Parrot Parenting E-Book

Carol Frischmann

• Herausgeber: CompanionHouse Books
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2014

Seitenzahl: 420

Beschreibung

From the tiny parakeet to the giant hyacinth macaw, not all parrots place the same demands on their parents. Parakeets, conures, cockatiels, lories—the parrot family consists of the most popular pet birds, each offering keepers their unique characteristics and exotic beauty as well as their specific requirements. Bird expert and author, Carol Frishmann has written a must-have book for every parrot parent-to-be, an all-in-one guide that will remain indispensable in every bird home, regardless of the size, trainability, or personality of the feathered child. More than a selection guide, Parenting a Parrot offers all the information owners need to know about feeding, caring for, and training their chosen parrot. Though both good talkers, the eclectus parrot may be quieter than the cockatoo, but he's not nearly as cuddly. Parenting a Parrot tells owners what to expect from their parrots and how to get the most out of their avian companions.INSIDE THIS BOOK:Finding and purchasing the ideal parrotDescriptions and needs of the most popular twenty parrot speciesComprehensive positive-reinforcement-based training chapter, including trick training, talking, and training a flighted birdLiving with a parrot, including establishing daily routine, socializing, housing, home safety, and cleanlinessThe parrot's meal plan: diets, organic and natural options, and special needsUnderstanding parrot behavior, enrichment strategies, and problem solvingGrooming, health care, first aid, and senior careParenting tips highlighted in sidebars in each chapterLists of recommendations for best talkers, quietest species, trick experts, beginner's birds, etc.Includes detailed species descriptions of these parrots:African GreysAmazonsBourke's ParkeetsCaiquesCockatielsCockatoosConuresEclectusLineolated ParakeetsLories and LorikeetsLovebirdsMacawsParakeets/BudgiesParrotletsPionusPsittaculasQuaker ParakeetsSenegals and Other PoicephalusPlus: Brotogeris, Great-Bills, Kakarikis, Rosellas, Hawk-Headed Parrots, Vasa Parrots

Leseprobe

Parrot Parenting

Project Team

Editor: Tom Mazorlig

Copy Editor: Joann Woy

Design: Mary Ann Kahn

Index: Elizabeth Walker

i-5 PUBLISHING, LLCTM

Chief Executive Officer: Mark Harris

Chief Financial Officer: Nicole Fabian

Vice President, Chief Content Officer: June Kikuchi

General Manager, i-5 Press: Christopher Reggio

Art Director, i-5 Press: Mary Ann Kahn

Senior Editor, Amy Deputato

Vice President, General Manager Digital: Jennifer Black

Production Director: Laurie Panaggio

Production Manager: Jessica Jaensch

Marketing Director: Lisa MacDonald

Copyright © 2014 by i-5 Publishing, LLCTM

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of i5 PressTM, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in an acknowledged review.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Frischmann, Carol.

Parrot parenting : the essential care and training guide to 20+ parrot species / by Carol Frischmann.

pages cm

Includes index.

ISBN 978-1-62008-130-3 (alk. paper)

1. Parrots. I. Title.

SF473.P3F754 2014

636.6’865--dc23

2014016309

eBook ISBN: 978-1-62008-179-2

This book has been published with the intent to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter within. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the author and publisher expressly disclaim any responsibility for any errors, omissions, or adverse effects arising from the use or application of the information contained herein. The techniques and suggestions are used at the reader’s discretion and are not to be considered a substitute for veterinary care. If you suspect a medical problem, consult your veterinarian.

i-5 Publishing, LLC™

3 Burroughs, Irvine, CA 92618

www.facebook.com/i5press

www.i5publishing.com

1: The Pros and Cons of Life With a Parrot

Parrots engage us from the first moment we catch sight of them: Their feathers are gorgeous, they seem to represent an exotic landscape, and they are as interested in us as we are in them. If you have not spent a lot of time with a parrot, you may be surprised at the attention a parrot gives to every detail of a human’s movement and tone of voice. And, in response, their attempts to get human attention are fascinating. The sounds they make, the way they move their bodies, the color of their feathers are interesting, but their fascination with us is gratifying—flattering even. Additionally, parrots take us from the mundane, ordinary life of our homes and lead us to imagine life in a foreign and magical place.

Introduction

Living as a companion of parrots for more than twenty-five years—currently with two African grey parrots—and as a writer about parrot behavior, biology, ecology, and husbandry (the keeping of what is essentially a wild animal in a human home), I can tell you that I would not be anxious to acquire a third companion parrot who was neither a cockatiel nor a budgerigar (parakeet).

The principal reasons for this come from the fact that a parrot is a wild animal, evolved to live in places where they fly miles each day, communicate with their flocks with loud calls, and where the detritus from their feeding serves a useful purpose. I and many of my parrot-loving friends have faced difficulties with neighbors over the noise that our parrots make. We tire of cleaning the mess that seems to reappear over the course of an hour. Our partners and friends resent the time, attention, and expense lavished on our birds. We wrestle with our conscience over the difficulty of providing an environment and companionship that is stimulating enough for an animal as intelligent and as persistent as a parrot can be. At times, we have talked with one another about our problems, sought solutions, engaged with consultants, and worked with veterinarians, nutritionists, and experts in animal behavior.

