First bird

Hello,
It's been years I'm dreaming of owning a bird, and as I will soon leave my parents' house, I want to make that dream real.
I've been fond of conures and pionus, who apparently make great first birds, so as I went to the parrot shop, as I asked for advice about then conures since they don't sell pionus, the one guy that was taking care of them when I arrived told me that if I'm going to live alone, it's better to take two birds at once, but he's still a seller so I want to know what you think about the pros and cons of having only one conure for a start and starting with two.
As it/they would be my first bird(s), I want to be sure of what's better for them. If they really need another bird-mate, or if it's better for the parrot to first bond with the owner.
I want to hear your thoughts about it!

Thank you

Welcome!!!!

Here is my "go-to" post for new bird owners--it's long-thank you for caring!!!
I want you to really understand, that adopting a parrot is like adopting a 4-year-old child with special needs who never grows up and lives for 20-80+ years (depending on the species). They are extremely complicated pets. That having been said:

I am going to write a ton here because it sounds like you are very new to this and there is a lot to learn. I don't mean to overwhelm you!

One really important thing when keeping a pet bird in the house is that you cannot use scented products or chemicals/fumes in your home (even things that smell nice to us(---things like smoke, perfumes, air freshener, standard cleaners, vaping, burning food, incense, cigarettes, glue, paint, window sealing kits, polishes, aerosol sprays etc can harm your bird's sensitive respiratory system (which is not the same as mammals'). Using products that heat or are heated which contain Teflon/PTFE/PFCs = very very dangerous. These products off-gas and can kill a bird in under 5 minutes. Teflon/PTFE/PFOA/PFCs are most commonly found in the kitchen (pots, pans, cookie sheets, drip trays, air fryers, popcorn poppers, baking mats, crock pots, toasters, toaster ovens, popcorn poppers, waffle irons, electric skillets etc. They can also be found in space-heaters, curling irons, blow-dryers, straighteners, heat lamps, heat guns, irons, ironing board covers etc. These fumes have killed birds through closed doors and on separate floors of a home, so you should replace your cookware with stainless steel, cast iron or ceramic. You may be thinking-- well, I have used them before and my bird is fine, but they kill very inconsistently and it depends on what you are cooking, the age of the pot/pan, the specific bird etc. There was a member who lost many of her birds from a pan she had literally used for years...then one day, her husband cooked an egg (without burning or overheating) and many of them died, while the rest showed signs of respiratory distress.

You will need an avian-safe cleaner to use within your home (both on the bird cage, but also, around the house). Again, chemical cleaners cannot be used in the home unless avian safe. F10 SC (the yellow/clear concentrate) is a great, avian-safe disinfectant. Other (less effective) options include products such as "poop-off", white vinegar + water, grapefruit seed extract + water, baking soda etc. Peroxide is also fairly safe for disinfecting places like your bathroom, but you do not want your bird to come into contact with it.

Some foods are toxic to them--avocado, coffee (even decaf), caffeine, rhubarb, alcohol, onions/garlic/leeks/chives, mushrooms etc. Salt is also very bad for them, as is most human food. They love it, but it's not healthy.

They should not just eat seed--you will want to feed lots of washed fresh vegetables. Fruit is fine in moderation, but too much can lead to obesity and behavioral issues due to sugar. I feed my bird a mix of high-quality seed (no sunflowers, no peanuts) and pellets (in addition to fruit/veg). Fruit pits are toxic, as are apple seeds. Corn cob and certain nut shells (if swallowed in big pieces) can cause blockages, so you should be very cautious if you give your bird nuts in the shell. Peanuts can harbor aspergillosis, and should be avoided altogether (even they you often see them marketed towards parrots).

It is important to make sure that your bird's toys and cage are made of safe metals. Stainless steel is safest. They can get metal poisoning from playing with or mouthing objects made of unsafe metals.

