Tell me about birds!!

[~Tucker&Me~]

Thanks! I didn't even think about shipping because everything I read something about visiting the baby multiple times before bringing them home. Is that important or not really?

Well think of it as if you were getting a pup from a breeder. If you couldn't go see the facilities and judge yourself how friendly the babies are and how healthy the parents are, you would ask for lots of references and testimonials. There are lots of great breeders who are willing to ship babies, the trick is just being thorough in checking them out and really doing your research. Ask lots of questions over the course of several phone calls and request pictures and videos of the babies. They may also be members of a bird club, which can be a good indication that they really are passionate about what they do.

You should expect that they too will ask you questions, and if they don't I would be suspicious of how much they care. There's a really good crimson bellied breeder in the US that I would totally get a bird from if I lived on that side of the border!

Another thing to think about is that there are forums for parrots just like there are for dogs You can always go and ask there for breeder recommendations and if you develop a relationship with some members that are nearby a breeder that interests you maybe they can check them out for you. There are also breeders on those forums, so they can potentially sell you a baby or direct you to someone reputable closer to you.

Everything I've read says that the green cheeks really aren't that loud as compared to the sun conures. What I remember about the black capped I had at work was that he was very quiet. He would screech every now and then but nothing awful. Also, I do have a little experience, I owned a pair of parakeets for years growing up so am not completely new to this bird thing.

Of the conure species, there are two genera: aratinga and pyrrhura. Aratinga are know for being LOUD, these guys would include sun conures and jenday conures. Pyrrhura (green cheeks, black caps, crimson bellies, etc.) are generally quieter and of lower pitch. Conures can make great first time parrots as long as the buyer is well read and has done their research. If noise is a concern, I would make sure to watch some youtube clips and if possible meet some of the species of interest in person to make sure the noise isn't an issue and you can handle the pitch. For example, I didn't *mind* the lovebirds, but a lot of people can't stand them because they have a really shrill, loud squawk. So as long as you know what the vocalizations sound like of the bird you want and you are prepared to listen to it all day, it's not a problem

Keep us updated, I would be very excited to have another parrot owner on this board! I'm sure you will be hearing tons about my new baby so you can live vicariously through me until you get yours :rofl1: If you have any more questions don't ever hesitate to PM me.

 

[SaraB]

Of the conure species, there are two genera: aratinga and pyrrhura. Aratinga are know for being LOUD, these guys would include sun conures and jenday conures. Pyrrhura (green cheeks, black caps, crimson bellies, etc.) are generally quieter and of lower pitch. Conures can make great first time parrots as long as the buyer is well read and has done their research. If noise is a concern, I would make sure to watch some youtube clips and if possible meet some of the species of interest in person to make sure the noise isn't an issue and you can handle the pitch. For example, I didn't *mind* the lovebirds, but a lot of people can't stand them because they have a really shrill, loud squawk. So as long as you know what the vocalizations sound like of the bird you want and you are prepared to listen to it all day, it's not a problem

Keep us updated, I would be very excited to have another parrot owner on this board! I'm sure you will be hearing tons about my new baby so you can live vicariously through me until you get yours :rofl1: If you have any more questions don't ever hesitate to PM me.

Thanks for the info!! Yes, I've heard the sqwuaks of the pyrrhura's and I really don't mind them at all. Stick me in a room with a sun conure and I'll be reaching for the ear plugs.

I can't wait for you to get your baby!! Please post a ton of pics and videos.

ETA: And yes, I've been scouring a few parrot forums but I really trust and know the people on Chaz, so it's hard to move away from that!

 

[MericoX]

We have exotic bids randomly surrendered to the shelter every now and again. Luckily our shelter manager and some others love these birds and relatively quickly are able to find homes for them.

My favorites so far have been a white and blue capped Pionus and a Green Cheeked Conure. The pair or Pionus are very quiet and friendly, I am often tempted to bring them home with me and I'm not really a bird person.

