Another type of person that should not own birds: parents that only purchase a bird for their child but refuse to take any kind of responsibility themselves! The amount of times I've heard children say 'my bird needs to see a vet but my parents won't let me or won't pay for it' etc is heartbreaking. Children are not fit to own a pet by themselves. If you want your child to have a bird, you have to accept that it's mainly your responsibility, even if your child is doing most of the day to day care and interaction
And that's especially true about birds. You can't cuddle a bird, it doesn't have human-affection coded in it's DNA like a cat or a dog. They're frail, sensible creatures. If the parent wants a bird themselves and happens to have kids? That would be better, still not ideal. It might sound harsh, but you can't trust children. There is always the risk that one of the kids hurts the animal, physical or mentally (by not stopping to force-petting it).
Honestly As a working teen, I pay for everything for my birds, I don’t get help financially from my parents. If I need to take my bird to the vet, I have to save up, if I want to buy more toys and stuff for my bird (which I have a problem with lol) I have to pay. I HATE when parents get their kids birds and the bird lives a unhappy life due to being a untame budgie from the pet shop and the kids getting board or just not a big enough cage or bad toys and perches ect
@@42ZaphodB42 I know adults who don’t understand or respect their body language either. But younger children or kids who don’t understand can’t really be trusted, as a young teen, I don’t force my bird to do anything he doesn’t want to do, I respect when he is saying no, I understand why he bites me and I don’t blame him, he isn’t the cuddliest bird, and only like head scratches a few times a day if I’m lucky and I have excepted that and don’t try if he is telling me no
Im struggling with this problem whenever I explain to my father he shouldnt do stuff because the bird gets anxiety from it, he says he knows better than i do because he owned multiple birds before
@@melliejenny8047 Yeah. And that doesn't mean a thing. The knowledge about animal keeping increases from year to year. What he felt was right doesn't necessarily mean a lot now.
I impulsively got my birds and the care I had before was terrible, but now I learned and they're so happy now, people need to understand it's okay to make mistakes, you just need to learned from them and change
When saying low maintenance pets, thank you for showing rocks or plants. Because no live animal is a low maintenance pet. I love gardening, and even plants can be high maintenance, depending on which you keep 😁
Well, compared to cats and dogs, birds are "low maintenance". You don't need to interact with them for them to be healthy. A single cat needs attention (that's why everyone should have atleast 2) and a dog, well.. is a dog. Of course, most bird owners only have one bird (which is animal abuse in my opinion) and that bird usually needs you as his partner (which is disordered behavior) at his side 24/7. That's the highest maintenance, but it's also a sick animal. You wouldn't leave your sick mother alone, too.
@@rain.5351 Personally, yes. Highly social and intelligent animals shouldnt be kept alone. You can't substitute a flock. There's always exceptions, depending on the species. My main experience is with cockatiels and they have much higher chance to become screamers or attached to lifeless objects or plucking their own feathers. A behaviour that's not seen in bigger flocks or in nature. The smaller the size of the flock, the higher the chance
@@42ZaphodB42 I disagree. Birds need interaction, whether it be from you or other birds. But they are socially developed creatures to the highest degree, and despite other birds around, you are looked at as the "owner" or "care giver", and they will come to you to see bonding, which include scratching, caressing, or evening just talking/singing to them. Birds will seek this, you have to provide this. You are part of their flock. They will be very stressed if you're not giving them attention/bonding (unless you get an extremely timid species, like canaries/finches). They can turn on you, or act aggressive towards you, because you can become their intruder or seem unfamiliar. These are not domesticated animals; they are and forever will be wild/exotic animals, so you have to constantly condition them. So, I really disagree with your statement on them being "low maintenance".
@@SanguinaryStrife No, I totally agree with everything you said. It just doesn't really contradict what I've said. In my opinion, we're allowed to live with them, not the other way around.
My parents did a very stupid mistake and got me a sun conure as a 'surprise' for my 18th birthday. They didn't tell me anything so I was very unprepared. My parents couldn't understand why I was so mad at them. I'm just against giving animals as gifts especially as 'surprise' gifts. Also it's not like I begged them to buy me a parrot. I simply said this one time that I'm planning to have a parrot in the future. Anyway, this surprise gift caused me so much stress. Of course I started researching almost right away, I bought all the important things, I started to slowly tame my bird. But I've had so many doubts if I can do it. It simply wasn't the best time of my life. I'm not mad that my parents got him for me. I don't regret that I have this parrot. I'm still kinda frustrated that they didn't tell me anything which wasn't okay. More positively now, I tamed my sun conure quite fast, which gave me some confidence and now we're buddies. I take care of him very seriously. He's happy and healthy and I love him so much! Also your channel helped me a lot during the time when I was making my research!!
sun conure as "present pet" sounds horrible I only have cockatiels and my mother in law has budgies but I know from reading and videos that they are really loud!
Honestly, pets as surprise presents are a horrible idea. I get that your parents were trying to make you happy but if you weren’t ready for that pet and it ended up neglected or mistreated that would have been partially their fault. It’s a good thing he ended up with a good owner!
@@Koraxus smoking outdoors away from the bird should be fine but if your smoking cigarettes make sure to wash your hands after bc nicotine can stick to your hands
Exactly, even if you use stuff like cigarretes, any type of toxic fumes that come from drugs, cooking pans, perfumes, repellents, lysols, are toxic to birds and can travel from your room to air conditioner to bird room
Whenever Im away at school (about 7 hours) my mum always takes care of my birds and regularly feeds them, as well as letting them out and flying around. Once I’m home, it’s my turn :)
i take my tiel out while im getting ready for school in the morning then shes in her cage while im away, but the minute i step into my room again shes out and is only back in her cage periodically when im leaving my room for an extended amount of time.
@@squidrings4169 I know u commented this ages ago but did your parrot act out since it was in its cage for 6-7 hours? I'm planning on getting a parrot and I can't help but worry if my parrot would be ok if I left it in its cage until I get back home.
@@rakkshana2766 Your bird will be absolutely fine! So long as they're provided with food and water at all times. It would also be extremely wise to have a surplus of toys to keep your feathery friend stimulated! But my Cockatiel has never acted out because of her lengthy periods in her cage. Usually, when she hears me come home from school she's chirping and begging for my attention, not hating me because I haven't been at home for hours. It would also be really smart to give your bird a big enough cage so that they're not confined and have a lot of flight room. My babies cage is quite huge lol. But your bird will be fine as long as they are given company after school. You don't even need to have your attention on them all the time, just allowing them out of your cage while doing work or watching a movie is really good and they'll be fine with that. Note that if you do plan to get a Cockatiel, they're very prone to attachment issues so be prepared for them to want to be out of their cage whenever they can see you.
Also: -People who hate cleaning/lazy about cleaning. Birds are messy! They poop everywhere and throw their food all around. -People who hate getting up/getting woken up early. No matter how late I cover my bird, she wakes me up at 7 AM. It used to be at sunrise when I first got her. -People who can’t handle being bitten. Birds bite. It’ll happen. I know I can’t handle a bite from a big bird. You need to be calm when they bite you, too.
May i have your birb? I could use a good alarmclock! Mine’s busted. The instructions said it would wake me up regularly, but all it does is bark and poop, it’s internal clock is set to tokyo time. Would not recommend.
Every pro starts a beginner, its okay to makes mistakes, but learn and fix them, I bet everyone made at least one or two mistakes like diet, cage sizes, or perches, but do more research even after you think you know everything, pros keep on practicing, so experts must keep on learning.
Yup I had a similar case with my 3rd budgie where he came from a impulse buy home. He came to us covered in mites and very under fed due to seed only diet. We later found out he had no cage and lived in a little box. He’s very sweet nonetheless and now has 2 siblings with lots of fresh fruit.
I’m 15 and I wanna make a bond with our budgies but my parents never let me take them out the cage and I get sad because they will never get to fly because of them
That’s not okay. Tell your parents that they need to be outside of the cage otherwise they will get stressed out and likely die. Birds need space. A *lot* of space. especially if there are multiple birds in one cage.
i’m a new bird owner (I got a sun conure about 2 months ago) and my life changed so fast. I live somewhere very hot so getting used to not having fans on took a while. I love my bird to bits and I know i’m very lucky bc when I got him, he was already very social and even potty trained! But even with these advantages, he’s a lot of work and i’m glad there are people like you who educate those who want a bird as a pet (including me).
You can potty train your bird? How? I have had my Jenday Conures since the end of November 2020. They are 10 months old. I have read a couple of books but have never heard about potty training.
@@christinerodriguez6451 if you look up “how to potty train a conure” on youtube, there should be a few videos showing you how to do so. mine actually came potty trained by the breeder so I am not able to help much other than that
I have been trying to convince my parents to let me have a Cockatiel. My parents are the type of people that, once convinced, will help in ways of taking them to the vet. I have been studying for three years, and I have been saving up. I already have ideas on how to get supplies as well.
