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04-06-2015, 07:07 PM | #1 |
www.yorkierescue.com Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Las Vegas & Orange County
Posts: 17,408
| Thinking about buying a parakeet 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?
__________________ The T.U.B. Pack! Toto, Uni, & Bindi RIP Lord Scrappington Montgomery McLimpybottom aka El Lenguo the Handicapped Ninja 10-12-12 |
Welcome Guest! | |
04-06-2015, 07:39 PM | #2 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: NJ
Posts: 1,354
| 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. |
04-06-2015, 08:15 PM | #3 |
www.yorkierescue.com Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Las Vegas & Orange County
Posts: 17,408
| 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?
__________________ The T.U.B. Pack! Toto, Uni, & Bindi RIP Lord Scrappington Montgomery McLimpybottom aka El Lenguo the Handicapped Ninja 10-12-12 |
04-06-2015, 08:29 PM | #4 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: NJ
Posts: 1,354
| 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. |
04-06-2015, 08:30 PM | #5 |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker | 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. Last edited by Dayswalters; 04-06-2015 at 08:33 PM. |
04-06-2015, 08:39 PM | #6 |
www.yorkierescue.com Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Las Vegas & Orange County
Posts: 17,408
| 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.
__________________ The T.U.B. Pack! Toto, Uni, & Bindi RIP Lord Scrappington Montgomery McLimpybottom aka El Lenguo the Handicapped Ninja 10-12-12 |
04-06-2015, 09:03 PM | #7 |
Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: E.Stroudsburg, Pa.
Posts: 67,950
| 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.
__________________ Joan, mom to Cody RIP Matese Schnae Kajon Kia forever in my A House Is Not A Home Without A Dog |
04-07-2015, 04:48 AM | #8 | |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker | Quote:
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. | |
04-07-2015, 05:24 AM | #9 |
Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: E.Stroudsburg, Pa.
Posts: 67,950
| 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.
__________________ Joan, mom to Cody RIP Matese Schnae Kajon Kia forever in my A House Is Not A Home Without A Dog |
04-07-2015, 05:24 AM | #10 |
I Love My Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Posts: 37,147
| 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.
__________________ Chachi's & Jewels Mom Jewels http://www.dogster.com/?132431Chachi http://www.dogster.com/?132427 |
04-07-2015, 07:10 AM | #11 |
I ♥ Joey & Ralphie! Donating Member | 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.
__________________ NancyJoey Proud members of the CrAzYcLuB and YAP! ** Just Say No to Puppymills – Join YAP! Yorkshire Terrier Club of America – Breeder Referrals |
04-07-2015, 08:07 AM | #12 | |
♥ Love My Tibbe! ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: D/FW, Texas
Posts: 22,140
| Quote:
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.
__________________ Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis | |
04-07-2015, 08:53 AM | #13 |
Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: E.Stroudsburg, Pa.
Posts: 67,950
| 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.
__________________ Joan, mom to Cody RIP Matese Schnae Kajon Kia forever in my A House Is Not A Home Without A Dog |
04-07-2015, 08:56 AM | #14 |
www.yorkierescue.com Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Las Vegas & Orange County
Posts: 17,408
| I feel you about being caged for life. Perhaps I will have to get a turkey or ostrich. LOL Kidding! Ok maybe a penguin.
__________________ The T.U.B. Pack! Toto, Uni, & Bindi RIP Lord Scrappington Montgomery McLimpybottom aka El Lenguo the Handicapped Ninja 10-12-12 |
04-07-2015, 09:02 AM | #15 | |
I ♥ Joey & Ralphie! Donating Member | Quote:
__________________ NancyJoey Proud members of the CrAzYcLuB and YAP! ** Just Say No to Puppymills – Join YAP! Yorkshire Terrier Club of America – Breeder Referrals | |
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