I'm doing extensive research, and quickly realized I need two or three for the sake of their mental health. I want happy, satisfied burds! But I'm unable to decide whether to go for cockatiels or budgies, as I've never really owned birds before. I'm positive I can handle either, but they're definitely long-time investments and I need to find the right kind of bird right from the start. If any of you guys have experience with either, do share your thoughts!
I'm buying this badass cage
regardless of species, because their physical and mental health is in my best interest. It's huge, but I'll make space... somehow.
I just want to say thank you for taking the right approach and researching and investing in what will keep them happy and healthy before getting them! Too many people wait until something is wrong to look anything up.
I'm afraid I don't know enough about birds to make any suggestions, though, and my friend who likes birds favors conures. I imagine parakeets are easier to get, since I don't think I've actually seen a budgie before.
I'm afraid I don't know enough about birds to make any suggestions, though, and my friend who likes birds favors conures. I imagine parakeets are easier to get, since I don't think I've actually seen a budgie before.
Hi Spook! Thank you so much for doing research in terms of owning a pet like this, as it shows you're really dedicated to giving your new baby a loving home!
I don't have too much experience with starter birds, I ended up caring for an very elderly Amazon Green parrot for a few years, and she was quite the handful. My sister had a lovely little budgie parakeet for a few years though, and it was one of the sweetest little birds I've ever handled.
This website here, Beginner Birds gives a good snippet of information on starter birds. You could even take a look in to the ever popular Lovebirds, but they require daily handling.
You're gonna wanna take this approach by also taking a very strong look at your own personal daily activities and responsibilities. Most birds need lots of daily socializing to make sure they don't start nipping and biting. One thing that most people also don't realize is that birds tend to "love" on things quite often. Most especially boy birds, so it might be alarming to realize that they do this, because my sister had no idea what she was in for with her budgie bird. A friend of mine as well did not realize that her budgie bird would do this on a more so daily basis with one of his favorite cuddles. It's kind of like having a dog that has a favorite thing that it "loves" on and it certainly embarrasses you when it does this in front of friends.
I think some good questions to ask yourself are;
In no way am I intending to suggest you haven't already asked these questions of yourself! If you have, that is super amazing and you should be proud!
If I make a suggestion for a bird, I would have to go with either a budgie/parakeet. The funny thing is that budgies are basically parakeets. lol You'd be choosing between different types of parakeets. They're a rather inexpensive bird, so if you're trying to get more than just 1 to make sure they're quite happy with one another, be sure to choose the ones in pet stores that are clearly settled around each other.
This way you can ensure that the birds are well associated with one another and are comfortable being cuddled around each other too.
My only other suggestion would be lovebirds, because they're so gosh darn cute and they're still a good bird for a beginner. I haven't owned one myself, but from some of my own research they seem absolutely fine for a beginner so long as you're prepared to do lots of handling and have a safe environment for them to explore outside of their cage as they need to lots of it to be happy. Lovebirds seem to be one of the most playful I've seen so far.
I don't have too much experience with starter birds, I ended up caring for an very elderly Amazon Green parrot for a few years, and she was quite the handful. My sister had a lovely little budgie parakeet for a few years though, and it was one of the sweetest little birds I've ever handled.
This website here, Beginner Birds gives a good snippet of information on starter birds. You could even take a look in to the ever popular Lovebirds, but they require daily handling.
You're gonna wanna take this approach by also taking a very strong look at your own personal daily activities and responsibilities. Most birds need lots of daily socializing to make sure they don't start nipping and biting. One thing that most people also don't realize is that birds tend to "love" on things quite often. Most especially boy birds, so it might be alarming to realize that they do this, because my sister had no idea what she was in for with her budgie bird. A friend of mine as well did not realize that her budgie bird would do this on a more so daily basis with one of his favorite cuddles. It's kind of like having a dog that has a favorite thing that it "loves" on and it certainly embarrasses you when it does this in front of friends.
I think some good questions to ask yourself are;
- How much time can I dedicate to my new pet?
- Can I really, truly mentally handle devoting my time, energy, and emotions to something that will require those things from me on a daily basis?
- Can I afford the budget it will take to care for this pet properly should it become sick or injured?
- Am I mentally prepared to be pooped and peed on? To handle finding poop and pee upon my clothes, bed, and other belongings? Birds poop a lot!
In no way am I intending to suggest you haven't already asked these questions of yourself! If you have, that is super amazing and you should be proud!
