flip-thebird

Anonymous asked:

Hi, there! I've always wanted a bird, but my mom never let me get one because she said they were hard to maintain. Now that I'm on my own, I'd really love a feathered buddy. What are somethings I should keep in mind before getting one?

bewareofbird answered:

That your mom was right. :’D

“It’s kinda like having a blender with no lid that’s always on.”

Note: I’m a parrot kind of person. Though much of this can relate to other birds as well, parrots are primarily what I’ll be talking about here.

Birds are incredibly complex. They’re loud, messy, expensive, destructive, smart, emotional, difficult, stubborn, long-lived, aggressive, aerial, incompatible, energetic, demanding, mischievous, finicky, fragile, determined, and so much more.

I won’t to tell you not to get a bird. But if you go into this, go into it knowing they make absolutely terrible pets and they WILL test your patience in more ways than you can imagine. So BE REALISTIC. Be very, very critical of your decision and stand back and give a good hard look at any doubts you have. They’re probably there for a reason.

I always recommend taking *at least* a year of intense research before you even start looking for your bird. If you can, spend some time volunteering or at least visiting at a parrot rescue or sanctuary. It’s a fantastic way to get acquainted with many different species of all temperaments and pasts and a first-hand look at the bald face of this thing.

Your research should include reading up as many species as you can and then narrowing those down to the five or ten or so you’re most interested in. Ignore colors/appearance, okay? Learn about their general temperament foremost. The most modest looking bird may be the one you most fall in love with.

Once you have your list, do deeper research on all of them. Go on youtube and search for videos of each species SCREAMING. Max out that volume and be honest: Will you be able to live with this? Will anyone you share a living space with also be okay with it? Read accounts from other owners of those species. Keep narrowing your list down until you have The One (or The Two in my case. Poicephalus and Pionus were super closely tied, so I found Zyda and a couple years later I found Rowan. No regrets).

Another thing you need to consider in choosing a bird is whether you want a weaned baby or a rehomed adult. A baby is going to be sweet and non-threatening for maybe two years or so, depending on the species. Then they’re going to change, and this is when many, many people give up on them: combination terrible twos and teenage years. They’re hitting maturity and testing their boundaries, seeing just how far they can push you before you break. Some birds and their owners can cruise through this period just fine, others find it extremely difficult. It’s really going to require a lot of patience, dedication, and maturity on your part.

Meanwhile adults are very much “you get what you see.” There are many adult birds up for rehome that are absolute angels, and some that will require a bit of work to get to that point. Take the time to visit and get to know a bird you’re considering in their current home if you can, so you can see how they behave when they’re comfortable.

I don’t buy into the “adopt don’t shop” argument much, and I certainly don’t buy into the idea of “starter birds.” Get the bird that’s right for you. It may be a difficult search to find the species you decide on, or the right bird might just fall in your lap and be something you never expected. But don’t settle on something you don’t actually want!! There’s a decent chance you’re going to be with this bird for the rest of your life. May as well be the right one.

Read books. Read articles. Read bird blogs. Read, read, read! Take everything you read with a grain of salt. No one is 100% correct (yours truly included), but there’s something you can learn from anyone – even if that’s just from their mistakes. And learning from other’s mistakes is GREAT because it means you don’t have to make quite so many yourself. ouo b
Join a bird forum, or at least haunt one. They can often be a goldmine of first-hand information you can’t always find in books or web articles. You’ll find tips on how to make your own bird toys, the best ways to create a great setup, references for vets, those mistakes I just mentioned, and so on.

A non-comprehensive list of key points:

VET CARE
Find out if you have a certified avian vet in your area. You’ll need one. A regular cat and dog vet won’t have any idea what to do with your bird, even if they say they have “bird experience.” You absolutely need an actual avian vet. Realize these guys are more expensive than a regular vet. During your research year, build up an emergency fund to help you pay for them.

CAGE
The bigger the better. Get the biggest cage you can afford and fit inside your home. Even the smallest birds need a heck of a lot of space. I have a triple set of this cage for all my birds: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/you-and-me-standing-parrot-cage
I especially like it because the bar spacing is in that sweet spot that allows me to put my full size range into it with no problem (2 cockatiels < red-bellied parrot < maximilian pionus). As far as I’ve seen, it’s the best price you can get for the size and quality. I don’t know that I’d put anything much larger than a pionus in it, though.

PERCHES
Dowels are a no. They’re useful for stick training, but otherwise don’t use them. I’m lucky enough to live in an area with lots of bird safe trees, so I just go out and trim the ones in my yard whenever I need new perches. Depending on your area you can probably do the same, just be sure to look up the trees you want to use to make sure they’re safe. You need natural perches, flat perches, perches of varying diameter. Keep those feet healthy and strong!

TOYS
Honestly, I rarely buy pre-made bird toys. I go to the dollar store and fill my cart with all manner of popsicle sticks, lollipop sticks, paper bags, playing cards, tissue paper, etc. etc. etc. and make my own toys at home. Look up some DIY bird toy guides, as they usually have a decent list of things you can use. Be careful to ensure anything you use is bird safe, though!

DIET
Seeds bad. Fresh veggies and pellets good.
I feed ZuPreme, personally, but other popular favorites are Harrison’s and Roudybush. Don’t feed Kaytee. That stuff is garbage.

OTHER PETS
No. Just no. I’m not saying you can’t have other animals, but if you do have a dog or a cat or a lizard or a hamster or whatever, keep them away from your bird at all times. Don’t even let them in the same room. It is not cute to let them interact. They are not friends. At best it’s unsafe for the bird, and at worst it’s unsafe for both parties. Do! Not! Permit! Interaction!

FLIGHT
They have wings. Don’t do anything to those wings. Please, please, please. They need them to fly and they need to fly. It is literally crucial to their well-being in more ways than I can cover here. Clipping is a horrible and cruel practice that should have met its end by now. If you don’t want a flying animal, there are countless to choose from that are flightless by default.

OUTDOORS
Take your birds outside! That’s fine! The fresh air and sunshine is wonderful! BUT!! Use a cage or a harness. I cannot stress this enough. Even if you disregard my last point and decide to clip, understand that it is *not a safety measure* and they can still fly away outdoors. I’m a big fan of The Aviator Flight Harness, and - especially if you end up getting a weaned baby - I absolutely recommend buying one and training your bird to wear it. https://theparrotuniversity.com/content/aviator-bird-harness

As an ending note: Birds take over your life.

Listen. They’re not just a pet, not some pretty thing you can put in a cage. They’re a companion and a lifestyle. My parrots are my all. Everything I do, I have to take them into consideration. I have missed out on a great many opportunities because I chose this life and have to keep choosing them first.

See, that’s what the app is perfect for.

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That your mom was right. :’D