I have thought hard about how to open this book about a species that has brought so much pleasure and richness into my life. Psittacines, as parrots are called in scientific circles, are a very large and diverse group of birds. Mainly, they live in equatorial climates in the wild, and many of their habitats are disappearing at alarming rates. In fact, for some species of parrots, only the skills of aviculturists (bird breeders) have kept them alive.

Thousands of people around the world have dedicated their lives to studying, raising, and understanding this most fascinating group of birds. Whether a parrot belongs in your home or not is a very personal decision. What I can tell you echoes what everyone else I know who loves and respects parrots will say: think hard about your adaptability, your willingness to commit to a parrot for many years, and your ability to provide what your companion needs, including making trade-offs in order to spend time with your companion parrot.

In addition to being demanding, psittacines are so long-lived that scientists believe they hold a key to unlocking the secrets of staying young. As a result, anyone who has a parrot larger than a parakeet can expect that, unlike most other companion animals, the bird will live for fifteen to eighty years, depending on the species. (Consider this: many of us have difficulty committing to live with another member of our own species for that length of time!) Parrots not only speak a “foreign” language, but they also have needs that are completely different from our own. In addition, as companion animals, they are completely dependent on us for their well-being. This is a trust that begins the day you decide to bring a parrot into your home. My goal here is to help you envision, to the extent possible, what your experience of parenting a parrot can be. Depending on your expectations, the choice of species you make, and your flexibility, your experience can be either a lifelong and mostly positive experience or a frustrating and unhappy one for both you and your parrot. Let’s look at both the positive and the potentially difficult aspects of this endeavor.

Parrots are only a few generations from their natural ancestors and are essentially still wild animals.

Why Keep a Parrot?

Companionship, admiration, and tradition are among the many reasons people choose to keep parrots. Parrots are good company—they are intelligent, interaction-seeking presences. Parrots sometimes want play but more often they seek a flock relationship: a contact call first thing on waking, a greeting when you return, a desire to be involved in whatever you do. Admiration and fascination for the parrot as a “being” is what initially draws people to these birds, and may be what grips some of us for a lifetime. Finally, some families have a tradition of keeping parrots. Adults remember their family parrots and want to provide that experience for their children.

Companionship

The United States census tells us that more people than ever are living alone. A friendly whistle and a bit of a talk in the morning may be just what you need to shake off some loneliness. Sharing an ordinary breakfast with a parrot offers you moments of genuine affection and reassurance. Your bird may ask to have his beak stroked or to go to your finger so that you can provide him with bites of your own breakfast, which will be infinitely more interesting than whatever you planned to feed him. Before heading out for a very busy day, having a few minutes just to talk things over as you change the paper and exchange yesterday’s water for a fresh supply can be gratifying. This may be one of the high points of your day—just the morning routine.

Parrots love their routines, and their needs help give our own lives stability and meaning. By providing for his needs in the way of food, toys, social interaction, and a clean, well-lighted place to live, you enjoy the daily constancy of a relationship. For people who have few demands in their lives, a companion bird provides a focus and a purposeful routine of care, feeding, and interaction. Sometimes, life with your parrot will be an unbelievably rewarding experience.

Well-socialized parrots are highly interactive and often affectionate companion animals.

Link to the Wild

For some of us, parrots provide a link to the wild that is otherwise missing in life. While living and working in cities or suburbs, we long to be elsewhere, living in a remote place filled with trees and the calls of monkeys and birds. In other words, the fact that a parrot is not a domestic animal, molded through thousands of generations of selective breeding to fit in with our lives, is exactly what we’re looking for. Before we head out for work, we’d like to be reminded that there is something else in the world, something not quite so civilized as our version of life.

Lifetime Fascination

Some of us cannot stop admiring the beauty, the wonder, and the complexity of wild birds. We have to have birds in our lives. We cannot imagine life without birds as an integral part of each and every day. We realize that we not only need to have birds in our lives, but we work to preserve birds in their natural habitats so that their species can flourish. These are the people who join various national and international associations to support research into understanding companion and wild birds, and who promote their health and welfare, associating with others who also cannot stay away from these sometimes raucous companions. Even when our parrots are stubborn, we remember that they are doing what they’ve evolved to do (at least we remember that most of the time!). What makes them difficult is also what makes learning about them so satisfying.

Other Reasons

Parrots have been companions of humans for thousands of years; for many Native Peoples, these birds’ feathers provide essential elements for religious ceremonies. For many others, parrots’ ability to mimic speech or sounds is an attraction. Whatever the reason you fall in love with these birds, there is likely a species that will suit you and your living situation, if you are willing to provide what that bird needs.

Why Not Keep a Parrot?

There are many reasons not to keep a parrot. The trick is to anticipate them and decide whether you are a parrot person. If you love antiques and oriental carpets and covet the perfect looks from Architectural Digest, a parrot is not for you. You will resent the mess, the non-designer cages, and the parrot paraphernalia. If you love the obedience of dogs but want the colors of a parrot, get a poodle and have your groomer sculpt and color his hair. Do not expect a parrot to be obedient. If you want another pet but feel you don’t have much time, a parrot is a poor choice.

