I need some advies

[Nir]

Can't you just wait till after year 1 of college. Trust me you will thank me for it. Meet some chicks and enjoy the college life for the first year and if your mind hasn't changed after that then your ready! They say college years are the best years of your life.

Keep in mind that I think you should get the cag. I love my birds and I went through this same phase your going through as well. But I don't regret my decision 1 bit. I would never say no to a person because that would be robbing them of what I have with my 2 tiny little ones. But I just think you should wait till after 1st year of college. It's a big Step in any kids life.

[bosad44]

Can't you just wait till after year 1 of college. Trust me you will thank me for it. Meet some chicks and enjoy the college life for the first year and if your mind hasn't changed after that then your ready! They say college years are the best years of your life.

Keep in mind that I think you should get the cag. I love my birds and I went through this same phase your going through as well. But I don't regret my decision 1 bit. I would never say no to a person because that would be robbing them of what I have with my 2 tiny little ones. But I just think you should wait till after 1st year of college. It's a big Step in any kids life.

ok. thanks a lot Nir.

[Conure Mom]

Please please don't think I'm harsh. This might read harsh, but really, I'm saying exactly what I'd say to any other adult asking this question for their child, or what I'd be telling my own 17 year old son if he were the one asking for advice. It's not intended to be mean - I just tell it like it is... So please, don't be hurt or angry, OK?

I owned a cockatiel last year and ... my brother left the door open and I looked everywhere ... but couldn't find him any where ... so I've decided to move on and think about making the next step and buy me a .so any advises, tips, suggestions, or opinions would be appreciated

So, I shortened your original post down to just the basics.
You had a 'tiel and your brother lost it. Now you want to get a Grey and you're asking for "Advises, tips, suggestions, or opinions." I read two pages worth of great advice, tips, suggestions and opinions with every one of them followed by you telling people that they were wrong and they don't know what your life is like.

You'd be surprised and how well an adult knows what an average teen's life is like. Unless you're a child of royalty or some mega rich family, your teen years are probably very similar to everyone else's teen years. I hate to say this, but you'll know what I'm talking about when you're, well... an adult.

You're right when you say that nobody knows what it's like in your house with your parents. How could we? We're not you. However, there are common themes that turn up in at certain points in everyone's life, and these themes are what people are basing their advice and opinions on. We all know that if you're planning to do it right, college takes more time than you ever think it could. It's nothing like High School, or whatever school you're attending now. We all know that there's a high probability that your social life will change when you begin your secondary education. You may not think so now, but there's a high probability that it will. We all know that you might have a hard time finding a spouse who loves your bird as much as you do... or even tolerates him. We know many many many birds who have been placed in shelters because babies have been born and the spouses say, "NO BIRD. Period!"

These are the things that don't always show up in research, and they're the things that don't usually show up on a 17 year olds radar. And believe me, that's not a bad thing, not in the least! They're not meant to! That's what adults are for, we provide wisdom and guidance for the younger generation.

Having said all of that, know that I, like Nir, am not opposed to young people having birds. I know a young lady who may be one of the most responsible bird owners I know - and she was still in HS when she got her bird, but she's not typical. You might not be typical either - but the things mentioned here are the types of things you should be able to discuss rationally, rather than just telling people that you've "researched it and have got it covered" or that they "just don't understand your situation."

That's all I'll say right now. I hope I didn't offend you, and I really hope I didn't make you, or anyone else angry because I said all of it with the best of intentions and the most open of hearts. It sounds like you're buying your bird regardless of what is said here, and I truly wish you (and it) the best, from the bottom of my heart. You'll enjoy it - if only for a while.

[cmaygar]

I've read all of the posts and believe that all of the advice that you are asking for is right there. At 17, you are in no position to purchase a CAG. Your living situations will change many times over from now, through college and then afterwards when you get established and on your own. CAGs are not birds for novices to begin with and respond best to a very regular and routine schedule. CAGs may become feather pluckers if they are stressed and spending inadequate time with them or keeping sporadic hours may be harmful to the well-being of a CAG.

You should wait until you are established to get a large parrot. Most of us on this forum wanted parrots when we were teenagers but waited until we were stable enough financially and on our own before we obtained our first parrot. Make the decision in the best interest of the bird, not based on your desire alone. If I were a CAG breeder I would not sell one to you for that reason and would politely ask you to come back after you have completed your studies and had your own housing that would accept a CAG.

[Nir]

I've read all of the posts and believe that all of the advice that you are asking for is right there. At 17, you are in no position to purchase a CAG. Your living situations will change many times over from now, through college and then afterwards when you get established and on your own. CAGs are not birds for novices to begin with and respond best to a very regular and routine schedule. CAGs may become feather pluckers if they are stressed and spending inadequate time with them or keeping sporadic hours may be harmful to the well-being of a CAG.

