Chook Me!

what is an ideal 'first pet' bird?

i have lots of experience with all kinds of animals as i did an animal management course at college for 2 years, i also have had many pets. i wandered which kind of bird was the best for people who hadnt had pet birds before (i have plenty of experience with poultry as i live on a farm. please dont suggest large birds) initially i researched finches as i like their small stature and think they look beautiful, but i dont think they are good pets for somebody who hasnt had birds before. i know that animals require time, attention, space, diet and company. i will be working throughout the day from around 8 until 5, so would you say its not ideal i get a pet bird then? (is that a major time issue?) i want something that is affordable, friendly, able to be handled and easy to cater for (substrate and diet) i have always wanted a pair of dutch blue love birds, or maybe even quail, but have yet to research them. i wandered what you would advise for me, a person who has never owned any birds other than chickens?

Public Comments

1. Birds are so much better off being keep in groups in avairies but if you do want birds that live in the house i would advcie budgies or cockateils . Birds are social and should always be keep with another of there own kind. If you want tame they buy hand reared ones is always best. Birds that are caged need daily safe free flight and you can't be very house proud . They are also quiet noise. Chinese painted quail are great quail but are really best keep in an avairy they don't like that much human contact. And never clip an birds wings birds are meant to flight so i would never do it.
2. i say a budgies are a lovebird are a finch
3. I would recommend a budgie or cockatiel as a first bird. Both are great first birds and would be okay with your work schedule. Both can be handtamed. below is a few website with a few more and a little about some different species. Definetely research alot before buying so that u and ur new friend will be happy and healthy! Also look for a breeder vs a pet store in your area first if you can they are usually easier to hand tame. http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/choosing-your-bird-the-best-birds-for-beginners.html http://birds.about.com/od/breedsofbirds/a/choosingabird.htm http://birds.about.com/od/adoptingabird/u/choose_a_bird.htm
4. Plenty of people work full time and have birds. As long as you are able to spend some time each day with them, it shouldn't be a problem. That's good you realize that a larger bird would take up more time and wouldn't be right for you. Some birds that would make good pets are finches, budgies/parakeets, cockatiels, and lovebirds. Budgies/parakeets, cockatiels, and lovebirds can all be hand-tamed and make great pets. They are social birds that enjoy interacting with people. If you want one of those birds to be friendly, buy a hand-tamed one. You'll have a much easier and quicker time training a hand-tamed bird as opposed to one that isn't tame (I have had experience with tamed and untamed birds). You'll need much more time and patience to tame a bird that isn't tame. It can take many months for some of these birds to become tame. You can find more hand-tamed birds from breeders than at a pet shop. If you buy one bird, it's more likely to become bonded to you. If you buy two birds, they will bond to each other, in most cases. Finches are ideal if you don't care to handle your bird so much but would rather listen to it sing and watch it fly in its cage. Zebra and Society Finches are both great for beginners. They are easier to care for than some other species of finches. A well-balanced diet of fruits, veggies, protein, and calcium is needed for them to be healthy (same goes for the other birds I mentioned). Finches eat plenty for tiny birds. Finches usually enjoy the company of each other rather than people. They aren't social like budgies, cockatiels, or lovebirds. They do well in housed in even numbers in a cage that is longer than taller. Length is more important than width because finches hop and fly sideways, not up and down. Finches are a joy to hear and watch. They don't need out of cage time like the other birds mentioned. Choose same sex finches if you don't want to breed them. Male zebra finches have orange cheek patches while females lack the cheek patches. Male society finches are the singers. Females don't sing. Canaries are yet another option for anyone new to birds. The males can sing a very lovely song. Females don't sing. Canaries need a roomy cage to fly in. Once again, length is more important height. Keep a male canary housed by itself. You can house two females together if you choose. Male canaries can be aggressive toward one another. Canaries can be very happy by themselves. They don't require handling like budgies or cockatiels. If having a songbird is important to you, then you may want to buy a canary. Here are some links with more information on these birds: http://www.cockatielcottage.net http://zebrafinch.info http://www.budgieplace.com http://www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww28eiv.htm
5. i would recommend a budgie. If you get the budgie lots of toys then it can entertain itself while you're at work
6. i think the ideal bird would be a budgie! theyr r good first time birds, and low magnanats