Considering buying a bird! Suggestions? :)

Hello! I’m a first year college student studying animal science and recently I’ve really been considering buying a bird. Although I’ve been doing research on amazon parrots, I feel as if there’s a lot I don’t know. I grew up on a farm surrounded by animals (no doubt influencing my choice of major!) and each of my siblings had a parakeet growing up. I never really paid them any attention because I was a grabby kid and I think they didn’t like me too much, but my sister’s parakeet would always sing to her when she brought him out of the cage. That’s about as far as my real experience with birds go. But, I’ve always been fascinated with them and I admire their intelligence. I’m lucky enough to go to a college close enough to home so I don’t have to live in an apartment, however I do live on a farm that has four dogs in the house.
Although I realistically wouldn’t be able to buy a bird until about a year off, I’m wondering if my house’s environment and my college schedule would allow me to have a bird that would be happy with my routine.
My current dog is a border collie (crate trained), so I don’t mind having an animal that needs an abundance of play and attention.
I’m looking for a bird that likes to hang out and is social. I like to garden in the summer or go on walks by the river near my house and I’m wondering if these are activities that a bird would be comfortable with. I would have the bird on a harness, perched on me if I took them outside. During school days and when it’s colder outside, I’m mainly inside studying, drawing, or reading, so I’m worried during the slower days the bird would become bored sitting by me.
There’s an exotic bird rescue relatively close to my house that has good reviews. They require a home visit and I’m wondering what kind of preparations I should make (besides a cage), or if a bird is even a good idea since my family has four dogs.
Let me know what you think or if you have any suggestions as to what type of bird would be a good fit. Appreciated!.

Hello and welcome!

Thank you for doing your research. It sounds like you’re settling yourself up well for parrothood.

That said, you aren’t going to like the answer. You really need to wait. As a college student you have a lot of competing priorities, and most definitely don’t have a stable life to offer. You’d do best to wait until you’ve graduated college and are off on your own in your first job. You’ll have a more regular schedule Which is what parrots thrive off of.

With that said, you sound like someone who might actually be capable of just about any bird you want! Your choice of major alone puts emphasis on proper husbandry, the dedication for which certainly translates.

Under the belief that care is undaunting to you, it becomes a question of size and personality. Most parrots when properly raised as babies will be the social darling you want. But what KIND of social interests you? Nonstop clingers? Independent aloof shoulder birds? Clowns? Energizer bunnies? They run the gamut. Each bird is an individual but most species share what you might consider average species personality traits.

And the most important question: how big a space will the bird have? If you live in a studio apartment not even an amazon can be properly housed, in which case your likely looking at a conure or a cockatiel. Will th bird have its own bedroom, in a two/three bedroom home, and you’re making beaucoup bank? Get a hyacinth macaw.

So much really depends on your future accommodations. Which is why now really isn’t a good idea for you to get a parrot right now. Put it on the back burner and see how your life’s evolves over the next 7 years or so. THAT will really let you know what kind of bird would be most ideal for you.

chris-md said:

hello and welcome!

Thank you for doing your research. It sounds like you’re settling yourself up well for parrothood.

That said, you aren’t going to like the answer. You really need to wait. As a college student you have a lot of competing priorities, and most definitely don’t have a stable life to offer. You’d do best to wait until you’ve graduated college and are off on your own in your first job. You’ll have a more regular schedule? Which is what parrots thrive off of.

With that said, you sound like someone who might actually be capable of just about any bird you want! Your choice of major alone puts emphasis on proper husbandry, the dedication for which certainly translates.

Under the belief that care is undaunting to you, it becomes a question of size and personality. Most parrots when properly raised as babies will be the social darling you want. But what kind of social interests you? Nonstop clingers? Independent aloof shoulder birds? Clowns?

And the most important question: How big a space will the bird have? If you live in a studio apartment not even an amazon can be properly housed, in which case your likely looking at a conure or a cockatiel. Will th bird have its own bedroom, in a two/three bedroom home, and you’re making beaucoup bank? Get a hyacinth macaw.

So much really depends on your future accommodations. Which is why now really isn’t a good idea for you to get a parrot right now. Put it on the back burner and see how your life’s evolves over the next 7 years or so. That will really let you know what kind of bird would be most ideal for you.