After you adopt your cockatiel (dont gave up for wanting it) you could create a youtube account for your new family member. I would definitely subscribe.
me and my brother are planning on getting a ferret once our mice eventually die and we have been doing major research and saving up all our money and since our mice are still decently young we will be prepared when we get a ferret
If you're a minor and you're having to convince your parents to let you have a parrot, you're also not the right person to own a parrot.. because if you're still at school, there will be LOTS of changes in your life by the next 10 years at least - like college, getting a job, moving out from your parent's house, etc. So in the end your parents will have to be the ones whoo take care of the bird while you're studying and living your life and if they're not ok with it right now, imagine when they're stuck with this living being that they never intended to care for... Also avian vets, toys and food are hella expensive If your parents aren't bird people and don't intend on having a bird, I highly suggest you don't get a bird yourself. Instead, you can go volunteer at bird sanctuaries or petshops to get a glimpse of how it feels to care for birds and if you really want that kind of responsibility for at least 20 years of your life~
Thank you! I have taken all these things into consideration. I am planning on moving to a pet friendly college and my parents love animals, we simply don’t have the money right now. I have enough time to spend with pets after school, (we have many other pets) and I’m still researching, but I have accepted that I am probably not going to get a bird anytime soon. Thank you for commenting this especially for other less experienced others who impulse buy!
I have 6 budgies and the worst thing so far are the vet expenses. The avian vet costs me like 1000 to 1500€ per year. They get sick, hurt and they need checkups. Also had to learn a lot about their health care and emergencies. Sometimes you'll have to stop a bleeding. But they are so sweet and show me so much love! It's worth it! I even started my own mini food gardening to reduce the costs with organic veggies. 🙃 They change your whole life.
Add to that people who have allergies or asthma. Birds make dust that a lot of people are allergic to or develop an allergy once they have the bird. Great content once again. So glad I've found your channel.
I didn't realize it during the video but now I really wish it was mentioned! I'm a dove owner but I happen to be allergic to pigeon and cockatiel dander. I love doves but I could never personally own any other birds for both my allergies and the noise.
One of my cousin had a bird but she realised that she allergic to it so she was ganna free the bird or give it to the shop but my mom luckly brought the bird to me and it has been 3-4 days since i had her
I will say as a noise sensitive person, birds are a huge special interest for me and one of the few loud noises I *can* be around constantly! It just varies per person.
I happen to be a lot of these things and also a new mum to a budgie. Iris flew into my room chased by a seagull. It's true, working on myself is the most important thing so that Iris (and the future friend I'll be getting for her) can have the life she deserves. She should be in the wild bush of Australia, but she's stuck with me in Athens, so we might as well help her live to be 15 instead of 4.
I have always loved the idea of a parrot but by the time I could have afforded on I was much too old. Now I console myself by watching videos, knowing I never ruined the life of a beautiful bird through my selfishness. Keep up your good work, knowledge is always vital.
what makes me laugh are those who say 'they researched everything and claim they know it all', not a chance, as i have owned birds since i was 7 yrs old. am i'm still learning, owning a bird is like learning something new every day, things change in research.
Wow that's dumb, yes we learn all our life but when you know all the basis. You know all the fucking basis, you have to reaserche them every years anyway.
People PLEASE - listen to this post and understand it’s 100% accurate. Birds are beautiful and funny BUT owning one is hard. Too many people think they know what they’re getting into and in the end, one more parrot is dropped at a shelter. Don’t be that person.
I did 6 months of research before getting my lovebird. Forward 6 months after this beautiful, crazy , magical animal is in my life. I still am getting books at the library on parrot behavior. There are so many facets to parrot health and wellness I could spend my lifetime learning and still learn more.
I recently adopted my parents bird and I was only thinking today how much money I was spending on trying to make the little guy comfortable and happy. I'm buying so much more fruit and veg and buying toys because I don't want him to get bored of living here.
I own 7 budgies and wouldn't have it any other way. While I am sensitive to noise (autistic), I can deal with their noises and don't notice them as much as other people do - then again, I just generally love birds, so that might play a role in it. Their sounds usually don't startle me like, say, a dog suddenly barking.. That said, they help with my depression. They are not tame, but I just love watching them and they enjoy listening to me and sometimes "reply". Sometimes, when it's particularly bad, I feel like they are the only reason I am still alive. If only they knew how much they mean to me.
My bird had a bond with me at the shop itself. When the pet shop owner opened the cage she sat on my shoulder and none of the other birds did. So I was determined to buy her and yes I bought her. I thought she’ll feel uncomfortable in my home as she’ll miss her friends. But she was so happy to be with me!
It isn’t the best idea to buy a pet from the pet shop, as you could get them from a shelter. Though, I respect you and hope your feather friend is doing great!
@@pigeon582 i thought of the same , but u cant be sure whether the pets from the shelter are healthy because they have been saved from someone , something or somewhere. So u cant be sure of the lifespan and ik how much it pains to loose a pet. I didnt want tht to happen to me , so thats why i got a healthy bird from a pet shop. But there are healthy birds in shelters too , but its just that there r not many helters in my city just 1 or 2
I dislike noise but I love listening to my lil bubba kakariki chirping it’s so cute, I sit their having conversations with him, he’s starting to talk at the moment so it’s extra cute
I know I will never get a bird, but I am still fascinated by these cute creatures! I wouldn't stand the noise all the time (that's why I own a snake lol, which comes closer to the pet rock as you think haha) and that they poop everywhere. I still love birds more than hamsters, guinea pigs etc. :)
I feel very strongly about bird care and they are also my life. I agree wholeheartedly with all of this. I actually tend to discourage more then encourage people to get birds. They really aren’t meant to be pets and having them requires SO MUCH. Important video!!!!!!
True, the larger the bird the heavier the vet bill, but for very small birds like budgies there are fewer treatment options, sure to size. They're sensitive to medicine doses, tubes are to big for them, etc. I'm terrified that if my budgie gets sick even the avian vet will just send her home.
Birds can be such an impulse-buy pet and coupled with the idea they are low maintenance, it can lead to disappointment and then neglect. Your post goes a long way to encourage people to think twice before getting a bird/parrot. As you have emphasized, they are very social animals with complex behaviors. Nice channel!
When I was like 7 or 8 my relatives got me a budgie as a present. I didn't know anything about birds but my grandparents kept a big parrot on the balcony so my parents thought it would have been fine to do the same with the budgie. It eventually died and I felt so guilty and still do
1. 0:21 people that haven’t done the proper research 2. 1:57 people that aren’t ready for commitment or don’t have time 3. 3:22 people that cannot afford/ don’t have the funds 4. 4:34 people that want an easy pet 5. 5:15 people that are sensitive to noise 6. 5:50 people that lack patience and empathy I hope this helped you
I didn't do the proper research and had nothing for a bird when I got it, but that's because I found him. He was abandoned and so I spend the next time learning the basics and got him a friend a week later. They really aren't easy pets because it can take a time to bond with them, both my budgies are still really skittish and many people would probably have given up by now.
What shocks me the most, is that birds are super easy to keep, IF you know the basics. Provide the right space, never keep them alone and all you gotta do is a little bit of cleaning and feeding. Sadly the vast majority of bird owners has absolutely no idea what they're doing. The image of a single bird in a small cage, singing funny songs or speaking words is so stuck in peoples heads... So they just get one bird for their children, stuff them in a small cage and after a couple of months the poor guy's alone, maladjusted and probably sick in some animal shelter or for sale in the net.
I haven't watch the video yet but i wanted to thank you for making a video like this. I love parrots and am fortunate enough to get some exposure to them in wildlife rescue and rehabilitation but as much as i love them i could never give them the home they deserve and i think that this is something overlooked with a lot of animal species, not just birdie bubs.
I never imagined myself as a bird person but for some reason fate had other ideas , one day I got off work and my brother told me that he found a bird(parakeet) outside our house and he grabbed it and put inside a box , so I went out and bought some food n cage . Over time fell in love with a him , his name is Barry
Research is so incredibly important before getting a bird so definitely agree there! Always important to make people aware! So many people impulse buy birds, or lots of other animals not knowing how much effort is required or that they don't instantly know tricks or need to gain trust!
This video really helps people like me understand birds in general! I'm pretty young for a bird owner and just recently got 2 budgies without thinking how much work it would be! And I'm happy to know that I don't fit into any of these 6 categories now, but since as just stated I'm young for having 2 birds so as soon as I put my birds in their cage (which is very small and I plan on getting a big one soon) I kind of sadly started off as a dumb idiot teenager with no knowledge on birds but after about a day of owning my budgies I got to work and bought everything like natural wooden perches to millet Apart from my new giant cage that I'm saving up for everything should be coming in the next week and I knew that would take too long, so while I waited I got a second normal sized cage the same day from the bird store and separated them every day for 5 minute's to tame them after learning the taming process! now thanks to this video not only are my birds happy healthy tamed and trust me but i also know how to care for them even better.
