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[quote=Anonymous]Ok.  I've had birds, worked in a parrot store when a teen, had a birdsitting service (as a teen), over the years have rescued a conure, amazon, cockatiels, parakeets (also called budgerigars) and a 30 year relationship with a cockatoo I rescued.

1) agree with other people that you would be taking care of this parrot.

2) agree that parrots are not domesticated but tame wild animals, and as flock animals and prey animals they need lots of attention from people or other birds.  Would not have a cage in a bedroom but should be where people congregate.  They should not be alone.

3) Agree in theory that parrots should not be pets; however; in reality there are rescues who really need adopting.

4) The short story is for a kid's first parrot, stick with a parakeet or a cockatiel.  Others are too big and needy--their bite is too hard, their screech is too loud, and many can rip up furniture in a heartbeat.  I have extra table legs in the garage thanks to my umbrella cockatoo.

I currently board the cockatoo at a sanctuary--I pay serious $$ to keep her boarded rather than relinquish her, because I don't want her adopted out to someone who may breed her.  We don't need more cockatoos in captivity; so many need adopting.  I board the cockatoo because honestly, I was over my head...adopting a cockatoo at 25 is one thing, but when you are 40 and have little kids, it got to be too difficult.  I'm 53 now; my cockatoo is very happy and has many people and parrots to play with.

5) Between parakeet and cockatiel, the cockatiel is a big bird's brain in a little body.  Smart.  Sweet.  Likes attention but isn't a bottomless pit of "need" like a cockatoo is.  It's the ideal pet for someone like me.  He knows a mirror is just a mirror, not his best friend.

[b]However; for a kid, I'd lean to a parakeet.[/b] A male parakeet with a mirror in the cage so he doesn't get lonely.  Males chatter happily; females listen.  You can tell it's a male because it will have a blue cere (nose).  Females have brown.  Young have light lilac/violet, and really young might have dark blotches on their yellow beaks.

6) Right now in our house we have a rescue cockatiel and a male parakeet.  Their cage doors are open all day.  If you find a cage where the front door opens from the top and comes down to make sort of a "ramp", the parrots love that and they will sit at the entrance ramp of their cage.  The parakeet can fly where he wants; we trimmed the cockatiel's wings just to tame him; when he molts he will be flighted.   Kids shower with him.

7) Parrots do not only eat seed so please feed your parrot human food too, warm and soft..noodles, greens, sprouts, anything BUT NOT dairy, chocolate, alcohol, avocado.

8) Get rid of your non-stick pans; if they get too hot they release a gas that will kill a bird in seconds.

9) Cover your parrot's cage at night.  Again, they are prey animals and need to feel they are safe and not exposed.  Also, read up on how the length of daylight affects breeding behavior (which is not ideal behavior) so how strategically covering the cage to keep "winter hours" will keep your bird from going into breeding mode.

Hope that helps![/quote]

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