Is an African Grey Right for You?

If you want a parrot that can talk, you may want to consider the African grey. This extremely intelligent parrot species is the best talker in the parrot family. Of course, this doesn't mean that every African grey will talk, but most of them do learn to speak quite fluently.

While African greys are often excellent talkers, this doesn't mean they are the right pet for everyone that wants a talking bird. These birds have a tendency to become shy and standoffish if they aren't handled frequently. Greys that are handled often still are rarely as cuddly and affectionate as other parrot species. If you want a bird that loves to snuggle with you, you may want to avoid this species.

Another thing to consider before you shop for an African grey is whether any family members have allergies or asthma. African greys have more dander than most other bird species. People who aren't bothered by allergies to parakeets or conures may find that they can't tolerate an African grey.

While they have many of the same care requirements as other bird species, there are a few things you should keep in mind when you are caring for African greys. These birds can grow up to become cage bound and fearful if they aren't exposed to different people and situations at a young age.

Even worse, because of their high intelligence, if these birds feel neglected or lack stimulation, they will often start plucking out their chest, shoulder and tail feathers. This means that you should be sure to give your bird plenty of toys and you should be prepared to interact with him for at least an hour a day. Toys that involve some sort of problem solving element, such as knots to undo or mazes to solve are a good choice.

All African greys need a roomy cage. Even if your bird will be spending time on a play gym or T stand each day, he will need room to play and explore while he is in his cage. The ideal cage is two feet (60 cm) deep by three feet (91 cm) wide and four feet (121 cm) tall, which gives him enough space to flap his wings, climb around and hang upside down.

Of course, a bigger cage is always better. Be sure any cage you choose has strong bars that are spaced between 3/4 of an inch (1,91 cm) and an inch (2,54 cm) apart. Also, make sure that any decorative scrollwork is nowhere near the inside of your bird's cage, as more than one African grey has injured himself by catching a leg band on the scrollwork.

If you decide that an African grey is the right bird for you, then you will need to decide whether you want a Timneh grey or a Congo grey. The Timneh is smaller and usually talks less readily than the Congo. In addition, the Timneh is not as colorful, since he lacks the bright red tail of the Congo. However, the Timneh is often much cheaper.

If you want a bird that is intelligent enough to hold an actual conversation, but doesn't always care to cuddle, then the African grey may just be the perfect choice for you.

Maybe You Should Get Yourself a Macaw

One of the biggest and brightest parrots is the macaw. The largest macaws are so big that their beaks are longer than a man's hand. These vibrant, powerful birds are not a good choice for the beginning bird fancier. However, if you are a new bird owner and really want to own a macaw, there are some smaller varieties, such as the Hahn's macaw, that are a good choice for less experienced bird lovers.

If someone asks you to describe a macaw, you probably think of the popular blue and gold. This striking bird has beautiful blue and yellow feathers and is surprisingly inexpensive compared to most other macaw varieties. The blue and gold is almost three feet (91 cm) long from head to tail.

While these birds are usually fairly laid back and gentle, they will often go through a nippy, moody stage in their adolescence. In addition, a mature blue and gold macaw that has gone to nest can be extremely dangerous. Birds that were once sweet and affectionate to their owners will not hesitate to attack and can literally bite right through a person's hand. For this reason, people with young children may want to think twice about buying one of these large macaws.

Another macaw that is a popular pet is the Green Wing. This bird is actually one of the largest macaws and has vibrant green, blue and red coloring. Green Wings are known for their steady, gentle nature, but adolescent birds may go through a shy, nippy stage. You will need to be careful not to stress your bird with sudden changes during this time. If talking ability is important to you, you will want to choose a Green Wing, since this macaw is more likely to talk than other varieties.

The Scarlet macaw is probably the perfect pet for people who love colorful birds. This vibrant bird has bright red, yellow and blue feathers. However, despite its beauty, the Scarlet macaw is not a popular pet bird, because it is prone to being a nippy, moody parrot.

