DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Bird questions.......

I am interested in buying a bird...............want one that can sing the Brownie song when they score a touchdown..............any sugesstions............I am in the early stages of the research process!

I have been to a few of the pet scores around here in Huber Heights.....looking at mostly cockatiels and parrots!

I have heard from a damn good resource that some of them live to be 100 years old..............not sure I want a bird that dies before I do........but I guess we can never predict the future!

First words....................I will train that birdie to say, "Ravens Suck Ass!"

Unless you stand a lot, and I mean A LOT of noise at unwanted times I would steer clear of the birds. If lots of noise doesn't bother you however then go for it

Cockatiels are better whistlers than talkers. Parakeets are good talkers but don't live as long. There's someone we know that has a Quaker Parrot who talks up a storm. I'll bet she'll give you some info when she gets home and sees this thread.

I have a peach faced lovebird - but their brain isn't big enough to speak. He's an affectionet little guy and cracks me up. Look into African Greys. Don't them off though, they can snap your finger like a twig with thei rbeak. But they have the brains of a 7 year old human.

My Aunt has an African Grey---COOLEST BIRD EVER.

They are the most intelligent of all parrots and have very distinct personalities. They will pick up the sounds of there environment which is pretty cool, and will just generally be fun to have around. Hers will mimic her voice, her husbands voice, the phone ringing, all sorts of stuff, it can learn simple phrases and jingles if it hears them enough. Sometimes hers will mimic the doorbell and you'll almost swear that it was in fact the doorbell.

Overall, a very cool pet. They can get ornery from time to time and misbehave--maybe bite you(usually not hard--just kind of playful)--but if they ever mean it--their beak can draw blood--will hurt quite a bit. I've been bitten by her bird once or twice putting him back in the cage and it will definitely get your attention. But its never anything that a bandaid won't fix. And the only reason I got bit was because I wasn't a familiar enough person to be picking up the bird.

Her's an article per Wikipedia:

African Grey Parrots as pets

The history of African Grey parrots kept as pets dates back over 4,000 years. Some Egyptian hieroglyphics clearly depict pet parrots. The ancient Greeks also valued parrots as pets, and this custom was later adopted by the wealthy Roman families often kept parrots in ornate cages, and parrots were prized for their ability to talk. King Henry VIII of England also had an African Grey parrot. The Portuguese sailors kept them as companions on their long sea voyages.

Today, many African Grey parrots are hand reared by breeders for the pet trade and they make wonderful and very affectionate companion parrots; however, because they can be unpredictable at times, they may not be compatible with small children. African Grey parrots are very strong and they can bite with their powerful beaks. Their nails are naturally sharp and can scratch, although they don't use them aggressively. Pet owners often liken the experience of keeping an African Grey to raising a young child, both due to the birds' intelligence and the substantial time commitment which they require. While captive-bred birds usually assimilate into their new households with relative ease, wild-caught African Grey parrots require considerably more time to adapt to living with humans, and have a tendency to growl and panic when they are approached. Unlike more common pets, African Grey Parrots have not been greatly "modified" by selective breeding, and are genetically identical to their relatives in the wild.

African Grey parrots, like most pet parrots, are very high-maintenance pets, as they require a great deal of personal attention. While numbers vary with each source, most agree that three hours out of cage daily and 45 minutes of physical interaction is the minimum attention required for good mental health. African Greys – particularly Congo African Greys – are known to be shy around strangers, and tend to bond solely with their main caretaker if they do not interact with different people regularly. While inter-species friendships with other parrots are uncommon with African Greys, they require socialization with other parrots of any species.

African Greys require plenty of stimulating toys to keep them from becoming bored while confined to their cage. These toys should be rotated and switched out regularly so as to maintain the bird's interest. For an African Grey spending most of its day in the cage, 36"W x 24"D is a good cage size. The height of a cage is typically not important, except in the case of playtop cages that are taller than the owner, in which case the bird can become territorial. An African Grey who spends most of its time on a playstand and uses the cage solely for sleeping only needs a cage large enough so that the bird's wingspan doesn't touch the cage's sides and its head and tail do not touch the cage's top and bottom, respectively. The bar-spacing should from be ¾ inch to 1 inch. A companion African Grey should be kept in a bird-safe environment and placed in a busy part of the home, such as the living room, where the bird can occupy him- or herself in watching the household activities.

African Greys have special dietary requirements and should be fed plenty of calcium- and Vitamin A-rich foods, such as almonds, small amounts of cheese, or leafy greens like mustard greens, broccoli, etc. It is usual to give African grey parrots carefully calculated quantities of calcium and vitamin supplements. An excess of these added vitamins and minerals in an African Grey’s diet can lead to health problems. In order to prevent free flight, which could lead to loss or possible injury, only a few feathers need to be clipped from the wings of an African Grey, since they are heavy birds. Clipping too many feathers can severely impair flight and may lead to injuries as they may have a tendency to crash to the ground. If very young birds are wing clipped they may never gain full coordination and agility in flight. Finally, feather clipping should never be attempted by those inexperienced at it, as serious injury could result. African Grey parrots' lifespans are up to about 60 years (or more) in captivity.

