Thinking about buying a parakeet

[capt_noonie]

Bf has been wanting a real bird for a long time. Right now we have two birdcages, one empty, and one with a fake motion/light sensor bird that chirps whenever we go by it. I put my foot down at any large bird.

My fear was Toto would bark nonstop at it bc when we had Scrappy he did just that and Scrappy and Toto are like twins. But Toto ignores the fake bird and we also took him to Petco to look at the birds and he didn't seem to mind them.

Now my question is, are the birds sold at Petco and Petsmart humanely raised? Are there such things a birdmills? Is it ok to buy a bird from there?

[ShowGirlLola]

I used to have parakeets, my aunt had them too. I don't know anything about buying them.

My 4 dogs were fine with them, so were my aunt's 2, I'd think the thrill would wear off in a few days anyway. The birds themselves can be very loud though.

If you get 2 make sure you really know what gender they are, we thought I had 2 girls until one got pregnant...

Also clip their flight wings, they can still fly, just not long distances or very high. My uncle thought it was mean and one of their birds flew out the door.

[capt_noonie]

Are you supposed to get a pair? I was just gonna get one.

But yeah, my bff had one and they said it was a male, until it laid an egg. How do you double check?

[ShowGirlLola]

Idk if you need 2, but I had 2 and so did my aunt. I was like 8 when we had them so I don't remember much.

I also don't know how you test the gender, but I assume the internet or a vet could tell you, basically I wouldn't trust a petco employee.

Did you get to see the babies? They're so ugly they're cute.

[Dayswalters]

There are unethical bird breeders just like with dogs and cats. You are better off getting one from someone who raises them so you know how old they are as well as gender and that they have been socialized. Most of the ones at Petco are not socialized. Parakeets can be really tame and come when called and learn tricks but this works best with younger birds. There are just as many bird diseases as dog diseases. Unfortunately, by the time you realize a bird is sick, it is often too late since they are experts at hiding illness. Also, read up on what to look for in a bird when buying. For example, a bird sitting at the bottom of the cage, sleeping is a very bad sign. Missing feathers can be a bad sign unless it is due to molting, in which case you should see pin feathers beginning to emerge to replace the old ones. The vent should be clean and the eyes should be bright and clear. I know they are not super expensive but they are intelligent and loving if given the chance. Many people choose to get another bird if one gets sick because it's so much more expensive to take them to a vet than to buy a new one. Also, finding vets that know anything about birds is a challenge.

I love birds and I've fostered quite a few through the years. I've had everything from Macaws to Love Birds. Many people do not consider them to be "real" pets but as I stated, they are very intelligent and can develop wonderful relationships with you and your other pets. I currently do not have any, and I probably won't ever get another but I loved the ones that I worked with.

[capt_noonie]

Oh man. That's a lot to take in. I know Macaws are a lot of work and they live for like 70 years. Plus they are really loud. Plus expensive! I wouldn't ever get one of those. Now I am rethinking. Thanks for your input.

[matese]

I had a Cockatiel and a Bee Bee parrot for several years, clipped their wings, let the out of their cages when I was home. I had a poodle at that time, the poodle was GREAT with the birds, she would let the birds walk on her back, let them pluck her fur, she was very gentle with birds. Then I got my first yorkie, she would sit under their cages and salivate over them. There was no more letting the birds out, my yorkie would have killed them I am sure. I think it was the fluttering of their wings that would incite the yorkie. That yorkie turned out to be the most gentle, sweetest dog that LOVED to play hide and seek with my niece's ferret. Since I have had yorkies 35+ years I have never gotten any more birds.

[Dayswalters]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

Oh man. That's a lot to take in. I know Macaws are a lot of work and they live for like 70 years. Plus they are really loud. Plus expensive! I wouldn't ever get one of those. Now I am rethinking. Thanks for your input.

There are a LOT of people who get birds, leave them in a cage and throw food at them once or twice a day. For those owners, having a bird is easy but it's not a good life for the bird. Then there are those that get a bird as another member of the family. These birds (parakeets, cockatiels, macaws and many others) socialize with you and love being around you. I had a cockatiel that loved to sit in the side of my bowl at dinner and drink my soup or eat part of my salad. I had a Green Cheek Conure that loved to sit on my shoulder and preen my hair why talking softly to me. A military macaw was my last bird. He died of cancer after $$$$'s of treatment. He was a love. He called my children by name, played games and was like a little kid. These are just a few of the beautiful little souls that I homed while they looked for forever homes due to people not realizing the commitment.

Don't get me wrong, I think birds are wonderful pets and if you decide to get one, I know you will treat it well. I'm glad you are taking time to think it over rather than making an impulse buy.

