hello im new

[sleepwalker]

im so new i dont have a bird yet but i plan to correct that situation what would be a good starter bird? a budgie maybe? i dont really want to buy from a pet store because of the way some of them treat the animals in them i would prefer to buy from a breeder does anyone know of a breeder in northern kentucky? thanks a bunch

[pennyandrocky]

hi sleepwalker, why do you think breeders treat their birds better? a starter bird? i would recomend anyone who wants a bird to research all and volunteer at rescues. don't do your research on breeder websites one i read said my ducorps would be quiet and didn't need alot of attention.

[Polarn]

although some birds are overall easier to handle etc and I would perhaps consider some birds a good first bird, however, even if you buy a bird with a shorter lifespan plan for it to be around for the next 15 years... and i think the term starterbird gives somewhat the impression of something you get to learn how to handle birds to then get another bird. personally i wouldnt consider a budgie less of a bird than a macaw, just a different bird, well alot less when it comes to size and possible severety of a bite... but i hope you get the point.

And as Penny says breeders arn't always the best place to research and not all breeders keep their birds beter than petstores, some petstores keep their birds extremely well others don't. same with breeders... best way to find out what type of bird that might suit you is to get to know birds, meet them and interact with them. and preferebly more than one of each kind since even if some type of birds are known for a particular characteristics, a lt differ from personality as well, probably more than the breed itself. I wish there were rescues you could visit or volunteer at here, but I havn't found any so far, but if there is one in a 500mile radius I would too recomend to pay a visit or a few.

[liz]

Sleepwalker - key Parrot Rescue in you search. You will be surprised how many there are.

[Shelby]

I highly suggest reading about training and learning about different species of birds to find out which kind will likely match you in personality and be able to fit into your life. As others have said before, there is really no such thing as a "starter bird". All birds will live many years and are a lot of work. Some are just smaller and don't bite as hard. Good luck on your search!

[GlassOnion]

Welcome! As others have said, don't do the 'starter bird' thing. Budgies live for over 10years, and there are so many of them being tossed around on Craiglist because people believe they're disposable.
That term is just not fair to the animal involved as it states that you're moving on to something better..

Responsible, passionate breeders are a hundred times better than pet stores. Better diet, allowed to fledge, socialization, health, etc. it's cheaper too. Don't be afraid to get a bird shipped, it's better to go with a reputable breeder out of state than a crappy local one. Trust me.

www.avalonaviary.com is a fantastic breeder website with many species descriptions.
Same with www.avesinternational.com Just read through all the species you're interested in.