LOL...Olive, our Quaker Parrot, says a TON of stuff. Of course, some talk up a storm and some never do...and that's with any type of bird. I like Quakers because of their "small" size...about the size of a 'teil.

If you want more info on Quakers, pm me and I can give you some links. Be sure you can keep it away from the cats, though.

Good luck!

Thanks Michelle...............I have a feeling that you have a little more knowledge when it comes to these type of birds then GM.

I think he's just had noisy birds. My bird talks all the time...if that's noisy then so be it. She hardly every screams birdy screams. If she does, something is usually wrong...like someone is walking by her window.

Well,I've had "talking Cockateils" before. But not all of them talk.

The way I acquired mine,was by actually going to a "bird show". They have a wide variety,they are "competing in prices" so you can't TOUCH the prices at a store and you can actually find birds that are "beginning to talk".

These people are bird breeders who actually work with and talk with their birds on a daily basis. So it's far more personal,you can be "assured the bird you buy TALKS" and you get a decsent price. That would be my best reccommendation. The one I bought was at a show they had at the Exibition center at Nutter Center.

Always had great luck with them and always happy with the birds I purchased and their quality.

JMHO

Definately go with the African Grey. They are the most domesticated of the birds. Also won't be squawking at unwanted times as much as cockatiels, parakeets, etc. They are a very cool bird.

I have had 2 conures, and they are the noisiest damn things. Like others have said go with the African Grey. If you have they type of money though, because they typically run in the $1,000 range.

Not sure why everyone is suggesting the Grey....other than it's a cool bird. They are expensive, large, and way too smart. And, Beer....they are not the most domesticated of the birds.

I like birds





So does my English Pointer

















and my 12 GA


















with gravy


KING

If I was going to get a bird I would get the grey b/c of their intelligence and character.

IMO the best option for a bird as a pet. But like it said in my last post---they require a large committment, lots of attention.

Very interesting animals.

Yeah, the are very intelligent...but so are many other birds. My bird is smart enough...and I don't need anything smarter.

Quote:

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I have had 2 conures, and they are the noisiest damn things.

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You're not wrong. I had a conure that i gave up when i moved to Oz. Was cool when it sang Manfred Mann's do wah diddy diddy dum diddy doo but that relentless screetching at times made me want to wring it's damn neck.

The people we got it off had this big Amazon thing, that was a cool bird. Not sure if it said a lot. African Greys are great speakers, in the pet shops here they got these Rosella things which speak. Maybe an Indian Minah bird is the way to go...

I had a parakeet. He never learned to talk or mimic any sounds, but I think he was too old when I bought him. If you get a parakeet you have to buy them really young if you want it to learn anything. I wouldn't suggest a parakeet if you want a talking bird though.

Thanks for sharing that King.......

I used to have a small type of parrot called a conure. Speaking from experience, I recommend that you DO NOT get one, or any other type of parrot.

They can be LOUD. I got mine at age 12 and my family hated him for being so loud. I took him to college and he was so loud my roomates evicted him. He just wouldn't shut up, always screeching and hollering at the top of his lungs.

Also, unless you have tons of spare time to devote to the bird, you better get 2 of them. They are very intelligent, emotional animals. If you have just one that sits in its cage in silence for most of its life, it will turn into a basket case, like a prisoner in solitary confinement. You can give them toys and put on music or the TV but the most humane thing to do is to have 2 so they can interract and play with each other.

On top of that, remember that they are destructive. They love to chew on anything they can find. There beaks are very strong and they can easily draw blood. Also, they go to the bathroom ALL the time. I would take mine out of the cage and it would be pooping on my shirt, the furniture, the carpet, everywhere.

If you insist on getting one, get one that is HAND TAMED. That is tamed by the breeder by hand from the time it was a baby. That way it will let you touch it and pet it like a dog or cat. Mine wasn't hand tamed, I had to do it myself and it takes SO FRIGGIN' MUCH TIME, I get frustrated thinking about it. It's like taking a hissing, biting, ticked off bird from the wild and trying to tame it.

Also remember to keep its beak and claws filed and its wings clipped. You clip the feathers on one wing so it can't fly. If you're not careful doing so, you can cut it and it will bleed all over the place. I quit clipping mine's wing like a moron and one day the cat jumped up at him and he flew across the house, smacked into a wall and was dead when he hit the floor.

Once again, I say DON'T get a bird. They're meant for retirees or anyone who has a LOT of time to give the bird the love and attention it deserves.