[matese]

I got my cockatiel a female from a breeder as a little baby, I hand trained her, when I was home she was always on my shoulder, she would wrap her wings around my neck like she was hugging me. When I ate she would take pieces of food off my plate, she would walk the floor like a dog lol, I just loved that little bird, so did my Poodle. I had many varieties of dwarf parrots. My first bird was a parakeet, wings not clipped, she was out of her cage when I was home, you do not need 2 parakeets, two tend to bond with each other and not with the owner. As I wrote due to my experience with my first yorkie I will not get anymore birds, but I will say, it all depends on the dog. My first one that wanted to eat my birds was a puppy at that time, as an adult she was very gentle, the bird died before the yorkie reached adulthood, who knows, maybe my yorkie's attitude towards birds would have changed. I cannot keep a bird caged, they need the freedom to fly, even if wings are clipped they can flutter about, become a member of the family. I just will not take a chance yorkies and birds. I say go for the parakeet if your dog is bird friendly, you don't need two. If you can find a breeder you will get a baby that you can hand train. I know nothing about where PetCo or other pet shops get their birds. Don't deny your heart, get the bird.

[chachi]

I want a parakeet too I would buy mine from petco. The only thing that stops me is I have cats butt Ive heard the cats can get used to the bird if it lives in the home.

[Nancy1999]

I love birds, but I wonder about the humanness of making the live in a cage. Personally flying seems like it would be so much fun, and then to have to live in a cage with either clipped wings like some of the big birds or just never be allowed out of the cage like some of the small birds, doesn't seem like a great life. I haven't researched this at all, it's just my own opinion and I'm sure some pet birds have a good life, but in Victorian times, they would build a special aviaries where they kept plants and the birds could fly all over it. This seems very humane to me. My sister-in-law just lets her birds fly all over her house and she has the poop to prove it! Anyway, good luck with your decision.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

I love birds, but I wonder about the humanness of making the live in a cage. Personally flying seems like it would be so much fun, and then to have to live in a cage with either clipped wings like some of the big birds or just never be allowed out of the cage like some of the small birds, doesn't seem like a great life. I haven't researched this at all, it's just my own opinion and I'm sure some pet birds have a good life, but in Victorian times, they would build a special aviaries where they kept plants and the birds could fly all over it. This seems very humane to me. My sister-in-law just lets her birds fly all over her house and she has the poop to prove it! Anyway, good luck with your decision.

I'm so on board with you on this. Birds should be free to fly as they are made and have evolved to do better than any other living thing, having developed wings for just one thing - to fly high in the sky - "free as a bird". Even the tiniest birds have been tracked up to 1700 miles and migrate whenever nature calls. I'm totally fascinated by birds and would enjoy having one but the thought of keeping one captive in a tiny cage or even some 30 foot X 60 foot aviary in my house, a little being destined to fly the great skies when his wild instincts direct him, seems so cruel - seems to rob him of his reason for living - to get to FLY freely above us all. I'm the same way about fish tanks - particularly those slim, tall ones where the fish can barely swim forward but a few inches enough to push water through his gills - fish intended by nature to swim free and far in lakes, streams and oceans for miles and miles.

When I've been housebound for a few days after surgery, confined to one room or to bed for say 10 days, the freedom to get up and out, go shopping or to just drive, visit a friend and go out to lunch, free to roam where I'd like, is ever the sweeter once I'm released to resume normal activities. Imagine being housebound to one bed, one room, for your entire life and I imagine that's what a caged bird or tanked fish probably feels like. Of course if you were born in one room and shortly moved to another room to live your whole life, maybe you wouldn't miss all the things life otherwise has to offer and you'd be happy in your room.

[matese]

As much as I have always loved birds and had several varieties all one wing clipped could flutter low several feet,but not fly 20 feet, they were free when I came home from work and all week ends. I cannot see a bird live their life caged in a cage. I cannot go into pet shops with stopping and looking at the birds. Even with Cody, even if I knew he could do well with a bird which I doubt I could not let it out of the cage in the summer as I have a doggie hatch / door thingie. To keep a bird "caged" for 6 months would upset me. So I feed the wild birds and get my enjoyment from seeing how many varieties I can entice to my feeders, and they are free.

[capt_noonie]

I feel you about being caged for life. Perhaps I will have to get a turkey or ostrich. LOL Kidding! Ok maybe a penguin.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

I feel you about being caged for life. Perhaps I will have to get a turkey or ostrich. LOL Kidding! Ok maybe a penguin.

Well, I guess if your planning on eating the parakeet it's okay! How smart is your boyfriend? Would this fool him? Amazon