Starter Birds | WHAT'S A GOOD FIRST BIRD? WHAT BIRD SHOULD YOU GET?

[@Allen-by6ci]

Great video. Non-birder here. You and Dave make owning birds look so easy, but it's obviously incredibly hard. I shall continue to live vicariously through your channel.. :P

[@JWildberry]

Yep, same here! But it would have been cool to have a friend or family member that owned a bird, so I could be the cool aunt. All the fun, none of the fuss!

[@lsmc8909]

Me tooooooo!!!

[@ispinyarns]

THIS!

[@stevendavis1135]

Yea , the truth is that owning a parrot isn't all fun and games. It takes a bit of knowledge and know how to own a parrot. Something you dont learn in a single day but through experience. I think people shouldn't even be able to buy a parrot unless you obtain a parrot license or something

[@IrieAllDay88]

@@stevendavis1135 Same with kids, that last part!

[@lmp7179]

Chickens, they are cuddly, give you eggs, trainable, and if you work they can take care of themselves in the backyard during the day eating your bugs and rototilling the flower beds.

[@WindsofChange]

Absolutely, you couldn't pay me to have a large parrot though I love them...but I have a bunch of chickens. They're just about my speed and they make me breakfast.

[@DEngel-hv1nt]

yum

[@guardemdog]

We rescue roosters. Chickens are wonderful. We have 3 in our front yard separated from the other 8 roosters and around 40 hens. (We will have another 15 hens soon) Anyway the three are one large hen and 2 silkie roosters. The hen has learned to run backwards when she doesn't want their advances then poke them in the butt. One of the roosters raised the hen. Our chicks are always given to a rooster to raise up once they are fully feathered. I love all our feathered friends. You are right that chickens make great pets and they can live to be 15. Too often people think they only live a few years so killing a 2 year old hen means nothing.

[@Primalxbeast]

The only chicken I knew was a mean little SOB. I worked at a wildlife rehab center and he was always attacking people. You had to keep your eyes on him if you didn't want him attacking the back of your knees. It's bad when a bunch of people who volunteer to help animals in their free time joke about feeding one of the residents to the bobcat. lol

[@guardemdog]

@@Primalxbeast they can be trained out of that. But the first rule is NEVER run or punish. Do not wear shorts. Wear sturdy pant and boots. If he attacks, you have to stand your ground. Let him calm down and the step towards him with conviction. Everyone in the flock knows their place. An alpha rooster will keep all the roosters under him under control and will deal with hens who are bullying another hen. He is also responsible for taking care of weaker roosters who are getting picked on. Of the 24 roosters we've had 3 came to us because they were human aggressive. We handled them a lot before letting them out.

[@bobobannana1307]

my bf has a sun conear and she's a wonderful singer, if she was in a heavy metal band

[@swarnimasiddhartha7456]

😂😂

[@Agoraphobic_Luv]

Lol I totally get what you’re saying

[@Pumpkin.-.]

Haha I have a Sun Conure too. She’s so loud but I love her. (Heavy metal describes her perfectly)

[@floydfreeman1318]

That sound fricking awesome

[@falconwilliams303]

Hahahahahah

[@aperson1378]

I'm 16 and adopted a rehomed cockatiel. She sits with me while I do my work. She flies where she wants in my room (though she prefers to sit on my shoulder). I love her so much! She bonded with me so well!

[@maddy1224]

I also really want to get a cockatiel

[@kylenicome7708]

Make sure to do research

[@ms.anonymousinformer242]

My daughter was 11 when we got a Jenday and I started breeding parrotlets (stopped in 2018) . She learned everything I know. To the point the birds all favor her. She took over ownership of the Jenday this year at 15 going on 16. He still interacts with all of us but she took over responsibility over him. She trains him too ,now. They work on recall, and trick training almost daily. He is LOUD when he sees : mailman,ups truck, fed ex truck, walkers& bikers,and people parking unfamiliar cars in our driveway, or knocking on the door. He makes a good "guard bird" / "home alarm" when it comes to strangers. I actually like that because if I hear him screaming non stop and am on other side of the house, I know someone must be at the door.

[@s.w.3815]

I was dissapointed she didn't mention Budgies and cockatiels. They're both highly intelligent loving parrots. I've had large and small parrots, softbills and cockatoos as well as working with Corvids thru a long life, (I got my first bird I was about 4 and I'm 60 now!), with wonderful avian companions as well as rescue work with wild and companion birds. I learned long ago a birds size or what it cost does not dictate its intelligence, what kind of a companion it makes, it's ability to learn tricks, to speak or the love it can share. Cockatiels, especially males, are great at mimicking sounds and some words. Budgies, also the males especially, are one of the best birds in the parrot family for learning to pick up human speech, whistles and other sounds! Look up 'Disco' on KZbin! I guarantee he will blow away any other parrot you've EVER heard! I'm so glad to hear that you love one of the 'little birds'! I have 3 rescued Budgies I cherish!

[@ShrihariV6105]

Everything is literally the same. Except I bought mine from a guy I knew.Other than that, I'm 16, she sits with me while I do my work. She flies where she wants in my room. She loves to sit on my laptop for some reason. She eats with me. They crave for attention. It's not even my room at this point. She took over it.

[@chrispysaid]

I came into this video wanting to find out what kind of bird I should look at getting but I finished not wanting a bird anymore. You probably saved a bird's life.