The Worst Possible Scenario

Whenever I try to explain why one might not want to have a parrot, I suggest the following scenario: Imagine a two-year-old who will never grow up and out of the “No!” phase. Now, give the little tyke a small chainsaw (if you don’t believe that is a fair comparison for a beak on a bored parrot, you definitely haven’t spent enough time with parrots). Finally, imagine that the chainsaw-wielding two-year-old can fly.

Now, a budgerigar is a bird with a teeny-tiny chainsaw that is targeted toward paper and other easily chewed items like the pages of cookbooks or knitting patterns. A scarlet macaw, on the other hand, can crack a 1 × 1-inch piece of wood with a single closing of his beak. To be a successful parrot companion, you have to be an anticipator, a bad-behavior preventer, and a person who can swoop in and present the feathered two-year-old with something so interesting that he is no longer interested in cracking the leg on your antique chair or chasing after your sister’s newly pedicured scarlet toes.

If Decor Is Important

In addition, the larger parrots require large accommodations. If you are a person who values flawless carpets and Japanese wood-carved figures, think again before considering a parrot as a pet. To the parrot, everything in his environment is for chewing, tasting, pulling apart, and examining. Most parrots are jungle natives. Their ecological role is as a spreader of partially digested seeds and a provider of uneaten plant parts and nutrients that serve as fertilizer. This evolved behavior will not change because you have brought a parrot into your home. Although there are cases of people potty training their parrots, in general, this approach does not work well for a variety of reasons. Inevitably, your most valuable and rare figurines will be the ones that attract your parrot’s attention, and you’ll need to put them behind glass or in an enclosed display area out of your parrot’s way.

If you value your furniture and home décor highly, a parrot is probably not a good choice for you.

Do You Value Obedience?

Unlike domestic animals, parrots have no interest in pleasing you. Training a parrot is a bit like training a cat. You have to find a way to appeal to the parrot’s higher want. The trouble is that, without quite a bit of experience, this is much more difficult than training a dog. If you do want to train your parrot, there are simple approaches that work. The issue is that you must follow the experts’ directions, because nothing about training your bird is intuitive. This is all practice, repetition, and patience in rewarding very small improvements.

To enjoy having a parrot as a companion, you have to be able to put aside your ideas about what is acceptable behavior and find a way to coexist with an animal who evolved in the treetops, to lives in flocks, and to spend a majority of the day foraging for food. If you cannot provide either these conditions or conditions that mimic the parrots’ natural environment in these critical ways, your life together will not be as happy as you both would wish life to be.

Family Cooperation

One of the most practical parrot behaviorists in recent years is Liz Wilson. Her advice about the difficulties of having a parrot as a companion is that not all household members are enthusiastic about living with a bird. Because parrots can be so difficult, for the relationship to be successful, it is essential for everyone in the home to be enthusiastic about the prospect. Everyone in the family will need to handle the bird, keep the same rules, and cooperate with one another in parrot-related responsibilities. This cooperation begins prior to acquiring a bird. If everyone is not enthusiastic, then acquiring a parrot is a mistake. The placement will not be a success.

Questions to Ask Before Acquiring a Parrot

How long have I been committed to acquiring a parrot as a pet?

If your answer is less than six months, then think again. Even the smallest parrots are long-lived. Make sure you want to commit to a beautiful (and needy) animal’s well-being.

Is my family as enthusiastic as I am about this pet?

Any pet impacts the entire family. Parrots, especially those with loud voices or those who require lots of space, do have a significant impact on everyone in a household. Allergies, as well as attitudes that include being frightened of birds, pressure the bird-lover in the household into relinquishing her pet quickly. Consider waiting until another time in the family’s evolution before getting an avian companion.

Do I live in a place that will allow parrots? Will my neighbors be troubled by my new companion?

Everyone dreads living uncomfortably next door to someone who hates pet noise. And an angry neighbor wears on your happiness. Consider whether your apartment, condo, or neighborhood association allows parrots. Also, even when they do, consider those who live near you. If you know in advance that there will be trouble, wait until you (or they) live elsewhere.

Do I understand that parrots are not easy pets and that they are not people-pleasers like dogs?

Many people are under the mistaken impression that parrots don’t require much care. Nothing could be further from the truth. Parrots are intelligent animals who need daily attention and companionship, adequate toys, and numerous food choices to keep their minds busy. Without these things, parrots begin to do things to demand your attention. When this happens, most parrots quickly lose their homes.

Am I willing to devote the time and funds required for the proper care of a parrot?

The purchase price of a parrot is simply the beginning. You will need an indoor cage; a way to provide full-spectrum sunlight or an outdoor cage; a continuous supply of destructible toys; fresh (or frozen) fruits and vegetables, in addition to a high-quality pelleted food; and an annual veterinary examination in addition to periodic beak and nail trims. If you don’t have forty-five minutes a day to spend with your pet, consider either a very small parrot, such as a budgie (parakeet) or a different type of pet that is more independent than a companion parrot.