If it wasn’t for you, I would have never gotten all my knowledge and been so interested in conures in general. I own an aviary full of 16 tame budgies, although they never would have been as tame if it wasn’t for your awesome videos. Thanks again. ;)
When I got my first bird, I learned a lot about them for two years. My parents thought I was impulse buying one, especially because I was getting one for my thirteenth birthday. But turns out I knew more about them than my parents did. And that’s how I got a bird for my thirteenth birthday.
I wish I'd had this video 5 years ago. My mother bought me an African Grey when I was barely a teen, and it's been tough. He had to move out of my bedroom due to my mental health, where my mother neglected her space and he was mistreated for a lot of years. I love my boy, and I'd do anything for him, and I'm so glad that now, he's back with me, we're out of that horrible place, and I have the time, money, and space to keep him now that I'm not tied to my parents. Unfortunately, he had already begun to pluck due to the condition my mum kept him in, but I'm so proud that since we've moved, he's made so much progress. I just wish that I'd waited until I was older and maybe he would have been given a better chance, starting out.
All true. Our little guy is part of our family and we have adjusted to his needs not the other way around. We live on the 2nd floor condo and he can see outside. If anyone or anything (people or cats for example) walks by that doesn't belong there, he sets up a squack like no other sound he makes. We always know what he's trying to let us know. Best watch bird!!
I got my Quaker parrot after doing 2 years of research, he was the last baby left out of 3 that were having trouble finding a home. He was 4 months old when I got him; got him at a time in my life when I was very depressed and was isolating. He changed my life for the better and now I have something I love to take care of, and I plan on having birds for the rest of my life. I absolutely love them. He has changed my life for the better. I worry about him as if he were my human child, lol.
thanks to you (and some others) I am 3 month in reseach and development to prepare me and my home before even reaching out to search for birds and I learned a lot :3 I am still not there yet because there is a lot to know, but you (and others) help me to not only find the right birds, but to prepare right for them as best as i can. Thanks you from the buttom of my heart ^^
My bird landed on my chair at a park. And I've done nothing but research since I've had her. ❤️ I have guinea pigs too and I did research before getting them. I knew I was the kind of person who could take care of one otherwise I never would have kept her.
I'm with Joyce..my selfish grandmother bought my sister and I several parakeets. We were young... didn't know how to take care of them...as a result a couple died, the other ones hated us. I don't blame them. Also my dad kept turning on the ceiling fan when he was drunk. At 9 years old I saw my favorite bird fly into it. I held him in my hands crying as he slowly died. It was awful. I am 40 now. My sister 46. I will never forget that. He was my buddy, although my 9 year old self...not a good bird parent Another not great bird parent is: those who want them for show and to show off. Also in my young years...I had a couple friends who had huge parrots. The parents would always say: oh don't bother him, he's not a nice bird. One attacked at a sleepover. It's not that the bird wasn't nice. It was being ignored. I hope to own one in my older years. A quaker parrot. Or African Grey. And it would be my best friend. But I intend to research for years. Get experience. So I can make the precious bird happy as it makes me. Also saving money for toys and treats. I will not repeat the mistakes my self centered grandmother did.
I had a parrotlet as a teen. She was a lot of work and tore up anything made of paper when you weren’t looking. Although I loved her and was happy to put in that hard work, it’s definitely important to remember this bird family is made up of as much unbridled mischief and willfulness as they are cute and funny.
I'm 14 (as of now) And I'm planning to get a bird around 16 years old, I've been around Birds Alot, when I was little there were birds in the house, cuz my Grandpa owned birds (2 Umbrella Cockatoos, 2 Gold Collard Macaws, 1 Parakeet, 1Cockatiel, and 1 Blue Fronted Amazon) I have lots of time on my hands, Plus I'm homeschooled so if I do get one when I turn 16, then I won't have to worry about not being there during school hours. I have always been close to birds more than dogs. The first bird I'm planning to get is a Budgie.
I totally agree with all you said in this video. I think everyone thinking of getting a bird should watch this. In general, most people should be discouraged from getting a bird. As you said, they are really demanding and they require a lot of commitment from their owners. This is clearly something that many people is not able to provide. It's a lifelong commitment and those kinds of videos in which you only see the lovely side of parrots are misleading. Please make a thorough thinking before getting a bird!
Ive done 10 hours of resrarch the day before I got my bird, I had a small cage, so I bought a bigger one, I had the wrong diet, so I added fruits and veggies, I was clingy so I gave it space and time to get used to me and its new home. Its all about commitment and treating your bird as a companion, I've learned a lot and I fixed my mistakes to give my budgie the life it deserves. Thanks.
yes this is sooo important!! when i got my first bird i was sooo young and totally not cut out for it...especially because the pair of budgies i had were aviary birds and HATED to be handled...(well i got the male to feed out of my hand once but i was like 6 so i little to no patience) but ow i know what im doing and spend most of my day with my birds as im homeschooled!!! PLASE do think about getting a bird before u impulse buy because at the end of the day your not the one being forced to stay in a cage, or rehoused pls thinks about the bird first!!!!!!!
Heck, I went to Florida a month ago, and for some reason I just wanted to go to a pet store because I was curious to see what birds they'll sell. I saw this Green cheeked conure and instantly bought it. I had no idea about any information about the bird but he's doing just fine.
You should’ve researched about getting a parrot/bird so you already have the information in your head. But I hope your bird is doing fine, because you definitely need to know what to feed them, and the sizes for the cage, and toys, and a lot of things!
Glad you didn't mention fish as an easy pet to take care of like a lot of people try to pass them off as. Like Goldfish for example, seems easy right? Just stuff them in a bowl with some tap water and you're good to go right? Heccin' wrong mate!
Thanks for posting this; I just got a 6 month old peach-faced lovebird. I've had them before, but after I traumatically lost two in a row over 20 years ago, one to an upper respiratory infection, and one because it turned out it was a hybrid, I've been carefully caring for and training this little gal. I took in a rescue lovebird a few days after I adopted my peach-faced (this one's a fischer) and wish I hadn't. He needs soooo much attention - he was neglected in his cage before coming here, and after just a few days, he's coming out of his shell...but now I don't want to let just anyone adopt him when he's ready to be re-homed. So, I think now I'm responsible for both of them for life! Also - please don't breed your birds. There are too many parrots out there that are carted from home to home to home, and they're smart animals that need love and tons of attention - like children - for their entire lives.
I have a Green-Cheeked Pineapple Conure, and I bought her impulsively... :) Her name is Pineapple, just like yours so very creative name choice aswell. I ended up feeding her seeds at first, not knowing what to do but eventually did some reseach. Pines now has a nice big cage and a heathy chop and pellet diet! I used this channel for reseach so quick thank you! :)
I love my bird even if he isnt the bird i imagined I love him and i do have patience i do trick training almost everyday and having a bird also worked on my patience (like waiting for a package to arrive) but way more and I got him a few months ago and I'm so excited to learn new things with my bird.
My parents bought two budgies on impulse a few years ago, and they kept them in a tiny cage, didn't train them, kept improper perches and toys, and would not let me give them treats (my mother is actually terrified of birds) after about a year they posted them for sale on kijiji because they lost interest and they were "too much work for a pet we can't hold". I've become obsessed with conures, and plan on getting one in 2 years when I move out. I've already been doing research for months and my parents think I should just wing it (Aha "funny" pun).
I spent a year making the decision. Started off thinking I would just get a couple budgies and I ended up finally deciding on cockatiels…. Didn’t initially plan on two but that is where I am now. They are my life. They are a ton of work but I’m up for it.
My little conure is an ideal traveling companion for me. While I do work long hours, he has an entire semi truck to fly around in, and often prefers to curl up right behind my head and either preen my hair, or nibble on my hat or earrings. I also have multiple perching areas set up for him, and he throws an absolute tantrum if he can't sleep with me, which I find adorable. He's a snuggler, and loves people in general. His favorite activities include chewing on his toys, crapping every 10 minutes (baby wipes are a god send), and bathing in his dog bowl bird bath.
I ended up getting my cockatiel from a woman who no longer had the time. She hatched it herself, had her for 18 years. Poor bird must be heartbroken having to leave her home an owner after so long ☹️ I've had her about two months now, we are slowly getting closer daily but it hasn't been easy by any means
Someone in my family brought 2 lovebirds home and a year after she left to live elsewhere and REFUSED to take them with her. Birds are the last kind of pet I would get, I've never been interested in living with them because of the noise, because I prefer them to be free and because I want to travel often. But now that they've been living here for 2 years I feel attached to these two and I don't know how to find them a new owner and make sure they will take better care of them than I have. It's just frustrating...