[@Aethuviel]

They are fear mongering tons, though. They really could also be depriving a bird of a good home, and those people of a very rewarding life experience. Most people that are put off by the words "biting, screaming, mess" probably shouldn't get any parrot, but again, she is fear mongering A LOT. It sounds like parrots are just awful through and through, but she owns a BUNCH of them. So how awful can they be? (I've had parrots myself for nearly twenty years.)

[@chrispysaid]

@@Aethuviel We had an African gray parrot for decades in our family, and no she's not fear mongering. She reminded me of just what a horribly loud, messy, physically painful experience it was to cohabitate with a bird. There was nothing fulfilling about having that creature in our home. My hope was that we just had a bird with a bad attitude, and that other birds would be more well-behaved or more easily socialized, but it sounds like that's not the case. I would rather know up front whether I'm going to be miserable for the rest of my life so that I can avoid making a decision to care for creature that could potentially outlive me.

[@EZ4U2Say11]

Same , I got over that real fast hmm 🤔

[@Thesamurai1999]

@@chrispysaid Go for a dog or cat!

[@paloma4444]

@@chrispysaid She absolutely IS fear mongering. I have a macaw and she is exaggerating TONS.

[@ezalator9653]

My budgie: screeches My family: Aren’t birds meant to sing Me: How dare you interrupt his beautiful song

[@Maggie66112]

Omg your family is so stupid... im sorry i just had to...

[@tillyct8937]

my budgie sings to the wall. well its more of a shout but he is a speaking bird and he mixed up some phrases so he now calls himself Mr parakeet burger....

[@kafiyo7928]

Exactly.

[@I_love_dr_stone]

metalhead budgie

[@kellyharney2385]

Mine mixes phrases too and it’s the best! “Hi pretty buddy!” He also calls anything with fur a little puppy. A squirrel went past his cage outside “hey little puppy!”

[@mattvolby9857]

They usually bond to one person and attack everyone else. Me: hmmmm, perfect

[@corvus6971]

my antisocial friends about to beg their parents for one:

[@mrdrprofessorgeorgegeorge3486]

Me: oh if I can't be a people's person I'll be a bird persom😂 I have finches but I want to try to level up a little for now and go a bit more

[@sherfinaodumanye7802]

My thoughts exactly 😂😅😂

[@lindashreffler3068]

I had got a hawk and it died what did I do

[@lowkeybored5761]

*slowly walks to siblings room* "I don't know how it got there!"

[@HighsideOfJupiter]

How could someone be annoyed by the sound of doves? I absolutely love hearing them sing.

[@whitebird5383]

Unlike other birds that sleep when you do, Doves will coo all night. So, if you have them in the house like I did, they will keep you awake.

[@liammcmeeken2571]

Yeah make sure u really love the sound before u get one, they coo from the time they wake up till when they go to sleep with short rests here and there. They may coo at night sometimes too. Drove me nuts!

[@sharathyadav954]

I love doves too 💖💖💖

[@kathleenmurphy2379]

Sometimes the turtle doves in the neighborhood drive me crazy! Especially when there's a male that doesn't have a mate he just sits up there Cooling and Cooling and Cooling and you can hear it in the house

[@LadyCoyKoi]

They are so sweet with their cooing noises. ^_^

[@twiprod002]

You are correct when you said a bird will choose you at a rescue. I visited a local rescue many times helping out for a few months. One of the Umbrella Cockatoos would always follow me throughout the days I worked. It got to the point the she would fly to me as soon as I got there each day and then would not want me to leave. Well now she’s my best friend at home. She’s 11 yrs old and just loves everyone at my home. Best thing I ever did.

[@elenalatici9568]

Had a very similar experience that i just wrote about here. Sadly, there was no way I could take him. I still think about him. 😭

[@sophiacolclough2947]

This is so sweet 😭💖

[@erinidum]

Having a parrot is like having a toddler that runs with scissors and doesn't grow up for 50 years.

[@brandondyess9973]

Maya Tamika I spit my coffee out laughing at this comment.. you made my morning, can’t wait to tell my wife what u said!!!! 🤣🥰

[@MoreCoffeePlease.]

brandon dyess I’ve never shared a home with a bird but I did too. 😂😂😂

[@beetlejette]

ROFL! THAT IS THE FUNNIEST COMMENT I'VE EVER HEARD!! Maya Tamika, thank you for keeping it real.😂😂 And I can relate, I own a Caique that keeps me busy all day long running around with his scissors!!🤪🤪😉😉

[@Aurora-kq7bo]

Omg

[@ley9868]

exactly。。

[@widdershinswitch]

It breaks my heart that people always brush off budgies and i wish more people would give them a chance. I want a bigger bird for sure but getting my budgie is one of the best decisions in my whole life. She is the sweetest, smartest and most hilarious little creature I've ever met and I love her dearly. Their personalities are so much bigger than they are lol and after having her for over a year now I feel much more confident and better prepared for getting a larger parrot at some point in the future. And even if/when I do get another bird, my little budgie will forever be the number 1 bird in my heart. She's become my best friend. 💙

[@lucydonald7492]

Widdershins Witch since you had a budge try move on to maybe a conure or cockatiel or like a small parrot I wouldn’t just move on from a tiny bird to a massive bird try a small parrot then move on to bigger parrots idk that’s just my opinion :)

[@wibblemu9]

I absolutely love budgies, my first bird was a blue budgie and he was the sweetest most loving thing ever

[@justjello7599]

I've had 3 budgies so far and mango my current bird is 4 years old and has been with me since he was 6 months old, he is the worst thing to exist, he hates toys, he hates other people, he's picky and he most likely wants to kill me in my sleep no matter how much he tries to cuddle up to me.

