Hello from ny!!!

[Cpfishworks]

Hello everyone! My name is cj and I am 15 years old. I'm new to this forum and am really excited to be part of the family haha. I am a huge bird lover but do not have one as a pet . Unfortunately My mom is afraid of them. She had a bad experience with them as a child. Her mom (my grandma) has an African gray and a blue and gold macaw. The macaw loved my grandma but hated everyone else, including my mom. as a child my mom took a nasty bite from that macaw and ever since them she has been afraid of them. For about four years I have been trying to convince her to let me get a parrot but she has not allowed it. I understand though because if I took a nasty bite from a macaw I would be a little bit hesitant the next time I went to pet one Lol. But anyway this is my first forum so can anyone tell me what exactly I'm supposed to do since I don't have a bird? Thanks!
-CJ

[Michael]

Welcome. Feel free to chat about parrots here and enjoy.

I think your mom is right but for different reasons. Getting a parrot at your age isn't a good idea. You still have school, college, and work ahead of you. Meanwhile you are still dependent on your parents. I encounter way too many cases of either kids getting birds and then not following through or leaving them with parents while they go to college (which causes loads of problems) or kids who really are better than many adults with their birds but have a problem because of their parents. For example the parents insist on a small cage, don't want to pay for vet, insist on clipping, etc. The kids might know what is right but since they depend on their parents the bird is still affected!

But just because I wouldn't recommend purchasing a parrot until you're taking care on your own doesn't mean I don't think you can have fun and be involved with parrots. A few great ways to get involved can include working or volunteering at a bird rescue, store, or hanging out with people who have parrots. Hope you can learn lots about them now and hold off considering getting one until you have your own home.

[Cpfishworks]

Thank you so much. I agree with you I am not going to get a parrot until I am out of college and own a homembut I am trying to find every possible way to be involved with parrots. I know that if I get a parrot before college my parents will have to take care of it and that is a recipe for disaster lol. And right now I am at school for 7 hours a day plus extra curricular activities so I know that as of right now I would not make a good parrot owner. The thing is the only places I could work right now are the commercial pet stores likes pet co. Or petsmart but I would not work there. There are no rescues around here that I could volunteer at either. The only place is a pet store that is 30 min away from my house that isn't commercial and they take really good care of their pets. I'm there about 3-4 times a month haha. The workers all know me but I have to be 16 to work there so right now the only thing I can really do is play with my grandmas birds or keep going to that store and interact with their bird.

[Pajarita]

Well, I live in Northern NJ, have lots of parrots and can always use help so, if you ever have the time, just pm me and we can coordinate.

[Cpfishworks]

Oh I would love to help anytime it is needed. I could really use the exposure and experience. I'm pretty busy as of the spring but over the summer I might be able to come down and check it out. Do you run a rescue or do you just have a lot of pets?

[Michael]

Forgot to mention clubs, vet clinics, and shows. Follow my facebook page for announcements of NY local appearances when they come up.

[Pajarita]

Oh I would love to help anytime it is needed. I could really use the exposure and experience. I'm pretty busy as of the spring but over the summer I might be able to come down and check it out. Do you run a rescue or do you just have a lot of pets?

I ran a bird rescue for 6 years but no longer do. But I still have about 50 birds in several different species so just pm me here whenever you are going to have free time during the summer and you can come over and spend some time with them.

[Cpfishworks]

I will definitely pm you when summer gets a little closer. Thank you so much

[Pajarita]

No problem. I am always glad for an opportunity to show off my birdroom and birds -LOL

[Cpfishworks]

Yes haha I would be too. What kind of birds do you have?