Just did some research because I want to get a parrot, and now I know I can't.. My mom and brother both smoke, maybe only in the kitchen, not a big deal but we still have these air refreshers that you just have to refill, but I understood it that way, that i still can't get a bird because of that :(
I usually do all the research first. Put all the things on how much it costs together, and if I have enough money to take care of a bird, then yes, I got a bird. But I never impulse buy
Ah yes as an almost senior in high school who got my bird last year I am so very excited to find a college that allows pets :’) For my fox and my bird. God dammit.
Macaws are hands down my favorite bird, perhaps animal, hands down! I love them so much - their personalities, their colors, how smart they are... For the longest time, I wanted to get a macaw. That was my life goal. But now that I'm older and I've done the research and spoken to people that own them, it's easy to see that they're just not the right fit for me. I don't get paid enough to afford one, I couldn't handle the destruction and mess of a larger bird (I would need to train myself!) And the neighbours would despise the noise... I still love them, but I know that I shouldn't have one as a pet :)
Another type of person who shouldn't get a birb is one where they don't necessarily have a lot of space for them Larger birds especially need even more space. That means that for a lot of people who live close to the city centre, or live in a flat, it's a non starter.
speaking from someone who's owned a pet dove for nearly 10 years now: the type of care your bird needs changes with age, just like with any other animal. When they're younger they typically need A LOT more attention, training, and care. I went from hand-raising an abandoned runt, to training an incredibly horny/angry male dove, to pretty much just keeping an old man out of trouble. Once they get past those absolutely terrible hormonal years as teenagers (which, I've heard, is even worse with parrots), birds will tend to mellow out and calm down. It might be worth considering the age of the bird you're getting depending on if you're okay with it constantly screaming and trying to mate with you (with the plus side of making them easier to train since they're younger and more curious) vs getting an older bird to just keep you company and chill on your shoulder 90% of the time (though with older birds you REALLY have to earn their trust first). sidenote in case anyone sees this and decides to comment about this: I am aware that you should own doves in pairs, what you don't know is that my dove happens to be EXTREMELY aggressive towards other members of his own species (like straight up tries murdering them type of aggressive). So yes, we tried, no, it did not work.
@@Rie_Bot it depends on the species. For my dove it lasted from when he was about 2 years old to about 6 years old. From about 6 to 9 (and even now) he would still perform courtship behaviors but he became a lot less aggressive about it. You also have to keep in mind a bird's gender. A female dove would act broody and perform nesting behaviors, i.e. literally trying to build a nest somewhere. If you keep doves in a pair it's possible to tone down this behavior since they would have someone else as company 24/7. Just remember to get them in pairs of the same sex unless you want babies!
I have 2 quakers. The first one I got I had her for about a year before getting the other one. Lulu was the first bird. We had all that time to bond before the other one came. I love her so much. Belle is the other one. We aren’t as close as lulu and I are. They are in the same cage so they really don’t want much time with me anymore and I’m heartbroken.
My parents got me a bird when I was 13 because I kept asking for a dog. I started doing a lot of research when I got the parrot and sometimes I fear I am not the best person to own one. My parents think he doesn't need a bird friend so I can't even provide him the best company available :/ What really helps is the fact that through the 5 years I've had him so far, he's been very optimistic and friendly, not showing any signs of depression or stress caused any type of low-quality treatment
The money part of this equation is no joke I have an elderly disabled cockatiel and then just this year alone I have racked up some really serious medical bills keeping him happy healthy and alive.
I am extremely noise sensitive and Im happy with my cockatiels. They make the most noise at certain times and you can say they've trained me to expect and tolerate it. They also go into " time out" when I cover the cage for 5 min if they get really noisy. They rarely need that. Yeah something like a cockatoo would drive me nuts. They are louder than God.
I currently live in a place that would be unsuitable for birds (as we are in a small open plan area, so the living room backs onto the kitchen, so the bird would be getting a lot of temperature changes and strong smells non stop! plus our flat is just small) so I am doing all the research before I move to a bigger and nicer place, once i am settled I wanna be the best bird owner! Thanks for making these vids, I've watched a bunch!
People that think birds are just room decorations "Nobody puts Baby in a corner" - Should not get birds. Pet time allocation examples (from least to greatest imho) fish then cats then dogs then birds(need as much attention as toddler children) . So, if you think that toddlers and dogs are too needy..DON'T GET A BIRD.
Sage advice our Cockatiels cage is open as long as there's someone in, he comes and goes as he pleases and squawks and sings without anyone being bothered. Parrots are demanding whatever the size but are such rewarding companies. Well said.
This is so truuu . My dad forces people to get parrots even though they dont want to. He got us a parrot and then another and my mom takes care of it now even with her busy schedule
I've been wanting a bird for 2 years now and I have done a lot of research, and from this video it seems like I'm the perfect person for a bird, except my mom hates noise
Some people don’t even do research and just adopt the bird just because over social media they saw birds doing cute things. Another way to look at this is like adopting a human child and not taking care of them and just expecting them to walk.🤦♀️
I wanted birds for years. I waited until I got my own home and could go all out with birds. It's a lot. But I remind myself every day that I don't have to do what I do every day with my birds, I get to. And it's worth it. But birdtricks is like my bird bible these days. But I relate to no social life. I didn't have much of a social life before birds, and now that I have 16 birds, I still don't have a social life. They're my best friends :P
I got my Grey cheek from a really bad home he screamed all the time and bite me alot...but here we are a yr later and he is a wonderful pet...he finally fell in love with me
I have had birds before ( they were parakeets, they are cute) and at the moment I am working to get one. This is helpful for people that are not 100% sure if they are ready for one
Edit: I moved and I was forced to give my birds away. The move was unexpected and today, only one is still living ( this was years ago) and she is a grumpy grandma and always will be
tho I lean more towards Emu's, i can still say with confidence that this video is still very valuable knowledge to all the people who dont understand the fact that not only all birds are quite sentient beings (yes including pigeons), but birds in the family Psittacidae are especially sentient and self aware beings. I'm definetly going to recommend it to my friends who dont understand that owning a parrots is like owning a child.
Also, ppl live in very tiny 🏠 too...as birds fling food around the place,if 🏠 is too small, will be difficult in keeping cleaniness...unless u seal the cages round the clock, but that's not good for both u and birds in terms of health
Another type of person that should not own birds: parents that only purchase a bird for their child but refuse to take any kind of responsibility themselves! The amount of times I've heard children say 'my bird needs to see a vet but my parents won't let me or won't pay for it' etc is heartbreaking. Children are not fit to own a pet by themselves. If you want your child to have a bird, you have to accept that it's mainly your responsibility, even if your child is doing most of the day to day care and interaction
And that's especially true about birds. You can't cuddle a bird, it doesn't have human-affection coded in it's DNA like a cat or a dog. They're frail, sensible creatures. If the parent wants a bird themselves and happens to have kids? That would be better, still not ideal. It might sound harsh, but you can't trust children. There is always the risk that one of the kids hurts the animal, physical or mentally (by not stopping to force-petting it).
Honestly
As a working teen, I pay for everything for my birds, I don’t get help financially from my parents. If I need to take my bird to the vet, I have to save up, if I want to buy more toys and stuff for my bird (which I have a problem with lol) I have to pay. I HATE when parents get their kids birds and the bird lives a unhappy life due to being a untame budgie from the pet shop and the kids getting board or just not a big enough cage or bad toys and perches ect
@@42ZaphodB42 I know adults who don’t understand or respect their body language either. But younger children or kids who don’t understand can’t really be trusted, as a young teen, I don’t force my bird to do anything he doesn’t want to do, I respect when he is saying no, I understand why he bites me and I don’t blame him, he isn’t the cuddliest bird, and only like head scratches a few times a day if I’m lucky and I have excepted that and don’t try if he is telling me no
Im struggling with this problem whenever I explain to my father he shouldnt do stuff because the bird gets anxiety from it, he says he knows better than i do because he owned multiple birds before
@@melliejenny8047 Yeah. And that doesn't mean a thing. The knowledge about animal keeping increases from year to year. What he felt was right doesn't necessarily mean a lot now.
I impulsively got my birds and the care I had before was terrible, but now I learned and they're so happy now, people need to understand it's okay to make mistakes, you just need to learned from them and change
Do you regret getting a bird?
@@SanguinaryStrife I doubt it
@@SanguinaryStrife nope, they have their great personalities and really taught me to be patient and more respectful
I agree to this!
i am so glad that you changed the way you take care of them to make them happy!
When saying low maintenance pets, thank you for showing rocks or plants. Because no live animal is a low maintenance pet.
