i Need Beginner Parrot care tips/recommended bird?

[Parrotlover20]

Hey everyone my name is Nate and im new to the forums and glad to be a part of the community

I have a couple questions:

ive been reading about parrot care:

Whats a good ideal pet for a beginner parrot owner?
I was looking into some and im hearing that beginners should usually start off with a parakeet or a small parrot atleast before wanting the bigger ones. Now i wasn't jumping into a big parrot anyway but i find the macaws interesting. I might get one when i get my own house when i i don't live with my parents anymore. Im 20 btw

And i know this depends on the type of parrot but is there anything i should know about caging my parrots that most beginners do that's a big no no? id rather find out now than the hard way!

Pets owned:
*water turtle( just gave away to pet store recently)
*Redfoot tortoise named coco
*Beta fish
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i live with 2 dogs also but they are not mine. but my tortoise stays in my room and my water turtle stayed in my room. But no worries for frightening the parrot my dogs aren't allowed in my room. Door is always shut.

[Eric&Rebecca]

Well there's really no such thing a start or beginner bird... its more about what species of bird is suited to you. What really attracts you to getting a bird?

What's your lifestyle like?- Do you work? (if so what hours)

A cockatiel is a really nice bird if you're new to owning birds, I wouldn't say it was a starter bird but its definitely a good place to start. You can get hand reared birds but I would go with parent raised if possible as they will be healthier birds in the long run. (I have 2 one hand reared and one parent raised).

Common things that you must be aware of is:

Teflon/non stick cookware is harmful to birds (toxic), if you use them the fumes can kill your bird. It's best to have all stainless steel cookware.
No nail varnish, perfumes or strong fumes like scented candles, again these can kill your bird.
Avocado, garlic, onions, and various other things are all toxic to birds so don't feed those
Do NOT feed your birds an ALL SEED DIET, its not good for them. Smaller birds do well on a split of pellets, seeds, fresh fruits and veg and pulses (you can buy soaking mixes online for these). You will need to wean them off seeds as new foods are not readily accepted and it can take a LONG time to introduce them but you must do this.
Do not take your bird to a normal vet, you need an avian vet to help with your bird you need to get your bird checked at 30 days, 6 months and 1 year (obviously more if it gets sick)
Birds really do hide their illness you need to be very familiar and vigilent with watching for signs of sickness, by the time you notice its usually too late
Correct cage size, consult this forum on good size cage for your birds and the correct bar spacing. Bar spacings are very important as the incorrect bar spacing can lead to a number of injuries or escape
Birds take time to tame- unless you get hand reared your bird will take time to tame. Don't be tempted to buy an unweaned bird. The bird should be eating seeds freely and easily. It does not make them tamer by weaning yourself and its very dangerous.
Your bird cannot be near other pets for at least 30 days and should not be allowed to play with them at all really. It's very dangerous.
Do not clip your bird, keeping your bird clipped does NOT make them safer or stop them escaping. If they fly, they may be clumsy at first but its up to you to bird proof the homeby keeping blinds down to prevent banging into windows (but make sure you tuck cords away!)
Insist your bird is not clipped, if the breeder or pet store (wouldn't recommend pet store tbh), sday they won't sell the bird flighted then go elsewhere.
Ensure plenty of antural wood perches and not the silly dowel rods that come with most cages, Java wood or custom made perches and are must with a variety of textures, lengths and diameters to help the exercise oft he feet.

I think I've ocovered most of it. Oh and bird safe disifectant not household F10 is a good brand

[KimberlyAnn]

Yes, and birds need a ton of attention and a long commitment. I've had a lot of friends, co-workers, and family members who now want to get a bird just like mine. They don't understand that for a Green Cheek Conure, it can be up to a 30 year commitment. Some parrots live for 80 years!

