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Is This the Right Bird for Me?

by Layne Dicker

from "The Virtual Parrot" at http://www.realmacaw.com

I'll come clean: I can't answer this question for you. No one can. But, I can set down a few guidelines and some questions that you should ask yourself.

First, buying the right type of bird is not as important as both buying from the right breeder/store and being the right kind of bird owner. Even if you're the perfect "Cockatoo family" a properly raised and kept Amazon will be better bird for you than a poorly bred or owned Cockatoo. And you should only buy a domestically raised bird. They're far superior companion animals and don't deplete endangered wild populations.

So finding "the right bird" is a five step process: looking at your situation, finding a good breeder, and learning, learning, learning.

Money: Birds, cages, veterinarians, food and toys are expensive. A $1000 does not buy a $1000 bird. It buys a $500 bird, 4250 cage, $150 in toys, bowls, perches, food and accessories and a $100 vet visit. Bigger birds tend to cost more, eat more, destroy more expensive toys and need more expensive cages.

But if finances are an issue, the $100 hand fed Cockatiel is a sweet, affectionate and interactive as any companion bird. Lovebirds and Budgies are also in this price range and for a little more you could look at Parrolets, small Conures, and Brotogeris parakeets. Remember even small birds get sick and deserve excellent medical care, so always have some money set aside for a rainy day.

Noise: Yep, a lot of parrots are noisy critters. Some are REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, NOISY! So if your living situation won't tolerate big sounds you should cross large Macaws, Amazons and most Cockatoos off your list. The Mini Macaws, Nanday, Patagonian and Aratinga Conures have the same reputation, but everything is relative. Listen and decide for yourself.

African birds (Greys, Senegals, Meyers, Jardines), Pionus, Asiatics and Eclectus tend to be a little quieter. But these are still medium to large birds, so the lung power is there. Smaller Amazons (Lilac crowned, Green cheeked, Tucuman) are also a better bet, but any "bet" is still a gamble. If you need absolute silence then the perfect bird for you is probably fried chicken, just not extra crispy.

Expectations: You've heard all sorts of species generalizations, however, all birds are real individuals and learn many of their behaviors, so there will always be exceptions to behavioral generalizations. ( Except one: birds are messy. they should all come with a free vacuum cleaner.) You should consider the species profiles to be the 'average" with quite a bit of variation possible, such as a silent Greys, cuddly Amazons, introspective Macaws, standoffish Cockatoos, and gregarious Eclectus. Generalizations or profiles are not probabilities or absolutes; more like tendencies.

Lots of baby birds are sweet but, like people, birds mature. Spending time with adult members of any considered species is vital.

Your House: Do you have room for a big cage, big play gym and bird mess? If not get a smaller bird. Do you have 5 year-old, hyperactive quintuplets named Damian, Lucifer, Satan, Beelzebub and The Claw? birds and children are not incompatible, but some of the more sensitive birds (Greys, smaller Cockatoos, Eclectus) can be frightened of very active households. All birds need to feel safe at all times, but some Amazons, Macaws, and Conures can do well even in homes that feel like Grand Central Station.

The Decision: The trick here is to find a quality breeder/bird shop that has birds within your price, noise, space, personality, and expectation range. Look for interactive, outgoing, self-confident birds: birds that explore and play with toys. Consider only birds that are eating varied, healthy diets and that are fully and not prematurely weaned. Weaning/hand feeding should be left to experts only. A bird that you hand fed will NOT bond differently than the one you purchased weaned. Good breeders/stores will be sanitary and bright and the proprietors should be as particular about you as you are about them. you wouldn't want to buy a bird from someone who would sell to just anyone, would you? Since having birds can be challenging, you also want this person to be some who invites you to call with your questions and to be some one you want to call.

After that, you wait. You'll know The "right bird" when you see it. Something about it will touch you and say, "Okay I'm here. Let's go home and have some fun!" I suggest you listen.

Finally, keep doing what you're doing now reading, learning, attending seminars and asking questions. There's a lot to know about having a bird and there's more to learn every day. It's true labor of love and it will pay daily dividends in the happiness or your family and your bird.