The Hyacinth macaw, the largest parrot in the world, is a beautiful blue bird with yellow accents. Mature birds are 42 inches (106 cm) long and are so powerful that they can literally take any bird cage that is welded together apart with their beaks. Despite its strength and size, this breathtaking macaw is quite good natured and would make an excellent pet. However, because this macaw is on the endangered list, a baby Hyacinth is a bit hard to find and quite expensive.

Finally, if you would love to own a macaw, but are concerned about owning such a large bird, you may want to consider one of the mini macaws. The Hahn's macaw is a petite twelve inch (30 cm) bird with a mostly green body. There are some touches of red, blue and yellow color, but the Hahn's is not very colorful. However, it is an intelligent, playful bird and acts much like the larger macaws do. Other mini macaws that are readily available as pets are the noble, severe and yellow collared macaws.

A Parakeet Could Be the One For You

If you have never owned a bird before, you may want to take a look at the parakeet. This little bird can be found in almost any pet store at a very reasonable price, which makes it a great choice for someone with a tight budget who is looking for a pet. Cages and toys are also much more economical for parakeets than they are for larger birds.

Despite its small size, the parakeet can make a wonderful, entertaining pet. Although it does not have the ability to mimic voices like an African grey, this little bird is an exceptional talker and has an excellent memory. There have been reports of parakeets with vocabularies of over 400 words and phrases.

The parakeet's playful nature makes it an ideal companion for someone who is homebound. These birds are almost constantly in motion when they are awake and will chatter most of that time.

There are actually two different types of parakeets. The American parakeet is much more active and is smaller than its cousin, the English Budgerigar. American parakeets also are much more prolific, so are easier to find. However, English budgies can still be wonderful pets, especially if you can find a young bird. Just be aware that these birds are more prone to health problems than American budgies, because they have really been inbred over the years as breeders tried to develop an overstuffed look in their show birds.

Since the parakeet has been domesticated for over 150 years, it is no surprise that there are quite a few different colors and patterns to choose from. You can find yellow, lutino, green, blue, violet, white and albino budgies. You can also find pied or spangled birds. Crested parakeets are definitely a conversation starter, since the long, shaggy feathers growing around their heads are definitely unusual looking.

While parakeet seed is certainly popular with these little birds, you'll need to feed your bird a varied diet to keep it happy and healthy. Pellets, fruits and vegetables are all good additions to your bird's food bowl. Whole grain cereal or pieces of whole grain bread are also a good choice.

However, even a healthy, well cared for parakeet with a varied diet does not live as long as many of the larger parrots. Parakeets usually live for eight to ten years, although some of them have been known to live into their teens.

Pet stores often sell extremely small parakeet cages and several supplies as a kit for first time parakeet owners. If you can afford to shop for a larger cage, your active little bird will be much more content. Since parakeets are so curious and energetic, you'll need to be sure you provide plenty of toys for your bird. Parakeets are especially fond of swings, Olympic rings and balls. Although they like mirrors, it isn't a good idea to provide one for your bird, because it will bond to its reflection instead of becoming attached to you.

So, if you want a colorful, playful little bird, then the parakeet may be the perfect pet for you. Just don't be surprised if you have such a hard time choosing one color that you end up with three or four of these little charmers instead.

Pionus Parrot 101

So, you want a parrot, but you're concerned about all of the stories you've heard about aggressive, moody birds. Isn't there a mild mannered, quiet parrot out there? Well, while each bird is an individual, overall the Pionus parrot is a sweet natured bird. Some Pionus species are a bit loud, but even those birds are quieter than many other parrot species. Of course, since they are less vocal, Pionus parrots aren't the best talkers. The Maximilian and blue headed Pionus species will be more likely to talk than other Pionus varieties.

Pionus parrots have several unusual traits. Unlike other parrots, they're a bit 'sloppy' in their appearance. When your Pionus is feeling relaxed, he will let his fuzzy down feathers show through his sleek outer feathers. Pionus parrots also have a distinctive odor. It is not strong and few people find it unpleasant, but Pionus parrots definitely do not smell like other birds. Also, when they are scared, Pionus parrots make an odd wheezing noise. While it may sound like your bird is having difficulty breathing, he is just nervous. Remove whatever is scaring him and he will calm down and return to normal.