[@wxlf.rxm00]

I agree I don’t have one (I have an African grey) it’s kind of sad how much they get neglected as they are fun and loving birds

[@longnamenocansayy]

my aunts budgie was an absolute pirate. not to people, but the german shepherd was open season for him. he had such an attitude, and that poor german shepherd just had to take it until it was too much. then next thing you know here comes the little blue pirate walking up to the dog again. 100% blue with attitude..

[@allisfaith]

I thought how pretty, a pink cockatoo! Then I saw a video you did a couple yrs ago. You said that Galahs should be left to the professionals. After hearing that and doing research and visited a bird sanctuary, I decided a bird in general wasn’t right for me. Thank you for passing on your knowledge. I also watch your channel and Marlene’s channel to get my bird fix. To this day I do not have a bird BUT I really got into feeding the WILD BIRDS around my house and that’s been very rewarding!

[@JWildberry]

Yeah, my new hobby is watching the magpies. Because who needs fancy, colorful, tropical birds when you have some chatty, clever cuties in tuxedoes? Plus, I used to have seagulls outside my last apartment, and after 10 years of that, I know I wouldn't handle owning a bird without going crazy.

[@peterzimmerman1114]

That also works, I got an african gray, but I've noticed that the birds in the garden has kind of bonded with me aswell, since I tend to give the some snacks, especially over the winter season where they got a hard time finding food. I got a few that will come and peck on my window when it gets really bad during the winter and come look at me. During the summer they don't seem to be doing that, there is usualy plenty of food out there.

[@paloma4444]

She is fear mongering. A LOT.

[@spiralmoment]

I hope watching the birds around your house makes you realise how cruel it is to keep a bird trapped.

[@superklizzard3195]

I would recommend a ringneck dove as a first FIRST bird. Sweet, bonds easy, doesn't bite and is soft billed, easy to train, cheap, doesn't scream, doesn't only bond to one person so you can actually go on vacation. I had one as a first pet bird and she was a total sweetie. They're cuddle butts. They're great for kids as long as the child is gentle.

[@orlock20]

If you have the outdoor room, a hen chicken or two would work. Low noise, trainable, sociable and lay eggs for food.

[@TheJesusAlejandra]

I totally want a dove 🥰 they are so cute, wouldnt mind the noise

[@jodyariewitz7349]

Agreed!!🥰❤👍👏 I had a dove as a kid that used to ride on my handlebars around the neighborhood! I also had a silky chicken (Atilla the hen! ❤RIP Tilly!)

[@치추이]

@ARK Babe 🦖 dang that's sick, did they know it was your pet or was cooking it the intention from the start

[@PromisedJubilee]

I totally agree. The sound of a dove is so sweet and easy on the ears. Not like the screeching of a parrot.

[@rose4490]

I can't imagine ever being annoyed by the sound of a dove cooing. I would just think such a person was a jerk.

[@Fredwitrave]

Ohlala. A jerk. It's so tempting to judge people. Makes you feel better about yourself for a little while...

[@ilovenycsomuch]

Yeah what the hell, that’s such a lovely nonintrusive sound, what a fucking prick

[@chicoziebirb5139]

I swear to god if my neighbours accepted and love my cockatiels, anyone can accept a dove's cooing. If you already can't stand a dove's cooing, don't be near children either, they're way worse.

[@christianfellowshipchurchg262]

Doves sound nice at first but then you see that they are constantly cooing all day, non-stop, I can see people eventually getting annoyed.

[@mattkinsella9856]

My neighbor is addicted to his chainsaw, weed whacker and very loud lawnmower barely a day goes by that he doesn't spend a few hours doing something with one of these and Summer weekends it's all of them, most of the day. I've also lived next door to someone who let their 2 large dogs bark all day and I like dogs. I dream of having someone next door who had 1000 doves instead. If you want zero noise from your neighborhood then you should live in the middle of nowhere. If the sound of doves is all someone has to worry about then they should think themselves lucky.

[@peter2kx]

“big parrots are like 3 year old toddlers with bolt cutters attached to their face. Oh, and they can fly.”

[@birdmania2996]

Lol!

[@wafflefries3799]

Any bed is tho

[@Crystal-rv5ys]

And that kid will never grow up 😅

[@BusterMaxwellTV]

😱

[@nemesism]

XD

[@MsCyberNewt]

OMG thank you SO MUCH for making this video!!!! I worked at a pet shop in the 90's and we had a bird broker- he told us that he had this lady contact him- she wanted not ONE, Not TWO, but THREE Umbrella cockatoos!!!!! He went to her house- and she had purchased three perch stands for these birds. She had white carpet, white couch and furniture and white curtains and wanted the birds to "go with the decor". He told her she should get plushie cockatoos instead and they would look great on the stands. I can't believe some people! This video is SO NEEDED.

[@juraxelpark9299]

I got a macaw first and don’t regret my choice XD she screamed and she tried to kill me the first day but I love her.

[@Spyrit2011]

My first macaw was a Hahn's macaw. My little Hahn's was so sweet loved to cuddle, happy little bird.