Thanks for the info..............seems as if you have had a really bad experience with that bird........I am not jumping on getting a bird.........just want some good advice........I do appreciate your input!

I have talked with a few people that have had good experiences with birds.......I am not about to rush out and buy a bird........but I am thinking about it.........I am far from retirement...........well maybe not that far away........just looking for ways to make the household more interesting!

That;s because you thought getting a bird was different than getting a dog. n reality - it's the same, except you don't have to walk it or let it outside.

Someone mentioned earlier, not sure who, about the noise they make - birds, that is.

And for the most part, they are noisy - in the early mornings. At least that was OUR experience when in college. 7 of us rented a 4 bedroom apt.........then let another guy move in later, and his bird......the dumb thing was yakking away and cawing and singing and yammering every morning at about 6:00 A.M. - not good for college guys.......

Lasted about 2 weeks before the bird mysteriously got out of its cage while a window was open.

Had greys....great birds....But they really do take alot of time...Birds of that nature demand attention....Plus The dander caused allergies to most of the family.....

Long time lurker....first post.....I had to jump in on this one.

I was in the same boat as you, Starglow, about 6 years ago. I wanted a parrot but wasn't sure which one was the best for our family. I did a bunch of research and talked to alot of people. I really wanted a Blue & Gold Macaw but after looking around and talking to people, I decided it wouldn't be the best for us because they are very loud, and loving but the thing about them for us was to cost. They need very large cages, very large toys, etc.

Then I looked at African Greys. There are two differnt kinds but both are about the same. One is smaller than the other. Although they are very smart, they tend to care for just one person in the household. I needed a bird that would be "kid friendly"

I finally decided on a Eclectus parrot. They love everyone in the household. They are social and very friendly. Ours has never bit anyone and he loves and craves attention. He has about 100 words in his vocabulary.

Research and then research some more. Make sure you pick the right species for you and your family. Then, find a GOOD breeder. Never buy an unweaned baby from anyone. I'd stay away from pet stores. Good luck!

Okay, then.

Thanks Michelle! They are gorgeous. We have a male because they are subservient. The females are "alpha-male" and can be mean at times, so I've heard.

He only screams when he's hungry but as soon as I get fresh veggies and fruits to him, he's fine. In the mornings, as the sun comes up, you can hear him, in his cage, practicing his words very quietly. He almost whispers.

He will (hopefully) live about 40 years or so and he is willed to my daughter.

The only good thing about going to Michigan was picking him up from the Detroit airport.

Welcome aboard JoJo.............your feedback is appreciated!

Welcome jojo excellent first post with some really sound advice. It's the thing that people need to do with any pet they bring into the family make sure it's right for them. Too many people are excited to get a new animal until they get it home and find out it isn't what they expected because they didn't learn all they could in advance.

Do you have any photos of you parrot you can post?

You are right on Lama!

I was talking to co-workers today........they told me..........I do not want a bird...........they make way too much noise!

I asked them what kind of birds were they talking about......they had no clue......and they never actually owned a bird............only heard from their friends.

I know that Michelle seems really content with Olive............I have a feeling she knew what she was doing when she got that bird.

I am only about 60/40 on getting a bird right now............but once I have completed some intense research about these creatures......it will be much easier for me to make up my mind............knowing exactly what I am going after!

So many parents take their kid to the pet store and the kid falls in love with the animal and they take it home...............knowing very little about it..........and that is just not good.

Yep Michelle does her research.

You're right too many people make impluse pet acquisitions. I'm glad to see you're taking your time and doing your research.

Maybe we should be more quiet Lama..........Michelle is going to get the big head!

Nah, I don't have the big head syndrome.

And, Olive was an impulse purchase, believe it or not. She was too young to come home with us, though, so I did all my research in the two weeks until she was weaned. Technically, I could have taken our deposit back if I thought it would be too much. The only things I really worried about were the cats (she's in her own room so no problems there) and formula feeding her until she could eat pellets (we did really well).

Birds aren't for everyone. Especially baby birds since they need three or four feedings per day. I will never forget when we heard her first words, though. It was pretty cool!

You know I was joking Michelle ............you have a great head on your shoulders!

Surprised that you got Olive without much thought about it..........so glad she turned out to be a nice addition to your home!

So cool.............you and Julie love animals...............that is very good!

Thanks for the welcome! His name is Riley and he just turned 7 on May 21st. I remember his first word. It was a "meow" and I couldn't figure where the heck the cat was....we don't have any kittys!

Awww sweet. Where do you suppose he picked up the meow? TV? He looks like a very happy bird.

Thanks Lama!

I'm assuming that it must have come from the breeder. She has a large farm in Texas. He was kept outside in an aviary until I decided to buy him from her. I think that her kitty's must have hung out by that aviary. She then brought him inside to hand tame him.