You should wait until you are established to get a large parrot. Most of us on this forum wanted parrots when we were teenagers but waited until we were stable enough financially and on our own before we obtained our first parrot. Make the decision in the best interest of the bird, not based on your desire alone. If I were a CAG breeder I would not sell one to you for that reason and would politely ask you to come back after you have completed your studies and had your own housing that would accept a CAG.

i agree with this however i just want to point out 1 thing. Even when your established, dont expect anyone to go easy on you. reason is because people really underestimate what it takes to be a parrot owner and especially bigger parrots thats why look at this as things to watch out for when you do get one regardless of when it is. when i came to the site, i was the guy who did wait for a bigger parrot. i wanted one since my childhood years but waited till i finished college, got job, and was in very good financial state, and had my own place in ny. but the same responses your getting is what i got and it did get me ready for the bird. so just take the info seriously and if you still think your actually ready then do it.

[Shelby]

... I know they require a lot of time and attention and I spend most of my time in home I rarely go out so I got that solved. and I can afford to bring new toys for it every now and then so it wont get bored when I'm not around....

Hi there!
First off, I want to say I am impressed that you even bothered to ask around for advice before you brought home a bird. Lots of people just see one in the pet store and bring it home without even knowing the species or what its needs are. So kudos. But please don't be hasty to discount advice after you ask for it.

Second, I'm nearly 20 and I just finished my first year at college, so I thought you might like to hear thoughts on the time commitment from somebody closer to your age.... I really wanted to get a budgie or cockatiel to be my companion before I went off to school. Like you, I spent a lot of time researching and I thought I could handle it. BUT, the dorms don't allow pets, so I couldn't get a bird. And boy, am I GLAD. My first semester, I took 19 credit hours, and my second semester, I took 14 credit hours. In neither semester would I have been able to care sufficiently for a parrot. Heck, my first semester, I was barely able to take good care of myself! (4-6 hours of sleep a night, skipping meals to practice for concerts or work on a project, etc.) And if I spent a lot of time with a bird, I probably would have resented it after a while. Because:
1) You would not BELIEVE how much homework professors give. They all seem to think that their class is the ONLY class you're taking. And when you have a big project or paper coming up... say goodbye to any free time you usually have!
2) When you are studying, you will need to stay focused to get everything done. The last thing you will want is your bird distracting you when you should be studying. I know if I had a cute bird, I would NEVER get anything done!
3) Even though the school is in the same city you live in now, you will meet lots of new, fun, and interesting people. You will want to spend time with your new friends, not hang out in your room all the time.

Third, you may be able to afford the countless expenses of a parrot NOW, but will you be able to when you are actually in college? Tuition is getting more expensive all the time. Scholarships are getting harder to get. Textbooks are OBSCENELY expensive. For example, I had to purchase my algebra textbook brand-new, and everywhere I looked sold it for no less than $200. So your wallet will get skinny real quick!

If you are dead set on getting a parrot right now, at least try to get one from a shelter. There are lots of birds who are given up because of the owner's life changes (moving, health decline, etc), not necessarily because of behavioral problems that the bird has. You would be giving a helpless bird a better home.

[Grey_Moon]

I have to step in here.

To the original poster---I am 22 years and have been mum to a Timneh African Grey for about 8-9 years now. She is 14 and the love of my life.
HOWEVER, I would in no way, knowing what I know right now a) do it again and b) *ever* recommend young people having parrots.

Reason?

It is like having a child. Would you become a parent right now in your life? No?
Then right now is not the right time for you.

You are not a parrot caregiver. Thus, you *think* you are prepared and you *think* you know what it will be like. However, like a childless couple *thinks* they know what having kids is like because they're read some books/articles/talked to a few people, you actually know only a fraction of the reality.

You also are not experienced in living on your own or the time and dedication college will take nor how up and down your life will be in the next few years as you begin to get established and become an adult.

A cockatiel as a child does not prepare you for a CAG in any way shape or form.

Don't be a teenage parent. You have no idea what its like trying to do what effectively amounts to raising a small special needs child and also be a student ANNND be a young person who's trying to find themselves, make friends, date....

Enough parrots pay the price for situations like yours...don't add another.
Its not to say that one day you couldn't do it, just right now is a terrible idea.
IF you decide to do it, remember now that you're a parent and that means you will be sacrificing some aspects of your life and not living the 'typical' way that your friends might be and that it could make things difficult.

[pennyandrocky]

i was 16 when i inherited my from my grandmother. i had to make alot of sacrifices to keep him. i'm happy to have had him in my life but if i had the choice i would have rather waited i'm a much better parrot caregiver now than i was then i made alot of mistakes with him. what i would tell you is if you really think you're ready find a bird rescue to volunteer at if you still want a , the 2nd most abandoned birds after s, then do it.

[Nir]

interesting thing shelby pointed out and i want to add to it.i was very smart throughout middle school and high school. excellent grades and everything without even trying. classes were very easy to me. but trust me, college is A LOT HARDER then high school. also you will WANT to meet new people and make time for your friends. At least you should.

[Pajarita]

Why don't you try for a bonded pair of cockatiels? They are such lovely birds... beautiful, smart, sweet-tempered, easier to feed than a Gray BY FAR!, not needy at all (Grays and toos are the neediest parrots!) and they would have each other so they would not need constant company as a gray does. Your wanting a gray is understandable but going from a tiel that lasted a few months to a 50 year commitment with a gray is like going from a tricycle to an Indy 500 car...