Certainly it helps to have smaller bird first to understand these "costs." Feeding a budgie and providing toys is relatively cheap, but still work. I couldn't imagine having to provide toys for a bird who can instantly break a stick in half (my bird takes about 3 days to break a 3/4 cm natural perch). I also have felt her "meanest" bites before I learned how to provide correct stimulation from Lisa Shea. She grabs your skin and tears, like a dog! I've bled. I don't want to lose a digit to an African Grey.
Bigger and more complicated doesn't mean better unless you're specifically looking for a challenge. That's like saying horses (or worse, dolphins) are better than pet dogs, and once you master one, you should move up to the other if you're serious about animals.
Michael wrote: Someone who can't devote time to a budgie, sure as heck can't to a grey.
After reading this topic, I wonder if part of my "lack of time" for my budgie has to do with boredom? I never really thought of Tika as "boring" but I do often complain that when we spend time together, all she wants to do is sit and talk bird talk, which I can only stand so much of, being college edumucated and all.
I am sure it would not be as bad if I worked more at training her. Still, I always wonder what it would be like to have a parrot more inclined to do silly things, let you rub and hold it, and maybe talk and whistle. Then again, if after training I am still bothered by the boundary between bird and human (especially in cuddling) maybe I should consider having a dog in addition to a bird, rather than finding a bird that I expect to exhibit dog-like behavior.
entrancedbymyGCC wrote:Even a small bird can live 15-20-25 years... if someone is really captivated with an and after really giving it fair and honest thought really wants one, is it fair to the to insist they start out with a budgie they don't really find compelling and which will likely become second class bird after the desired arrives?
That's actually a worry of mine. I shamefully confess that I have to persuade myself not to think of other birds as "better" than , in spite of my earlier posts. I definitely would not recommend getting an "easier" bird just to prep for a larger bird. If someone like me who LOVES budgies can be tempted to think this way, I can't imagine the neglect a budgie would face with someone who didn't want one to begin with.
Also, budgies may not be squawky, but in the morning I have to take Tika in my room so she doesn't wake my roommate. When she is on my shoulder calling for my roommate, I think I lose some hearing. This is neither for nor against starting with louder/quieter birds, but merely a statement that birds can be deafening, something you might not realize buying them when they are all despondent ( ) or chirping happily with their flock ( ) in a pet shop cage.