I love gardening, and even plants can be high maintenance, depending on which you keep 😁
Well, compared to cats and dogs, birds are "low maintenance". You don't need to interact with them for them to be healthy. A single cat needs attention (that's why everyone should have atleast 2) and a dog, well.. is a dog.
Of course, most bird owners only have one bird (which is animal abuse in my opinion) and that bird usually needs you as his partner (which is disordered behavior) at his side 24/7. That's the highest maintenance, but it's also a sick animal. You wouldn't leave your sick mother alone, too.
@@42ZaphodB42 having one bird is considered animal abuse to you? seriously?
@@rain.5351 Personally, yes. Highly social and intelligent animals shouldnt be kept alone. You can't substitute a flock. There's always exceptions, depending on the species. My main experience is with cockatiels and they have much higher chance to become screamers or attached to lifeless objects or plucking their own feathers. A behaviour that's not seen in bigger flocks or in nature. The smaller the size of the flock, the higher the chance
@@42ZaphodB42 I disagree. Birds need interaction, whether it be from you or other birds. But they are socially developed creatures to the highest degree, and despite other birds around, you are looked at as the "owner" or "care giver", and they will come to you to see bonding, which include scratching, caressing, or evening just talking/singing to them. Birds will seek this, you have to provide this. You are part of their flock. They will be very stressed if you're not giving them attention/bonding (unless you get an extremely timid species, like canaries/finches). They can turn on you, or act aggressive towards you, because you can become their intruder or seem unfamiliar. These are not domesticated animals; they are and forever will be wild/exotic animals, so you have to constantly condition them. So, I really disagree with your statement on them being "low maintenance".
@@SanguinaryStrife No, I totally agree with everything you said. It just doesn't really contradict what I've said. In my opinion, we're allowed to live with them, not the other way around.
My parents did a very stupid mistake and got me a sun conure as a 'surprise' for my 18th birthday. They didn't tell me anything so I was very unprepared. My parents couldn't understand why I was so mad at them. I'm just against giving animals as gifts especially as 'surprise' gifts. Also it's not like I begged them to buy me a parrot. I simply said this one time that I'm planning to have a parrot in the future.
Anyway, this surprise gift caused me so much stress. Of course I started researching almost right away, I bought all the important things, I started to slowly tame my bird. But I've had so many doubts if I can do it. It simply wasn't the best time of my life. I'm not mad that my parents got him for me. I don't regret that I have this parrot. I'm still kinda frustrated that they didn't tell me anything which wasn't okay.
More positively now, I tamed my sun conure quite fast, which gave me some confidence and now we're buddies. I take care of him very seriously. He's happy and healthy and I love him so much!
Also your channel helped me a lot during the time when I was making my research!!
awwwe
sun conure as "present pet" sounds horrible I only have cockatiels and my mother in law has budgies but I know from reading and videos that they are really loud!
Aw poor parents I can imagine how hurt they were seeing you angry because of something they thought you'd love
Honestly, pets as surprise presents are a horrible idea. I get that your parents were trying to make you happy but if you weren’t ready for that pet and it ended up neglected or mistreated that would have been partially their fault. It’s a good thing he ended up with a good owner!
69th like
Also: smokers.
Even if you smoke in a separate room, unless you live in a 30 room mansion that smoke will find it’s way into your birds’ room.
what about doing it outdoors?
@@Koraxus smoking outdoors away from the bird should be fine but if your smoking cigarettes make sure to wash your hands after bc nicotine can stick to your hands
@@shoujomiku I was mostly asking for pot but I always wash my hands relatively often anyway, covid and stuff
Exactly, even if you use stuff like cigarretes, any type of toxic fumes that come from drugs, cooking pans, perfumes, repellents, lysols, are toxic to birds and can travel from your room to air conditioner to bird room
@@LiptonTea34 rahhh chillax, I'm not doing pcp or heroin
Whenever Im away at school (about 7 hours) my mum always takes care of my birds and regularly feeds them, as well as letting them out and flying around. Once I’m home, it’s my turn :)
Same!
i take my tiel out while im getting ready for school in the morning then shes in her cage while im away, but the minute i step into my room again shes out and is only back in her cage periodically when im leaving my room for an extended amount of time.
Me too
@@squidrings4169 I know u commented this ages ago but did your parrot act out since it was in its cage for 6-7 hours? I'm planning on getting a parrot and I can't help but worry if my parrot would be ok if I left it in its cage until I get back home.
@@rakkshana2766 Your bird will be absolutely fine! So long as they're provided with food and water at all times. It would also be extremely wise to have a surplus of toys to keep your feathery friend stimulated! But my Cockatiel has never acted out because of her lengthy periods in her cage. Usually, when she hears me come home from school she's chirping and begging for my attention, not hating me because I haven't been at home for hours. It would also be really smart to give your bird a big enough cage so that they're not confined and have a lot of flight room. My babies cage is quite huge lol. But your bird will be fine as long as they are given company after school. You don't even need to have your attention on them all the time, just allowing them out of your cage while doing work or watching a movie is really good and they'll be fine with that. Note that if you do plan to get a Cockatiel, they're very prone to attachment issues so be prepared for them to want to be out of their cage whenever they can see you.
Also:
-People who hate cleaning/lazy about cleaning. Birds are messy! They poop everywhere and throw their food all around.
-People who hate getting up/getting woken up early. No matter how late I cover my bird, she wakes me up at 7 AM. It used to be at sunrise when I first got her.
-People who can’t handle being bitten. Birds bite. It’ll happen. I know I can’t handle a bite from a big bird. You need to be calm when they bite you, too.
I agree I have 3 Cocketels, 1 Princess Parrot and 6 budgies we vacuum up to 4 times a day
May i have your birb? I could use a good alarmclock!
Mine’s busted. The instructions said it would wake me up regularly, but all it does is bark and poop, it’s internal clock is set to tokyo time.
Would not recommend.
I have become a morning person because of my bird😂
@@jazzscorner perhaps, an early bird?
@@yelpkelp9134 😂😂
Every pro starts a beginner, its okay to makes mistakes, but learn and fix them, I bet everyone made at least one or two mistakes like diet, cage sizes, or perches, but do more research even after you think you know everything, pros keep on practicing, so experts must keep on learning.
Exactly right!
Yesh
Yup I had a similar case with my 3rd budgie where he came from a impulse buy home. He came to us covered in mites and very under fed due to seed only diet. We later found out he had no cage and lived in a little box. He’s very sweet nonetheless and now has 2 siblings with lots of fresh fruit.
Poor baby glad he's in a good home now
THEY KEPT HIM IN A *BOX?!* And I thought small cages were bad! Who knew this could only get worse! 😫
I’m 15 and I wanna make a bond with our budgies but my parents never let me take them out the cage and I get sad because they will never get to fly because of them
That’s not okay. Tell your parents that they need to be outside of the cage otherwise they will get stressed out and likely die. Birds need space. A *lot* of space. especially if there are multiple birds in one cage.
Try to explain to your parents that your budgies could die from stress without being socialized and that it isn’t an option.
That's animal cruelty tbh.. Imagine being locked in a room your entire life.
@@Wellnseddich Exactly
that is borderline abusive... to the birds and you both
i’m a new bird owner (I got a sun conure about 2 months ago) and my life changed so fast. I live somewhere very hot so getting used to not having fans on took a while. I love my bird to bits and I know i’m very lucky bc when I got him, he was already very social and even potty trained! But even with these advantages, he’s a lot of work and i’m glad there are people like you who educate those who want a bird as a pet (including me).
You can potty train your bird? How? I have had my Jenday Conures since the end of November 2020. They are 10 months old. I have read a couple of books but have never heard about potty training.
@@christinerodriguez6451 if you look up “how to potty train a conure” on youtube, there should be a few videos showing you how to do so. mine actually came potty trained by the breeder so I am not able to help much other than that
Idk any y'all but I'm amazed how much this channel has grown.
Hehe 🥰 all thanks to everyone’s support! ❤️
@@FlyingFids love your conures I have a gcc and pineapple conure I hope mine will breed and is my cafe big enough its 163cm tall 61 wide by 61cm wide
She’s the only bird youtuber that isn’t a weirdo and makes good videos.
@@Smallthoughty no there is Elle and the birds Denny the budgie and more
yess 😃
I have been trying to convince my parents to let me have a Cockatiel. My parents are the type of people that, once convinced, will help in ways of taking them to the vet. I have been studying for three years, and I have been saving up. I already have ideas on how to get supplies as well.
After you adopt your cockatiel (dont gave up for wanting it) you could create a youtube account for your new family member. I would definitely subscribe.
me and my brother are planning on getting a ferret once our mice eventually die and we have been doing major research and saving up all our money and since our mice are still decently young we will be prepared when we get a ferret
If you're a minor and you're having to convince your parents to let you have a parrot, you're also not the right person to own a parrot.. because if you're still at school, there will be LOTS of changes in your life by the next 10 years at least - like college, getting a job, moving out from your parent's house, etc.
