1. Make a list of your daily habits and personal preferences.
Going to the pet store and picking out the prettiest or most talkative parrot may not be the best option for you. Instead, you want to pick a bird that has habits most suitable for you. Here are some common thoughts that may match your personality.
“I don’t like a lot of mess.”
“Choose small birds, such as budgies (a.k.a. parakeets), canaries, finches or lovebirds (Krinsley).”“I don’t like loud screaming birds.”
“Although there are individual exceptions, avoid conures, parrots, and cockatoos (Krinsley).”“I don’t have much space.”
“Choose any bird, as long as you allow for a large enough cage and time out of it almost every day (Krinsley).”“I am afraid of being bitten by my bird.”
“If this is a concern, find out how large your bird will be when fully grown. As babies, medium and large-sized birds are very sweet and have little beak strength. But when they mature, they can become somewhat aggressive, their beaks more powerful and their behavior somewhat erratic. Instead, choose a smaller bird, such as a cockatiel, who is less able to cause harm when he bites (Krinsley).”“I want my bird to talk.”
“African Gray parrots and Amazon parrots are considered the best talkers, but there is no guarantee that your bird will talk. Birds who speak the most are those who are spoken to most often (Krinsley).”“I am concerned about how my new bird will get along with other pets and young children.”
“Adequate space and close adult supervision will promote harmony among birds, children and other pets. You will need a room in which you can close off your bird for his or her protection when you are not present, even if you are just in another room. If you have a very large bird, such as a macaw, you may need to protect your children and other pets from the bird if he has been provoked inadvertently (Krinsley).”“I am thinking of buying a captured wild bird because they are much less expensive than domestic birds.”
“DON’T! The Wild Bird Conservation Act of 1992 bans the import of certain species of wild caught birds, and this trade has decimated many populations. These birds also make inferior and often dangerous pets. They are not easily tamed and are known to carry more diseases than domestically raised birds (Krinsley).”“I have an illness or a disease and want a bird as a companion.”
“First discuss your decision with your physician. Then speak to an avian veterinarian about your situation. Both should be able to help you make the right choice. Most likely, a bird will be a fine pet for you (Krinsley).”“I want my bird to bond with me, so maybe I’ll buy an unweaned bird.”
“Newborn, unweaned birds, like human infants, need to be fed by hand, which requires a great deal of care. Also, they are more likely to develop problems that weaned birds (birds able to eat by themselves) don’t experience. So if you have no prior experience handfeeding birds, make sure the bird you select is weaned. As for the bonding issue, birds who are young but already weaned bond very well with caring and affectionate owners (Krinsley).”"I've heard I need to hand-feed my bird for it to bond to me?"
“This is simply not true and is usually promoted by people who ship unweaned babies because they do not want to take the time to wean the babies themselves. Our experience has shown time and time again that new owners bond just fine with their newly weaned babies. There are many references on our web site that attest to this. Given all the things that can go wrong with hand-feeding (burned crops, sour crops, aspiration, refusal to eat), and weaning (weaning too fast or too slow causes problems), it is best left to someone with experience. For an excellent article on this subject, see http://www.OldWorldAviaries.com/text/lewis/unweaned.html (Parrots).”“I’ll take my neighbor’s bird since he is looking for a home for her.”
“Pet birds are often given away or sold at a loss because of behavioral or medical problems. If you are thinking about buying a preowned bird, it is best if you know the previous owner and are aware of any preexisting problems. Ask to see the bird’s veterinary records or take the bird for a veterinary exam before you finalize the purchase. (Editor’s note: There are many birds available through reputable bird rescue groups that will evaluate your situation and recommend a suitable companion from their rescues.) (Krinsley).”“I’ll get a small bird now and if that goes well a bigger one later.”
“All birds, regardless of size, require care and attention. Don’t buy a small bird as an experiment for your children or yourself, thinking that you will buy a larger bird later (Krinsley).”2. Do Your Research.
Find out what parrots need. Research different parrots and see what fits with your life style and personality.
Should I get my bird a playmate?
“I have a bird that is very attached to me but I am gone a lot and I want to get it a playmate. What do you suggest? Be careful with this one. You should be aware that if you get your bird another bird of the same species, there is a good chance that your bird will start to bond with the new bird and not be as close to you. This is not always the rule, but it certainly happens a lot. If you want to get the same species, then try to get a bird that is the same sex as your bird - that will help lessen the risk of the pair bonding. Getting a bird of another species is probably the safest (although not foolproof) way to keep your existing bird still bonded to you (Parrots).”What bird is the best for me?
“This is a pretty individual question, and a choice you ultimately have to make for yourself. You can look at some of the descriptions we have posted on the different types of birds we have to see what would best fit into your life (Parrots).”Important Note
“When you buy a pet bird, get a written contract that includes the bird’s age, breed, place of birth and medical history. Make sure that you have enough time for a veterinary exam (and to process test results), and that the bird can be returned if he or she is found to be unhealthy (Krinsley).”Description of Most Common Parrots
Click here to keep reading our next blog post for a list of common parrots. It will answer what parrot does not scream? What parrot is the best talker, What parrot is the easiest to care for? and many more questions about parrots.