Owning a parrot requires a significant time commitment. Most species need more than an hour of interaction each day.

Why Parrots Lose Their Homes

Concerned about the number of parrots losing their homes, avian veterinarians Susan Clubb DVM, Dipl ABVP (Avian) and Michelle Goodman studied the reasons that parrots are given up for adoption. Among the unanticipated reasons that parrots are relinquished to adoption agencies or abandoned include “changes in the family structure such as deaths, divorces, financial difficulties and moving into places that do not accommodate pets, etc.” However, in addition to those problems that cannot be foreseen, many parrots are given up because their owners’ expectations have not been met by the parrot or because new parrot people become either bored with their new pet or upset because the parrot has not behaved well.

Clubb and Goodman found that although “not enough time” was reported most frequently as the reason for relinquishing parrots, further questioning revealed that “dissatisfaction with the relationship,” “unfulfilled expectations,” or “inability of the owner to communicate to the parrot their wants and needs” played a significant role. Goodman and Clubb believe that although the incompatibility issues that lead to negative behaviors such as aggression, noisiness, and feather destruction could be resolved through training and enrichment, in many cases the relationship between bird and owner had already deteriorated past repair.

Before getting a parrot, make sure everyone in the household will enjoy living with one.

To Make Good Matches, Education is Key

These researchers concluded that the most important way to keep parrots in their original homes is to educate the prospective parrot owner about “appropriate bird choice and reasonable expectations.” Surprisingly, they found that “many [parrot] purchases are impulse buys.” Your reading of this book is an excellent first step in learning about what type of parrot might work as a member of your family and what you should expect to do to keep your parrot happy and healthy.

Among many other educational opportunities you can explore include local bird club meetings, online communities, and visiting specialty veterinarians or rescue organizations.

For every family that has a negative experience with parrots, you can find families who treasure their avian companions and who go to great lengths to ensure they are well cared for and have everything a companion bird could want. These parrot lovers gather at local and national meetings, through online communities, and at their local bird specialty stores and behavioral seminars. If you’ve never visited an avian veterinarian’s office, you’d be surprised at the number of people who create friendships there in the lobby waiting for their well-bird checkups or talking about the concerns they have for a bird who needs treatment.

As with any other specialty interest, people who love parrots have an instant affinity for one another. We understand their worries, their difficulties in getting to the best veterinarian for their bird, their need for that expensive puzzle toy that will keep their cockatoo busy while they are on the telephone, the concern they have in the spring when some birds become more difficult because of their reproductive hormones, their worry when a bird begins to barber or pluck his feathers. These are concerns that those who do not have parrots find difficult to understand.

If you decide that a parrot is right for you, I’d urge you to join with some more informed parrot owners who will be glad to share their knowledge and help you begin your long and fascinating journey into the world of the parrot.

With so many species to choose from, each with slightly different anatomies, different dietary needs, behavioral quirks, and challenges, as well as their own endearing qualities, you may be able to find a parrot who fits your lifestyle, your home style, and your personality style. If you cannot, many opportunities exist for you to volunteer to spend your time with parrots while not taking full responsibility for an individual parrot for his lifetime. These opportunities include local rescue groups and humane societies, bird clubs, and events that support behaviorists and researchers as well as companion parrot owners. There may even be opportunities for you to work regularly with a parrot person who lives near you.

2: Finding the Parrot of Your Dreams

You can find a fabulous lifetime avian companion in any number of places. However, some places are more likely than others. Breeders and specialty pet stores are more likely to provide you with a healthy companion who has been socialized in such a way that his diet, manners, and experience of the world is on a track to success as a companion parrot. To continue this successful start, introducing your parrot slowly and carefully to his new environment and the creatures that will be sharing life with him is very important. Remember, you’re choosing the companion of a lifetime. Take things slowly; plan. Impulse purchases almost always create an unhappy family and an unhappy parrot.

Sources of Parrots

The many sources of parrots today can confuse even the most experienced bird person. Sources include pet shops, breeders, rescues, and other sources such as friends or newspaper or online ads. According to Amy B. Worell, DVM, Dip. ABVP, in an article in the Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine, the sources of birds have changed dramatically since 2009, from aviculturists to major pet store chains. Worell reports that, previously, birds came into the pet trade through breeders and private aviculturists to bird-specific pet stores. Because of the economic recession, many breeders and small bird stores have given up their businesses. Karen Windsor, Executive Director of Foster Parrots, Ltd. presented a paper at the 2012 Association of Avian Veterinarians reflecting the point of view of many rescue organizations: that some breeders, more interested in profits than animal welfare, are responsible for an “overproduction” of parrots. Whether the source is an aviculturist, a pet store, or a rescue organization, most pet parrots are bred in the country in which they are purchased, especially in the United States, where, since 1992, the Wild Bird Conservation Act made importation of wild parrots for the pet trade illegal.

In the United States, parrots are no longer imported from the wild; they are hatched out and raised by breeders.

Desirable Characteristics of Companion Parrots

What veterinarians and rescue organizations together have learned is that a physically and emotionally healthy parrot is more likely to stay in his original home longer and to make a successful transition to a second home, if necessary. Factors associated with these physically and emotionally healthy and therefore successful companion parrots include:

•The bird was raised by and with his avian parents, so that he has a sense of identity as a bird.

