Hello!

I've been a member for a few days now and just realized I hadn't introduced myself!
I'm a college student in Bellingham, WA and I've loved birds for quite a few years now! I've previously owned a budgie but he sadly passed away a few days after I got him from the pet store (I'm not sure why he died), and I've vowed since to do an enormous amount of research before getting another bird. That was four years ago, and I finally feel close to ready to take care of a bird. I'm planning to adopt a Green Cheek Conure in a couple of months, and I've decided to join ParrotForums to ask any questions that pop up as I look into the little details of bird ownership. I know a lot of people here already have a bird, but unfortunately I don't have a cute feathered friend to introduce, but hopefully I will soon!

Welcome

I hope you are able to get your feathered friend soon.

Just wanted to comment on your location.
I read a lot of Sci-Fi and one of my many favorite books partially takes place in Bellingham.

Footfall by Niven & Pournell.

texsize

Hi you! And welcome!!

Welcome! I’m in the Bellingham area too . Green cheeks are wonderful companions. Lots of great reading in the conure forum!

Hey! Waving at you from Everett! This is a great place to do advance research.


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Welcome to the community! Green cheeks are amazing, playful, rambunctious birds!

Hello and welcome to the forum!
It's so great that you are doing research before you find your new baby, I am looking forward to hearing all about him/her when you bring one home
SO glad you joined us!

You're doin' it right!!!!

Unlike yours truly, who fell in love, bought the bird with plastic, took him home and sat up with him on my shoulder all night, waiting for the cage to be delivered the next day!

Welcome! I'm glad you're here!

Welcome, and thanks for researching before acquiring! Let us know if you have any questions or concerns!

Welcome and be welcomed. THis board is first and foremost all about the parrots, so you may not like what I have to say. College life is hectic, with studies, classes, add in social life and just plain living, and add that time up to see how much free time EVERY DAY you will have to spend with your parrot. Parrots do best when there is a predictable schedule and a minimum of out of cage time would be like 4 hours, with at least 1 of those hours of one on one face to face time. Owning a parrot has some heavy responsibilities , if you want him to be a happy well socialized parrot. There is money question too. Good quality Large cage, a good sized play stand, TIME and money to give him at least one meal a day of fresh veggies and fruit, Time for keeping everything nice and clean, Money for at least one visit a year to a Certified Avian Vet. I recommend that folks wait til schooling is done , and you have a steady job with predictable hours, and stable living conditions, conditions that will be OK if your parrot is an exceptionally loud one ( all parrots are loud at some point in the day). Until then, why not volunteer at a local rescue shelter? You will learn so much more about different types of parrots and the care of ones who have been dumped becasue the bird was bought by someone who was not quite ready for being a parrent to a parrot ( a parront).

I may be dead wrong here, and you could be the one in a hundred college students who has all the above time money and motivation to care for a parrot for the 20-60 years some of these birds live for, some one like the RIckeybirds momma, Gail, above. I hope you consider all the points I brought up and make the reight decision for you. Your parrot may turn out to be a lifetime companion ( I hope he does!) so you want to make the best lifetime decision possible. Good Luck!

Oh and Bellingham does indeed hold a special place in the hearts of Sci Fi readers. Where else could you go in order to have thousands of a-bombs go off under your butt. Read Footfall, by Jerry Pournelle to find out more!