So in the end your parents will have to be the ones whoo take care of the bird while you're studying and living your life and if they're not ok with it right now, imagine when they're stuck with this living being that they never intended to care for...
Also avian vets, toys and food are hella expensive
If your parents aren't bird people and don't intend on having a bird, I highly suggest you don't get a bird yourself.
Instead, you can go volunteer at bird sanctuaries or petshops to get a glimpse of how it feels to care for birds and if you really want that kind of responsibility for at least 20 years of your life~
Thank you! I have taken all these things into consideration. I am planning on moving to a pet friendly college and my parents love animals, we simply don’t have the money right now. I have enough time to spend with pets after school, (we have many other pets) and I’m still researching, but I have accepted that I am probably not going to get a bird anytime soon. Thank you for commenting this especially for other less experienced others who impulse buy!
Those are great suggestions that I have been continuing! Birds are magnificent creatures!
I have 6 budgies and the worst thing so far are the vet expenses. The avian vet costs me like 1000 to 1500€ per year. They get sick, hurt and they need checkups. Also had to learn a lot about their health care and emergencies. Sometimes you'll have to stop a bleeding. But they are so sweet and show me so much love! It's worth it! I even started my own mini food gardening to reduce the costs with organic veggies. 🙃 They change your whole life.
Add to that people who have allergies or asthma. Birds make dust that a lot of people are allergic to or develop an allergy once they have the bird. Great content once again. So glad I've found your channel.
I didn't realize it during the video but now I really wish it was mentioned! I'm a dove owner but I happen to be allergic to pigeon and cockatiel dander. I love doves but I could never personally own any other birds for both my allergies and the noise.
One of my cousin had a bird but she realised that she allergic to it so she was ganna free the bird or give it to the shop but my mom luckly brought the bird to me and it has been 3-4 days since i had her
I will say as a noise sensitive person, birds are a huge special interest for me and one of the few loud noises I *can* be around constantly! It just varies per person.
I happen to be a lot of these things and also a new mum to a budgie. Iris flew into my room chased by a seagull. It's true, working on myself is the most important thing so that Iris (and the future friend I'll be getting for her) can have the life she deserves. She should be in the wild bush of Australia, but she's stuck with me in Athens, so we might as well help her live to be 15 instead of 4.
I have always loved the idea of a parrot but by the time I could have afforded on I was much too old. Now I console myself by watching videos, knowing I never ruined the life of a beautiful bird through my selfishness. Keep up your good work, knowledge is always vital.
Lol...I was smiling ear to ear when u showed a pic or rocks when saying "get this is u need a low maintenance pet" 🤣🤣🤣
what makes me laugh are those who say 'they researched everything and claim they know it all', not a chance, as i have owned birds since i was 7 yrs old. am i'm still learning, owning a bird is like learning something new every day, things change in research.
Wow that's dumb, yes we learn all our life but when you know all the basis. You know all the fucking basis, you have to reaserche them every years anyway.
People PLEASE - listen to this post and understand it’s 100% accurate. Birds are beautiful and funny BUT owning one is hard. Too many people think they know what they’re getting into and in the end, one more parrot is dropped at a shelter. Don’t be that person.
I did 6 months of research before getting my lovebird. Forward 6 months after this beautiful, crazy , magical animal is in my life. I still am getting books at the library on parrot behavior. There are so many facets to parrot health and wellness I could spend my lifetime learning and still learn more.
I wish everyone was like that!
Are use the bird what kind of talk about that no weapon branches whatever went back to get it thank youOOOF
I recently adopted my parents bird and I was only thinking today how much money I was spending on trying to make the little guy comfortable and happy. I'm buying so much more fruit and veg and buying toys because I don't want him to get bored of living here.
I own 7 budgies and wouldn't have it any other way. While I am sensitive to noise (autistic), I can deal with their noises and don't notice them as much as other people do - then again, I just generally love birds, so that might play a role in it. Their sounds usually don't startle me like, say, a dog suddenly barking.. That said, they help with my depression. They are not tame, but I just love watching them and they enjoy listening to me and sometimes "reply". Sometimes, when it's particularly bad, I feel like they are the only reason I am still alive. If only they knew how much they mean to me.
i own 2 budgies. i am also autistic and i can somehow handle the chirping
My bird had a bond with me at the shop itself. When the pet shop owner opened the cage she sat on my shoulder and none of the other birds did. So I was determined to buy her and yes I bought her. I thought she’ll feel uncomfortable in my home as she’ll miss her friends. But she was so happy to be with me!
Wow! What bird did you get?
@@arli4406 a tiel :)
@@sxmyuktha3623 Awww I'm so jealous...
It isn’t the best idea to buy a pet from the pet shop, as you could get them from a shelter. Though, I respect you and hope your feather friend is doing great!
@@pigeon582 i thought of the same , but u cant be sure whether the pets from the shelter are healthy because they have been saved from someone , something or somewhere. So u cant be sure of the lifespan and ik how much it pains to loose a pet. I didnt want tht to happen to me , so thats why i got a healthy bird from a pet shop. But there are healthy birds in shelters too , but its just that there r not many helters in my city just 1 or 2
I dislike noise but I love listening to my lil bubba kakariki chirping it’s so cute, I sit their having conversations with him, he’s starting to talk at the moment so it’s extra cute
I know I will never get a bird, but I am still fascinated by these cute creatures!
I wouldn't stand the noise all the time (that's why I own a snake lol, which comes closer to the pet rock as you think haha) and that they poop everywhere. I still love birds more than hamsters, guinea pigs etc. :)
birds have a high metabolism so every 15 minutes they poop its normal when you get a bird
I feel very strongly about bird care and they are also my life. I agree wholeheartedly with all of this. I actually tend to discourage more then encourage people to get birds. They really aren’t meant to be pets and having them requires SO MUCH. Important video!!!!!!
True, the larger the bird the heavier the vet bill, but for very small birds like budgies there are fewer treatment options, sure to size. They're sensitive to medicine doses, tubes are to big for them, etc. I'm terrified that if my budgie gets sick even the avian vet will just send her home.
Only thing I would like to add is having to throw out poisonous plants (that most of the time don't look harmful in any way) when adapting your home.
Birds can be such an impulse-buy pet and coupled with the idea they are low maintenance, it can lead to disappointment and then neglect. Your post goes a long way to encourage people to think twice before getting a bird/parrot. As you have emphasized, they are very social animals with complex behaviors. Nice channel!
When I was like 7 or 8 my relatives got me a budgie as a present. I didn't know anything about birds but my grandparents kept a big parrot on the balcony so my parents thought it would have been fine to do the same with the budgie. It eventually died and I felt so guilty and still do
:(
As a bird owner (proud one) & work at a family owned bird store, THANK YOU!!!💜
I saved a bird and this channel has been a godsend. I have watched EVERY video.
1. 0:21 people that haven’t done the proper research
2. 1:57 people that aren’t ready for commitment or don’t have time
3. 3:22 people that cannot afford/ don’t have the funds
4. 4:34 people that want an easy pet
5. 5:15 people that are sensitive to noise
6. 5:50 people that lack patience and empathy
I hope this helped you
Lol opened it up so fast that the likely hundreds of comments saying "fIrSt!1!!" Haven't appeared yet.
😂😂
you must be the true first one then
I didn't do the proper research and had nothing for a bird when I got it, but that's because I found him. He was abandoned and so I spend the next time learning the basics and got him a friend a week later.
They really aren't easy pets because it can take a time to bond with them, both my budgies are still really skittish and many people would probably have given up by now.
What shocks me the most, is that birds are super easy to keep, IF you know the basics. Provide the right space, never keep them alone and all you gotta do is a little bit of cleaning and feeding. Sadly the vast majority of bird owners has absolutely no idea what they're doing. The image of a single bird in a small cage, singing funny songs or speaking words is so stuck in peoples heads... So they just get one bird for their children, stuff them in a small cage and after a couple of months the poor guy's alone, maladjusted and probably sick in some animal shelter or for sale in the net.
I haven't watch the video yet but i wanted to thank you for making a video like this. I love parrots and am fortunate enough to get some exposure to them in wildlife rescue and rehabilitation but as much as i love them i could never give them the home they deserve and i think that this is something overlooked with a lot of animal species, not just birdie bubs.
I never imagined myself as a bird person but for some reason fate had other ideas , one day I got off work and my brother told me that he found a bird(parakeet) outside our house and he grabbed it and put inside a box , so I went out and bought some food n cage . Over time fell in love with a him , his name is Barry
Research is so incredibly important before getting a bird so definitely agree there! Always important to make people aware!