If I make a suggestion for a bird, I would have to go with either a budgie/parakeet. The funny thing is that budgies are basically parakeets. lol You'd be choosing between different types of parakeets. They're a rather inexpensive bird, so if you're trying to get more than just 1 to make sure they're quite happy with one another, be sure to choose the ones in pet stores that are clearly settled around each other.
This way you can ensure that the birds are well associated with one another and are comfortable being cuddled around each other too.My only other suggestion would be lovebirds, because they're so gosh darn cute and they're still a good bird for a beginner. I haven't owned one myself, but from some of my own research they seem absolutely fine for a beginner so long as you're prepared to do lots of handling and have a safe environment for them to explore outside of their cage as they need to lots of it to be happy.
Lovebirds seem to be one of the most playful I've seen so far.
@PrettySir
This is stupid. Upon further investigation I realize that the parakeets I think of are cockatiels! The Swedish name for Cockatiels is the English name for Parakeets, which made your reply super confusing, haha.
What I initially meant was that I couldn't choose between cockatiels and budgies.
This is stupid. Upon further investigation I realize that the parakeets I think of are cockatiels! The Swedish name for Cockatiels is the English name for Parakeets, which made your reply super confusing, haha.
What I initially meant was that I couldn't choose between cockatiels and budgies.
Spook wrote:
@PrettySir
This is stupid. Upon further investigation I realize that the parakeets I think of are cockatiels! The Swedish name for Cockatiels is the English name for Parakeets, which made your reply super confusing, haha.
What I initially meant was that I couldn't choose between cockatiels and budgies.
This is stupid. Upon further investigation I realize that the parakeets I think of are cockatiels! The Swedish name for Cockatiels is the English name for Parakeets, which made your reply super confusing, haha.
What I initially meant was that I couldn't choose between cockatiels and budgies.
Oh my goodness.Cockatiels are super cute birds. The website I linked you too is also good at giving a snippet of information on them as well. I've not had the chance to see a cockatiel in person, but I've heard they are fabulous birds. However, I don't think I've really ever seen information about them being commonly kept with multiples as pets in one home. I would still vote toward the budgie because they are much easier to find coupled pairs or groups that already stick closely together as they are kept in much larger amounts than cockatiels in pet stores.
The other thing to make note of is what pet store you may be buying them from and do some research on them to see how well they treat their animals.
Oh. Well, with that cleared up...
Depends on if you want a dancing rocker bird or something with pretty colors. I still don't know much about parakeets except that they're common and they're pretty little buggers, but I do know that cockatiels have a habit of fussing up their head feathers and dancing to music. I've heard they also do it when irritated though, so you'd need to determine which it is. From what I've seen, parakeets also tend to have pretty even temperaments across the board, but some cockatiels can be real assholes. That's not to say they aren't lovable (my roommate has an asshole tortoise), just that you might end up with something meaner than you were after.
Depends on if you want a dancing rocker bird or something with pretty colors. I still don't know much about parakeets except that they're common and they're pretty little buggers, but I do know that cockatiels have a habit of fussing up their head feathers and dancing to music. I've heard they also do it when irritated though, so you'd need to determine which it is. From what I've seen, parakeets also tend to have pretty even temperaments across the board, but some cockatiels can be real assholes. That's not to say they aren't lovable (my roommate has an asshole tortoise), just that you might end up with something meaner than you were after.
LOL okay this is hilarious.
I had to pop in and mention this.
One of our mod tools automatically flags certain words and terms. Not all of them are banned terms, just terms that sometimes might indicate weird things going on. CAN ANYONE GUESS WHAT ONE OF THESE AUTOMATICALLY FLAGGED TERMS IS?
I'll give you a hint, it's in the word cockatiel.
The flag filter is currently going NUTS about your Very Very Rude Thread. You should all be ashamed of yourselves
I had to pop in and mention this.
One of our mod tools automatically flags certain words and terms. Not all of them are banned terms, just terms that sometimes might indicate weird things going on. CAN ANYONE GUESS WHAT ONE OF THESE AUTOMATICALLY FLAGGED TERMS IS?
I'll give you a hint, it's in the word cockatiel.
The flag filter is currently going NUTS about your Very Very Rude Thread. You should all be ashamed of yourselves
( ⚆ _ ⚆ )
Oh wow Ben, I never even considered that. I'm truly terribly sorry if I've caused any inconveniences!
