New here and excited to learn from others!

Keday · Dec 7, 2018

I had parakeets growing up. A regular named Cain and a skyblue pied(?) named Abel. Abel was from petco, and very sadly rather short-lived.. Cain, too, was from Petco- my parents had refused to help me get a parakeet anywhere else. Abel passed away not 6 months after Cain was brought home.

At the time, I was quite young and my parents saw parakeets (and perhaps birds in general) as "throwaway pets". So we never found out Abel's cause of death. I was devastated, and worried that it was something that Cain could have caught (I also pondered whether or not Cain had transmitted something to Abel). My parents had suggested the next day that we go back to Petco and "get one to replace Abel". I refused their offer

It wasn't that I didn't want another bird, although their eagerness to replace him did feel weird and kinda hurt my 11 year old heart. It was moreso that I wanted to do proper research before bringing another feathery baby into not just my life but Cain's. I feel as though many people do not do this. (including myself, as I had begged my parents for Abel but had done little research on the care and keeping of birds, I was 11-ish)

Cain was the sweetest little thing. He passed away unexpectedly overnight after 3 wonderful years and I never did get a third bird.

//7 years of off and on research and hand-feeding my neighbor's baby cockatiels on occasion later//

So yeah! I'm new here, in the process of moving out, and would like to get as much information, help, and guidance as I can on the matter and journey of bringing another bird baby into my life. :greenyellow:

(and yes, my parents did make the biblical "joke" that "Cain probably killed Abel")

Terry57 · Dec 7, 2018

Hello and welcome!
I'm so sorry for your loss of Cain & Abel.
I'm really glad you joined us, you have come to the right place for information and support

Jen5200 · Dec 7, 2018

Welcome! Lots of good info and support here to help you on your journey and help with decisions about adding a feathered companion

Laurasea · Dec 7, 2018

Welcome! Poor little parakeets of the world often pay for humanities mistakes. I too had a short lived parakeet when I was a kid...died by a window left cracked when temps dropped below freezing... That's why I took in two parakeets needing rehoming. Such active, playful, inquisitive, little clowns. There is tons of great info here, enjoy!

EllenD · Dec 7, 2018

Welcome to the community!!! I commend you for wanting to learn and educate yourself first, before you bring home your new family member. I only wish that more people would be as responsible and do the same...

Please feel free to ask any questions at all, make as many posts as you want to, and I hope that you find the right bird to bring into your life for decades to come, whether it be another Budgie or a different species of parrot...

Scott · Dec 7, 2018

Welcome to the forums, thanks for sharing your early experiences. We're here to share our love and respect of all things bird-related!

itzjbean · Dec 7, 2018

Hello from Iowa! Lots of members here with decades of experience so you will learn a lot here!

Did you draw your avatar picture? I love cartoons like that, it's really cool!

Amsterdam · Dec 7, 2018

Welcome to the forum always happy to welcome people like you

Inger · Dec 7, 2018

Welcome to the forums! Great to see young folks here doing their best to be good parronts [emoji846]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

ChristaNL · Dec 7, 2018

Nice work sofar.
I love it when people come perpared.

Budgies are considered kids-practice-birds here as well (just like hamsters and guinea pigs are populair)- cheap, never ill and lively& friendly (most of the time anyway)-- so do not feel too bad abut it.
(it is either that or a tiel)

Glad you came here to read up more.
PLze do post about your journey?

MikeD91 · Dec 7, 2018

I can't talk enough about how my YNA Bill has changed my life. Getting on here was a huge help. It is a lot easier finding out before hand then trying to figure out how or why after something happens. Good luck and get ready for a couple of weeks of reading on here. I still find new stuff on here that helps me out after a couple of months.

noodles123 · Dec 7, 2018

Welcome welcome welcome! I am so happy you are interested in learning. I also appreciate that you cared about your past birds and want to plan for your future birds!

Here are a few important paragraphs about common household items that can cost birds their lives (I didn't know all of this when I got mine, so forgive me if you do). I am also not telling you this because of the story about your birds...I am just telling you because you are a new member and I feel obligated to warn everybody (because so many people are unaware).