The white capped Pionus is probably the most commonly available. This mellow charmer is a petite 9 and 1/2 inches (24 cm) tall. This bird has muted green, blue, red and bronze coloring and a white cap. White caps are a bit on the shy side, but don't let your bird's shyness fool you into thinking it is a pushover. They tend to be quietly determined to get their way and a bit stubborn.

Maximilian Pionus parrots are a bit larger than white caps, measuring 11 and 3/4 inches (30 cm) long. These birds are mostly in a dull green color, with a bluish green throat. Many people overlook these wonderful birds because of their dull appearance, but they make great pets. Maxis are loyal, playful and affectionate companions and love to hang out with their families. Of course, since they are shy around strangers and in new situations, your bird may not be very active or personable for the first few days.

If having a colorful bird is important to you, you may want to take a close look at the blue headed Pionus. This striking bird has a bright blue head and a green body and is 11 inches (28 cm) long. Because of its beauty, this bird is the most expensive Pionus, often costing a thousand dollars or more. The blue head makes a sweet and loving family pet, although some of these birds can become a bit demanding and obnoxious if they are spoiled rotten when they are young.

Dusky and bronze wing Pionus parrots are the other two Pionus species available as pet birds. Dusky parrots have an attractive gray blue color with a pinkish chest. These little parrots are 9 and 3/4 inches (24 cm) long. This parrot is known for its intelligence and its curious nature.

Bronze wing Pionus parrots have a bluish body and bronze colored wings. If you are looking at a bronze wing in dim lighting, you may think that the bird isn't very attractive. However, if you take it into a well lit area, you will see that the bronze wing is actually quite striking. These birds are 11 inches (28 cm) long and are very sweet natured. Bronze wings tend to be shyer than other Pionus parrots, but they still make wonderful pets.

If you want a sweet parrot and are not overly concerned with talking ability, the Pionus parrot may be the perfect choice for you.

Is Senegal Parrot Your Kind of Bird?

If you want a bird that is playful, affectionate and colorful, you may want to take a close look at the Senegal parrot. Although the Senegal comes from Africa, this bird is not quite as vocal or as intelligent as the African grey. However, Senegals can easily learn to speak twenty to thirty phrases in their robotic little voices.

These birds are very playful, especially when handfed. If you want a bird you can cuddle, a Senegal is a pretty good choice. In fact, many Senegals are so people oriented that they will roll onto their backs and snuggle in the crook of your arm or 'wrestle' with your fingers by gently grasping them in their beaks. Your Senegal may also follow you in the house as if he is the family dog, hop up onto the coffee table to snatch popcorn from the bowl and beg for treats at the dinner table.

However, the same personality that makes a Senegal a fun and entertaining pet also makes this bird accident prone, so be careful not to step on your bird by accident or let him escape out the door. When you have company, you may want to shut him up in his cage so he doesn't fly onto the hot stove or fall into the toilet because someone forgot to shut the lid.

While Senegals are not the quietest birds in the world, they are not as loud as many of the larger parrots and often make fairly good apartment pets. However, if your walls are thin, a Senegal may still disturb your neighbors when he decides to really sound off.

Senegals are great family pets and they usually bond well with several people. However, some female Senegals bond tightly with one person and are quite aggressive toward other members of the family. If your Senegal begins to act aggressive toward other family members, you will need to act quickly to stop this behavior. The person your Senegal is most attached to should stay in another room while other family members interact with the bird. Try having other people feed your bird and change his cage, as well. Eventually, your Senegal should tolerate the entire family.

Senegals are fairly healthy, hardy little parrots and can easily live 30 years or more. Be sure to give your bird a balanced diet, with plenty of fresh fruits and veggies. Bean mixes are also popular with these birds, but be sure to remove the mix after a few hours to prevent your Senegal from eating spoiled food.

Finally, even if your Senegal spends a lot of time out of the cage, you will still need to be sure that the cage you choose is adequate. It should be roomy enough for your bird to spread his wings and flap them up and down and tall enough allowing your bird to climb a few feet back and forth. Be sure the cage bars are nice and thick or your bird will bend them out of shape.

Should You Get Yourself a Lovebird?