One of my co-workers told me that getting a bird was better then a dog because you can just put the bird away in it's cage. So far from reality. (And so sad to hear someone say that! Birds are so social and can get depressed when they don't get enough time with you or time outside their cage. I have one bird. She takes up all my time at home. She moves through the apartment with me. She's got a perch to sit on in every room in case I need to put her down quickly. I make sure at the very least, that I spend 2 hours a day with her. That's with my husband also spending his own 2-6 hours a day minimum with her also. (We work different schedules) So pretty much on work days...we make sure she gets TONS of people time. Weekends can be all day.

If my husband works too early or too late and she has been alone for too long, you can tell that it's affected her. They really are like children. So that's something to think about. My step daughter is your age and this is the start of your lives. Anything can happen once you guys leave your parents home.

But you came to the right place! Read up on different parrots here. Read the health section and parrot stories. People own all kinds of parrots here. I started off wanting a Sun Conure and I'm glad I checked into all the different parrots because I would have made a forever home for a Sun Conure, but it might not be as happy of an experience as owning a green cheek. More painful bites and louder voice? No thanks! Lol

[Eric&Rebecca]

KimberleyAnn is right, although technically caged birds do have a cage as their home they do need to be out and interacted with as much as possible, particularly if they are single birds. That's a very important point. Birds don't do well if they see you for like an hour a day. They need to be out to fly as much as possible.

You'll need to be spending a lot of time with them per day and if you do work full time I would suggest adding another bird of the same gender and species as a companion. However, this is no substitute for your contact.

[pennyandrocky]

the previous post was right there are no starter birds you should get the bird you want. but first you should find a rescue near you and volunteer. that will give you an opportunity to interact personally with different types of parrots to help you deicide which would be best for you and your lifestyle. or you could find life with parrots is not for you without making the commitment. even small parrots can live 30 years alot can change for someone your age. if you commit to a bird forget vacations. when you move out of your parents house will it be your own house or apartment? birds are loud and very distructive you'll have to put money away for repairs to your home. are you planning a family with children? what if you meet someone you want to share your life with and they hate your bird? it happens all the time that's how my first bird came to my grandmother. my uncle bought him and when he got married his wife hated cebal. time they need alot of it they would prefer to be with you all day but the minimum i've read is 5 hours. you want a macaw prepare yourself to get bit. it's not if it's when are you going to get bit. put your hand in a door and slam it. i'm not trying to scare you just being honest my hands are permanately scarred from my . flight is very important for their health. will your future home have enough room to allow flight? a bird would not do well shut away in your room it will get bored and needs to socialize with other people you don't want a one person bird. i have a dog she's fine with my birds, could be because she's been raised with them or because they toss her food. as long as you're carefull dogs and birds can live together.

[Parrotlover20]

Thank you guys. I might be getting a Cockatiel tomorrow. I went to the local pet store. The other day i saw they had the parrot. If my parents allow me i will be buying her for $100 with the cage and accessories included. She is 7 years old and she was just brought into the store about 2 weeks ago. And its not from petco or anything like that its just a local pet store. But he is good with animals he owns the store and he owns a farm. He has tortoises and ducks and etc.

He let me hold her while he clipped her wings and he let me hold her and walk around the store with her on my shoulder. And believe or not she likes me. She moved closer to my neck after alittle while and when the pet store guy tryed to take her off she didn't want to and kept trying to bite him lol. But after a couple trys she eventually let in. She was owned by a woman who didn't want her no more. But she is so cool idk how someone wouldn't want her. ill take a picture of her tomorrow if my parents say yes.

[Eric&Rebecca]

It would probably be better to let her wings grow out. She'll be even happier with you Clipping doesn't make them safer. When she molts just let them grow out. Cockatiel flight is amazing!

[Parrotlover20]

@EricandRebecca- Ok thankyou, ill keep that in mind . I sent you a friends request if you don't mind, its ok if you don't accept i understand if you don't.

And im gonna write those tips you left me on a piece of paper so i don't forget!

[Eric&Rebecca]

That's fine

[Parrotlover20]

@EricandRebecca Oh you already answered my question and i sent you a private message.

Its a good thing i re-read important stuff alot!