I’ve often wondered how the draft=bad thing got started.
In really cold climates I can see where it might be an issue, but in the wild…the places these birds thrive are not draft free. So how does that work?
I mean there are colonies of feral got-loose-from-a-person birds in cold climates…like the Brooklyn colony(s?)
well, you don’t have ‘drafts’ in the wild. You might get winds, but not the draft you experience in a building - or between buildings.
Wow, didn’t realize they have so many special needs. Thanks for the info folks, I guess they won’t work in my studio apartment. No way to block them off from kitchen, windows, etc.
[QUOTE=Alagirl;6186085]
well, you don’t have ‘drafts’ in the wild. You might get winds, but not the draft you experience in a building - or between buildings.[/QUOTE]
what is the difference? Isn’t wind just a bigger draft?
When I sit in it, I know the difference…not so much to express it in words.
other than ‘draft pulls your undies out from under your clothes’ :winkgrin:
Most hookbills are tropical birds - so a warm breeze isn’t an issue, it’s the cold draft that is.
There probably isn’t ANYTHING tropical in Brooklyn in November, December and January and it’s probably colder there than it ever gets in the tropics
[QUOTE=threedogpack;6186059]
I’ve often wondered how the draft=bad thing got started.
In really cold climates I can see where it might be an issue, but in the wild…the places these birds thrive are not draft free. So how does that work?
I mean there are colonies of feral got-loose-from-a-person birds in cold climates…like the Brooklyn colony(s?)[/QUOTE]
The “Brooklyn Parrots”, along with other colonies of “Quaker Parakeets” across the country consist of birds that are used to a temperate climate, much like the famous Conure colony in San Francisco & the now extinct “Carolina Parakeet”. Totall different situation ThreeDogPack. You’re not going to find colonies of Budgerigars in Brooklyn.
In addition, if you keep a Quaker Parakeet as a pet (as I have), you still can’t keep them in a draft or in a kitchen, yadayadayada. The Quakers sold as pets are domesticated birds, NOT wild. Because they have comrades that are living wild in Brooklyn doesn’t mean they can survived next to your window or heat register.
And honestly - the difference between wind & a drafts? Very basically, a bird in the wild in a wind can find a sheltered position out of the wind. A bird in a cage situated where a draft from a leaky window, door, or the steady blast from a floor or wall heat/ac register can’t. And it sucks the life out of them.
[QUOTE=Bacardi1;6186335]
And honestly - the difference between wind & a drafts? Very basically, a bird in the wild in a wind can find a sheltered position out of the wind. A bird in a cage situated where a draft from a leaky window, door, or the steady blast from a floor or wall heat/ac register can’t. And it sucks the life out of them.[/QUOTE]
that makes sense.
DO NOT get a bird if you are looking for a casual pet. To keep a bird properly you must become educated in proper parrot nutrition, health, hazards etc. Birds are EXTREMELY sensitive and great care must be taken with them. Their diet must include fruit, veggies, pellets, and seeds. They will chew anything and everything, from electrical cords, to door jambs, to the strings on your hoodie. They are messy and loud. They like to wake you up at 5 am. Forget using any type of hairspray around them, burning candles, or cooking near them. They should be far away from anything with a non-stick coating. They like to poop in places they should not, such as in your hair. They will mimic sounds you would rather them not, yet refuse to say “pretty bird” for you. Its their world you’re just living in it. Birds are prone to illness, and doing things like putting their cage by a drafty window or in a spot that is too cold can do them in.
That being said, if you like birds and are willing to devote several hours a day to properly look after said bird, they are wonderful pets. My Cockatiel is very affectionate, he will “groom” me, play with my hair, cuddle against me, and is overall a total love bug…on his terms. He loves to whistle in the morning and hang around on my shoulder. We play tug-of-war with string and he loooooves his neck scratched. However once he is gone, I will NEVER get another bird again. This coming from someone who can never have enough animals. Birds can’t be a “side pet” like a hamster or a fish, they have to be a main focus.
Budgerigars (what most Americans mean when they say “parakeet”, which is a bit like saying “equine” when you specifically mean “horse”) are from Australia and are open-grassland birds. They are NOT used to cold wind they can’t escape. So no drafts, warmer is better, and while they do all right on seed mix, they do need fresh greens and if you can get them on a pellet diet, that’s better than seeds.
Personally, when I either can afford a large enough bird it would win a fight ('toos, full-size parrots) or if I can manage to not acquire any more cats than I have and the ones I have die off, I’ll gladly get a bird again. The mess is nothing compared to multiple indoor cats and dogs. (I’m so sick of pet hair in the house.) And if they vomit, it’s much less of a mess than a dog or cat (and no hairballs!)