If you've seen lovebirds in a pet store, you may have been told that these birds must be sold in pairs and don't actually make good pets. However, while it isn't a good idea to split up a pair of bonded lovebirds, a single handfed baby can be kept alone and will be quite content to be a family pet. You will need to be sure to handle your bird daily to keep it sweet and tame. If you neglect to handle it for a few days, it may become skittish and nippy.

There are nine lovebird species available, including the peachfaced, Fischer's, masked, Abyssinian, Nyasa, black-cheeked, redfaced, black-collared and Madagascar lovebird. With the exception of the Madagascar lovebird, these birds are native to Africa. The only lovebirds readily available as pets are the peachfaced, Fischer's and masked varieties. However, since there are so many different color mutations in these lovebird species, deciding which lovebird you want can almost be overwhelming. For instance, there are actually seventeen different color mutations for peachfaced lovebirds, but the mutations have been bred together to create thousands of additional colors. Interestingly enough, the sweetest pets are those peachfaced lovebirds with a peach cap. The normal and lutino mutations, which have red faces, are often a bit more aggressive and are usually louder. Since lovebirds are so small, many people use parakeet cages for their birds. However, these birds are so playful and active that a slightly larger cage is really a better fit. This way, they can have a set of rings, a swing and a few other toys in the cage without being crowded. Of course, a smaller cage makes it easier for lovebirds to play with several toys at once, which is a favorite occupation for these high energy little guys.

Lovebirds do well on a varied diet, including cockatiel seed mix, cockatiel pellets, vegetables, bean mix and whole grain cereal. An occasional orange slice is also a good idea. Your lovebird should also have a cuttlebone or calcium block to chew on.

While lovebirds are not known for their talking ability, these little birds can actually learn a few words. Their little voices are not very clear, but they can readily learn to say 'hello' and their names. Lovebirds excel in learning simple tricks, such as playing dead.

This bird's spunky, playful personality and active nature makes it the ideal companion for someone who is wheelchair bound, as long as someone else is nearby to help return the bird to its cage if it gets tired of hanging out and hops down. In fact, the lovebird is often found in retirement and nursing home communities because it is so amusing to watch. So, if you are looking for a clownish, but cuddly, pet that is small enough to ride around in your shirt pocket, then you may want to take a close look at the lovebird. These birds may be small in size, but they have a big personality.

Should You Get a Quaker Parrots?

If you live in a warm climate, you may have noticed a big flock of noisy gray and green parrots flying about. These birds are Quaker parrots, a popular pet for many bird lovers. Because Quakers are so hardy, they have colonized in quite a few spots, including Florida and California. These little guys can really do some damage to your local farm crops. Concerns about crop destruction and competition with native birds have caused lawmakers to ban ownership of Quakers in quite a few areas. Before you decide to buy a Quaker, make sure these birds are legal in your area.

The gregarious Quaker is a fairly good talker. While these birds do not have the mimicking ability of some of the large parrots, such as the African gray, they do develop large vocabularies fairly easily. One major drawback to the Quaker's vocal nature is its noisy vocalization. Although quite a few people keep this bird in their apartments, it isn't an ideal apartment pet because it will disturb your neighbors when it cheerfully greets each new day with a slightly raucous squawk.

Since the Quaker is actually a member of the conure family, it is no surprise that these birds are often cuddly and playful. They are an excellent choice for a family pet, since they rarely bond so strongly to one person that they refuse to allow anyone else to handle them. Quakers are usually quite happy to hang out on a favorite person's shoulder and chatter away to themselves.

Since Quakers have been popular pets for many years, several color mutations have been developed. The normal gray and green Quaker is quite attractive, but you may prefer a blue, yellow, pied, albino, cinnamon or lutino bird instead. Most of these mutations are much more expensive than normal Quakers and are harder to find. Luckily, your bird's color will not affect its ability to be a wonderful pet.

Your bird's cage should be about two feet wide by three feet long. Be sure to shop for a cage made with heavy wire, since this parrot's strong beak can easily bend cage bars that are made with the lightweight wire that is suitable for parakeets or cockatiels. Quakers aren't tidy birds, so if you are concerned about keeping your floors clean, you should look for a cage with a metal apron that is designed to catch seeds and feathers or you should shop for an acrylic cage.