 

[crazedACD]

The noise from Pyrrhuras aren't too bad . They are fun little birds, but IME can be quite nippy. My store frequently has them, we have a Maroon Belly and two Turquoise GC's right now. We get them at hand feeding age and about a month after they are done they do start the nipping here and there.

The poicephalus species might be one to look at. I wouldn't recommend them for a very beginner bird person. But for someone that is an 'animal person', does their research, knows what to do if you have problems, is aware of basic animal behavior..they would probably be a great bird for you. They aren't quite so erratic as Pyrrhura, and I feel more capable of a more intelligent or deep bond compared to Pyrrhura. I love me a nice Meyers or Red Belly, and lots of people have nice Senegals too.

Rosey Bourkes might be one to look at, if hubby is nervous about a full fledged parrot. They quiet and clean and you can find well tamed ones. I had a Dove that was tame and wonderful. Don't know what you want to spend but you can even get Toucanets, which are quiet and don't bite hard (different care though). There are other softbills that might work too.

Personally, I don't really fall in love with a species, I fall in love with an individual bird. I've worked around many Ringnecks, and there was this one that was just so awesome. And then I fell hard for a Red Belly Parrot, and regret not taking him home. I would really go out to different places and meet a variety of birds . I will say if you are looking at babies, if it is panicky, runs hard from you..avoid it. In my experience they don't really get better. Well..they will bond to you and be okay with you eventually..but not really in new situations.

 

[SaraB]

Well. I may have contacted a breeder that is about 5 hours from me, sent an email and received a call back about an hour later. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to answer and didn't call her back later because it was already pretty late at night when she called.

So I'll be calling her back today.... I have no clue what I've gotten myself into!!

Either way, this is going to have to wait a bit, the next month and a half are just insane and it wouldn't be fair to bring anything new into our home at this time.

Another quick question for you bird owners: Do you spend a lot of time solely dedicated to your birds (handling, interacting, etc) or is the majority of the time spent with them hanging out with you as you go about your business?

 

[Fran101]

Another quick question for you bird owners: Do you spend a lot of time solely dedicated to your birds (handling, interacting, etc) or is the majority of the time spent with them hanging out with you as you go about your business?

We don't really have "bird time".. it's more like, parallel play lol (and keep in mind, Cockatoos are MUCH MUCH more intensive/needy than most other birds)

He hangs out on his shower perch right outside the shower and sings along if you feel like singing, he eats when we eat and asks for scraps on his own table perch, he likes to hang out on the counter when we cook and sample things, he likes to sit next to you and get scratched while we watch TV, ride on your shoulder to get the mail, he is usually on a harness and goes with my mom to walk the dogs, he sits and tries to steal your pencil when you do homework, perches on the basket when you fold laundry or take laundry to be done, throw his toy for him when you watch tv or sometimes he watches tv with you etc..
(and while doing this I honestly forget he is there other than occasionally interacting with him like giving him scraps or talking to him or giving him a few scratches or letting him ride on my shoulder)

He doesn't like it when he asks a question and you don't answer. That's his one weird thing.
"Is it nice outside today?"
"... is it nice outside today?"
"..... IS IT NICE OUTSIDE TODAY???"
" PRETTY BIRD!!!!"
" BAD DOG! YOU'RE A BAD DOG!"
then he throws a tantrum and throws something.

so it's not like our bird takes a lot of time, because other than preparing his meals and cleaning his cage, or kind of giving up your left hand to throw his toy or give him scratches.. stuff to do FOR HIM isn't really that time consuming
It's really just the fact that in order to be happy, he has to be involved in what we are doing throughout the day. Which is fine, because we are used to it and he is polite (he only poops in his cage, he doesn't bite, he has FINALLY learned to not scream while on your shoulder)

In that way, birds are needy.
but unlike dogs, I have found that most birds are pretty happy without a lot of "just bird time" like you don't need to devote time to walk them or play with them..they seem to be happier just being with you and doing whatever you are doing and being entertained in that way.