[@wuvvy6122]

same xD my first bird was a macaw, we only clicked after a month lmao but now we are really great friends :D

[@randomperson6113]

Ms. p0tatO lol army

[@uknvoid6716]

Lol

[@nicholascampbell4575]

My first is going to be green wing macaw(also know as red and green macaw)

[@Leadries]

I think I'm going to just get a bald eagle...

[@is_ya_average_idiot1613]

Ye very normal lol

[@Leadries]

@@is_ya_average_idiot1613 indeed

[@is_ya_average_idiot1613]

@@Leadries lol well wish you luck

[@sofiakulkarni1920]

lmaoooo

[@nickizcool20]

MURICA!!!!!!!!!

[@abbysparkles8975]

I've had my Amazon since he was a just weaned, (13 years ago) and I was in my early 20's. About a year after I got him, I got pregnant. I think this is when most people give up parrots, because the baby takes up all of their time. We've moved to Florida, and then back to the Midwest. We've been through a lot together, and he's definitely part of the family. When people meet him they think he is just the coolest thing in the world. I like to remind people it's like having a two year old for the rest of your life. A very sassy two year old.

[@shuermarvin577]

LOVE the little guy sitting and watching you when you talk. He is super easy going. He looks at you lovingly.

[@BirdBath1]

Shuer Marvin, look at bird bath

[@entitykeeper8869]

I bought a Sun Conure for my daughter when she was 4 years old. The bird is wonderful for my daughter and I. Anyone else tries to touch her gets the beak. The bird is now 20 years old and my daughter is grown up and married. I miss the bird.

[@lampadudle]

4 years old? That's a bit early, I gotta admit.

[@tammyelliott5510]

That is amazing! I met a woman in her 30s who has had her McCaw since she was 14 and she says it is still her best friend ever. She takes that bird everywhere with her.

[@mchobbit2951]

So she took the bird with her when she moved out?

[@juliusroman8616]

Try desensitizing the bird to other people.

[@pears8445]

@@lampadudle Her mum would of looked after it while they were playing

[@nicolebongartz7828]

Honestly? This is the best explanation ever! If after this, people still don't get it - it's hopeless - in my opinion.

[@XShadOBabeX]

"What is a good first bird if I have no experience with parrots." (shows a chicken) DUDE... I would love to have a chicken.

[@catrinoiuandrei4624]

My grandmother had pet chickens beacouse they gave eggs.

[@meganpeep3266]

I have 8 and I’m literally obsessed with them. They got me here because I want more birds 🤣

[@MrErikw26]

I actually LOL'D at that

[@NoOneHasThePowerToDefineYou]

XShadOBabeX 😂

[@mariellzz1159]

Same tho

[@Nightsha]

Thank you for pointing out all the sucky parts of owning a bird! That's exactly what I look for when I research getting a new type of animal and it's surprisingly hard to find. You can love and talk up something while also being honest about the downsides (cause all pets have downsides, some more than others!)

[@theConcernedWyvern]

Agreed! I love the way she does it without condescending people who are interested as well ^-^

[@JessicaBeeler]

When I was younger, my parents let me get a cockatiel because I wanted a bird so badly. She lived to be 14 and was honestly the best pet. I see a lot of things we did incorrectly with her in those years when I watch BirdTricks videos because there just wasn't the internet access for learning proper diet and care for birds at the time, so all we had to go on was what the bird shop owners told us. I appreciate videos like this so much because you have so many resources for someone who might be in that place wanting a bird and needing to know how to start with them.

[@breyanna6951]

Ok, so I am 14... and I have a cockatiel Can I ask, where did u go wrong with your bird? I’m just trying to learn!

[@JessicaBeeler]

@@breyanna6951 I got my bird well before we had internet access so there wasn't an easy way to research proper things for her. The shop we got her from, while a sort of bird haven, was not especially helpful looking back. They didn't carry as many food options as I see Jamieleigh talking about, so my bird's diet was very basic, and I just didn't know any better. I also personally feel like my bird's cage may have been too small for her but she was out in the house 95% of the time so she had free range. She wasn't ever properly trained for anything either, which we really didn't realize you could do lol.

[@clairehennekam]

Budgies are so underrated. They are adorable, huge personalities, empathetic, and many are great talkers. I've got two, and although I'm having training issues at the moment (one is a rescue), I love them to bits. People love the big colourful exciting parrots, and maybe think that budgies are boring little things that just sit in their cage. Why? Because that's how so many people treat them!! I've wanted to liberate several friends' budgies over the years when I've seen how they're treated. If you treat a budgie the way you would a big parrot, you'll have a best friend. If you have multiple budgies, you'll become part of a flock. I love watching videos from BirdTricks and Adventures of Roku, and seeing their gorgeous birds and following their adventures, but I'll leave them to the enormous mess, feeding schedules, constant toy creation/destruction cycle, and of course the noise. I live in an apartment, so anything louder than a budgie is not really ok. I adore rainbow lorikeets and would dearly love to have one, but when I did my research and learnt about the "poo issue", it was all over!! 😂 I do love the idea of indoor flight somewhere really big though. Once my two are tame enough, I'll look into options. Thank you!! 💓

[@ZElTGElST]

Yeah, to me they are probable the best ones too. I have had a Kakariki (lovely) and a goldfinch (lovely too) and my next one will be a Budgie when the time comes. They have an imbatible inteligence/noise/mess ratio. I was hoping for her to say BUDGIES!. Ah, in case there is a second part of this video I would love her to her take on it

[@Soul_Whispers_Paranormal]

Budgies are so amazing. My baby budgie is so playful, sings pretty songs and loves to be handled and honestly when I got her I didnt think that she would have bonded and likes to be handled as much as she does. I love my Opal!

