NationStates Jolt Archive

Hi all!
I'm just curious, does anyone have or know someone that has a bird as a pet? If so, what kind of bird is it? I'm considering to get a Cockatiel, cause i've heard that they make great pets and good for first time bird owners.
Anyone have any thoughts?

I have a pet chicken in my freezer. They are very easy to take care of.

I own a pair of black-masked Lovebirds. A cockatiel would make a wonderful pet, but first make sure that you can commit to bird ownership. All birds thrive on routine - on the predictability of things. That's not to say they don't like having fun, but it does mean getting into their schedule, their needs, and their expectations. It can kinda make it tough to do things sometimes - like getting out of town, going on holidays, that sort of thing.

But bird ownership is very rewarding. I hand-raised one Lovebird who would drink orange juice - but only if I let it drip from my lower lip (even as an adult she'd do this, and nip at my lip to get me to go to the kitchen to get some OJ).

Think it through seriously before you buy. But if you decide to be a bird owner, good luck to you - !

Personally, I would never get a bird. I just don't like them. Loud, smelly, and I hear they're a hassel to take care of. But that's just me.

Why have a bird... when you can have a rabbit? :)

Hi all!
I'm just curious, does anyone have or know someone that has a bird as a pet? If so, what kind of bird is it? I'm considering to get a Cockatiel, cause i've heard that they make great pets and good for first time bird owners.
Anyone have any thoughts?
i had one before my cat ate it... :D

I have a pet chicken in my freezer. They are very easy to take care of.
lol :p

Have a crazy Amazon parrott. Gets to be to much at times. But part of the family anyway.

I used to keep parakeets, cockatiels, and cockatoos

I don't recomend the cockatoos, they talk too much and bite.

(or was that the capuchin? :confused: no, he bit and spit and threw shit...yeah, don't get a monkey either)

oh, parakeets are better for beginers imo.

oh and clip their wings, whatever you get, new birds try to escape a LOT

I used to have a Lovebird 15 years ago. Nice little birdie, but indeed beware, young birds try to escape a lot :)

i had two female parakeets for 4 years. they both died within a week of each other. i dont know what they died of. they didnt show any symptoms. i liked having them as pets. they were very good birds and always had a song or two to sing.

I have an NSr as a pet.

i had two female parakeets for 4 years. they both died within a week of each other. i dont know what they died of. they didnt show any symptoms. i liked having them as pets. they were very good birds and always had a song or two to sing.

That's the problem with birds; by the time they're really very sick it's usually to late to do much to save them. Survival trait - don't let anybody know you're not healthy, always keep up appearances.

The only reason I knew when my birds were sick was by studying them frequently for telltale behaviour.

That's the problem with birds; by the time they're really very sick it's usually to late to do much to save them. Survival trait - don't let anybody know you're not healthy, always keep up appearances.

The only reason I knew when my birds were sick was by studying them frequently for telltale behaviour.

Yeah, I've heard that a lot. I've read everything I can about Cockatiels...I want a bird that's going to be friendly, adapt to change..etc

Yeah, I've heard that a lot. I've read everything I can about Cockatiels...I want a bird that's going to be friendly, adapt to change..etc
Don't expect your bird to be too adaptable to change - like I said earlier, they thrive on routine and predictability. They love an ordered day.

Don't expect your bird to be too adaptable to change - like I said earlier, they thrive on routine and predictability. They love an ordered day.

Yeah, you have a point..that's why i'm trying to be very careful in making a decition about this. No rushing in to it for me..after all, it's a living breathing life.

ive never had a bird for a pet but ive known people who have.

my mother in law had a mynah bird for a long time (it died) and a macaw (she gave it to her son). they are both extremely smart birds, the macaw learned how to open any cage they had that didnt have a real lock. they were also extremely noisy. i hated them because they never shut up. the mynah bird must have been kept too close to the coffee pot because it did a perfect imitation of an electric percolator.

my mother had a cockatiel. unfortunately when she first got it, she kept another cockatiel for a friend who was going on vacation and the two birds "fell in love". after they were seperated, my mothers bird was the meanest, nastiest bird i have ever known. it would have done well in a horror movie.

id start with ONE hand raised lovebird. i knew a couple who raised them and they were very sweet and loving birds. smart enough to be fun, friendly enough to be good company and small enough to sit on their shoulder and give them kisses.

id consider getting one for myself but my cat would make its life miserable.

Yeah, you have a point..that's why i'm trying to be very careful in making a decition about this. No rushing in to it for me..after all, it's a living breathing life.
Yes, while my Lovebirds never did learn to speak, I learned how to mimic Lovebirds so well I can now fool 'em wherever I find 'em. It's hilarious in shopping malls with pet shops.

What I'm saying is, you'll adapt to them more than the other way 'round. And for goodness sakes, always remember to keep screen doors and windows closed if you let your bird out of its' cage. Clipping its' wings helps, but not nearly as much as vigilance where exit points are concerned.

I once had a bird who, seeing our hi-definition television displaying a more-or-less static image of a park, tried flying through the screen thinking it was an open window. It wasn't 'til the last two feet she realized it wasn't real. Thud! But luckily, no harm done.

Yeah, you have a point..that's why i'm trying to be very careful in making a decition about this. No rushing in to it for me..after all, it's a living breathing life.

Do NOT get ring necked parakeets! They are damned squawking birds that will make you want to make them live up tio their names! Of all the pets Ive ever had these are the only ones that Ive ever been forced to find a good home for because I wanted to ring their necks. They are the devil's poo for pets! Cockatiels are nice though.

I own a cockatiel. TM me with any questions. They are good birds, loving, caring, and they will sell themselves out for millet and a scratch on the crest.

Mine whistles are girls...of course, when my girl broke up with me she gave me the bird.

Literally, and that's how I got tweety.

Why have a bird... when you can have a rabbit? :)

What's the name of your bunny?