Wanting to get my first parrot and seeking advice

[Brittanyv326]

My best recommendation is to spend time with the different species of birds. Spend time with at least a few species, handle them and care for a couple of that species if you can. I went in to the bird store looking for a budgie and fell in love with Sadie the moment I held her. I spent at least 20 hours reading about Senegals before I got her, but reading and interacting are 2 different things! Only after I got her home, was I shocked at the cluelessness of bird ownership because I had only read online, read online, read online instead of learning by being around them. And I have no idea what "normal" is and what is just a "Sadie-thing" because I have only ever spent time with her! I just think it's my only regret is not spending enough time with birds before committing to one.

On the dog subject... I did finally admit to myself that I indeed just wanted a(nother) dog after about 6 months of having her. I wanted her to fill all of the dog roles and I had all these ideas and basically hoped she would be a mini, gorgeous dog in a birds body that lived 40 years instead of 10. Especially when she went through her "terrible twos", where we actually edited out Eminem's song to say, "You don't wanna mess with Sadie, because why? Because Sadie will flapping kill you!" At that point, I was just like, wow I wish I had considered more of what I was getting myself into. She made me bleed a LOT of times and took so much time, effort, and patience to rebuild our bond. So be really careful and be really honest with yourself and your intentions of getting a bird. I feel like a complete tool for admitting this but if it can help you, it is worth putting myself out there. By the way, I have 2 dogs and we have reached a harmony, and what I believe to be a safe and comfortable environment for all. So it's possible. But obviously not to be taken lightly (not that you are by any means). It's tragic the stories I've read and it does make me think twice and be sure to be extra careful.

[Nir]

Eric&Rebecca: i think you made some excellent points. but i want to point out that the op seems like he is against clipping as well so i am sure he will keep them flighted. He was just being open minded and saying that he isnt completely shunning everyone who clips even though he wont ever do that. at least that's what i read from his post.

also 1 thing i dont really agree with is to wait for a better time to get a bird. I bet all of us could have found reasons why the time we got our bird wasnt the greatest time. Perhaps school, perhaps job, perhaps family, etc.. but all that matters is honestly if the person is willing to make all the sacrifices and research and commitment to make it work. only time i might say wait is if the person getting the bird is young and not mature enough.

[Eric&Rebecca]

OMG I am so sorry Raque but at least you can tell those points to people who DO try to convince you wing clipping is ok! I'm so sorry for not reading properly.

[feathermum]

wow!! I am so late to this, not even sure you'll get to read it..but just wanted to put in MO, on the dog issue, I have to say I am wicked surprised that so many on here don't have dogs along w/ birds!! I have 3 dogs. and they RUN from my birds!! kinda funny really. I think it's very,very important that if you are going to have a dog & bird in your house, then you gotta be smart about it. take EVERY precaution. I haven't had a single problem, however, I never underestimate my dogs! I think when ppl do, that's when a problem is likely to happen.even though they are trained,always have been, I wouldn't leave them alone w/ my parrots out of their cages. I also think certin breeds of dogs are a better match w/ a parrot household
that being said, I would get a Puppy!! so u can do ALL the training, and not have to wander what life it had before...might sound mean, instead of adopting, but w/ birds & children that's my moto! good luck

[Raque]

I'm not assuming you think this way, but a Sennie's small size can be deceiving...they have "big bird" brains and need to be kept well stimulated.

This is one of those internet information things. One of the exact reasons I was thinking of a Senegal was due to things I read about them not needing as much attention as most other parrots as they will keep themselves occupied with toys and foraging items better than most.

My best recommendation is to spend time with the different species of birds. Spend time with at least a few species, handle them and care for a couple of that species if you can.

I think this is a great suggestion; it is just hard to borrow a bird to care for it for a while. I have taken care of a friends Grey for a weekend and visited a few pet stores looking at different species. Sometime this week I am going to try to make it down to a rescue shelter to visit the parrots there and talk with the people who run it.

OMG I am so sorry Raque but at least you can tell those points to people who DO try to convince you wing clipping is ok! I'm so sorry for not reading properly.

No worries. To be clear though, I personally feel clipping a birds wings is cruel and wouldn't want to do that (I am also not planning on getting a dog either...just acknowledging that it is a possibility I may consider within the next 1/3 of a century).

[Lina]

Well i am really late to post on this but this like the third thread on someone asking about getting thier first Bird and all that and one thing i have not seen anyone metion on the larger size parrots is about people if they plan on having kids. Parrots can crack a nut open like nothing what would they do to a small childs finger. One thing we all say if you get bite by the parrot you have usally done somthing wrong or not read the bird right a toddler isn't capeable of reading a bird like an adult.

Just something we might all want to rememebr in the future to tell people when they thinking on a bird

[Michael]

That's true, but it's really just as true of any parrot. The little ones can often cause more pain than the big ones and are more likely to. It comes down to managing the toddler and the bird to prevent interactions in the first place rather than worrying about the specific size of the bird. While a big parrot might do more substantial damage to the child, a child could do more substantial damage to a small bird. So either way it's bad. That's why responsible parenting (ie not letting them both me in the same place at the same time) is THE ONLY solution.