•The bird learned to fly before his first wing clip, so that his flight skills and physical confidence were fully developed.

•The bird was fully weaned before he transferred to his new home, so that he was confident about his ability to find food to provide for himself.

In the 1990s many people believed that successful companion birds should be removed from their parents just after hatching and subsequently should be raised by human beings. Although this procedure created parrots who attached to human beings, the unintended consequence was that this method also created parrots who had no sense of identity as parrots. In other words, the parrot imprinted on human beings. When those human-raised parrots reached adolescence, the mates the parrots looked for were human. This created many of the behavior issues that caused parrots to lose their homes after they had made their transitions to sexual maturity.

In addition to needing their identities as birds, parrots also need confidence in their physical abilities, including the ability to fly. Surprisingly, parrots, especially the heavier-bodied parrots, can take quite a while to learn to fly. If those parrots are not allowed to move through this normal process, which can be difficult to watch because of their clumsiness, the birds also never become fully confident in their balance, climbing, and perching abilities. This lack of physical confidence leads to all sorts of difficulties that a first-time bird owner would never imagine. A frequently seen example of this sort of trouble is that parrots become fearful of leaving spaces they know well.

Finally, the longer lived a creature is, the longer the creature’s process of development and maturing from birth (or hatching) to a young, independent bird. A parrot’s complicated needs are best filled by his parents until he is of an age to separate. Although the idea of hand-feeding appeals to the nurturers among pet lovers, the complications that can result from improper hand-feeding and rearing are significant.

Many species of parrot are available, and they differ in size, disposition, talking ability, and many other attributes.

Selecting Candidate Species and Sources

So, if you want to find a parrot companion who exhibits these three requirements—a parent-raised bird, fully fledged, and weaned—then what is the next step? The most advisable next step is to begin reading about different species of parrots, their suitability as pets, their species characteristics, and their care requirements. In addition, future parrot parents need to meet as many individual members of your “candidate species” as possible, keeping firmly in mind the notion that you are familiarizing yourself and your family with your potential companion species rather than beginning the process of selecting your dream parrot. While gathering information about your candidate species, you will meet representatives from the major sources of parrots: pet shops—specialty and chain—rescues, and breeders.

Whether you find your dream bird in a specialty pet shop, a rescue, or a breeder, the critical point is how much support you can expect if and when you run into questions and problems in caring for your new companion. As you consider the various sources, ask yourself this question: “If I have questions or problems, can I rely on this source to help me through and succeed with my new best friend?” If you’re unsure of the answer, move on to another source.

A second aspect of finding your dream bird species is to consider the cost of the species over its lifetime, not the initial cost of purchasing or adopting your bird. Although you might find a perfectly lovely bird of your species that someone is “giving away,” the odds are that you will, after several days, discover the reason that the bird is “free.” Healthy birds with good manners and habits are usually not given away “for free.” This is because rescues, specialty pet stores, or breeders want to be sure that the person acquiring this sort of bird cares enough to recognize his value. Specialty stores and breeders who produce only a few birds each year usually are in business to recover the costs of raising and caring for the birds. (Good-quality food and supplies are the products that allow these stores and breeders to continue to operate, not the sale price of the birds themselves.)

Third, follow your instincts. Plan to visit a variety of sources prior to making a decision about a species. Then visit more sources before making a final decision about acquiring a specific companion. Meet many birds. Talk to these sources about the species, as well as about the individual birds. Every bird is different, and not every bird is a representative of its species’ normal behaviors. If you feel that the rescue or specialty store is not clean and the birds do not seem content, move on, even if you are attracted to a single bird. And never acquire a bird because you feel sorry for the conditions in which it is living. Although this may be tempting, birds raised in such environments are usually not healthy, may carry communicable diseases, and will be expensive and heartbreaking to care for.

Acquiring a bird of the species of your dreams requires a bit of looking, return visits, and lots of thought. But if you follow these steps and make an informed decision, you can find the right species. By taking shortcuts, people often find species that make them feel as though they are living a nightmare.

Once you’ve made the decision to acquire a companion bird, you will need to narrow your choice to a few species. Following this, you’ll need to locate a reliable source for your bird species and get help, including a veterinarian, in selecting a healthy companion of your chosen species. Although making each decision is exciting, move slowly and take the time to think through each step because this is an important decision. In addition, if you have a family, the agreement of everyone in the family is important.

Do I Need to Get a Pair?

Many times, people believe that they need to get a pair of parrots because an individual bird will become lonely. The European Union agrees and has recently passed legislation that requires birds, which are flock animals, to be kept in small flocks—in other words, in a natural family grouping.

In general, birds are more comfortable in a small flock. However, the practical realities of keeping a small flock of birds are difficult for most people. This is one reason that the smaller birds, ones that have smaller cage and play area requirements, are easier, especially for first-time bird keepers.

The advantage of a pair or small group of birds is that they keep each other busy. The disadvantage is that unless you handle them a great deal, they often prefer each other’s company to yours.