Teflon/PTFE/PFOA/Fluoroplastics are hidden within and on many items that heat. These release deadly fumes (unscented) that kill birds very quickly. Things to consider: hair-dryers, curlers, curling irons, ironing boards, space-heaters, self-cleaning ovens, rice-cookers, air-fryers, some microwave popcorn bags contain a clear-coat of Teflon/fluoroplastic, drip-trays, some humidifiers...Basically, if you heat it, call the company and tell them the full names for the aforementioned abbreviations (PFOA/PTFE) as well as the full names of each (which I cannot spell---polytertafluoroethyline? is one...) + ask about Teflon. You will have to be put in touch with the manufacturing side of things, so it may take a few days to get an answer. Teflon/PTFE/PFOA can be mixed into metals during the molding process, it can show up in the form of a colored or black surface coating, it can be woven into heat-resistant/stain resistant fabrics, and it exists in a clear-coat (even found in mascara...not that that ever gets heated). Many internal components on heating devices are coated but you can't inspect visually and expect to be able to see it. These types of heated appliances containing fluoroplastics have killed birds on separate floors of a house when used, so get rid of it (walls, doors do NOT protect).

In terms of household cleaning etc, you cannot use standard cleaners/chemicals with a bird (no Bleach, windex, lysol, pine-sol, air freshener, etc). Basically, if it has a scent, you shouldn't use it. Fabreeze, glade plug-ins, perfumes, heated oil potpourri, carpet cleaners, flea shampoos, nail polish remover, sharpie markers, paints, hot glue guns, acetone, shoe polish, paints, aerosols....all can kill birds, so anticipate lifestyle changes. Candles (scented or non) are also very dangerous due to the particles they put into the air...Doesn't matter if they are organic lol. Car air freshener tags etc have also proven deadly (regardless of the specific scent, although pine scents are particularly dangerous).

The lungs of birds are VERY sensitive, so things that are fine for mammals and humans are not safe for them to inhale. Even smoke from grills or burning oil/butter/food can be deadly. I think it is important to keep this in mind, as it requires significant lifestyle changes pre-bird. Do not assume that something is bird safe just because you used it around your future bird and he/she was fine. Sometimes death can occur instantaneously (within minutes), other times it takes longer...just depends on the bird and the toxin etc.

Birds hide illness (as prey animals) so they do not show symptoms unless very ill. Consequently, considering all of their health issues, ridding your house of teflon, scented products, and chemical cleaners will spare you money, guess-work and heart-ache. I use an avian safe disinfectant called F10 SC (the yellow/clear kind) to clean everything (where I would have used bleach, Windex or Lysol before). F10 is a concentrate that, when diluted properly, is safe around birds (you don't have to rinse once dry as long as the dilution ratio is correct). Vinegar +water is another safe option (as long as you don't heat it in a dishwasher/coffeepot, and then there is GSE (Grapefruit seed extract) + water.

It was hard for me to toss my candles, oil heaters, pans, iron etc, SOOOO if you know this upfront, then hopefully it will save you from buying things you have to throw out once the bird arrives

AmyMyBlueFront · Dec 7, 2018

A big WELCOME to the forum! I'm so sorry to read about the passing of your buddies Cain and Abel

Budgies have to be the coolest of the small parrots. They are so smart and playful and can talk and learn tricks and just be wonderful little characters :04:.
Don't be afraid to ask questions here. The only "dumb" question is a question not asked!

We all love birdies here,and all animals. We are here to help you learn more about them,how to care for them properly and so much more.

Glad to hear you are doing research.There is a ton of stuff to read/learn about and share here.

Again...WELCOME and pleases stick around!!

Jim

Keday · Dec 8, 2018

Oh my goodness!! Thank you everyone for the warm welcome! :^)

Keday · Dec 8, 2018

itzjbean said:
Hello from Iowa! Lots of members here with decades of experience so you will learn a lot here!

Did you draw your avatar picture? I love cartoons like that, it's really cool!

Oh yes! I did draw the icon, I'm a studio drawing student but I am not above the cute cartoony drawing every so often. Especially when drawing my babies!

