nasty bites but dont then them put you off, i love my little scarlett like a baby, when i get home from school she screams hello, and i let her out and have eat an apple with her on my arm eating when she wants to, it depends alot on the birds personality how independant it is, like scarlett hates cuddles and will only put up with it if i have food, after her shower(she gets a lukewarm shower every 2 days) she would take the hand of me if i dared to go near her without her cup of lemon green tea, she is spoilt and all birds should be, dont judge a bird based on general chararaterisrics of the species all birds are different they have thier own personality, thats why im planning on getting a greenwing next because i want a cuddely bird, im 16 if i can do it anyone can
- —evangilchrist
all birds are different
- I currently have a female eclectus and she was very nippy at the start, and whoever said birds are a biter are wrong they obviously have reinforced his behavior in the bird by shouting and screaming, ive had a few nasty bites but dont then them put you off, i love my little scarlett like a baby, when i get home from school she screams hello, and i let her out and have eat an apple with her on my arm eating when she wants to, it depends alot on the birds personality how independant it is, like scarlett hates cuddles and will only put up with it if i have food, after her shower(she gets a lukewarm shower every 2 days) she would take the hand of me if i dared to go near her without her cup of lemon green tea, she is spoilt and all birds should be, dont judge a bird based on general chararaterisrics of the species all birds are different they have thier own personality, thats why im planning on getting a greenwing next because i want a cuddely bird, im 16 if i can do it anyone can
- —evangilchrist
all birds are different
- I currently have a female eclectus and she was very nippy at the start, and whoever said birds are a biter are wrong they obviously have reinforced his behavior in the bird by shouting and screaming, ive had a few nasty bites but dont then them put you off, i love my little scarlett like a baby, when i get home from school she screams hello, and i let her out and have eat an apple with her on my arm eating when she wants to, it depends alot on the birds personality how independant it is, like scarlett hates cuddles and will only put up with it if i have food, after her shower(she gets a lukewarm shower every 2 days) she would take the hand of me if i dared to go near her without her cup of lemon green tea, she is spoilt and all birds should be, dont judge a bird based on general chararaterisrics of the species all birds are different they have thier own personality, thats why im planning on getting a greenwing next because i want a cuddely bird, im 16 if i can do it anyone can
- —evangilchrist
all birds are different
- I currently have a female eclectus and she was very nippy at the start, and whoever said birds are a biter are wrong they obviously have reinforced his behavior in the bird by shouting and screaming, ive had a few nasty bites but dont then them put you off, i love my little scarlett like a baby, when i get home from school she screams hello, and i let her out and have eat an apple with her on my arm eating when she wants to, it depends alot on the birds personality how independant it is, like scarlett hates cuddles and will only put up with it if i have food, after her shower(she gets a lukewarm shower every 2 days) she would take the hand of me if i dared to go near her without her cup of lemon green tea, she is spoilt and all birds should be, dont judge a bird based on general chararaterisrics of the species all birds are different they have thier own personality, thats why im planning on getting a greenwing next because i want a cuddely bird, im 16 if i can do it anyone can
- —evangilchrist
all birds are different
- I currently have a female eclectus and she was very nippy at the start, and whoever said birds are a biter are wrong they obviously have reinforced his behavior in the bird by shouting and screaming, ive had a few nasty bites but dont then them put you off, i love my little scarlett like a baby, when i get home from school she screams hello, and i let her out and have eat an apple with her on my arm eating when she wants to, it depends alot on the birds personality how independant it is, like scarlett hates cuddles and will only put up with it if i have food, after her shower(she gets a lukewarm shower every 2 days) she would take the hand of me if i dared to go near her without her cup of lemon green tea, she is spoilt and all birds should be, dont judge a bird based on general chararaterisrics of the species all birds are different they have thier own personality, thats why im planning on getting a greenwing next because i want a cuddely bird, im 16 if i can do it anyone can
- —evangilchrist
birds are challenging but worth it
- I currently have a female eclectus and she was very nippy at the start, and whoever said birds are a biter are wrong they obviously have reinforced his behavior in the bird by shouting and screaming, ive had a few nasty bites but dont then them put you off, i love my little scarlett like a baby, when i get home from school she screams hello, and i let her out and have eat an apple with her on my arm eating when she wants to, it depends alot on the birds personality how independant it is, like scarlett hates cuddles and will only put up with it if i have food, after her shower(she gets a lukewarm shower every 2 days) she would take the hand of me if i dared to go near her without her cup of lemon green tea, she is spoilt and all birds should be, dont judge a bird based on general chararaterisrics of the species all birds are different they have thier own personality, thats why im planning on getting a greenwing next because i want a cuddely bird, im 16 if i can do it anyone can
- —Guest evan
Are you ready to have kids?
- At the age of 15 having a kid is a HUGE responsibility.Birds are like toddlers, No matter what age are you ready to: 1. Provide for your baby ($CACHING$ It takes money to own a bird.) 2. Care for your baby (Wash. Feed. Love. Tolerate. Forgive. Spoil. Discipline.) 3. Clean up after your baby (Birds love to shred, tear, bite, nibble, destroy everything, oh, and then they crap.) 4. Spend money to fix broken things. (Believe me... I'd invest in wall plaster, new toys, new clothes, even priceless things.) 5. Forgive your baby for chewing, breaking, and biting. (They love to destory your favorite diamond necklace... or anything shiny!) 6. Babies throw temper-tantrums... (Oh, some will nearly make your ears bleed. Some will make your fingers bleed. . .) 7. Be patient and understanding. (If someone waved a treat and told you to do a trick... wouldn't you get tired of it?) 8. Love your baby unconditionally. (Can't get around it. If you don't love your bird—It won't love you :
- —Guest Proud parent... of a Bird!?
LOVE MY BIRDS
- I have owned birds for the better part of 55 years. I did adopt a dog--but had to return him, and my birds were very grateful. Your birds will give you back as much love as you give them--and more. My little biddies are the light of my life. (two parakeets, one of each).I had one keet for over 9 years, and he had a huge vocabulary, and had some really funny statements. He even called me by name--not sure where he learned it. RIP my sweet Toots.
- —Guest mommatocharlie
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