The answer to whether you need to get a pair or three birds depends on your situation. A pair of budgies or cockatiels makes an excellent situation for first-time bird keepers. Similarly, two small conures, such as green-cheeks or maroon-bellied conures, would be a delightful situation.

If you insist on a larger bird as your first, you might have a more difficult time finding two who get along, not to mention the space requirements and the handling challenges this will entail. In addition, in contrast to most dogs and cats, which eventually sort out a hierarchy, birds, especially larger, mature birds, such as male cockatoos, definitely do not get along with others and have been known to harm or kill their cage mates. This is particularly a problem when the birds feel crowded or when multiple adult birds are housed together.

If you decide to get a pair of birds, get help from a behaviorist or avian veterinarian in putting together a pair or small groups of birds who can live happily together.

A cockatiel is one of the very best choices for a first-time bird-keeper.

Narrowing the List of Species

The information in Chapter 8: Selected Species should be helpful to you in narrowing your choice to just a few species. Although the process may seem bewildering at first, the key decision points include: (1) lifespan, (2) personality and temperament, (3) noise level, and probably (4) size. If you are a beginning bird-keeper, please consider a bird that is suitable for your knowledge and abilities. If you decide that bird-keeping is for you, you’ll have many birds over the course of your lifetime; you can get that raucous pink bird or the very expensive purple bird later, after you’ve learned to handle an easier species first. For this reason, I recommend budgerigars, green-cheeked conures, cockatiels, and perhaps a pionus or a lovebird for first-time keepers. In addition, although I have no hands-on experience with them, lineolated parakeets are recommended as first-time birds by many experts.

These birds are relatively inexpensive, require small to moderate-sized cages and furnishings, and have dispositions that tend to make them easy to handle during the time you and your family are developing your bird-handling skills.

For apartment dwellers, small birds have served as cheerful pets for centuries. Many people I know believe that the best pet for someone who wants a bird is a budgerigar (commonly called a parakeet or a budgie). Beginning with a shorter-lived and less demanding member of the psittacine family gives you much of the pleasure of a larger bird without many of the more difficult problems. For those who question whether smaller birds can be satisfactory as pets who can learn to speak, I direct you to YouTube videos of Bingo, the parakeet with his own channel. As every bird-savvy person will tell you, no one can tell whether an individual bird will learn to talk or not. However, this is one of the benefits of adopting an older bird—you’ll likely know if he can speak or not.

Bird specialty stores are often good places to find a pet parrot as well as a lot of information about them.

Locating a Reliable Source for Your Bird

Finding a good source for a lifelong companion requires searching and patience. Because excellent health, temperament, and socialization are the qualities you want in your companion parrot, the most promising sources are small-scale breeders of birds for the pet trade, specialized exotic bird stores, and parrot rescue networks that have fostering and educational programs. Although you will find birds for sale in newspapers, on Craig’s List, and from Internet suppliers, you take a significant risk that your new pet will be unhealthy, unsocialized, or unsuitable as a companion. Furthermore, if you purchase a bird from one of these sources, you have very little recourse if the bird is not as advertised. Think of it this way: would you choose a partner of twenty years based on the recommendation of someone you don’t know? That’s what you’re doing when you purchase a bird from those sources.

An even worse way to acquire a bird is because someone else doesn’t want it. If you want to acquire your bird from a rescue, that’s a commendable aim. Have the owner relinquish the bird to the rescue organization. Most rescue organizations will do at least some health and behavioral assessment and help you acquire the skills you need to be successful with your new companion. The online advertisers’ interest is making money, not in successful lifelong placements.

Breeders

The best bird breeders raise a small number of birds, specialize in a few species, breed for ideal pet characteristics, and sell only fully weaned birds either directly to clients or through small specialty stores. These breeders spend a good deal of time educating potential buyers about the species’ needs, as well as about the needs of the individual birds. The best breeders, generally members of associations such as the American Federation of Aviculture, may have received certifications for their breeding operations and aviaries, attesting to the quality of their breeding program and the health conditions of their birds. Breeders become experts in their species, understanding their natural history and the dietary requirements of their particular birds and in providing the amenities that a particular species of parrot needs.

Because their birds were raised with care, these breeders want families to take good care of their new companions. Some breeders will ask you to return your bird at any point in his lifetime if you need to give him up for any reason. Again, this is because of their concern for the welfare of their individual birds.

Visiting a breeder or two who specializes in the sort of bird you are considering is an excellent step to take in the process of finding the right parrot for you. Most breeders are happy to share their knowledge if you contact them and make an appointment to see or speak with them. Many breeders maintain websites with extensive information about their species’ natural history, suitability as a companion bird, and requirements for well-being as a lifelong companion.

You will need to do some work to find these breeders, but they can be located with a little research and some telephone calls. A good place to begin is the American Federation of Aviculture (AFA), a local bird club, or national bird group, such as the American Cockatiel Society (ACS). Even if a breeder of your species of interest is not listed for your local area, try corresponding with representative from your region. People from your region are more likely to know others with the same species who live near you. Explain your situation: you want to meet with a local breeder who raises a small number of your chosen species as pets.

