Pet Bird

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cooee
cooee's picture
Pet Bird

Hello every body. I am wondering if I should get a pet bird but I don't know what bird I should get. Do I have to worry about the noise and where is the best place to put it? Also, is it a good thing to get one because it seems kind of cruel to put them in cages and not let them be free, I guess they must like the attention!

Amateur

Imo don't worry about the "cruelty" part, I'm not sure what the bird thinks about living in a cage, but whether you buy it or someone else does it won't change the fact it's gonna be living in a cage, and I'm sure you'd be a much better owner then a lot of people out there :) Obviously you have to take into consideration the noise and where to put it (I'm guessing it will need some sunlight etc.) but other members who have pet birds will be alot more helpful then me.

cooee
cooee's picture

Thats a good way of puting it!

QLDBird
QLDBird's picture

Cockatiels make great pets, they are very loving and they don't make much noise (unless it teaches itself the telephones ring!). I had one called George who passed away this year, he was the best pet you could ever have. But, the choice of pet is up to you.

sparrow
sparrow's picture

After a lot of years of breeding birds in aviaries parrots lorikeets and finches the only bird that seemed happy in a cage was my mothers canary

Araminta
Araminta's picture

Hi cooee, first of all I have to say, as I have a feeling you are still very young, the question you ask is a very mature and valid one. Even if all the other people will say something different, I am going to tell you, what I think. What Amateur says, is what many other people would say without reflection. I don't doubt for one second, that you would make a good owner. It's the, it would be better you bought the bird than someone else. I will give you an example, to make it clear. At the moment at my home, I have 2 dogs in temp care, coming from a "Puppy Farm". Here is what you and everone should know: by taking a dog, cat or bird from a pet shop(?), YOU ARE PROMOTING and ENCOURAGING the production of more and more unfortunate animals. I'm not doubting you sparrow (!!!),but as I have picked up many of those poor animals, I believe, one should consider at least....only ever to buy from a licenced breeder!! At lest give the Pet Shops a miss!

M-L

cooee
cooee's picture

Thanks everybody for your opinions, I will take it all into acount when I get my bird.:)

Windhover
Windhover's picture

ooooh, I am not even going to talk about pet shops and puppy farms etc.... :(

Araminta
Araminta's picture

I just couldn't help it, a point I HAD TO MAKE, very close to my heart, Windhover. (I'm willing to put my read on the block, for what I believe is good for any animal!)

M-L

Holly
Holly's picture

cooee good on you for asking questions before rushing out and buying a bird. Most birds need a lot of attention. Honestly I would steer clear of any of the bigger parrots - even lorikeets and up unless you have alot of time to devote to them. Basically they are like 2 year old children, they need lots of love and attention for a very long time (decades). I would love an Eclectus but I don't have the time to devote to one - and I doubt my 3 dogs would take kindly to one.

I have a cockatiel and a red-rumped parrot (I handraised her and she was from aviary-parents). The cockatiel is lovely, loves coming out and spending time with us just hanging about, the red-rump is honestly not very nice. I expected that, given I hand-raised her, she would love me forever - but actually she is much happier by herself with her toys and hangning out in her cage (to the point where she refuses to come out).

My recommendation would be, if you are looking for a hand-raised bird, to go with a cockatiel or a budgie (note even cockatiels can live for 30 years). They are lovely little things and make great pets.

I am sure you all have heard my puppy farm/pet shop rants before so I won't go into it again - but if anyone is ever interested in rescue dogs give me a yell. I know lots of people involved in rescue of all different breeds and I myself am involved in Iggy Rescue (italian greyhounds).

Aramita - the puppy farm rescue dogs just break my heart - hope your two are doing well.

cooee
cooee's picture

It truly is sad that people have to resort to such things just out of greed. How can you be sure your not buying these types of pets because I guess there would be some awckward conversations. What about local pet stores? Are they "licensed".

Holly
Holly's picture

I simply don't buy things at pet shops - I buy at pet supply places or online. I have 2 rescue dogs and 1 from an ethical registered (with the canine association) breeder.

Do your research, if you go for a cockatiel then there is a cockatiel society that you can contact to find a breeder in your area.