Quaker parrots like to chew, so you should plan to buy bird toys on a regular basis. If your bird doesn't have enough toys and doesn't get enough human interaction, he may start to pluck out his feathers. This behavior is common in Quakers, especially when they are bored.

If you want a bird that is cuddly, playful and talkative, then the Quaker parrot may be the ideal bird for you. Just keep in mind that this bird can be on the loud side, so you may want to meet a few Quakers and listen to their vocalizations before you decide to bring home a Quaker of your own.

Helping Your Bird Adjusting In A New Home

Moving to a new home can be stressful for a bird, especially if the bird is a hand fed baby. Luckily, if you spend some time setting everything up properly, it isn't too hard to help your bird make the adjustment to a new home.

The first thing you should do for your new bird is to place his cage in an area that does not have too much traffic and confusion. However, although you don't want him to feel like he is in the middle of everything, you also don't want to put him in an unused room where he will be neglected. Pick a spot where he can interact with you, but won't be constantly startled by loud noises and sudden movements.

If you already have another bird, you should quarantine the new arrival for 30 days. This way, if your new bird has an infectious disease, your original bird has a better chance of not catching the disease. To quarantine your bird, you should place him on another floor of the house and keep his food and water dishes separate from your original bird's dishes. If you have central air, you may not be able to truly quarantine your bird, since air ducts carry the air from one room to the next. However, quarantining the new bird is still better than immediately putting them side by side.

Next, make sure your bird is healthy. Take him to your avian veterinarian for a well bird visit. Your vet can check to be sure your new pet doesn't have contagious diseases, worms or bacterial infections. This is especially important if you have a newly weaned handfed baby bird because if the bird wasn't handfed properly, he could have a bacterial infection.

You should also be sure that your bird is eating well. If he doesn't seem to be eating during the first 24 hours, try offering him spray millet, which is basically dessert for birds. Whole grain cereal also can coax a frightened bird to eat. If you have a newly weaned baby bird that is not eating and he is making a squalling noise, he may have regressed and needs to be handfed a bit longer. Ask your breeder for assistance.

If you cannot reach your breeder, you can usually buy some hand feeding formula in pet stores. Simply mix up a very small quantity of hand feeding formula until it has the consistency of pudding and offer it to your bird on a plastic spoon. He should eat it right off the spoon.

Finally, don't be afraid to interact with your bird, but don't overdo it. You shouldn't work with him for more than 10 minutes at a time. If he flies away several times and you have to chase him and catch him, you should put him away until he calms down, since chasing and catching birds is very stressful for them. If he isn't flying away, you should still watch your bird closely for signs of stress as you work with him.

Ten Reasons Why Birds Make Good Pets

There are ten simple reasons why you should consider having bird as your pet. Here they are:

1. Birds are intelligent animals.
2. They are relatively easy to care for.
3. Birds are fairly simple to train.
4. They require minimal grooming.
5. Birds are extremely social creatures.
6. Birds are fairly inexpensive to feed.
7. They can be kept in a small space.
8. Birds are not considered "pets" at most rental properties.
9. Pet birds are attractive to look at.
10. They are long-lived companions.

I promise I'll discuss these points in the details later. But for now, what do you think? Birds do make cool pets, don't they?

Which Bird Suits You?

Birds can be intelligent, enjoyable companions, but choosing the wrong bird can really cause heartache and frustration. How do you choose the right pet bird for you and your family? Before you try to decide which species of bird you want, you may want to think about whether a bird is really the right type of pet for you.

Many people decide to buy a bird because they want to have a pet that provides some company, but doesn't require a lot of time and energy to take care of. Actually, caring for a bird properly may not be quite as hard for caring for a dog, but it involves a bit more than tossing some seed in the cage every day.

Birds need to have the papers or litter in the bottom of the cage changed daily and the entire cage should be washed down once a week to keep it clean. Also, if your bird has been handfed, you will need to spend some time interacting with it each day to keep it tame and friendly.