Visiting a breeder of the species that interests you allows you to meet several different birds and pick the breeder’s brain.

Pet Shops

Many pet shops in North America have rethought how they provide their buyers with access to healthy and happy animals. Both local and chain pet stores have partnered with humane societies and animal welfare groups to feature animals that need new homes. For the most part, pet shops feature only small mammals and small birds, including parakeets (called budgerigars outside the United States), finches, and a few of the smaller conures. Despite hard work on the part of these stores to educate their staff and screen birds taken in for sale, the fact remains that the care of the birds is uneven, and some staff members are not able to distinguish when a bird is not at his best. Bringing together birds from various suppliers means the opportunity for disease introduction is significant, despite best efforts. However, many stores work hard to create a well-informed staff that can provide high-quality care for their animals and for the companions who purchase them.

The advantages of spending time in pet shops, especially those that specialize in birds, is that you will have the opportunity to see a variety of species, observe the care provided to the birds, and gain some feeling about what will be required to care for your bird.

Exotic Bird Stores

Although many pet stores sell birds, few have staff members who are extremely knowledgeable about birds. However, you can learn a great deal about your chosen species at one of the few remaining stores that specialize in exotic birds. You can sometimes find these in major metropolitan areas. Locate these stores by using your online search skills and by talking with other parrot people you meet through your research. Even if the store is several hours away, the effort of making a weekend trip and visiting several times over the course of a couple of days will be a worthwhile experience.

Equipped with a knowledgeable staff, exotic bird stores are more likely to have time to work with you and your prospective bird, especially if you call ahead to make an appointment to visit on one of their less busy days and times. Not only will you be able to see a variety of species, but you can spend time observing the staff, the birds, and the various chores associated with keeping a parrot. In fact, you can learn quite a bit about bird handling and caretaking simply by watching.

One caution about an exotic bird store as a source is the possibility that a particular bird might not be as healthy as you would like. Although specialty stores do their best to protect their investment in the birds who pass through their shop, the birds are brought together from many different breeders. Whenever this happens, the potential for disease is higher than it is when you acquire your bird from a small breeder. However, like every reputable breeder, most specialty stores offer a health guarantee. If the store is unwilling to do this, don’t take the chance.

Another caution is that once the birds come to the store, staff may have little time to continue each bird’s socialization. As a result, each individual may not receive the attention he needs to support his emotional growth. You will be able to observe the staff in the store and the attention that each bird receives. This is a good reason to visit the store several times, even if you have to stay overnight. Nevertheless, most exotic bird stores do their best to create good matches and to provide you with the information and training you need to be successful with your bird.

In addition, many specialty bird stores offer wonderful educational opportunities that you can take advantage of before you choose your species and your individual bird. These stores often arrange for well-known and respected bird behaviorists to visit and hold seminars. Attending one or more of these seminars is another way to learn more about the various species and the demands of caring for fascinating and sometimes difficult psittacines.

Parrots and Kids

Although many kids get along fine with larger parrots, a safer approach, particularly for a first parrot, is to consider a budgie or cockatiel. These child-size birds are gentler. Their beaks, although still able to provide powerful bites, are nowhere near as powerful as those of a larger parrot.In addition, the cages and accessories are small enough for the child to take an active role in the care, feeding, and training of the pet parrot.

The quick movements and squawks of birds can sometimes frighten children. In addition, the high-pitched voices and quick movements of children sometimes frighten birds, especially those not accustomed to children.

The best approach is to go one small step at a time. Birds are curious and will respond to a child’s patient reading, singing, or feeding through the cage bars as a first step. Likewise, children often enjoy the “magical” properties of birds—their soft feathers and their ability to fly.

Children can learn much about responsibility by caring for pets; however, it is an unrealistic expectation that a child can be entirely responsible for a creature as complicated to care for as a bird.

Humane Organizations and Parrot Rescue Networks

Shelters or rescue organizations are another place to meet your species. Most humane societies have birds for adoption, as do bird rescue organizations and exotic bird clubs. Keep in mind, however, that a foster and rescue network serves the increasing number birds given up by the people who purchased them. Knowing the reason your potential companion was surrendered is important. Owners who made poor choices about pet selection may be surrendering birds with behavior or diet-related health problems. In addition, the emotional and physical health of these birds is often compromised. Even though a bird may be healthy at the time he’s adopted, the stress of being relinquished, kept at a shelter, and then relocated again does not create the best conditions for maintaining a healthy immune system.

Accordingly, as you look at the birds and talk with the organization’s staff and volunteers, keep your requirements and questions in mind. The best situation is one where you can visit several sources of the species of most interest to you and take a few days to consider what you’ve seen. Your relationship with your bird may last twenty or more years, so be selective.

To find a reputable rescue organization, look for a group that has been operating successfully for a number of years, has a board of directors who oversees the operation of the rescue, and is known to local veterinarians and bird clubs as a reputable and careful rescue. A rescue is not a place to acquire “free” birds. In fact, most reputable rescues have a lengthy adoption process and require you to complete a basic bird care course, and many will visit your home to ensure that you have adequate space and can safely care for a bird. Rescues operate in this way because, when people relinquish their birds, the rescue organization takes on the responsibility to care for the bird in a proper manner. This means finding families who will care for the bird long term.

