New member- Martin

Martinantal

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Hi!
I'm Martin, I'm from Dorset, UK.
Little info: I'm a 28 year old illustrator, so I work from home.
When I'm looking for info about the birds I'd like to get soon I always end up in this site, I've learnt a lot from reading this forum already!

So, I will move to a new,cheaper city soon, and probably rent a flat- but without a garden.
I was reading about quails and other birds in the past 9-10 months. I'd like a pet bird. My first choice was a Japanese quail. Looks absolutely adorable. I could buy the equipment to hatch a few-(so they would get use to me and become tame) a breeder and a bigger rabbit cage. And I would let him-her free in the room. Button quails are smaller but not as tame.
But I was also thinking about canaries-Fife canaries because they look cute- singing is not that important for me really.
There are darker- brownish greyish types- which look like a wild bird. I really like that, after watching a few wild bird nest cams over the past few months I fell in love with these little wild birds.(watched a family of chickadees growing up- from hatching to fledging , after 3 weeks it was really sad to see them gone- (I see birds in a new light since then!))
I was also searching info about budgies- they are the most sociable , and intelligent from these birds, but I don't find them that cute somehow. And they live too long. I'd like to be responsible , and to be honest I'm not sure I'll be able to keep a bird for almost 20 years.(If I get a good 3d modeller job , or a good animation project, It's possible that I'll have to move again to another city- maybe to rent a small room in London)
And another bird...A silkie chicken. I heard about people who kept one or two indoors.
We had chickens years ago in my family home- never killed any of them for meat, most of them died at old age or the last one died from a fox attack at the age of 8-9(she saw the fox and the poor thing died from the shock). They where outdoor chickens of course but they followed us, we could call for them and they slept with the dog and the cats. So I know they can be very tame and surprisingly intelligent if they are loved!

So that's my dilemma. I'd like a pet bird, trying to be responsible- I spend most of my time at home, so I'll have time for them, but I don't own a house(well I own one but not in this country...)
I quail can be fairly tame, and only lives for 2-3 years so mabye that would be a good start?
Canaries are small but not really tame, and an indoor chicken would be too big for a first bird owner.
Any thoughts?:)
 
Hi Martin, welcome to BYC!
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It sounds like you're being very sensible in looking at the pros and cons of the birds you're most interested in. The best thing I can think to suggest is maybe hanging out on some of the forums for the quail, caged birds and maybe some of the silkies threads. Once you've read about other member's experiences with them and asked lots of questions, you should have a better direction. Here are some links to help get you around:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/48/quail
https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/57/caged-birds-finches-canaries-cockatiels-parrots-etc
(For the silkies, just use the Search box in the upper left of the screen)

Good luck to you with whatever birds you go with.

It's nice to have you here!
 
I would suggest a silkie or a serama - they make good house pet chickens (my friend has 4), one would imprint on you in place of flock mates. They can become very tame and learn to adapt to your pace. One small bird is not difficult to care for. You could provide a crate for it to sleep in and some small enclosure outdoors to give it a chance to dig and scratch and get fresh air. You may wish to check out "people with house chickens," thread.
 
Thanks for the suggestions!
I was reading those threads for a while now, but I'll continue to ask questions:)
Also , I'll rent a flat-apartment in the city, with no garden-yard.
So I think an indoor only silkie would be probably not the best choice.
I think it will be either a canary or a Coturnix quail.
 
Thanks! :)

I went to the local petshop earlier today. I was watching the birds for an half an hour but didn't make it easier.
Finches and the canaries are really cute with a wonderful singing voice, the cockatiels and budgies are cute and tame.
And as a pure coincidence I even saw a quail, but in different form...my flat mate made a quail soup today...
 
Thanks! :)

I went to the local petshop earlier today. I was watching the birds for an half an hour but didn't make it easier.
Finches and the canaries are really cute with a wonderful singing voice, the cockatiels and budgies are cute and tame.
And as a pure coincidence I even saw a quail, but in different form...my flat mate made a quail soup today...

If your flat mate likes quail soup, maybe you ought to go with a canary or a finch!
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Thanks! : )
IT seems I'll only be able to rent a single room at first. So I still have time to find out what bird I should get. But the quail has the shortest life span- can be tame, I find it cute, and it was my first choice, I think I't will be a quail, at least as my first bird :)
 

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