Bird Recommendations

I have had cockatiels. I got my first when I was 15. And they make great pets. They can talk a bit...although it's often like a toddler... only the family can recognize what they are saying. They also whistle tunes, mine loves to sing Reveille. I am not sure how they compare to lovebirds. They are a commitment, they live 12-15 years, but my cockatiel that just passed away this weekend was 23 years old.

They aren't as destructive as some of the larger birds. About the worst mine have ever done is chewed the edge of the ceiling fan while they were getting some free time, but even then I think I was the only one who noticed it. Watching them closely and giving lots of attention, can help keep them from being destructive.

MOST of the time they are relatively quiet. But they do have periods where they can get a bit noisy. Usually I just close the door to the room they are in, but if they are really worked up, covering the cage usually does the trick and quiets them down. In the past I had a breeding pair, and they would get a little rowdy during breeding season.

There is no need to buy a pair, like someone mentioned earlier..two birds bond to each other. A single bird is more likely to bond with the family.

Most birds that are hand fed and raised don't bite unless they really feel threatened. Make sure you get a hand fed and hand raised bird!! And you will have to teach your children how to properly handle the bird. I have a three year old and he handles my birds with no problems, but it did take time and patience to teach him. And I still have to watch him closely, I won't leave him alone with the birds while they are out and about. And I keep an eye on him when he gets near the cage, sometimes he wants to share his lunch with the birdies.

As far as the mess goes...I have been feeding mine pellet food for years. It's nutritionally better for them. I had a female bird years ago that wound up with a vitamin deficiency because I only fed her seed, the vet recommended pellet food. Millet and seeds are a treat for my birds, not a staple. Pellet food is less messy because they aren't shelling any seeds. . It does get thrown or tossed a bit while they eat it. I have had success in taming the mess with a mesh cage guard. I tried a few other guards, including expensive fancy ones, and the cheapy mesh seemed to work best. I also have food dishes that have longer arms, so they set back in the cage a bit. I layer newspaper, using several sheets, so I can just lift the top layer on a regular basis. About once every two weeks or so I really wipe down the tray. And about once a month I try to scrub down the whole cage.

Frequent baths will keep the dander down and keep the birds clean. And most birds love it! I just fill a spray bottle with warm water and spray my birds down. They love it! But there are people who put their birds in the shower or sink - perches are sold just for this purpose.

I know this is long, but I hope it helps. Good luck with your decision!

N.,

We exchanged messages yesterday, but I wanted to reply to this as well. I agree with Stacey that cockatiels may be a better option for you. They tend to be less "timid". Again, I would only recommend a hand-raised bird. I think cockatiels in general are less noisy than lovebirds - their screeches don't seem as ear piercing, but they can still be noisy.

I also agree with Steph. Depending on the age of your children, birds may not be the best pet for your family.

I have owned both cockatiels and love birds and hand-fed both. I loved all my birds, but I think a cockatiel may be the better choice for a first time bird owner.

I would also like to add that no matter what kind of bird you decide on, you need to make sure to keep the wings trimmed to prevent any unfortunate accidents.

Again, feel free to ask me any questions.

You really need to talk someone that is a bird expert. Do some local research looking for bird clubs or enthusiets. Many birds can love for year, 25 plus, with many others living longer as or longer than humans. So you need to make sure you are in for the long haul.

Call some vets that treat birds for the suggestions. And really looking for bird the won't bite maybe asking to much. Birds are finicky and often get attached to one family member, they are not known to be family pets. So do your research.

Biting, you might want to stay away from most parrots, tehy have very strong beaks. Once again, biting is one of the only defense birds have, so it can come with the territory.

Go visit Tree Top Bird Center. We have purchased 5 birds from them. They breed and raise the babies there and do a wonderful job. The two birds we have that are the "quietest" are our love bird and dusky conure (most conures are loud but duskys are not). Either would be great. Tree Top also has cockatiels and parakeets that they raise that would fit too. You need to socialize them young if you want them to adapt to all family members. All pets are messy. The smaller the bird the less mess. They all throw food and make a mess right around the cage. We keep ours in the kitchen so it is easier to clean up the mess. In a condo I just would recommend not putting their cage against a wall that is attached to your neighbor. Try to locate them in the center of the house or to an outside wall. All birds bite. Biting is the only way they can tell you they have had enough or they are not happy with what you are doing. Ours have never broken the skin, but our mccaw has bruised us a few times. Certainly training helps and understanding when they have had enough. With 3 kids you will need to place limits on play time. If you have never owned a bird you also have to understand they feel you with their tongue and sometimes just play with their beak, but don't bite. Tree Top's staff is very good at answering questions and matching the right bird to a family. Debbie is the owner and is wonderful. You are welcome to email me personally. My husband and I have owned bids most of our lives. I hope you find the perfect new family member.

http://www.treetopbirdcenter.com/

If you are concerned about noise, smell, mess, and biting, please reconsider getting a bird. As a previous bird owner, I am not sure there is a bird that doesn't do all these things. Perhaps a cat, or hamster is better suited for your needs. Good luck in your search!

We have a cockatiel and he's pretty easy to care for... just wish I had more time for him.

I'm going to try the pellets Stacey mentioned, and the mesh, because seed mess is an issue.

We bought ours from a breeder at a Bird Show in Grapevine 5 years ago.

Birds that talk are by nature noisy. They do not make good pets for children. I know you're looking for recommendations - and as such probably will not appreciate the fact that mine is, "DON'T". They're messy, loud, and they smell as much as any dog I've ever owned. JMO - a gold fish, a lizard, a hamster all make decent kid pets - birds are for adults with lots of time and patience for the upkeep - the short lived ones still last the better part of 10 years, some live into their 70's.

Again, JMO - based on several years of my parents buying birds "for me".
S.