In effect, rescue organizations will typically take you through the list of questions at the end of Chapter 1, making sure that you are ready for a bird. In addition, they’ll ask you to complete some education to ensure that you know how to care for the bird of your choice. Finally, they’ll visit you several times after your adoption to ensure that you are doing well with the bird you’ve chosen. For the rescue organization, it’s about finding the best home for the individual bird. That’s their focus.

Unfortunately, many parrots are given up to animal rescues and are waiting for their forever homes.

Seven Safety Tips for Interspecies Relationships

1.Clear bird areas of food debris that attracts other pets.

2.Clip cats’ toenails.

3.Confine cats and dogs when your birds are out of the cage.

4.Keep aquariums covered.

5.Leave a buffer zone between animal species.

6.Separate snakes, large lizards, ferrets, and other predatory pets from your bird zone.

7.Stop stalking behavior immediately.

Other Sources

Other sources of parrots include individuals or companies located through advertisements on local bulletin boards, newspapers, or online sources. Unless the source is well known to you through a web group you’ve been a member of for some time or through a bird professional, steer clear. The more barriers between you and the individual providing the bird, the greater the chance that something can and will go wrong.

This is not to say that all such sellers are hiding something or are dishonest. This is merely to say that you have many choices in where to acquire your lifelong companion. Why wouldn’t you choose a source that is well-known to you and to others in your area (including veterinarians), so that you will have the assistance you need in the years to come?

Exceptions exist. For example, a well-known breeder and expert on eclectus parrots may be downsizing her group of birds because she is aging. She’s begun to talk about this on a list-serve that American Federation of Aviculture members participate in. If someone wants a companion eclectus, a bird acquired from this person would be the best imaginable companion. This professional aviculturist has been an acquaintance and friend for more than 20 years, she’s been an active member of local bird clubs, a speaker at national meetings on the Eclectus parrot, and is a well-published author on the species. In other words, there’s nothing anonymous about this person.

Contrast such a well-known person with one you meet through an online advertisement. The bird has no band, no microchip, no health certificate, and the owner offers you no health guarantee. The bird has never seen a veterinarian because “he’s never been sick.” Sketchy? Yes, definitely.

A different advertisement tells you about a bird who has come to a local bird club because the owner has recently passed away. The bird has a record at the local avian veterinarian, has a band, was microchipped, and is well-known to the vet and the technicians in her office. This is a different situation. You know something of the bird’s history and socialization, and the bird club is handling the placement of the bird. Their interest is in the bird and not the sale.

When it comes to other sources, use your best judgment. You should be able to find how the bird has been connected in the local community through veterinarians, boarding facilities, caretakers, a bird club, or a national organization. With two or three people telling the same story, you have some idea about your bird’s history. Without that, the advice of most professionals is to pass on the bird. Let me repeat: never purchase a bird because you feel sorry for its condition. Especially as a beginning bird keeper, you’re in for heartbreak—this is a guarantee.

Young Bird or Old Bird?

Birds of all ages are available, from the newly weaned to the senior bird. Since bird life expectancy is 20+ years, age should be a consideration. Mature birds—birds over one year of age—provide the advantage that their personalities are fully formed, their coloration is developed, and their habits are well established. You have a realistic glimpse of your lives together from the beginning. Newly weaned young birds offer a completely different experience. In this case, you have the short-lived pleasure of watching your bird mature and the responsibility for socializing this curious and perhaps clingy creature over the course of your first six months together. Whether you think that a young bird or a senior is right for you, do get to know an adult bird (or maybe several adults) before choosing a youngster.

Reputable sources of parrots will provide a health guarantee for their birds.

Hand-Fed vs. Parent-Raised Birds

The best companion birds have been handled by the breeder very early in their lives. Whether young birds have been raised by their bird parents, by humans, or by a combination, the key is that they have been exposed to and handled by people from the earliest part of their lives. An advantage to birds at least partially raised by bird parents is that they are not imprinted on humans. In other words, parent-raised birds are clear that they are birds of the parent’s species. They identify themselves as birds and are clear that their potential mates are birds. Hand-raised birds (meaning removed from the parents’ nest and raised only by humans) become imprinted. Generally, these birds are needy and prone to behavior problems. For this reason, many good breeders share rearing with the parents, leaving the chicks in the nest until they are fully feathered and flighted.

Visit Your Potential Bird More Than Once

When you’ve identified several potential birds, spend time with each in an environment that mimics your home. Bathe the bird or feed him. Observe how the staff handles him.

Discuss the purchasing process. What paperwork does the seller provide? You should expect to receive:

•A bill of sale that provides a description of the bird, the sales price, and the hatch date and band number of the bird

•A care sheet that describes the bird’s routine

•A health guarantee for your bird, explaining the right of return. A health guarantee usually provides several days for you to have your bird seen by a veterinarian.

If your prospective seller is unwilling to provide these things, move on, no matter how much you like the bird. An unwillingness to provide them indicates that the seller may not be reliable.