They need a set amount of sleep each night (at least 10 hours) and the largest cage you can manage with lots of different perches. You want to avoid the totally smooth/round ones as they can lead to a condition called bumblefoot. Never place a cage near drafts and never allow cool air to blow on a bird. They are sensitive to drafts and any temperature shift greater than 10 degrees can cause a shock to their system.

They need lots of safe toys and safe wood to chew. Not all wood is safe, so don't just assume you can give them any kind you want.

They hide illness and so you have to watch them to make sure they are eating normally and pooping normally etc. You should try to find an avian vet (certified avian) if at all possible and take your bird AT LEAST 1 x yearly for an exam. An avian vet is NOT the same as an exotics vet who sees birds--- so if a certified avian vet is available within a few hours of where you live, you will want to set up care.

All parrots can easily confuse the relationship with their human for a sexual one. You don't want this to happen, even though it seems sweet at first. Stick to petting on the head and neck only (the rest is sexual) and do not allow your bird to play in shadowy places, like boxes or under furniture, as these spaces are similar nesting sites and are hormonal triggers. NO SNUGGLE HUTS/TENTS!

Food and water should be replaced daily--- wash the containers daily. Never leave wet food out for more than a few hours (as it can lead to bacterial growth). Never try to medicate a bird via drinking water and never add vitamins to water. Vitamins can be over-dosed easily and harm a bird. Plus, when you add things to water, it makes it impossible to know how much they have gotten and it also encourages bacterial growth. Sometimes it can prevent them from drinking adequately if they don't like the flavor of whatever it is you added.

These birds have the intelligence of a 4-year-old human, but they are wild animals (not domesticated like dogs). This means that they see the world (and humans) in a very unique way and so you must learn about their behavior in order to prevent problems (screaming, plucking etc). They need lots of time out of their cage daily and a lot of interaction (at least a few hours). At the same time, you don't want to spend TOO much time with a bird of they will become overly dependent and not know what to do with themselves when you go to work etc.

Finally, baby birds are ALWAYS sweet compared to adult birds. When your bird hits puberty, expect that it will exhibit some annoying and problematic behaviors (much like a teen). A through knowledge of behavior and setting expectations at an early age will make your life easier when that time comes, but do prepare yourself and expect that things will not always be so smooth-sailing. Think about a baby human compared to a teen...

I am sure there is more...but that is a basic overview of caring for birds.

Here is an excerpt from another post (which you may want to reference when shopping/ calling about Teflon:
The most insidious is the Teflon/ptfe/pfoa/pfcs because you have to call the company to verify that anything that heats or is intended to be heated does not contain these substances ("PTFE free" doesn't mean PFC free and so there are a lot of marketing gimmicks out there to make people buy what seems like healthier cook-ware, even though it still contains a version of the same chemicals). Also-- these chemicals can be woven into fabric, mixed into metal during the moulding process, applied as a powder, applied as a clear-coat, or mixed with a colored coating. You cannot assume that you will be able to identify them visually, so, when you call, you must provide all abbreviations and full names + spellings of each chemical compound (and then they usually give you "the run around" for a week or so IF they ever answer your questions at all---because sometimes it's a "trade secret"). It's all very sketchy and DuPont (manufacturer of Teflon) claims that off-gassing only occurs at really high temperatures, but there have been numerous documented/scientific and anecdotal reports of birds passing away at temperatures in the 300 F range (and again, it kills through closed doors and on different floors).
FYI- Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
A perfluorinated compound (PFC)
Teflon (a common brand-name of non-stick cookware containing these chemicals)

10- 12 hours nightly for sleep, so if you get up at 6 and make a bunch of noise, you will wake the bird up (even if they are still covered). If they wake up at 6, bed should be between 6-8. You want to keep it around the same time if possible (because that's how it is in nature).