[@dragonfly9821]

People seem to think that really small birds don't have as much personality, but boy are they wrong (lovebirds! lovebirds have enough personality to share with three bigger birds! ;). I just wish they lived longer, my heart can't take it.

[@guardemdog]

Bravo for rescuing!

[@smOVERCOMINGITALL]

@@dragonfly9821 I have allwayyss wanted lovebirds!! I do want birds, never owned just lived with my sisters African grey throughout my teen years, and lovebirds has always been on the top of my list. Would you say they are a good first time bird owner?

[@Spencerlayne]

I know it wasn't your intention, but you out me off getting a bird. But for the right reason. I dont think it's all its cracked up to be. I mean I think they are so cute. But it would literally be like having a child. I think you made a lot of people aware of the reality of what it takes to have a parrot

[@operationcrazy2696]

Dont be! Cockatiels are wonderful starters! I got one when I started college and best decision of my life!

[@jennifers.3818]

thats actually a good thing. so many people jump into getting a bird bc they're cool, they talk, they play, they see videos of owners cuddling and all these great things. they dont show the 24/7 work involved, the 24/7 dedication tht goes into it. its like having a 2yr old stuffed in the body of a bird. just like she said there are SO SO many in sanctuaries and horrible homes simply bc people jump into it not realizing what lies ahead. that and most birds live SO long they outlive the owners period of life when they wanted a bird. u know how our lives change over 20yrs. you may be fine with one now, but can u handle tht dedication for the next 30-50yrs??? thats a crazy dedication

[@mantisamygdala]

@@operationcrazy2696 this is so sad: They need a swarm, they cannot live alone. It's cruel to buy just one of them. And it's true, they are great. I had one as a child, loved him, and gave him away, when I grew older and learned more about his species. Because I loved him so much. He came to a family which had about 20 of them. And he fell in love with one of the others a few hours after he met his new swarm.

[@operationcrazy2696]

@@mantisamygdala They do just fine man, sad in the beginning, definitely, but they learn to love their owners like dogs and cats. Leave dogs outside in the wild and they will learn to pack together. Your argument is over emotion and emotion is never a valid argument. My bird does perfectly fine alone and is happy with my family, he sees us as his "swarm" and the correct word for that is "flock" mate. Learn English too. Now I do plan on getting a partner for him in a year or so when he is fully tamed. You just did not even care about your bird period. If you loved him you would have found him a friend. You are the one to blame, look at yourself mate. Smh. I know someone who leaves their birds in a cage all day unless they want to play! Mine flies wherever he wants, yes his wings are not clipped and I never will do so. He was born with two sisters which both flew away, so either way, he was alone. Me taking him in allowed him to get attention much more, now he begs us to stay with him until he starts napping on my shoulder.

[@sheisalicee6134]

mantisamygdala I had a cockatiel when i first moved out in my own. She did wonderfully on her own - i find it frustrating when people shame others into multiple pets. I have always had single pets of many different species and all my veterinarians have always said that the amount of time and attention i spend is clearly quality and not harming my keeping pets as singles. I know my limits and will always have single pets - i currently have a green cheek conure and he is awesome and very loved by his vet and staff 🦜

[@kiemyster420]

Bird man checking in here, I have a fleet of 20+ birds and I would say smaller conures are the best to start with, with the exception of nandays and sun conures (too noisy and bigger beaks). Best picks are high red, green cheek, pineapple, or turquoise conures. The turquoise conures can show slightly more aggression in breeding season, but other than that they are awesome. Be warned that some conures like black caps and crimson bellies have a more stinky poop, and black caps can be very militant and aggressive but I love them for that reason. Conures can talk but it takes alot of training, but I find them to be the most playful and least noisy of them. My heart goes to the pineapple conures tho, they are the best in terms of personality and show the most affection. I am sure you had your reasons why you did not list them, probably because most people want birds that can talk easily. But I love them to death, so consider this an extremely biased post. I have experience with all types of conures, smaller macaws (cant stand the noise from the big ones) and amazons. Great video, I certainly agree with avoiding amazons, macaws, african greys, and cockatoos. Never understood the hype about african greys (no offense to your buddy on the vid), to me they all seem to be more mischievous than amazons, so if im going big bird, I go for yellow crowns.

[@BirdBath1]

kiemyster420, look at bird bath

[@therealtisler5652]

Do you have any opinions on the Quaker?

[@weirdname299]

I have a budgie Se loves me She lets me pet her Constantly flys on my head and shoulder I love her too She's always there when I'm sad Kinda like a girlfriend... Yup My girlfriend is a budgie

[@bolton7961]

I wanna see those babies 🙃

[@elli1370]

Bolton Kitten wha-

[@nezamei6962]

@@bolton7961 👁👄👁

[@ms_it_is]

Mine is a giant chicken😂 Once she lived with the others in a barn, but she was so attached to me, because I took her after her mother left her, I let her in the house after she didn't lay eggs anymore. Now I share a room with a Brahma chicken

[@yoyothedoggo470]

@@bolton7961 the hecc I-

[@caffeinefuelled9186]

That "noise" is what its like to wake up in Australia.. you don't even notice it after awhile.

