I am totally new to parrots, and am trying to find the perfect breed for me. I’m in high school, which would usually mean no parrot would work, but I’m online schooled, so I’m home all the time.
I am totally new to parrots, and am trying to find the perfect breed for me. I’m in high school, which would usually mean no parrot would work, but I’m online schooled, so I’m home all the time. I run a from home fish breeding business making enough to spend probably $500 – $1000 on my parrot each month (It’s really great not needing to pay mortgage…) with a plan to take online college and advance my business to a storefront later. I have enough space for a 5x5x7 foot cage. I’m okay with loud noises in the morning, because I’m awake by 4:00 each day for religious studies anyway. I do have two small dogs (chihuahua size) with a history of hunting and eating anything smaller than themselves (I can, and will, train them not to do this, but I would prefer not to take a chance with a bird any smaller than, say, a very large Conure.) I have spent several months researching different kinds of birds, training techniques and avian vets. The only problem is that I have no experience whatsoever for myself with birds. I have friends who got a budgie as a birthday present for their son. They kept the bird in a cage no bigger than 6 inches in every direction, fed it a diet of pure seed, did not take it out of the cage or socialize it in any way unless it was to open the cage, grab the bird and throw it saying “fly, birdie, fly!” and even went so far as to pile clothes on top of the cage. This made me so incredibly angry that I started reading on how to really take care of a bird so that I could take the bird from them and raise it in a better home. The bird died before I could get to it though, and that started my passion for parrots. But other than that, the only interaction I’ve really had with birds is occasionally holding and feeding the Macaw at my local pet shop. My question is this: Looking at my situation, do you believe I am ready to raise a large bird, such as a Macaw? Or, if experience is more important than preparation with birds, which breed would you recommend for me?
There really isn’t enough…
There really isn’t enough information to know what bird will be right for you. Larger parrots are destructive and noisy; so if you cherish your furniture and if people are in your household are sensitive to noise, a large parrot would not be right. Quieter larger birds would be (for the most part) Eclectus parrots; African Greys (mid-size parrot) and the smaller bare-eyed cockatoos. Still, any of them can be quite noisy, but typically not quite as much as their larger cousins. ALL birds are messy. If I were you, I would keep an eye on birds that are currently available in your areas … rescues would be preferred. There are too many rescued birds out there. Mind you, they may need some rehabilitation, but it would be a worthwhile venture recommended for those that are patient and are willing to work with a bird.
Selecting your new pet There…
Selecting your new pet There are numerous decisions to be made about choosing the right bird; either imported (i.e. wild caught), usually less expensive, adult birds and some young birds will never settle to a cage life, there is also a greater risk that the bird may be carrying a disease. Aviary bred (i.e. a bird bred in captivity) will be much more settled to domestic life. If the bird has been hand-reared, it will already be hand tame and possibly talking, consequently hand-reared birds are more expensive but much more desirable. You could also choose an adult bird that has been someone else’s pet, however the disadvantage of this is that the bird may be attached to one person and may utter phrases that are unacceptable in it’s new environment! Always choose a healthy bird – that is one with it’s feathers held tight against it’s body, bright eyed, and lively. Leave the one with it’s feathers ruffled, and spending most of the time asleep with both feet holding the perch. Many dealers and breeders now offer birds that have been tested for certain diseases. If your pet shows these symptoms, seek veterinary advise, select a vet with avian experience. In many species the males and females are identical, if you do wish to find out it’s gender however some vets offer surgical sexing, other firms, which advertise in the bird press offer DNA sexing from a feather. The latter method is the safest for your bird. Being able to positively identify your bird is very important, should it be lost or stolen and then recovered. There are various ways of permanently marking your bird; closed rings, these are steel bands which are fitted around the birds’ leg when they are a small chick. As the birds grow they cannot be removed or fitted to adult birds, these rings often carry the initials of the breeder and the year it hatched. Micro-chips are small electronic chips, about the size of a grain of rice, which are inserted into the parrot. These then stay under the skin for the rest of the birds life and are read using a scanner which will give a individual numerical code. Transportation of your parrot – how this is done depends on the temperament of each individual bird. If your bird is nervous then it is best if it is moved in a small wooden box, this way the bird will feel safer in a darkened environment and it cannot harm itself by dashing against the bars of a large cage. If your bird is very steady then it may be moved in it’s cage, indeed many parrots enjoy going for a drive when they are used to it. Thanks & Regards..