Food- I leave a high quality mix of pellets and some seed in my bird's cage (no peanuts, no sunflowers, avoid fillers like corn etc)..Fruit/veg daily (more veg than fruit if at all possible--and not too much fruit). Citrus and fruits high in vitamin C should be given in extreme moderation because they can cause "Iron Storage Disease" (for a cockatoo, 1 small tangerine slice 1-2 times a week was okay, according to my vet). She gets something interesting/ cooked (no salt or sugar or unsafe spaces-- like a grain) 2x daily as well but she is picky as heck, so you have to watch it because some birds will fill up on one thing and not get proper nutrients or they will eat too much and become obese.


OH-- something I didn't mention in my last post-- stainless steel is really one of the only safe metals for them. Research the heck out of your cage and make sure that if it uses a powder-coating it is truly non-toxic. Birds can get metal poisoning from playing with sketchy toys (many made in China do not adhere to best practices) and just mouthing things like money, bolts, locks etc can cause toxic impacts...A man I know allowed his bird to play with un-used toothbrushes and (unbeknownst to him) there were small copper bits that held the bristles in place-- this nearly killed his bird even though the bird didn't actually swallow the pieces.

ALSO- AND NEVER EVER BUY A BABY THAT IS UNWEANED!! IT WILL NOT HELP YOU BOND BETTER. THIS IS A MYTH!!!! SERIOUSLY!

Poochie said:

Hello,
It's been years I'm dreaming of owning a bird, and as I will soon leave my parents' house, I want to make that dream real.
I've been fond of conures and pionus, who apparently make great first birds, so as I went to the parrot shop, as I asked for advice about then conures since they don't sell pionus, the one guy that was taking care of them when I arrived told me that if I'm going to live alone, it's better to take two birds at once, but he's still a seller so I want to know what you think about the pros and cons of having only one conure for a start and starting with two.
As it/they would be my first bird(s), I want to be sure of what's better for them. If they really need another bird-mate, or if it's better for the parrot to first bond with the owner.
I want to hear your thoughts about it!

Thank you

Click to expand...

Please also read this thread- it covers the idea of 2 birds and possibly applies to you age/stage in life if you are just leaving your parents' house (although I am not certain of that) http://www.parrotforums.com/budgies-parakeets/86060-looking-new-bird.html
If you have the time and patience for one (assuming you have the time, money, housing etc to attend to it for the next 20 years), I would genuinely start there- getting 2 at once will make you the 3rd wheel and you will likely struggle to form the bond you seek. That having been said. know that the bonding process with one bird can take MONTHS and you cannot push- this is not like a dog...You MUST work at the bird's pace and you must not be too pushy or forceful in your attempts to make the bird like you...It's really so unique and so slow...and with 2, while they might bond together, you might never have that relationship, plus you might end up with hormonal issues etc.

I completely disagree with the statement that you need 2 if living alone-- if you do not have the time for 1...you shouldn't get 2. You need to have the time to "be that other bird" without doing so in a way that makes the bird feel like you are his/her mate (but this can be controlled to some extent by preventing access to shadowy spaces --like hammocks and tents in the cage, drawers, low ledges etc...and petting only on the head and neck..and through interaction that isn't solely based on touching- once trust is obtained)

See the ink in the reply above about birds potentially NOT getting along/hormones etc...

Again, birds are more work than a cat or dog (due to respiratory sensitivities and intelligence alone), so make sure you have a minimum of 2 hours a day to interact (4+ for certain species), can commit to a bedtime covering/uncovering routine daily (e.g., 7 pm to 7am) and make sure you have an avian vet near you if at all possible (not the same as an exotics vet). When they get re-homed, it DOES hurt them mentally, so if you take this on, try to do it for a lifetime-- not just until it is a problem for your lifestyle....That isn't a jab at you- but it is a common problem within the general populous.

Welcome to the forums! Excellent information above. Another piece to add for your particular situation regarding a second bird. It's a useful perspective on the subject:
http://www.parrotforums.com/training/74214-introducing-second-bird.html

saxguy64 said:

Welcome to the forums! Excellent information above. Another piece to add for your particular situation regarding a second bird. It's a useful perspective on the subject:
http://www.parrotforums.com/training/74214-introducing-second-bird.html

Click to expand...