Yellow canary

If you don't have a lot of time to spend with your bird, you may want to consider finches or canaries. Although these little birds will be tamer if you spend time with them, they won't pine away if they don't have human interaction. They do scatter seeds a bit, but are not as messy as most other birds, so you will have less clean up, as well. Their pleasant vocalizations make these birds the ideal choice for apartment dwellers.

Parakeet

If you want to have a bird that you can interact with, but you don't have a lot of room for cages and equipment, you may want to take a look at lovebirds, parakeets or cockatiels. These birds are all excellent pets for first time bird owners. Although they are louder than finches, these birds are not unbearably loud. Most apartment dwellers do not have trouble with the neighbors over the vocalizations of their lovebirds, parakeets or cockatiels.

Quacker Parrots

If you feel that a lovebird or cockatiel isn't enough of a parrot for you, you may want to look at mid-size parrots, such as Senegal parrots and conures. Most of these birds are entertaining and cuddly pets. However, they can be loud enough to cause problems for apartment dwellers. The brighter conures, such as the sun conure, can be especially loud. Unfortunately, their loud vocalizations do not mean that they have the extensive vocabularies and clear speech that large parrots have. If you are looking for a mid-size parrot that talks well, the Nanday conure or the Quaker parrot are good, but loud, choices.

For people looking for a great talker, larger parrots are the best choice. However, just keep in mind that even African grays do not always develop extensive vocabularies. Every bird is an individual. Larger parrots have the intelligence of a toddler and need plenty of mental stimulation to keep them happy, so you will need to be prepared to spend plenty of time with your bird.

Cute cockatiels can make great pets!

If you are going to be owning a bird for the first time, you may want to take a close look at the cockatiel. This family friendly bird is the perfect choice for beginners, since it is easy to care for and adaptable. Most cockatiels are happy to cuddle up to their owners, especially if it means they'll be getting a neck scratch, but they also can be fairly good talkers and whistlers.

While cockatiels are one of the best smaller talking birds, they certainly aren't on the same level as the African grey. Your bird will have a high, little voice and will be able to learn about fifty words if you work with it consistently and it has the desire to learn to talk. Some cockatiels simply prefer to whistle and will learn several complicated tunes, but will refuse to say as much as 'Hello' to their owners.

If you have family members with allergies or asthma, they may be affected by the dander your cockatiel sheds. These birds, like African greys and cockatoos, have quite a bit of dander. If you decide to get a cockatiel despite the possibility of allergies, be prepared to spend time each day misting your bird's feathers to help keep dander down. You may also need to consider buying a plexiglass cage to keep your bird from spreading seed hulls, dander and dust where it would irritate your family's allergies.

If you decide that a cockatiel is right for you, you will need to make another decision - which color mutation you want. Cockatiels have been raised in captivity for so many years that it is no surprise that they come in a wide range of colors.

The standard grey cockatiels are the most common. Males have a bright yellow face with orange cheek patches when they mature. Cinnamon cockatiels are an attractive tan color mutation. Male cinnamons also develop a yellow face and bright orange cheek patches as they mature.

Pearl cockatiels have white pearl-like spots on their wings and chest. However, when males mature, they lose their pearl spots. Normal pearls look like grey cockatiels and cinnamon pearls look like cinnamon males.

Pieds are also very popular. These birds have grey, cinnamon, or pearl splotches on yellow or white bodies. A clear pied is almost all yellow with color on the wings.

Lutino cockatiels, whiteface and yellowface cockatiels are also available. Lutino cockatiels, with their bright yellow coloring, are very popular pets. However, of all the cockatiels, lutinos are the most high strung, often given to 'frighting' for no apparent reason. There are exceptions, but for a first bird, you may want to consider a different color mutation.

Finally, once you choose your cockatiel, you will need to select the right cage for it. Although you do not need to be concerned about having your bird bend wires with his beak, you do need to take a close look at the cage spacing. If your bird can stick his head through the bars, it may decide to stick it back in through another set of bars instead of simply sliding it back out.

More than one cockatiel has gotten stuck doing this and it can prove fatal if the bird is not discovered in time. For this reason, be sure you look for a cage designed for cockatiels. The spacing between the bars should never be wider than 3/4 of an inch (1.91 cm).