So many people impulse buy birds, or lots of other animals not knowing how much effort is required or that they don't instantly know tricks or need to gain trust!
Wow I love your pfp
@@LDRgirlie28 Thank you!
This video really helps people like me understand birds in general! I'm pretty young for a bird owner and just recently got 2 budgies without thinking how much work it would be! And I'm happy to know that I don't fit into any of these 6 categories now, but since as just stated I'm young for having 2 birds so as soon as I put my birds in their cage (which is very small and I plan on getting a big one soon) I kind of sadly started off as a dumb idiot teenager with no knowledge on birds but after about a day of owning my budgies I got to work and bought everything like natural wooden perches to millet Apart from my new giant cage that I'm saving up for everything should be coming in the next week and I knew that would take too long, so while I waited I got a second normal sized cage the same day from the bird store and separated them every day for 5 minute's to tame them after learning the taming process! now thanks to this video not only are my birds happy healthy tamed and trust me but i also know how to care for them even better.
If it wasn’t for you, I would have never gotten all my knowledge and been so interested in conures in general. I own an aviary full of 16 tame budgies, although they never would have been as tame if it wasn’t for your awesome videos. Thanks again. ;)
When I got my first bird, I learned a lot about them for two years. My parents thought I was impulse buying one, especially because I was getting one for my thirteenth birthday. But turns out I knew more about them than my parents did. And that’s how I got a bird for my thirteenth birthday.
I wish I'd had this video 5 years ago. My mother bought me an African Grey when I was barely a teen, and it's been tough. He had to move out of my bedroom due to my mental health, where my mother neglected her space and he was mistreated for a lot of years. I love my boy, and I'd do anything for him, and I'm so glad that now, he's back with me, we're out of that horrible place, and I have the time, money, and space to keep him now that I'm not tied to my parents. Unfortunately, he had already begun to pluck due to the condition my mum kept him in, but I'm so proud that since we've moved, he's made so much progress. I just wish that I'd waited until I was older and maybe he would have been given a better chance, starting out.
All true. Our little guy is part of our family and we have adjusted to his needs not the other way around. We live on the 2nd floor condo and he can see outside. If anyone or anything (people or cats for example) walks by that doesn't belong there, he sets up a squack like no other sound he makes. We always know what he's trying to let us know. Best watch bird!!
I got my Quaker parrot after doing 2 years of research, he was the last baby left out of 3 that were having trouble finding a home. He was 4 months old when I got him; got him at a time in my life when I was very depressed and was isolating. He changed my life for the better and now I have something I love to take care of, and I plan on having birds for the rest of my life. I absolutely love them. He has changed my life for the better. I worry about him as if he were my human child, lol.
thanks to you (and some others) I am 3 month in reseach and development to prepare me and my home before even reaching out to search for birds and I learned a lot :3
I am still not there yet because there is a lot to know, but you (and others) help me to not only find the right birds, but to prepare right for them as best as i can.
Thanks you from the buttom of my heart ^^
Don't get a bird. That's the best advice I can give you.
@@SanguinaryStrife but why not? ^^
You should get one that is right for you. Conures are small but very cute. Do your own reseach on them and see if they are right for you.
Ive owned birds for many years, i just love seeing other peoples advice. And I 100% love everything you mentioned in your video. :-)
Been here since 700 subs ❤️ You’ve grown so quickly!
mee too
My bird landed on my chair at a park. And I've done nothing but research since I've had her. ❤️
I have guinea pigs too and I did research before getting them. I knew I was the kind of person who could take care of one otherwise I never would have kept her.
I'm with Joyce..my selfish grandmother bought my sister and I several parakeets. We were young... didn't know how to take care of them...as a result a couple died, the other ones hated us. I don't blame them. Also my dad kept turning on the ceiling fan when he was drunk. At 9 years old I saw my favorite bird fly into it. I held him in my hands crying as he slowly died. It was awful. I am 40 now. My sister 46. I will never forget that. He was my buddy, although my 9 year old self...not a good bird parent
Another not great bird parent is: those who want them for show and to show off. Also in my young years...I had a couple friends who had huge parrots. The parents would always say: oh don't bother him, he's not a nice bird. One attacked at a sleepover. It's not that the bird wasn't nice. It was being ignored. I hope to own one in my older years. A quaker parrot. Or African Grey. And it would be my best friend. But I intend to research for years. Get experience. So I can make the precious bird happy as it makes me. Also saving money for toys and treats. I will not repeat the mistakes my self centered grandmother did.
Lol, I just work and come back to my 9-year-old green cheek. Introvert life.
thats the life :D
Sounds very familiar, and I love it ☺️
I had a parrotlet as a teen. She was a lot of work and tore up anything made of paper when you weren’t looking. Although I loved her and was happy to put in that hard work, it’s definitely important to remember this bird family is made up of as much unbridled mischief and willfulness as they are cute and funny.
I'm 14 (as of now) And I'm planning to get a bird around 16 years old, I've been around Birds Alot, when I was little there were birds in the house, cuz my Grandpa owned birds (2 Umbrella Cockatoos, 2 Gold Collard Macaws, 1 Parakeet, 1Cockatiel, and 1 Blue Fronted Amazon)
I have lots of time on my hands, Plus I'm homeschooled so if I do get one when I turn 16, then I won't have to worry about not being there during school hours.
I have always been close to birds more than dogs. The first bird I'm planning to get is a Budgie.
I just want to give a standing ovation after every video!!
I totally agree with all you said in this video. I think everyone thinking of getting a bird should watch this. In general, most people should be discouraged from getting a bird. As you said, they are really demanding and they require a lot of commitment from their owners. This is clearly something that many people is not able to provide. It's a lifelong commitment and those kinds of videos in which you only see the lovely side of parrots are misleading. Please make a thorough thinking before getting a bird!
Ive done 10 hours of resrarch the day before I got my bird, I had a small cage, so I bought a bigger one, I had the wrong diet, so I added fruits and veggies, I was clingy so I gave it space and time to get used to me and its new home.
Its all about commitment and treating your bird as a companion, I've learned a lot and I fixed my mistakes to give my budgie the life it deserves.
Thanks.
yes this is sooo important!! when i got my first bird i was sooo young and totally not cut out for it...especially because the pair of budgies i had were aviary birds and HATED to be handled...(well i got the male to feed out of my hand once but i was like 6 so i little to no patience) but ow i know what im doing and spend most of my day with my birds as im homeschooled!!! PLASE do think about getting a bird before u impulse buy because at the end of the day your not the one being forced to stay in a cage, or rehoused pls thinks about the bird first!!!!!!!
Heck, I went to Florida a month ago, and for some reason I just wanted to go to a pet store because I was curious to see what birds they'll sell. I saw this Green cheeked conure and instantly bought it. I had no idea about any information about the bird but he's doing just fine.
Also, it's hard to find these birds where I live.
You should’ve researched about getting a parrot/bird so you already have the information in your head. But I hope your bird is doing fine, because you definitely need to know what to feed them, and the sizes for the cage, and toys, and a lot of things!
Glad you didn't mention fish as an easy pet to take care of like a lot of people try to pass them off as. Like Goldfish for example, seems easy right? Just stuff them in a bowl with some tap water and you're good to go right? Heccin' wrong mate!
Thanks for posting this; I just got a 6 month old peach-faced lovebird. I've had them before, but after I traumatically lost two in a row over 20 years ago, one to an upper respiratory infection, and one because it turned out it was a hybrid, I've been carefully caring for and training this little gal. I took in a rescue lovebird a few days after I adopted my peach-faced (this one's a fischer) and wish I hadn't. He needs soooo much attention - he was neglected in his cage before coming here, and after just a few days, he's coming out of his shell...but now I don't want to let just anyone adopt him when he's ready to be re-homed. So, I think now I'm responsible for both of them for life! Also - please don't breed your birds. There are too many parrots out there that are carted from home to home to home, and they're smart animals that need love and tons of attention - like children - for their entire lives.
I love your channel so much i have learned so much from you thanks!
I have a Green-Cheeked Pineapple Conure, and I bought her impulsively... :) Her name is Pineapple, just like yours so very creative name choice aswell. I ended up feeding her seeds at first, not knowing what to do but eventually did some reseach. Pines now has a nice big cage and a heathy chop and pellet diet! I used this channel for reseach so quick thank you! :)
I volunteered at a rescue for 2 years before getting my bird. You have to research before getting one
I love my bird even if he isnt the bird i imagined I love him and i do have patience i do trick training almost everyday and having a bird also worked on my patience (like waiting for a package to arrive) but way more and I got him a few months ago and I'm so excited to learn new things with my bird.
