oompaloompa
New member
- Mar 15, 2016
- 11
- 0
Hello,
I am considering adding a parrot into my life.
I have experience with birds before - first budgerigars, then a cockatiel, then a sun conure, and I have experience handling larger birds (blue and gold macaw and a sulfur-crested cockatoo). These birds are not with me currently.
The larger birds were somewhat unsocialized pets - not the Margaritaville birds used to being handled every day.
In my home - I have a few other pets. I've got a dachshund, a pair of iguanas who live outdoors (but are allowed inside), a reef tank, and I am considering adding a large vivarium for dart frogs in the room with the reef tank. I am no stranger to keeping exotic animals, lol. I've kept far more than this, but this is what's in the house now - I prefer spending time with a few animals I am really passionate about rather than trying to keep everything under the sun.
So, in a bird - there are some things I am looking to have, and some I'm looking to avoid. Those are:
Those are definitely the biggest things for me.
Size is not important - I'm considering some picket-size birds, up to some macaws. I can give whatever bird I choose all the space they need, and they will be out of the cage very often.
As far as time commitments - I am home often, I do not work from home but my schedule is flexible enough that I can swing by at almost any point in the day if I need to. I would have an hour or so in the morning to spend with my bird before I go to work. Then I'd have work, and once I'm home around 4 or 5, I'd have the rest of the time. I don't go out super often, maybe once a week, twice at most. I do go on vacations for about 3 weeks out of the year - so I would have a bird-sitter. On vacations that I could bring him/her along, I certainly would - as I have done with my dog too. But that's not all the time, and I am out of the country for two weeks out of the year.
So hopefully that gives you a bit of information about my lifestyle, and what I'm looking for in a bird. I have looked through many species and loosely narrowed it down to a few dozen that I'm considering - I'll keep narrowing it down. I'll post those next, and hopefully everyone here's got some great suggestions too.
Thank you,
Drew
I am considering adding a parrot into my life.
I have experience with birds before - first budgerigars, then a cockatiel, then a sun conure, and I have experience handling larger birds (blue and gold macaw and a sulfur-crested cockatoo). These birds are not with me currently.
The larger birds were somewhat unsocialized pets - not the Margaritaville birds used to being handled every day.
In my home - I have a few other pets. I've got a dachshund, a pair of iguanas who live outdoors (but are allowed inside), a reef tank, and I am considering adding a large vivarium for dart frogs in the room with the reef tank. I am no stranger to keeping exotic animals, lol. I've kept far more than this, but this is what's in the house now - I prefer spending time with a few animals I am really passionate about rather than trying to keep everything under the sun.
So, in a bird - there are some things I am looking to have, and some I'm looking to avoid. Those are:
- My biggest thing I want to avoid is an overly loud bird. Talking or quieter "chitter-chatter" I don't mind - but constant screaming all day isn't something I am prepared to handle (ie most macaws, cockatoos, etc)
- Feather plucking is something I'd like to avoid. Species that are particularly prone to this are not of interest to me
- Now what I do want in a bird - the most important to me is a companion. I want a pet that will snuggle or cuddle with me, and enjoy laying on the couch. If he/she will get along with the dog too, even better
- I generally just want a sweetheart of a bird. Something playful would be great too, but not necessary - if I end up with a bird that would rather just kind of chill than play, that is perfectly fine
- A more intelligent bird (even one that could eventually learn to talk) is a positive for me as well. Again, not necessary - but it would be nice to have
Those are definitely the biggest things for me.
Size is not important - I'm considering some picket-size birds, up to some macaws. I can give whatever bird I choose all the space they need, and they will be out of the cage very often.
As far as time commitments - I am home often, I do not work from home but my schedule is flexible enough that I can swing by at almost any point in the day if I need to. I would have an hour or so in the morning to spend with my bird before I go to work. Then I'd have work, and once I'm home around 4 or 5, I'd have the rest of the time. I don't go out super often, maybe once a week, twice at most. I do go on vacations for about 3 weeks out of the year - so I would have a bird-sitter. On vacations that I could bring him/her along, I certainly would - as I have done with my dog too. But that's not all the time, and I am out of the country for two weeks out of the year.
So hopefully that gives you a bit of information about my lifestyle, and what I'm looking for in a bird. I have looked through many species and loosely narrowed it down to a few dozen that I'm considering - I'll keep narrowing it down. I'll post those next, and hopefully everyone here's got some great suggestions too.
Thank you,
Drew