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I always suggest that people wait until schooling is over, and your life situation stabilizes. Parrots are not easy care pets, and require work , time and regularity, if they are to become the companions that they are capable of. They flourish with regular interaction with their family. What will happen when you move out? Or start a full time job? Or start dating? All represent changes in your available time with your parrot, and they don't like that. Plus, they can be LOUD and limit your choices of living conditions. If you want a parrot that will sit with you, garden with you, put on a harness and go for walks ( things that they do enjoy), that takes time to train them and acclimate them to these situations. And keep it up, lest they become wild. Parrots are only at best 2 or 3 generations from being wild animals, constant interaction with their humans keeps them tame. Oh, and most live 25 upto 70 years, depending on size, so you need to consider that too. I suggest you volunteer at a local parrot sanctuary, to get to know parrots much better before taking the plunge. Please feel free to participate on this board, even if you decide to hold off, there is lots to learn and enjoy here. Good Luck!

Something a couple of advice articles on the web touch on but don't really stress, is the difference in attention birds need compared to cats and dogs.

You have a border collie so you know that a couple of times a day you need to take them out so they can run like hell. You don't necessarily need to run with them even though you can. When they're home with you, you can do your own thing while they have a snooze, or play with their toys, or snuggle at your feet while you study.
This sort of thing is what I call "passive attention". You can supervise but can also occasionally take your mind off the task and do other things.

That sort of attention is what dog & cat owners are used to providing and expect a bird would be OK with the same (and that's what I thought).

Birds can't cope with only passive attention. About 80% of their time with you needs to be active attention. Things like sharing your dinner, teaching them how to play with toys, watching them when they're out of their cage so they don't shred your blinds, being ready to catch them if they want to fly to you. You're always watching for poop, for screams, for behaviours.

It may be because I'm still new to it, but for the last month or so, when I have spare time to spend with Remi, I can't always do what I want, because I need to keep a eye on her.

Walking on the harness will be a great way to give active enrichment to a bird, but some birds take months or years to be ready to go on a harness without being nervous. My own hand-raised "harness trained" baby is still not comfortable with her harness. What will you do with your bird in the meantime?

tl:dr - I think your border collie will be plenty to handle while you're at college. Because he just needs walks, food and company mostly, you can be fairly sure he'll be well enriched, even though you have study to concentrate on.

Maybe once you're out of school and in a job, you'll have a better idea of how much time you can actively dedicate to bird ownership. And don't worry, with their lifespans, you'll have plenty of time to make up getting to know them

I used to think parrot owners were so terribly cautious, warning people off birds when they themselves had multiple parrots (nutters!) But now I've had my own for a few months, when I was in a situation like yourself? I'm going to jump on the bandwagon lol.

As others have mentioned, I will also echo the advice to wait to get your bird. I got my first bird in junior high school, all was well for a couple years until high school was in full swing, I was busy doing swimming, having a boyfriend, homework, social life, and eventually before college had to rehome him. I just didn't have the time-commitment to give him.

You may think you have a schedule now you can work with, but as soon as college is over, you'll be getting into your career and having to be away almost all day (depending on your career choice, that's most common) and then your bird has gone from seeing you and having a set schedule to seeing a lot less of you. And this is only work...this doesn't include having a social life, traveling, dating, etc.

Also, consider the Cost of Owning a Parrot ! This is a thread that will give you insight into the costs of real ownership. That means not only the initial cost of the parrot, but a big, roomy cage, toys to play with and chew, perches, travel carrier, a variety of food served fresh daily (FOR 20+ years daily depending on the parrot you choose) and of course that's not including emergency vet care. It can really add up, and fo ra student who also may be working, that's not only a huge time-commitment but also money needed every month to make sure your bird is taken care of properly. Expect to spend around $50-100 for a smaller bird a month and $300-400 a month for larger parrots (most expenses will include toys and food -- destroyed and consumed daily!)

Welcome to the forums, really appreciate your thorough introduction and analysis of lifestyle!

I would highly recommend spending quality time at the exotic bird rescue. Such experience will headline in exquisite detail the care, time, and dedication necessary to accommodate a companion parrot. You'll be far better qualified to make the best decision for you and a future bird.

Scott said:

I would highly recommend spending quality time at the exotic bird rescue.

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That's a fabulous idea actually. I second this, if you can find a rescue!

I'd agree on the waiting suggestion. You don't have to wait forever just until it's viable as you don't know where you're gonna be in a few years. Really I would wait until you are settled into your own place and go from there.

You do have a really good opportunity with the rescue near you. Go volunteer, gives you something to do that's different, lets you learn about all bird care, you meet lots of different birds and it's really good when looking for work to have volunteer work under your belt (something about working for free makes employers really happy)

the next couple years are gonna fly by, trust me, it flies by insanely quick