Advice?

[Sc_chickengirl]

Hi I'm thinking about maybe getting a parakeet, lovebird, or some other kind of house bird later this summer. I know basically nothing. What kind would you recommend? Are parakeets all one breed or are there different breeds? I'd love to see pictures of your birds!

 

[nchls school]

I used to raise many species of hook bill. For the best all around pet, get a hand fed cockatiel; very loving and devoted to their owner.

 

[Sc_chickengirl]

I used to raise many species of hook bill. For the best all around pet, get a hand fed cockatiel; very loving and devoted to their owner.

I've heard of those. How big are they?

 

[SilverBirds]

Parakeet is a general term. Most often it refers to budgies, but parakeets are any hookbills that have a long tail and are about the size of a conure or smaller.

Budgies, cockatiels, and conures are going to be your most recommended species. If you do decide to get a bird, try to get one from a breeder that hand raises the birds vs buying one from a pet shop.

 

[Sc_chickengirl]

Parakeet is a general term. Most often it refers to budgies, but parakeets are any hookbills that have a long tail and are about the size of a conure or smaller.

Budgies, cockatiels, and conures are going to be your most recommended species. If you do decide to get a bird, try to get one from a breeder that hand raises the birds vs buying one from a pet shop.

Thanks for the advice! Yes I would really like to get one from a local breeder!

 

[ButtonHoarder]

1. If you have parrot rescues near you check them, there is usually lots looking for forever homes. Or, like someone else said, get from a responsible breeder, not a pet store.

2. Get an appropriately sized cage for the species. All too often parrots (especially the smaller ones) get crammed into tiny cages they can barely spread their wings in. I would get a flight cage, even if you get a tiny budgie. Make sure you get the right bar spacing for the species.

3. Research a proper diet. Don't listen to what the pet stores tell you, 99% of the time they don't know what they're talking about. Parrots should get lots of fresh veggies, good pellets, and some seed. Not only seed. Make sure you research the right diet for the species you end up getting.

4. A good variety of perches. Most cages come with straight, smooth wood perches, or plastic ones. Parrots need a big variety of natural wood perches in different textures and shapes, or they could get bumblefoot. Just think about all the different branches they'd land on in the wild. Also, different sizes of parrots need different sizes of perches.

5. Lots and lots of toys. You'll need more than you think. If you get pretty ones don't be sad when they destroy it completely, that is the point. Get lots of foraging toys, shredding toys, and as many different kinds as you can, and make sure that if they have wood it's not too hard for a smaller bird (if you get a small bird).

Here's a youtube channel with lots of great info https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrozpXn44uk0V9uQWFhxJuA

Just do lots of your own research before you get one they are loud, uncontrollable little monsters

 

[Sc_chickengirl]

1. If you have parrot rescues near you check them, there is usually lots looking for forever homes. Or, like someone else said, get from a responsible breeder, not a pet store.

2. Get an appropriately sized cage for the species. All too often parrots (especially the smaller ones) get crammed into tiny cages they can barely spread their wings in. I would get a flight cage, even if you get a tiny budgie. Make sure you get the right bar spacing for the species.

3. Research a proper diet. Don't listen to what the pet stores tell you, 99% of the time they don't know what they're talking about. Parrots should get lots of fresh veggies, good pellets, and some seed. Not only seed. Make sure you research the right diet for the species you end up getting.

4. A good variety of perches. Most cages come with straight, smooth wood perches, or plastic ones. Parrots need a big variety of natural wood perches in different textures and shapes, or they could get bumblefoot. Just think about all the different branches they'd land on in the wild. Also, different sizes of parrots need different sizes of perches.

5. Lots and lots of toys. You'll need more than you think. If you get pretty ones don't be sad when they destroy it completely, that is the point. Get lots of foraging toys, shredding toys, and as many different kinds as you can, and make sure that if they have wood it's not too hard for a smaller bird (if you get a small bird).

Here's a youtube channel with lots of great info https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrozpXn44uk0V9uQWFhxJuA

Just do lots of your own research before you get one they are loud, uncontrollable little monsters View attachment 3134340

Thankyou so much for all that info! Yes I don't want to get one uniformed and have something bad happen like it would die or something. That would be awful! Your bird is so cute! What kind is it?

 

[SilverBirds]

Thankyou so much for all that info! Yes I don't want to get one uniformed and have something bad happen like it would die or something. That would be awful! Your bird is so cute! What kind is it?

Buttons bird is a budgie which I also have three of. They are one of the smallest parrots you can find, only a few inches tall. They are commonly labeled as "parakeets" which is where the confusion comes from.

 

[Sc_chickengirl]

Buttons bird is a budgie which I also have three of. They are one of the smallest parrots you can find, only a few inches tall. They are commonly labeled as "parakeets" which is where the confusion comes from.

Oh okay! I think I'm going to go with a pretty small bird, I really like parakeets! But I also thought lovebirds were cute. Do you have any experience with them?

 

[SilverBirds]

Oh okay! I think I'm going to go with a pretty small bird, I really like parakeets! But I also thought lovebirds were cute. Do you have any experience with them?

I only have budgies at the moment so no personal experiences with lovebirds.