hi there.

[spaced]

hello.
i live in queensland australia and i'm 51 yrs old.
i am currently parrot-less at the moment!

i have been keeping pet rats over the last 5yrs, and once my last two go, dandy and alfie, i'll not replace them.

i live in a small unit and i've been wondering what kind of pet i may be able to have here once i have no more rats. i've been doing a lot of reading up about parrots over the last few weeks, and i thought the best thing to do would be to join a forum.

growing up, my family always had bird avairies. in it we had quails, canaries, finches and cockatiels. so that is my extent of experience with birds.

 

[madparrotwoman]

Hi spaced, welcome to the forum, I am new also but this seems like a great forum. It's good that you are doing reserch before getting a parrot. Budgies, canaries, finches and tiels are all great birds but do not compare with looking after one of the bigger parrots, be prepared for a big difference! Parrots require a lot of your time and are more expensive to keep than you would probably think, they need fresh vegetables and/or fruit daily. It may also be a good idea to take out a health insurance for your bird as avian vets can be expensive.

Anyway not meaning to put you off at all as there are bucket-loads of information here at your fingertips. Please do keep us updated on which parrot you decide on.

 

[Aussie Ben]

Hi there from down in South Oz, welcome to the forum. You have made a smart decision in your research to join a forum. There is a world of information here. I might also suggest getting hold of some books that go through whats involved in pet parrots - its quite a commitment (but super fun).

There are many parrots out there so choosing the right one is important. You need to consider the space you have available, noise levels, time commitment, future plans (they live a loooong time) and of course the money factor. There are plenty of birds and they all have different characteristics, there is sure to be one that fits in with your lifestyle. Feel free to ask any questions, we are always willing to help.

Hello also to dandy and Alfie as well, rats are interesting little creatures.

 

[antoinette]

Welcome, a big hug from Sunny South Africa......
Browse around, many interesting posts, fantastic members.
Good luck in choosing a "friend for Life"

 

[Kiwis_mom]

HI and welcome from Canada! We are new here too on the forum but I've been a parrot owner for a little over two years now. I have a green cheek conure named Kiwi. I think these are great starter parrots. They are a bit smaller and easier to handle. Don't eat as much as a bigger parrot and may be alright for a smaller house or living space.

Do you live in an apartment? Remember to research how noisey a certain parrot is and think about what noise level you can have where you live. Sometimes people may complain if you get a very loud bird. You wouldn't want to have to rehome that bird later.

 

[Spiritbird]

Welcome Space. Will you name your birds after the planets? I agree with other forum members I would not want to keep a bird
in a cage of a rat.

 

[apatrimo94]

Welcome! Great forum with lots of great information! Chose wisely when picking your new best friend, and do your homework! You need to know everything possible about different species to pick the one that suits your lifestyle the best!

 

[spaced]

i've tried to search for an answer regarding birds/rat urine, but its very hard to find obviously. what type of things could be lurking in a cage like mine?

 

[Bobby34231]

Hi Spaced, welcome to the forum!