Napoleon especially enjoys dinner time. He loves to sit on his table height perch and be a part of the conversation dropping in occasional opinions like..
*in a hushed tone* "...hey. is he sleeping?"
"QUIET! CHARLIE SHUSH!" (charlie is the dog)
"Frère Jacques, Frère Jacques, Dormez-vous? Dormez-vous? Sonnez les matines, sonnez les matines. Ding ding dong, ding"
"LETS ORDER PIZZA!"

I feel a little bad about my last post.. because it made it seem like birds are bad to have around.
which they aren't.. they are just bad PETS.
They are far too life altering to just be pets..it's like inviting a toddler to stay in your home, forever haha

 

[SaraB]

That entire post just made me smile Fran. And no, don't feel bad about your last post, it was fantastic to hear that side of them as well.

That's exactly what I want, I want a little sidekick to travel around with me as I do my chores or to sit on a play gym next to the couch as we watch TV. My husband is concerned that I don't have a lot of extra time to devote to a new addition and I keep trying to explain to him that it's not like that with a bird. They just want to hang out with you.

Even though, I may end up spending a lot of time making a bajillion new toys for him though.

 

[Fran101]

That entire post just made me smile Fran. And no, don't feel bad about your last post, it was fantastic to hear that side of them as well.

That's exactly what I want, I want a little sidekick to travel around with me as I do my chores or to sit on a play gym next to the couch as we watch TV. My husband is concerned that I don't have a lot of extra time to devote to a new addition and I keep trying to explain to him that it's not like that with a bird. They just want to hang out with you.

Even though, I may end up spending a lot of time making a bajillion new toys for him though.

haha even with spending time with them. Toys are a necessity and being creative with making them is kind of an awesome quality because bird toys are EXPENSIVE!!
(and if you or your hubby is good with PVC and are crafty.. HUGE money saver right there. We spend so much on perches and play areas made of PVC it's not even funny..)

They are great for recycling because all boxes, bowls, toilet paper rolls, scraps, etc.. make awesome toys hah

We always collect free/cheap things that work well ..
- All cardboard really
- Phone books (he LOVES shredding things and these last FOREVER)
- Go to home depot and ask for wood scraps, those are a god send
- Wiffle balls
- Dollar store random kid toys (baskets, etc..)
- Ropes ropes ropes ropes
- Chains
- Branches
- O-rings other fasteners

AND LOTS of dog toys double as great bird toys with some adjustments. Holee rollers, kongs,

Hanging out with them is ideal but birds do take their own down time (Napoleon has free range in the house, but goes back to his cage when he wants to just hang out) and having cool stuff in their cage will (like a crate) make it a fun place to hang out and stop them from discovering other cool things to do, like chip paint off the walls.

Oh and I forgot another "con".. he has a lot of stuff. Like I don't realize it until I take a moment and ponder all the stuff that is around the house BECAUSE of him..
but other than a very large cage there is also this playpen thing.. (which I honestly thing is necessary if you have a bird. Gotta be somewhere safe for him to hang out for long periods of time

and these things on basically every window (they stick on glass/smooth walls)

plus the one for table tops (/the travel perch)

All that plus his toys and his food (including the fruit/veggies)
Unlike dogs who can kind of lie down and relax anywhere.. birds kind of need a home base haha

honestly, I think you guys would make a great bird home. Birds like to be part of the activity, they like busy homes and they like people who are homes a lot (or homes with dogs they can watch and throw food at) haha

 

[Gypsydals]

Another quick question for you bird owners: Do you spend a lot of time solely dedicated to your birds (handling, interacting, etc) or is the majority of the time spent with them hanging out with you as you go about your business?

Not really, Cleo isn't that fond of being held and stuff. She does like scritches and rubs, but on HER terms, which is mostly her just hanging out with me. She is pretty content to just sit and talk to me. But man she will scream the house down if I ignore her, or not share what I'm eating (I think she has me trained). So we mainly have our morning and bedtime talks. And sometimes she does this wierd version of talking to herself. Its like hearing two different birds talk back and forth to each other. Its kind of creepy at times.

