MGMork
New member
Hi everyone,
For a few years now, I've been stricken with a love for parrots. It started with Cockatiels, and has, more recently, spread to Conures and Quakers. I started a similar thread 2 years ago, but a lot has changed since then. With 2020 providing a lot of idle time to dedicate to thinking about potentially bringing one home (if the opportunity arises), the likelihood of it happening continues to grow. That being said, there are still questions I have that will keep me from making any choices until they're answered! And that's exactly what brings me here.But before I get to the details of such , I'll shed a little light on my living situation/lifestyle.
For starters, I live with a family of 4 (myself included) in a rather large household (roughly 4200 square feet). A good thing to mention is the fact that we do have a small dog as well (a miniature schnauzer), but old age has definitely made him a soft, calm, and passive observer more than anything. Like I said, the house is rather large, and we have a lot of free and open space to spare. In thinking about where the parrot would likely be kept, I was thinking of having two cages: one in the kitchen for the day (when I'm not around), and one in my room for the evening/night/morning. The kitchen itself is large, has quite a few windows, and is probably the "busiest" area of our home. (And just to be clear, we are all aware of all the changes that need to be made in our home chemical and product wise, and the bird would never be in the kitchen while someone is cooking.) My room is on the upper floor, is both large and well-lit, and is where the bird would be spending most of its time with me. If you have any questions or concerns about either location, I'm happy to provide details and am more than open to suggestions about cage placement.
As a whole, we are a pretty 'in-and-out' family - well, when covid isn't keeping everyone at home at least - but that doesn't mean the house is empty for long. The only one working at the moment is myself, but at a very minimal 4 hours a week in the evening. This is because my time is now predominantly spent at home attending university online, which has reawakened my interest and heightened the potential of bringing a parrot home. My younger brother is in school, and my parents are both working from home. At most, the house will be unoccupied for maybe an hour or two, if not less. But again, my life is now rooted here, and it's where I spend nearly all of my time. Further still, the idea of moving out isn't really in question, and it won't be for quite some time. The house almost always has someone in it, whether it be my parents or my brother, and they have all agreed to care for the bird in the event I am unable. I hope that's enough to give a sense of what kind of environment the parrot would be living in, but if you have any further questions, feel free to ask!
As it stands, I am leaning towards a Green-cheeked Conure. My local pet store (which is independent and locally owned) actually works with a breeder from Vancouver, who breeds, rescues and hand-raises Conures. I've spoken with him quite a bit, and have spent lots of time around the birds he brings in for me to meet... Often finding myself in the store for hours. I've done about as much research and forum-searching as I can, and have asked countless questions to both the breeder and the pet shop. While it does seem that everything would work out, I'm still worried that I'll make the wrong decision. And even though I'm fully prepared to prioritize the bird, as is my family, I'm sure you can understand that a choice such as this comes with uncertainty.
Is a Green-cheeked Conure the right choice for me? Like I said, I've been torn between them, Cockatiels, and Quakers. They all have such wonderful personalities and potentials that I'd happily embrace. The only thing I'd like to prioritize in terms of qualities or traits would be their ability to socialize and interact. Living at home, with a family that is just as smitten with parrots as I am, I'd like to be able to share the love - though having a personal bond is probably the most important. The more goofy, curious, and playful the better, but I suppose that all depends on the bird itself. As I had mentioned previously, we are all prepared to make changes to our lives and give what's needed to make sure this is the right decision. It means a whole lot to all of us, myself especially, and we all understand this isn't an easy or light choice to make. If it's of any concern to those reading, budget is no real issue here. Even if it's easier said than done, I can affirm that this bird would be my top priority, and I want to take it in knowing I can give it a good home, a good quality of life, and endless love.
I think that's about it! Again, if there are any important details that I missed, don't hesitate to ask. Ans if you do decide to vote in the poll, please explain your vote! Thank you in advance!
For a few years now, I've been stricken with a love for parrots. It started with Cockatiels, and has, more recently, spread to Conures and Quakers. I started a similar thread 2 years ago, but a lot has changed since then. With 2020 providing a lot of idle time to dedicate to thinking about potentially bringing one home (if the opportunity arises), the likelihood of it happening continues to grow. That being said, there are still questions I have that will keep me from making any choices until they're answered! And that's exactly what brings me here.But before I get to the details of such , I'll shed a little light on my living situation/lifestyle.
For starters, I live with a family of 4 (myself included) in a rather large household (roughly 4200 square feet). A good thing to mention is the fact that we do have a small dog as well (a miniature schnauzer), but old age has definitely made him a soft, calm, and passive observer more than anything. Like I said, the house is rather large, and we have a lot of free and open space to spare. In thinking about where the parrot would likely be kept, I was thinking of having two cages: one in the kitchen for the day (when I'm not around), and one in my room for the evening/night/morning. The kitchen itself is large, has quite a few windows, and is probably the "busiest" area of our home. (And just to be clear, we are all aware of all the changes that need to be made in our home chemical and product wise, and the bird would never be in the kitchen while someone is cooking.) My room is on the upper floor, is both large and well-lit, and is where the bird would be spending most of its time with me. If you have any questions or concerns about either location, I'm happy to provide details and am more than open to suggestions about cage placement.
As a whole, we are a pretty 'in-and-out' family - well, when covid isn't keeping everyone at home at least - but that doesn't mean the house is empty for long. The only one working at the moment is myself, but at a very minimal 4 hours a week in the evening. This is because my time is now predominantly spent at home attending university online, which has reawakened my interest and heightened the potential of bringing a parrot home. My younger brother is in school, and my parents are both working from home. At most, the house will be unoccupied for maybe an hour or two, if not less. But again, my life is now rooted here, and it's where I spend nearly all of my time. Further still, the idea of moving out isn't really in question, and it won't be for quite some time. The house almost always has someone in it, whether it be my parents or my brother, and they have all agreed to care for the bird in the event I am unable. I hope that's enough to give a sense of what kind of environment the parrot would be living in, but if you have any further questions, feel free to ask!
As it stands, I am leaning towards a Green-cheeked Conure. My local pet store (which is independent and locally owned) actually works with a breeder from Vancouver, who breeds, rescues and hand-raises Conures. I've spoken with him quite a bit, and have spent lots of time around the birds he brings in for me to meet... Often finding myself in the store for hours. I've done about as much research and forum-searching as I can, and have asked countless questions to both the breeder and the pet shop. While it does seem that everything would work out, I'm still worried that I'll make the wrong decision. And even though I'm fully prepared to prioritize the bird, as is my family, I'm sure you can understand that a choice such as this comes with uncertainty.
Is a Green-cheeked Conure the right choice for me? Like I said, I've been torn between them, Cockatiels, and Quakers. They all have such wonderful personalities and potentials that I'd happily embrace. The only thing I'd like to prioritize in terms of qualities or traits would be their ability to socialize and interact. Living at home, with a family that is just as smitten with parrots as I am, I'd like to be able to share the love - though having a personal bond is probably the most important. The more goofy, curious, and playful the better, but I suppose that all depends on the bird itself. As I had mentioned previously, we are all prepared to make changes to our lives and give what's needed to make sure this is the right decision. It means a whole lot to all of us, myself especially, and we all understand this isn't an easy or light choice to make. If it's of any concern to those reading, budget is no real issue here. Even if it's easier said than done, I can affirm that this bird would be my top priority, and I want to take it in knowing I can give it a good home, a good quality of life, and endless love.
I think that's about it! Again, if there are any important details that I missed, don't hesitate to ask. Ans if you do decide to vote in the poll, please explain your vote! Thank you in advance!
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