[@streakspider2435]

I swear to god

[@nicolecampbelll]

You have Koalas though! I'd give anything ! Lol 🇨🇦👎

[@chloedawson6955]

@@nicolecampbelll heaps are dead now BC of fires 😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@jet891]

@@nicolecampbelll I live in Australia and the only place I've seen a koala is at the zoo

[@lanalee-3792]

jetmancer yep same!

[@blackie75]

I had a pet crow for 4 years that came to my house every day. But I haven't seen him for 6 months....I think he's in bird heaven :(

[@ashtonpennington1292]

Its ok

[@gamergoddess05]

Was it wild? How did you bond with it? I'm really curious, they seem like really sweet pets.

[@juliadillaman3632]

Sorry 😦

[@Flufferz626]

@@gamergoddess05 they are awesome animals to interact with, but aren't "sweet pets".

[@24k-u6o]

@@Flufferz626 thank you.

[@Koligian]

Thanks for explaining the in and out's of owning a bird. My son and I were thinking about getting one because we love all the bird videos but you made us realize that loving a bird video and owning a bird are two totally different things. I appreciate you being honest with us and for now we are content living vicariously through you and your birds! 💜 🦜 🕊️ 🐦 🦜 🕊️ 💜

[@gantoo]

I had a budgie. He got around 15 years old even though he had multiple accidents with mirrors and windows (he eventually figured it out :P) If i had the chance to relive thoes 15 years, id do it again! :)

[@BirdTricks]

Yes! Budgies!

[@tomr.4199]

what a sweet comment :-)

[@cottonmouthxx7828]

Hey I also had my budgie for 15 years!! He was such an incredible little guy and called me baby lol. (Or my name 😂) loved him so much :) Did yours also randomly pass away without any signs of illness beforehand? I was so devastated when he passed as I got him as a little girl and I was in my teenage years when he passed. So our bond was very strong.

[@gantoo]

@@cottonmouthxx7828 Yes, he started having breathing problems, a cold maybe. He died in my hands a few days after that. :(

[@magikp6636]

Wow, that's really sad. And I'm sure it was hard to deal with. Sorry for your loss.

[@blahblah8037]

I can’t really wrap my head around “starter” bird. It’s an animal that lives a long time. Such a large chunk of our own life.

[@tammyelliott5510]

Maybe it should be more like your first bird before you think you need to have more, because you are totally in sane.

[@lizfox1602]

Do you not have to start somewhere? Getting a macaw if you’ve never owned a bird would be very dumb. Asking for recommendations on a first starter bird is a great question

[@JuhiSRK]

Non-birder here. But the best experience I've ever had with a bird was a Caique. Absolutely adorable. I was a home health aid in a home with one & fell in love with their caique; so smart, so friendly & so much fun. It followed me around while I cleaned & enjoyed just being on my shoulder while working. He was quiet as well. He would only do what I call bird "small talk" in my ear...no screaming at all. If I ever got a bird, hands down it would be a caique.

[@hillbillyhorse9674]

Melody Johnson I love caiques. They’re literally puppies with wings.

[@mikepech6822]

I had a budgie once. A great little companion. Then I got a rescued conure. He was an ignored bird in a cage and was put in a spare room because he screeched alot. I bought him for cheap. Took me a day for finger training. In a year he said a few words, loved sitting on my shoulder, loved doing a hip hop and wings flapping dance to rock and roll. No more screeching. just wanted some attention. Conure is a small bird, great friends and easy care. Recommend them to anyone. They are like people. Just want friends.

[@ralexandra1058]

A chicken was my first bird, and will probably be my only bird species 😂 Sweet cuddly chicken, treat them well and they’ll give you eggs ❤️

[@croonch6538]

I have 6 chickens and theres one that follows me around...they are awesome!!

[@ralexandra1058]

Crunchy_ Napkin I also have a hen that follows me around... she likes to jump up on my knee/shoulder when I kneel/sit down out in the yard☺️

[@LadyCoyKoi]

I had one chicken who would sit on ones lap in order to be petted. She was such an odd looking attention whore cat. ^_^

[@pixels4331]

I couldn't ever be super loving with my chickens. They shit everywhere .__.

[@aayangul8474]

Same I have three lol

[@mrs.bakersproductions6516]

I’ll stick to my chickens and watch your videos. ;)

[@guardemdog]

Bird people are bird people.

[@pokemaster2464]

If i had a backyard I would have chickens and doves

[@kellymarie8874]

Maegan Baker same 😂😂

[@davidritchie9344]

Chickens are great. Absurdly simple to take care of and have crazy big personalities. They're also funny to watch gang up on cats.

[@augustl8876]

Agreed. I love my chickens. But, I would not be able to handle having any other kind of bird in my home life. I've worked with a number of kinds of birds and know what's involved. Parrots are beautiful but, I'd rather appreciate them in the care of someone who can handle the commitment they come with.

[@hammer-r]

Wow what a great an honest video. Wish I had that advise when I got my first parrot 30 years ago. What she is saying is sooooo true. People please take her advise. They are complex little humans with personality and attitude. And OMG the mess. Lol. Luckily we had a dog that liked to clean up after our birds. Great advise on working at a bird rescue. I will look locally for one to volunteer at just to get my fix without buying another one. Currently we have a hand raised cockatiel, safe simple and. It so noisy. Tks again for such an open and honest evaluation of birds. No one ever thinks of the down side. All they see are the colors and hope they talk.