 

[~Tucker&Me~]

Fran summed up what I would have said pretty perfectly. You don't have to spend that much time DIRECTLY interacting with them, but they do need to feel included in what's going on. Having said that though, parrots respond really well to clicker training and so if you have the time, I really recommend doing additional training beyond the standard "step-up". There's lots of little behaviours you can teach that will make living with a bird easier (for example, step down, fly to your perch, fly to me, letting me handle your feet/wings/beak/tail, letting me flip you upside down, potty training, etc.) and birds can pick up great tricks just as easily as a dog can. They are smart as whips and if you youtube it you can see lots of parrots doing really cute party tricks.

Serves to keep them mentally stimulated (SO important), improves your bond and can make living with them way more convenient.

Have you put any thought into what species you think you want to go for?

 

[SaraB]

Oh yes on the clicker training thing. I told the breeder that I'm a training nut and that I need a bird that will tolerate that as I plan on teaching him a million tricks.

I'm still leaning towards green cheek conures. Perfect size, outgoing, playful, not extremely loud and I can deal with the nippiness.

So excited!!

What kind of bird are you getting?

 

[sassafras]

I don't feel like I spend a great deal of time specifically dedicated to our bird. But we have her cage placed where she can see our entire first floor except for the bathroom and kitchen from where she is, so she can see all of the household goings on. And she has a gigantic cage with a ton of toys.

In the past, all of our other pets have been pretty much terrified of her so we've just left the cage door open most of the time when we are supervising. She doesn't really roam the house but mostly climbs up and down the sides of her cage and sits on the top apparently thinking she's real hot sh*t for being so tall, lol. Or sometimes trundles over to the couch and sits with us.

But Squash's usual reaction to her is to try to paw whomp her, so we don't do that kind of freedom all the time anymore. When he is outside and after he goes to bed she gets her out of cage time, so I guess that is sort of more dedicated time, but even then she is not a bird that demands your exclusive undivided attention. She's happy just hanging out in the vicinity being busy or on the back of the couch grooming your hair, lol.

 

[~Tucker&Me~]

Oh yes on the clicker training thing. I told the breeder that I'm a training nut and that I need a bird that will tolerate that as I plan on teaching him a million tricks.

I'm still leaning towards green cheek conures. Perfect size, outgoing, playful, not extremely loud and I can deal with the nippiness.

So excited!!

What kind of bird are you getting?

Awesome, I played with some baby GCC this weekend at a breeder's house and they were too cute.

I'm going with a crimson bellied conure because a) you can't beat their colouring b) they are similar in personality to greencheeks but different in the good ways (a little more snuggly, a little calmer and less erratic. etc.) and c) I like the fact that they are just a tad bigger and have a "cobbier" body style. The only downside is that they are not easy to source and rather expensive but on the other hand I will probably have the bird for the next 20 years so I may as well go big and get what I really want or go home

 

[Linds]

I hate you all!

Because of this thread and Sara sending me parrot links every five minutes I have 100 dollars worth of new bird toys in my Amazon cart and plans for a new hanging climb.

My wallet can not take this.

 

[SaraB]

I wonder if it would raise suspicions with the husband if I started to make a pvc play gym.... And bought this sweet cage off of Craigslist....

 

[~Tucker&Me~]

You guys crack me up :rofl1:

Linds what kind of bird do you have?!

 

[Linds]

You guys crack me up :rofl1:

Linds what kind of bird do you have?!

One of those loud ones :rofl1:

 

[~Tucker&Me~]

You.... You are a brave, brave soul :lol-sign:

 

[Linds]

You.... You are a brave, brave soul :lol-sign:

Sara and I decided I'm kinda made for loud animals. I seriously don't notice the dogs or the bird as being that loud. Only when someone else is in the house do I get corrected about their not loudness.

It helps though I apparently train around him a lot since his second favorite noise other than screaming is

[YOUTUBE]p1noTRVBh8A[/YOUTUBE]

 

[SaraB]

I love Calypso's click!

Also. I may have found the perfect bird name: Minion. I told the husband and he loves it.