And they do talk. Though I will say budgies don’t always talk as much as some larger species (and many cockatiels won’t talk at all but can become talented whistlers-mine had his own version of “Pop Goes The Weasel” where he had some trouble with the ending). They often will be fine with dogs. In fact some enjoy feeding dogs from the table. (My dogs want one like that.) My budgie could say a LOT of words and phrases, including “You’re so cute. Cute cute cute.” (Guess what got said to him a lot.)
Not a parakeet, but I had a cockatiel that impressed me with how fragile they are. I had her for several years, she was delightful, handled since birth and great fun. I left her in the care of a house sitter with detailed instructions for feed and covering the cage at night etc. When I came home three days later she was dead and not recently. I didn’t think that it was that difficult or complicated to take care of her, but apparently it didn’t take much to kill her. Haven’t had a bird since.
This was my experience as well. We “adopted” a pair from family friends when I was a kid. I remember they were screechy, they managed to poop on the wall and were completely uninterested in us (despite supposedly being friendly to old owners). We eventually rehomed them to a bird lady.
As for the predatory interest, our bichon wanted at those birds SO. BAD. The fastest way to call the dog was to say “pretty bird.” And trust me, any being that could teach that poor dim-witted dog anything must have sold it’s soul to the devil first :lol:
Birds are definitely more high maintenance than people think. I know less about budgies than I do about lovebirds, but love birds are very intelligent and need a lot of out of cage time and interaction. Especially if you keep a solo bird.
Cages should be wider rather than taller.
No non stick pots/pans
No Air Fresheners
No Self Cleaning oven (u can use the oven but NOT the self cleaning option)
Needs fresh food and water at least daily, should contain fruits and veggies though some birds are not fans of fruits and veggies. They CAN live off seed and pellets but getting in as much fruit and veggies as possible is best.
They are messy when allowed out of their cage for long periods of time a day, but a quick wipe after putting them back in their cage for the night takes a minute, then vacuum once a week around the cage for seeds and such.
Toys changed out and rotated often. Not all bird toys are actually SAFE for birds. Some loops and holes are made just big enough to get a bird’s head or foot stuck, so watch for that. Birds enjoy foraging for their food, shredding paper and such.
But they can be lots of fun. My bird likes to spend most of his out of cage time with me, playing with my hair and feet (he loves feet), randomly biting a bit too hard but most of the time just beaking. I wear old pajamas (full length pants, long sleeve shirt) any time at home that he’s out of the cage so I don’t get too pooped on. haha.
I have seven parakeets that are just lovely birds. As others have said, they are noisy vivacious little things. Very messy. Mine are not hand tame as I took them on from a friend and most were older.
If you are not going to let them out of the cage often I also recommend as large of a cage as possible. I have mine in a flight cage that is about three feet deep, four wide and four high (on a stand it’s about six feet tall).
I also have finches and canaries (both in their separate large cages). I just love the birds.
My keets don’t like to come out of their cage (they are not tame), but I have a hand raised lovebird that does. And he rules the roost - both my shelties (even the new puppy) are good around him. SUPERVISED, of course !
Squeaky the lovebird hitches a ride on my older sheltie around the house. Buddy is VERY tolerant about it and doesn’t mind.
So anyway, I’ve had luck currently and in the past teaching my pups that the little guys are pets, not food. But my guys are pretty kind and also very smart.
And honestly - it takes me maybe 10 minutes a day to feed the birds, and the lovebird who is very tame hangs out with me while I’m working at the kitchen table. It always amazes me how much personality is stuffed into that little bird.
So birds are a lot more work than a hamster or fish. Birds that are hand-raised do need lots more attention than those that aren’t, but if you are getting a keet and not planning on hand-taming it, get a pair so they keep each other company.
I’m currently owned by a Red Front macaw and a Blue and Gold macaw foster. It’s Saturday morning bird duties are such;
Daily;
Changing out papers. Washing bird dishes. Chopping up fruits, vegetables, adding nuts and pellets.
My birds are out when I’m home so there’s crap everywhere all the time. Butcher paper is part of my decor. The foster isn’t out when I’m not home because she flies like a brick and lands anywhere at the moment and I have a dog (the old fellow doesn’t seem interested). When she becomes a stronger flier and can actually land where she aims we’ll revisit open cages when I’m not home.
Weekly (probably should be more often);
Roll out the cages to sweep and vacuum beneath them for the week’s worth of nutshells and discarded food (they’re real flingers).
When it gets warmer the cages and birds will go out on the patio so I ca give both the cages and birds outside baths and some sun.
A few days a week I give the B&G a shower.
They are indeed alot of work, but gosh they’re entertaining!
Paula
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