[@Ricky_B4]

My daughter and son-in-law were being transferred to Germany for 5 years starting in 2005. My wife and I agreed to bird sit their Umbrella Cockatoo, at the time she could not take Cloud to Germany. Cloud bonded with me but she would let my wife handle her also. I read everything I needed for the best care of Cloud and found a vet that specialized in birds which was good because 3 years later she had to have an operation to remove a blockage in her digestive system. Then giving her a shower one day I forgot and brought the shower head to her and she bit through the fleshy part of my hand, then bit the through the same spot on my right hand. because I didn't pull away when she bit I only required a couple of stitches on each hand. After 5 1/2 years the kids returned to the states got stationed in Florida drove out to California and took my grandbirdy away. I missed 7 o'clock pm LOUD play time, I missed daily showers and especially missed snuggle time. I get a call from my daughter 2 weeks later and she had seen an ad on the vets facebook page that he had 7 cockatoos for adoption. they were all from the same family, the lady had died. My wife and I went to look at the birds there were 5 birds that were brother and sister from one mother bird and a poppa bird who was father to two of the youngest birds all Umbrella Cockatoos The mother bird looked horrible she had only about 15 to 20 % of her feathers left, the rest she pluck from anxiety. My wife said Rick we have to take her and give her a good home. All the way home in he little carrier we heard Momma, momma, momma I love you, momma I love you, momma, momma, just about broke my heart. When we got Rosie home, by the way she was 29 years old, and yook her out of her carrier she looked around and didn't say momma again. Rosie bonded to me and would bite my wife. She was funny, at night she would scream louder than Cloud but after a while she calmed down, I didn't close the door to her cage during the day and since I am handy I just repaired the wood moulding she chewed, wouldn't chew on he toys at all even the ones made from wood moulding. All of her feathers had grown back in, I had her whistling and in the morning she would cluck like a chicken, so I figured she must have lived near chickens before. She would say I love you and when I tried to get her to say papa she would say abba and then a bunch of gibberish. On a trip one day I stopped at a rest area had the van door open while I fed my son and as an older lady was walking by she whistled the wolf whistle. The lady turned around and said thank you, I said it wasn't me it was her, the lady looked into the van and Rosie said I Love You, which started everyone laughing. She was in good health and played a lot, if I was late opening her cage door she would stomp in her water to get my attention. Then the problems started, she started biting my wife and a couple of time bit her in the face just missing her eye. My wife became scared to death of her which made Rosie even more aggressive towards her. That's when I started looking for someone that would take her. I was having a yard sale and Rosie was with me sitting on my shoulder when one of the ladies mentioned she had a friend with a cockatoo and some other parrots she asked if I was selling Rosie, i said to the right person. Her friend called, I visited her home, part of the deal, and spent some time with her and her family, then I took Rosie with me to her house and Rosie looked at the lady and said something I will never forget, the word she repeated over and over on the way home the day we adopted her, she had taken one look at the lady and said MOMMA, MOMMA, MOMMA. It had been over hat was it I gave Rosie to her and when she said I can't pay you until next month I said I didn't want the money I only wanted a good home for Rosie and asking for money was part of my test. I took all of Rosie's cages, toys and perches to her and visited once a month for the next six months. During this time I found out from the vet the lady that had died was Jewish and spoke Yiddish and Abba was Poppa in Yiddish and the gibberish was yiddish, the lady that had died had red hair and spoke yiddish. the lady I gave Rosie to had red hair and spoke yiddish. I haven't seen Rosie in years and I miss her but I am positive I did the right thing for her. Sorry about the length but the two TOOs were linked by one story.

[@LouiseHultcrantz]

I don't usually read other people's "life stories" in the comments because they're usually lengthy and I don't really care (I'm cold hearted I know)😂 but your story made me cry 😢💔

[@garyford4939]

😊

[@angeliquejacques1110]

I know this comment was posted quite a while ago. But I just happened upon it and wanted to say that it is so heartwarming. Best wishes to yourself, Rosie, and Cloud 😊

[@millsbillz]

That’s a beautiful story almost like a short film. Thanks for sharing. I’m crying haha

[@Indusxstan]

You are an amazing person sir, bless you ! ❤

[@fancygif4646]

"Go to your local sanctuary" Me, who doesn't even have a Petco within a Two hour Radius. "Let's see that happen."

[@seanw2013]

Same lmao

[@68mwsully]

I guess it depends on where you live, but you’d be surprised how many rescues/sanctuaries there are, fortunately/unfortunately.

[@haileyamberpunzalan7236]

Lmao i live in the Phillipines and the nearest sanctuary is like...in a DIFFERENT ISLAND!

[@user-qo6il9vg3n]

Just teleport there, duh

[@cjmedoes632]

My whole city is a bird sanctuary hahahahaha no literally there's a sign as soon as you get in Lebanon this is a bird snacturary

[@thelazerchicken7964]

I completely agree with you I am also a parrot owner and I wish that people would stop getting parrots thinking they would be “cute” pets and not thinking about the level of commitment.

