Bird People . .I need help chosing the right bird <See PICS>**UPDATED**

[LoraJ]

I actually heard the opposite.

When i went to buy my male, I was told females were sweeter. The woman at the store was trying to talk me out of the male I got. But I didn't want a female because I had just had a parakeet that had died from egg binding.

My little male was the sweetest thing until he was about a year old. Then he got to be a little moody.

So from all that I know over the years, if you want sweet and cuddly get a female. If you want talkative, get a male. But note that I have read about females being able to talk, and of course the males will be cuddly too, just not as much as the females.

 

[JESW]

The cockatiel! We have three boys and they are wonderful birds - Fred, Ziggo & Xatu. Fred is not hand-tamed but he is still a good bird. I also have 10 parrakeets and only a couple are hand-tamed. Our guy Jake died yesterday and he was only 3 & 1/2.

Jill

 

[Disney_1derland]

They do look young. Also they look like 3 girls, although it's hard to tell with Lutinos.

Definately ask to handle the birds. When we got Piper we had no intention of buying a bird that day - we were shopping for dog food. DW Lauri saw him in the window of the aviary and he kept running up and looking at her. The associate asked if we wanted to hold him. When she went around to the door to try to get him out, he literally ran to her and hopped up on Lauri. Yeah, they had a sale from that second on.

Yep, see my previous lost cause comment You are the classic case.

It happened to me too. I HATED birds. Mostly because they scared me and my only experience with birds as pets was my ex-husbands grandmothers blue and gold macaw. He hated me. It was mutual. He would chase me through the house screaming with laughter while I ran screaming in terror. I HATED birds.

But, the ex insisted we get a parrot. He loved that stupid blue and gold monster and he missed it since we lived 2000 miles away. So as a gift to him I went to a store to investigate. It was a small local store that specialized in exotic hand fed babies. They handed me a featherless lump of African Grey who nuzzled my neck and that was the end of that. Deposit down, waited 3 months and visited him everyday until his handfeeding was done and I was a bird owner.

When the ex became an ex the bird became mine What the heck was I thinkin'???

 

[Carrieannew]

Here's a pic of the cockatiels at the pet store where it states that they are hand tamed . . .

I am so loving the spike headed one . . . Do they look young?

Here's a pic of the cute love birds

Wow. Where in CT are you? Those look alot like a local store in my area. My daughter and I love spending tme there.

 

[Wish Upon A Star]

All Pets Club in Wallingford

 

[Carrieannew]

All Pets Club in Wallingford

Thats exactly it. My daughter and I spent an hour there saturday night. I love it. Very clean and open. And very friendly.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

This thread is making me miss my parakeet....I want another bird!!!!!

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

It's too bad you guys don't live closer to us.

DW Lauri went to a mom and pop pet store that specializes in birds to ask about Beaker and Kringle - the babies that mom kicked out of the nesting box last night. We were worried that it was too soon and was there anything special we should do.

They told us it wasn't too soon if the birds were past the pin feather stage and had the majority of their feathers and that they will be fine as long as daddy is taking care of them like he is.

Then they dropped the bomb on us - he said "you know why she kicked them out already and is so cranky". DW Lauri asked why - he said "She's getting ready to lay another clutch of eggs".

So that's our story. Cockatiel math in that cage is 1+1=5, now it's going even higher He said the only way to stop her is to take the nesting box away from her. BUT.. Pee Wee is too small to come out of the box, so we can't.

So.. we are keeping Kringle and Beaker and have a home for PeeWee.. but looks like there will be some more up for grabs in a couple of months. ACK!

 

[jedi_librarian]

LOVEBIRDS are so much fun!!!!!

 

[Pin Wizard]

We have a Fisher Love Bird. He's the most adorable thing! DS and I both love him to bits!

Good luck choosing.

 

[Wish Upon A Star]

Thanks! I'm going to the pet store some night this week . . .I'm still up in arms about the Cockatiel or Lovebird with the last choice of 2 parakeets . . .I'm going to have to see how hand tamed the cockatiel really is and if the birds are friendly and happy. I want to make the right decision, not just based on cuteness . . .

Obi Wan . . . Your house will be filled with birdies!!

 

[iggbees]

we've had our parakeet for 10 years now and he's as healthy as ever and a really fun bird to boot. he isn't hand trained though, so he basically has just sat in his cage since we got him 10 years ago. we have trained him to talk and sing, but that's about it. i'd go for birds that can be a little more fun. my friend had a cockatiel when i was young and it was such a fun bird. i don't know anything about love birds, but they sure are cute!

 

[MerryPoppins]

DD really wants a bird, but I'm nervous because we have two indoor cats that love to watch birds through the windows. I'd just die if they caught a pet bird.

DD's 5th grade class had a cocktiel and he was a love. Piper spent part of the day loose in the classroom sitting on shoulders. They can be so social. My grandparents used to have parakeets that talked and were also social. I remember Sammy hanging upside down on my grandpa's glasses and grooming his mustache. So cute!

I have no real advice for you. I'm sure when you visit them in the store the right one will catch your heart.

 

[jedi_librarian]

Yep, see my previous lost cause comment You are the classic case.

It happened to me too. I HATED birds. Mostly because they scared me and my only experience with birds as pets was my ex-husbands grandmothers blue and gold macaw. He hated me. It was mutual. He would chase me through the house screaming with laughter while I ran screaming in terror. I HATED birds.

But, the ex insisted we get a parrot. He loved that stupid blue and gold monster and he missed it since we lived 2000 miles away. So as a gift to him I went to a store to investigate. It was a small local store that specialized in exotic hand fed babies. They handed me a featherless lump of African Grey who nuzzled my neck and that was the end of that. Deposit down, waited 3 months and visited him everyday until his handfeeding was done and I was a bird owner.

When the ex became an ex the bird became mine What the heck was I thinkin'???

Yup - aren't African greys the best? We got ours as a little furball. We hand fed her ourselves - we couldn't wait to take her home! DH and I have talked about what would happen to her if he and I ever separated. I seriously think we'd have to do vistations because we're both absoultely nuts for her!

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

We are owned by an eclectus parrot and a mollucan cockatoo. I love them both with all my heart!

Spend the extra money on a cockatiel. You'll enjoy it. And if you ever consider going with a bigger bird, the eclectus is a fabulous choice.

 

[Wish Upon A Star]

I went to the pet store last night and picked my new baby out . . .

I decided on the cockatiel . . .I was able to handle them all, but unable to take it last night . . . They still need to keep them another week or two because they are still young and they want to see if they will all be o.k. And they are still in the process of training them "step up, step down"

So I put down half and now my bird is on layaway . . .Not sure if its female or male though, but it is mostly yellow with bright red dots on its cheeks. It stayed on my finger and let me pet her/him and she/he captured my heart. They already had sold another one previously and I'm hoping that by sticking the SOLD (mostly yellow) sign on the cage will guarantee I'm picking up the right bird . . .I really wished they could of seperated it from the other birds because I'm afraid someone is going to get mine . . .then I'll have to re-pick out a new one . . .

I'll post pics when my baby comes home . . .hopefully it'll be sooner rather than later