Windhover
Windhover's picture

PLEASE DO NOT BUY A PET FROM A PETSHOP James!!!! How do you know the birds were not stolen from the wild? It happens; yes in 2011 in Australia it still happens! In Australia illegal wildlife trafficking is third behind gun and drug trafficking as far as organized crime is concerned!
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just do a search for animal shelters, do a youtube search for animal shelters, euthanasia and see what society (some people in it) create for the ones without a voice (the animals). They simply suffer in silence.
We have three shelter dogs (one from death row), ten cats and a horse. Two cats were from registered breeders and are pedigree, show quality, the rest rescued. One from a petshop sadly as she was almost dead at the time we just saw her. She would have just dropped dead in the window had it not been for my wife seeing it! Personally, I would never want a caged bird, but if you must, please do some research about from where you are buying it.
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This is a video that should make anyone with a decent heart cringe and realize that there is a huge flood of unwanted animals in the world. It's pretty moving, so watch at your own risk. It brings me to tears every time I watch it. But the truth must be known! It should explain better than Araminta and me harping on about petshops etc.....

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7157559858740771427#

birdie
birdie's picture

Couldn't agree more with the pet shop comments, though I can't stand the thought of keeping a bird on a cage at all. Whatever the pet I think of you are purchasing and not rescuing then it should be from a licensed breeder. I had two German Shepherds from a wonderful breeder in Perth and they were a great resource to me when I needed to know anything and in giving background on the parents etc. Plus you can be confident that diseases etc should have been prevented.
A puppy farm was closed a year ago near Toowoomba and it was breeding toy and miniature poodles and crosses , the resulting problems were disgusting. They seized about 200 puppies and dogs I think from that place and when friends of mine received their 6 week old ( too young)pup, I discovered a huge tick on it the next day and that was before we heard about the rest of the farm getting reported.
Holly a friend of mine has just lost her 4 yr old Eclectus to a degenerative condition. She was devastated as the bird was hand raised and conversed with them like a person would! I am so sad that I never got to go to her house and meet him (but she told me that he was really naughty as he would shut his beak and not say a word if you brought someone in to say hello) LOL
The breeder where she got him had already told her that he had lost its mother to the same disease so they had isolated him from the rest of their birds to prevent any cross infection at an earlier age. Now they have another baby to start again with ... on the breeder's recommendation as her son was the most affected as they were inseparable apparently.
Good luck with your choice Cooee and remember that a parrot is for life! or a good deal of it anyway.

Sunshine Coast Queensland

Araminta
Araminta's picture

Thanks Windhover, I love and your wife, for what you do, and what you say. I was so hoping you would. The two dogs we have at the moment, one is going to a nice elderly lady, the poor dog only crawls on it's tummy, she hardly uses her legs, because she is so scared of people. She will have a good life from now on. Some years ago we rescued 25 neglected horses, we had 24 hours, we found people to take them on. Mares with foals,pregnant mares, all in a terrible state. The farmer even wanted money, so we gave him $10 each. by the evening we had floats lining up to get them. Sadly only two of the made it, they where so malnourished, that most of them had to be put down. At the moment, my daughter has 4 kittens, she wants to find homes for.I have no experience with bird, you do,but I know it has to be the same! Thank you sooo much Akos, I can't put things into mwords like you can. (but I can be an Agitator, if you know what I mean)

M-L

birdie
birdie's picture

I missed your post Akos as I posted at the same time. Just watched the video and thank you for posting it. I have watched many SPCA shows from the U.S and Australia and have cried a lot of tears over them :'(
I don't know how their workers can bear to handle the euthanasia , it must break their hearts. If I could have a dog again I would but as I am renting a home it is not possible at the moment, so I do my bit by taking care of my labrador friend down the road whose owners are too elderly to exercise him. I am his physical and diversional therapist!!!!

Sunshine Coast Queensland

Araminta
Araminta's picture

Hi birdie, I can tell you, as I used to be an RSPCA vol. worker, I now think after stopping to work for them, they are, what I would call "a toothless tiger". The leagel power they have is VERY limited!Good example, the 25 horses, they had no power to do anything. Only because we decided to buy the horses for $10 each, we could rescue them, because legally we bought them. See what I mean?

M-L

birdie
birdie's picture

I was talking about the ASPCA in the states... it looks like they have powers to seize over there but they need the owners to sign the relinquishing forms. Most of them do it just to get rid of the animal, unlike your miserable farmer . I think I would have stuffed the $10 bills down his miserable throat!

Sunshine Coast Queensland

cooee
cooee's picture

I remember how my nonna (thats rigth, I said nonna) got her cat. Three of them came to her house and they wouldn't leave. They were starving and still kittens and nonna always put out food out for the birds. They didn't have any collar so we decided to give them to a farm or something (it was 3-4 years ago, don't remember all to well). Nonna called in a friend and they catched 2 of them but they couldn't catch the persian cat and so nonna kept him and raised him and gave him all the things a cat needs so he is know there today.

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