My parents bought two budgies on impulse a few years ago, and they kept them in a tiny cage, didn't train them, kept improper perches and toys, and would not let me give them treats (my mother is actually terrified of birds) after about a year they posted them for sale on kijiji because they lost interest and they were "too much work for a pet we can't hold". I've become obsessed with conures, and plan on getting one in 2 years when I move out. I've already been doing research for months and my parents think I should just wing it (Aha "funny" pun).
I spent a year making the decision. Started off thinking I would just get a couple budgies and I ended up finally deciding on cockatiels…. Didn’t initially plan on two but that is where I am now. They are my life. They are a ton of work but I’m up for it.
I just bought 2 cockatiels and I think they're living a miserable life at the pet store, but now they are happy😄😄
Me watching this well at work now wishing I was home so I could hang with my bird. Love my little guy.
My little conure is an ideal traveling companion for me. While I do work long hours, he has an entire semi truck to fly around in, and often prefers to curl up right behind my head and either preen my hair, or nibble on my hat or earrings. I also have multiple perching areas set up for him, and he throws an absolute tantrum if he can't sleep with me, which I find adorable. He's a snuggler, and loves people in general. His favorite activities include chewing on his toys, crapping every 10 minutes (baby wipes are a god send), and bathing in his dog bowl bird bath.
My grandmother gifted me two birds, and I'm currently working to make their life better
I ended up getting my cockatiel from a woman who no longer had the time. She hatched it herself, had her for 18 years. Poor bird must be heartbroken having to leave her home an owner after so long ☹️
I've had her about two months now, we are slowly getting closer daily but it hasn't been easy by any means
Someone in my family brought 2 lovebirds home and a year after she left to live elsewhere and REFUSED to take them with her. Birds are the last kind of pet I would get, I've never been interested in living with them because of the noise, because I prefer them to be free and because I want to travel often. But now that they've been living here for 2 years I feel attached to these two and I don't know how to find them a new owner and make sure they will take better care of them than I have. It's just frustrating...
Just did some research because I want to get a parrot, and now I know I can't.. My mom and brother both smoke, maybe only in the kitchen, not a big deal but we still have these air refreshers that you just have to refill, but I understood it that way, that i still can't get a bird because of that :(
I usually do all the research first. Put all the things on how much it costs together, and if I have enough money to take care of a bird, then yes, I got a bird. But I never impulse buy
Great video! All very true! You covered it all! My Greenwing Macaw owns me!
Ah yes as an almost senior in high school who got my bird last year I am so very excited to find a college that allows pets :’) For my fox and my bird. God dammit.
I am doing a LOT of research, so don't worry! 😊 (I plan to get a parakeet budgie, and I'm even TESTING myself to see if im worthy!)
Macaws are hands down my favorite bird, perhaps animal, hands down! I love them so much - their personalities, their colors, how smart they are... For the longest time, I wanted to get a macaw. That was my life goal. But now that I'm older and I've done the research and spoken to people that own them, it's easy to see that they're just not the right fit for me. I don't get paid enough to afford one, I couldn't handle the destruction and mess of a larger bird (I would need to train myself!) And the neighbours would despise the noise... I still love them, but I know that I shouldn't have one as a pet :)
Another type of person who shouldn't get a birb is one where they don't necessarily have a lot of space for them
Larger birds especially need even more space. That means that for a lot of people who live close to the city centre, or live in a flat, it's a non starter.
speaking from someone who's owned a pet dove for nearly 10 years now: the type of care your bird needs changes with age, just like with any other animal. When they're younger they typically need A LOT more attention, training, and care. I went from hand-raising an abandoned runt, to training an incredibly horny/angry male dove, to pretty much just keeping an old man out of trouble. Once they get past those absolutely terrible hormonal years as teenagers (which, I've heard, is even worse with parrots), birds will tend to mellow out and calm down. It might be worth considering the age of the bird you're getting depending on if you're okay with it constantly screaming and trying to mate with you (with the plus side of making them easier to train since they're younger and more curious) vs getting an older bird to just keep you company and chill on your shoulder 90% of the time (though with older birds you REALLY have to earn their trust first).
sidenote in case anyone sees this and decides to comment about this: I am aware that you should own doves in pairs, what you don't know is that my dove happens to be EXTREMELY aggressive towards other members of his own species (like straight up tries murdering them type of aggressive). So yes, we tried, no, it did not work.
How long does this teenager period last?
@@Rie_Bot it depends on the species. For my dove it lasted from when he was about 2 years old to about 6 years old. From about 6 to 9 (and even now) he would still perform courtship behaviors but he became a lot less aggressive about it. You also have to keep in mind a bird's gender. A female dove would act broody and perform nesting behaviors, i.e. literally trying to build a nest somewhere. If you keep doves in a pair it's possible to tone down this behavior since they would have someone else as company 24/7. Just remember to get them in pairs of the same sex unless you want babies!
I have 2 quakers. The first one I got I had her for about a year before getting the other one. Lulu was the first bird. We had all that time to bond before the other one came. I love her so much. Belle is the other one. We aren’t as close as lulu and I are. They are in the same cage so they really don’t want much time with me anymore and I’m heartbroken.
When you said all the things that your birds need,
Music
To
My
Ears.
My parents got me a bird when I was 13 because I kept asking for a dog. I started doing a lot of research when I got the parrot and sometimes I fear I am not the best person to own one. My parents think he doesn't need a bird friend so I can't even provide him the best company available :/
What really helps is the fact that through the 5 years I've had him so far, he's been very optimistic and friendly, not showing any signs of depression or stress caused any type of low-quality treatment
I’ve wanted a bird forever and finally live on my own, as exiting as it is to have the freedom to get sharper I want I came here first
The money part of this equation is no joke I have an elderly disabled cockatiel and then just this year alone I have racked up some really serious medical bills keeping him happy healthy and alive.
I am extremely noise sensitive and Im happy with my cockatiels. They make the most noise at certain times and you can say they've trained me to expect and tolerate it. They also go into " time out" when I cover the cage for 5 min if they get really noisy. They rarely need that. Yeah something like a cockatoo would drive me nuts. They are louder than God.
I currently live in a place that would be unsuitable for birds (as we are in a small open plan area, so the living room backs onto the kitchen, so the bird would be getting a lot of temperature changes and strong smells non stop! plus our flat is just small) so I am doing all the research before I move to a bigger and nicer place, once i am settled I wanna be the best bird owner! Thanks for making these vids, I've watched a bunch!
People that think birds are just room decorations "Nobody puts Baby in a corner" - Should not get birds. Pet time allocation examples (from least to greatest imho) fish then cats then dogs then birds(need as much attention as toddler children) . So, if you think that toddlers and dogs are too needy..DON'T GET A BIRD.
Sage advice our Cockatiels cage is open as long as there's someone in, he comes and goes as he pleases and squawks and sings without anyone being bothered. Parrots are demanding whatever the size but are such rewarding companies. Well said.
I got 2 parakeets with allowance, your videos help alot, as I'm ADHD and cant read for long or I'll get bored, its like having someone read for you.
This is so truuu . My dad forces people to get parrots even though they dont want to. He got us a parrot and then another and my mom takes care of it now even with her busy schedule
I've been wanting a bird for 2 years now and I have done a lot of research, and from this video it seems like I'm the perfect person for a bird, except my mom hates noise
Birds don't make noise for no reason. If you find out what makes it chirp you can prevent noise in the future.
Some people don’t even do research and just adopt the bird just because over social media they saw birds doing cute things. Another way to look at this is like adopting a human child and not taking care of them and just expecting them to walk.🤦♀️
I wanted birds for years. I waited until I got my own home and could go all out with birds.
It's a lot. But I remind myself every day that I don't have to do what I do every day with my birds, I get to. And it's worth it.
But birdtricks is like my bird bible these days.
But I relate to no social life. I didn't have much of a social life before birds, and now that I have 16 birds, I still don't have a social life. They're my best friends :P
I got my Grey cheek from a really bad home he screamed all the time and bite me alot...but here we are a yr later and he is a wonderful pet...he finally fell in love with me
I have had birds before ( they were parakeets, they are cute) and at the moment I am working to get one. This is helpful for people that are not 100% sure if they are ready for one
Edit: I moved and I was forced to give my birds away. The move was unexpected and today, only one is still living ( this was years ago) and she is a grumpy grandma and always will be
The ceiling fan point is the most underrated one
tho I lean more towards Emu's, i can still say with confidence that this video is still very valuable knowledge to all the people who dont understand the fact that not only all birds are quite sentient beings (yes including pigeons), but birds in the family Psittacidae are especially sentient and self aware beings. I'm definetly going to recommend it to my friends who dont understand that owning a parrots is like owning a child.
Also, ppl live in very tiny 🏠 too...as birds fling food around the place,if 🏠 is too small, will be difficult in keeping cleaniness...unless u seal the cages round the clock, but that's not good for both u and birds in terms of health