Birds come in all shapes, sizes, and degrees of loudness. Choosing the right one for you not only makes you happy, it also makes the bird happy. And a happy bird is a healthy well-adjusted bird with minimal behavioral problems. The most important thing to consider when buying a bird is their lifespan. Many birds will live more than 10 years, with some outliving you. Yes sir, the larger varieties can live up to 100 years.
Your bird will need a vet. For this you need an avian vet or specialist. St. Louis is lucky to have several to choose from. Choose your vet according to how well he/she will talk to you and answer any questions. Are they equipped for emergencies? Do they have an in-house lab for immediate results or do they send tests out of town? How long do you have to wait in the event of an emergency?
Your bird will need a cage. Most people say the bigger the cage, the better. I have found this is not always true. From personal experience, I have cockatiels in a larger cage than my quakers. The quakers just feel more comfortable in a smaller cage, while the cockatiels prefer a lot of room. Once you get to know your bird, you will determine what is best. The more active birds usually need a larger cage. Always check on the bar spacing as well. You don’t want a cockatiel in a macaw cage. They can squeeze their heads through the bars and cause injury to themselves.
Your bird needs to follow a diet. Yes, even in the bird world, they have diets. Pellets are the food of choice preferred by vets and most of us owned by birds. They are part of a balanced diet with beans, eggs, fruits and veggies. Most of mine will even eat chicken and turkey. No avocados, chocolate, caffeine, salt or alcohol. It will definitely have you changing the way you eat. I know I did.
You will need toys - lots of toys, so that you can rotate them weekly or bi-weekly to prevent boredom. In most cases with big birds, you won’t have the toys long enough to rotate. Make sure that they are made with stainless steel chains and links. This will help avoid zinc toxicity. Always watch for frayed ropes, because birds can hang themselves and die a quick death, or severely damage their feet, toes and wings. Some toys are known to be dangerous. Always get the appropriate sized toy for the bird. When in doubt, ask the vet.
What about small children or other pets in the house? You will have to teach little children to not stick their fingers in the cages; big birds can take a 4 year old’s finger off. Cats are deadly to birds, other than just by chasing them. A cat bite or scratch can make your bird sick and cause death if not treated immediately. Birds just need to be closely supervised at all times for their own health, and the sanity of those around them.
What about time? Will you have the necessary time to let the bird out of his cage to play and interact with you and other family members? They don’t like to sit in a cage all the time. On the flip side, don’t take them out all day long everyday if you will not be able to do that 5 years from now. Again, this could lead to behavioral problems.
Household dangers: You have to bird (baby) proof your home. Birds with unclipped wings will fly. They will fly into windows and ceiling fans, fall into open toilets, be eaten by cats, do damage to whatever they can chew up. No bird should ever be left unsupervised.
Now to determine what bird is right for you. Just because that pretty Umbrella Cockatoo baby is a doll, is not a reason to buy her. She can grow up being very loud and destructive, and then turn into a feather picker, a habitual screamer or a biter. It is not natural for a bird to bite, but I have noticed that caged birds tend to bite more out of fear, or as a defense. Not all cockatoos will feather pick, but the ones that are overly spoiled can and sometimes do out of boredom. Most apartment dwellers should seriously consider not getting a large bird. They tend to be very loud and your neighbors may not like hearing that incessant yelling at a minimum of twice a day.
The baby macaw will also grow up to be large. And loud. Most if not all birds are messy. Their cage trays need to be cleaned daily. Their food and water bowls need to be changed often. Many little birds and some big birds love to dive into the water bowl for an afternoon bath.
Talk to avian vets for breeders, rescue groups, bird clubs, and pet stores. Decide if you want a baby, or an adult that needs a new home. Always ask the owner about diets, biting, yelling, and any types of behavioral issues. Go looking, see what you like, go to the library for books, and read all that you can. Look for bird clubs and join. Ask a lot of questions. There is NO such thing as a stupid question. Research and learn all that you possibly can about the bird you are interested in. Then decide if you are still compatible with that particular species. If not, look at others, and keep learning.
Birds are great at hiding their illness. You have to watch them, know them, and react quickly. When in doubt, always call your avian vet first.
I love birds. I have taken in several that need a home for whatever reason. I have purchased a few babies too. I prefer to re-home or rescue the ones in need first. I have two Cockatoos, one Macaw, two Quaker parrots, and four Cockatiels. I have re-homed 4, rescued 2, and just recently lost one due to a bad diet for years and years before coming to live with us. Some things are not fixable. But with a little time, patience and proper education, you will choose the bird that is right for you and your home. Then you will both
be happy for many years.
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