Oh wow Ben, I never even considered that. I'm truly terribly sorry if I've caused any inconveniences!
LOL no it's honestly no inconvenience at all. We find it hilarious.
We like to imagine the server as a Victorian governess with a very delicate constitution, fainting every time someone does a sci-fi RP and says "cockpit"
We like to imagine the server as a Victorian governess with a very delicate constitution, fainting every time someone does a sci-fi RP and says "cockpit"
While I have very little expertise, I too vote for parakeets. My sister had some when we were young and in Colorado, and her ownership taught me a few lessons, namely that they should not be kept near windows during the fall/winter months because of temperature swings.
I've always had a liking for zebra finches, though, and I wonder if they've come onto your radar?
I've always had a liking for zebra finches, though, and I wonder if they've come onto your radar?
Hello! Im an owner of two Macaws (Jubilee&Blue and Gold), Sun Conure, Cockatiel, Rose breasted Cockatoo, and an african grey!
A good starter bird is always a budgie, however cockatiels arent very hard.
the bigger the bird the harder!
i reccomend always having it in a room that people are in.
No candles or inscense or perfumes are used around them or in the house usually because they have bad respitory systems.
know you have to change their cage around every month or so that way they dont get bored.
Best way to get your bird to bond with you is to feed him what your eating! No chocolate or caffine or pop tho ;-;
No uncooked rice or anything that expands is a general rule aswell.
I hope you have fun with your new baby and my inbox is always open for help!
A good starter bird is always a budgie, however cockatiels arent very hard.
the bigger the bird the harder!
i reccomend always having it in a room that people are in.
No candles or inscense or perfumes are used around them or in the house usually because they have bad respitory systems.
know you have to change their cage around every month or so that way they dont get bored.
Best way to get your bird to bond with you is to feed him what your eating! No chocolate or caffine or pop tho ;-;
No uncooked rice or anything that expands is a general rule aswell.
I hope you have fun with your new baby and my inbox is always open for help!
Hi hi,
I agree definitely a budgie (I have owned a few, all living to about 20 years and bestie has a flock). All the advice above is absolutely correct (Also if you like fabreeze you'll need to be careful the instructions also say not good for birds) .
Another few tips: Ceiling fans are a no no if their flight feathers are not clipped. Try to keep at least one wall of the cage against an actual wall so the feel safe in their space.
Also, I would recommend one budgie. One budgie will bond with you, two budgies will bond with each other.
I agree definitely a budgie (I have owned a few, all living to about 20 years and bestie has a flock). All the advice above is absolutely correct (Also if you like fabreeze you'll need to be careful the instructions also say not good for birds) .
Another few tips: Ceiling fans are a no no if their flight feathers are not clipped. Try to keep at least one wall of the cage against an actual wall so the feel safe in their space.
Also, I would recommend one budgie. One budgie will bond with you, two budgies will bond with each other.
Xheila wrote:
Also, I would recommend one budgie. One budgie will bond with you, two budgies will bond with each other.
@Xhelia: The cage will definite stand against a wall. The roof on the cage is wooden as well, and I think that will give them that extra sense of protection as well.
@Oniguro: Thank you for all your great advice. I don't use fabreeze but I'll definitely have to quit using candles, scented candles in particular. I think I'll cut down on the insence as well. I love all of those things but I also want my new feathery babies to be healthy!
As for everyone who suggested budgies: I talked to competent people at the pet store, and this one girl who's had birds for twenty years really convinced me to buy cockatiels. They're inteligent and have big personalities which I'd love, and they're more tolerant to being handled, which is important as I want to play and interract with them on a regular basis. But that's not so say I won't buy budgies in the future. That's a big cage I ordered and there's plenty of space- they wouldn't compete about the space in the slightest.
@Oniguro: Thank you for all your great advice. I don't use fabreeze but I'll definitely have to quit using candles, scented candles in particular. I think I'll cut down on the insence as well. I love all of those things but I also want my new feathery babies to be healthy!
As for everyone who suggested budgies: I talked to competent people at the pet store, and this one girl who's had birds for twenty years really convinced me to buy cockatiels. They're inteligent and have big personalities which I'd love, and they're more tolerant to being handled, which is important as I want to play and interract with them on a regular basis. But that's not so say I won't buy budgies in the future. That's a big cage I ordered and there's plenty of space- they wouldn't compete about the space in the slightest.
Awesome, hope you enjoy your new feathered friends 
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