The main thing here, I believe, is that if you haven't had 1, 2 will give you a very strange and problematic perspective-- especially if you want a bird that likes you.

I know sometimes people add a second bird down the road (while keeping the birds in separate cages and while quarantining the 2nd in a different room for at least 30 days) but getting 2 when you haven't bonded with one will make things difficult and potentially VERY complicated in terms of behaviors, hormones, mating, aggression and time management..all babies get along-- but at sexual maturity, they could start fighting , or mating etc.

A single bird is A TON of work if you do it properly--even the smallest are HIGHLY intelligent, and it is only for lack of patience and understanding that they appear less intelligent than larger birds (really- a budgie is VERY smart)....So just understand what it is that you are committing to.

Thank you for this reply, it is so helpful! Tho as I am a bird fan (is that the appelation?) I've been ready and mostly, viewing a lot too, so I know what I am facing! èwé THO I STILL LEARNED A LOT, mostly that pan and fruit pits story! My fav pan is a colored one so I guess I'll change it, anyway I only used it for eggs so I won't regret it haha
Thank you again! I really didn't expected such an interesting answer ♥

It isn't just pans-- it is anything that heats up-- so like, a space heater, or hair curler, or iron, or cookie sheets etc..plus pans. It's really important- glad to help!

Sure! I know all that, I'm not very the kind to just be like "Oh this is cute so I want that" I thought a lot before that and informed myself beforehand, and I just perfectly know that my time with birds will be safe with my schedules!

BUT THANK GOD, I MEAN NOT IN THAT SENSE, but I was pretty sure that a bird didn't need a partner, but when the seller said that I started doubting, since he still is taking care of them, but I was also thinking he said that only to sell.
I don't want to risk being overwhelmed because I'm not yet used to a bird routine, and mostly afraid of two birds not getting along was also a fear when he told me that. >:^(
But now I can be confident if he's bringing that again when I'll return for the cage and else. >:^)

Haha yes I mainly spoke of pans because, well, this is the only heating-stuff I'm using in my life xD According my lifestyle, there is really not much, as I've been into a traineeship in restaurants I used to use vinegar too to clean stuff instead of every chemical stuff (I love using it because it's so magical, I MEAN LOOK HOW STUFFS ARE SHINY AFTER IT ♥♥♥ Better than anything else

Poochie said:

Haha yes I mainly spoke of pans because, well, this is the only heating-stuff I'm using in my life xD According my lifestyle, there is really not much, as I've been into a traineeship in restaurants I used to use vinegar too to clean stuff instead of every chemical stuff (I love using it because it's so magical, I MEAN LOOK HOW STUFFS ARE SHINY AFTER IT ♥♥♥ Better than anything else

Click to expand...

Yes- it's pretty good at shining- if you want something that kills a few more germs, F10 SC (it's a concentrate and it is bird safe-- the yellow/clearish variety doesn't have to be rinsed and it is actually a good deal once rinsed).

If you get a bird, one thing to note: Never heat large amounts of vinegar around it--pickling etc is not safe, nor is running vinegar through a coffee machine with the bird around.

Glad you have researched etc!

I'll take note of all that, thank you so much!

Parrot keeping is quite different around the world... so keeping birds could very well be different in Europe than, say, the USA or North America where many of our members are based.

If I recall right, in the Netherlands, if you keep small birds, the recommendations is to have two in a large aviary over one. Since you are interested in a small bird... I can see that they would recommend two over one.


Are you a member of any local bird or pet groups where you could get insight from others in your country to see how the practice of keeping birds is done over there?

I haven't found any when I last searched, but I did it wrong maybe, I know there's a parrot rescue in the country (Belgium) so I can call to see, they should know! Since the Netherlands are just up there, I won't be surprise then if it's the same recommandations so I'll look into it!