Keday · Dec 8, 2018

noodles123 said:
Welcome welcome welcome! I am so happy you are interested in learning. I also appreciate that you cared about your past birds and want to plan for your future birds!

Here are a few important paragraphs about common household items that can cost birds their lives (I didn't know all of this when I got mine, so forgive me if you do). I am also not telling you this because of the story about your birds...I am just telling you because you are a new member and I feel obligated to warn everybody (because so many people are unaware).

Teflon/PTFE/PFOA/Fluoroplastics are hidden within and on many items that heat. These release deadly fumes (unscented) that kill birds very quickly. Things to consider: hair-dryers, curlers, curling irons, ironing boards, space-heaters, self-cleaning ovens, rice-cookers, air-fryers, some microwave popcorn bags contain a clear-coat of Teflon/fluoroplastic, drip-trays, some humidifiers...Basically, if you heat it, call the company and tell them the full names for the aforementioned abbreviations (PFOA/PTFE) as well as the full names of each (which I cannot spell---polytertafluoroethyline? is one...) + ask about Teflon. You will have to be put in touch with the manufacturing side of things, so it may take a few days to get an answer. Teflon/PTFE/PFOA can be mixed into metals during the molding process, it can show up in the form of a colored or black surface coating, it can be woven into heat-resistant/stain resistant fabrics, and it exists in a clear-coat (even found in mascara...not that that ever gets heated). Many internal components on heating devices are coated but you can't inspect visually and expect to be able to see it. These types of heated appliances containing fluoroplastics have killed birds on separate floors of a house when used, so get rid of it (walls, doors do NOT protect).

In terms of household cleaning etc, you cannot use standard cleaners/chemicals with a bird (no Bleach, windex, lysol, pine-sol, air freshener, etc). Basically, if it has a scent, you shouldn't use it. Fabreeze, glade plug-ins, perfumes, heated oil potpourri, carpet cleaners, flea shampoos, nail polish remover, sharpie markers, paints, hot glue guns, acetone, shoe polish, paints, aerosols....all can kill birds, so anticipate lifestyle changes. Candles (scented or non) are also very dangerous due to the particles they put into the air...Doesn't matter if they are organic lol. Car air freshener tags etc have also proven deadly (regardless of the specific scent, although pine scents are particularly dangerous).

The lungs of birds are VERY sensitive, so things that are fine for mammals and humans are not safe for them to inhale. Even smoke from grills or burning oil/butter/food can be deadly. I think it is important to keep this in mind, as it requires significant lifestyle changes pre-bird. Do not assume that something is bird safe just because you used it around your future bird and he/she was fine. Sometimes death can occur instantaneously (within minutes), other times it takes longer...just depends on the bird and the toxin etc.

Birds hide illness (as prey animals) so they do not show symptoms unless very ill. Consequently, considering all of their health issues, ridding your house of teflon, scented products, and chemical cleaners will spare you money, guess-work and heart-ache. I use an avian safe disinfectant called F10 SC (the yellow/clear kind) to clean everything (where I would have used bleach, Windex or Lysol before). F10 is a concentrate that, when diluted properly, is safe around birds (you don't have to rinse once dry as long as the dilution ratio is correct). Vinegar +water is another safe option (as long as you don't heat it in a dishwasher/coffeepot, and then there is GSE (Grapefruit seed extract) + water.

It was hard for me to toss my candles, oil heaters, pans, iron etc, SOOOO if you know this upfront, then hopefully it will save you from buying things you have to throw out once the bird arrives

yes yes yes! I was aware of most of the things you included, and thank you for letting me know about the curling iron and such! My room mate will not be happy when I break her the news about it haha! But thank you so so much for wanting to inform me in general. This site has been nothing but welcoming and helpful so far! < 3

Squeekmouse · Dec 8, 2018

Welcome welcome! I also had childhood pet birds that I didn't fully understand and appreciate. In hindsight I'm so sad that I didn't do more for them. The important thing is what you do now and in the future, and you sure sound to be doing the right and wise things now. Good luck with your next fid! We're all here and happy to help. :35:

Flboy · Dec 8, 2018

Welcome! They really are special!

New here and excited to learn from others!

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Not exactly new, but haven't been around in a while

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