[@carolhartley4448]

Yes soo right! Have to be 100 % committed

[@SydneyDragon]

I want to rescue a parrot some day. “Some day” because I am waiting until the time is right. I have been volunteering at Wings Of Love Bird Haven rescue in Texas if you’ve heard of it. I never had a bird, but since I want one someday it was really important to me to learn how to handle them confidently. Living vicariously through you and Marlene 💕

[@BirdTricks]

So proud of you for doing all that!

[@falconward6757]

Excellent video and advice - muchos gracias! I operated a parrot rescue/sanctuary for 20 years in California until I split with my partner, who co-managed the rescue, and moved to Florida. We re-homed all but 5 parrots. She still has four of them with her, and I have a blue and gold macaw who moved here with me, since he's been completely bonded to me since he literally walked up to me and chose me 20 years ago (walked all the way across the floor of a large store, lifted his claw and said "Up, up!), I also went to vet school and rather than going into vet practice, I chose to follow a research path. I wanted to live a nomadic life style and not be bound to one location - animal research usually involves lots of travel, so it was a perfect choice. Therefore, one of my professional specialties is animal behavior, including avian (bird) behavior. This intro is to show that I've had a LOT of experience with parrots of many species, as a preface to my own recommendations about this topic. I don't disagree with anything you said in your video - it's spot-on. I simply have other experiences with parrots due to the different species I've directly worked with, probably the same reason for your preferences: 1) I totally agree with gaining experience with different parrot species through friends, volunteering, and fostering!!! 2) the easiest, cheapest choice with the least time commitment for a first bird is budgies (aka incorrectly called "parakeets"). They are highly underestimated in terms of their abilities. Most people think that because they're small, relatively "cheap", and common, that they're boring and unable to learn to talk. That's the exact opposite of the truth. My avian (parrot) vet in Cal was arguably the top macaw vet and one of the top avian (parrot) vets in the country - author of "Parrots for Dummies" and "The Large Macaws" and a macaw breeder himself. He was so adept with parrots, that on my first visit with my new macaw he was able to handle him with complete ease, totally by hand, with no toweling or assistance - even when drawing blood. He informed me that the top three record holders in the world for largest vocabulary were all budgies (humorously, cared for by elderly retirees in the UK, with all the free time required for such extensive training LOL). The reason the time commitment is less than with other parrots and parrot-like birds (parakeets, cockatiels, budgies, etc. are a different bird family than larger parrots like Amazons, African Greys, Cockatoos, Macaws, etc.) is simply because they don't live as long. Rule of thumb for parrot lifespan is - the larger they are, the longer they live. Typically, budgies live 10-20 years while macaws live 60-80 years. 3) Out of all the parrot species I've cared for or directly interacted with,, my two favorite species in terms of ease of handling, limited noise, little or no biting, endearing personality, and just plain joy of interacting with them were male Eclectus and African Cape parrots. Female Eclectus were the exact opposite for me - very hormonal, territorial, and prone to attacking anyone who they perceive as a threat to their territory. But male Eclectus are total "characters" - a never-ending source of amusement and variety. One of the male Eclectus I cared was such a sweetheart, that one time when I was sick and lying on the couch near his daytime gym perch, he flew over and stood on my chest, watching over me throughout a 1.5 hour nap - without disturbing me by moving or making noise the whole time! The big downside for both species is the initial cost of acquiring one, but it's not more than other parrots like Amazons and African Greys, and considerably less than larger parrots like Macaws and Cockatoos. But they're almost impossible to find in animal rescues, so purchase or inheriting from a friend or relative is the only way to bring these desirable parrots into your life.

[@BirdBath1]

Falcon Ward, look at bird bath

[@caroljung1310]

Budgies are the best! I'm taking care of one while her owners are on holiday, and this little bird has brought so much joy to my life already. She is really smart in communicating what she wants can be very naughty in a cute way, has her own moods, and sits on my hand or shoulder. Researching information about budgies triggered the KZbin algorithm to recommend this video, thus why I'm glad to see more people recommending budgies as first birds.

[@NgocNguyen-hr9bx]

Ppl : scared of a cockatoo’s beak Me : **still scared of a budgies beak*

[@tammyelliott5510]

😂 Me getting bit is like I stubbed my toe. After having an African Grey 6 years I am use to it. I call her a brat and walk away. Sometimes for the first aid kit. 😂

[@ccrum32]

Me: *scared of a Senegal parrots beak*

[@michelleng472]

Budgie bites FEEL SOOO GOOOOOD

[@instantmiso9788]

madam/sir, I have two and every time they bite me I cry, so golly gee gosh did I feel that.

[@kated9349]

At least they don’t make me bleed when my budgie bites😂 it doesn’t hurt though

[@izzywang7060]

When you have a bird you have a 7 am alarm clock set for you for the next 40 years. :)))))

[@corvus6971]

I wake up at 5 in the morning by myself, I'll be fine

[@gm836]

Ariella Tenenboim what time do you sleep?

[@Alatreon2435]

I have one for 15-20 years i believe

[@spinobolt7322]

I used to have a canar he always woke me up early but his voice was beautiful I miss him so much

[@aromanticfranziskavonkarma]

As someone who wakes up at 1 - 2 PM, *yes please*

[@sovrappensiero1]

I love that you’re giving honest talk here. Birds are so misunderstood... The advice about volunteering is really excellent.

[@stacimichelle2345]

I am a Certified Vet Assistant and I focused my training on birds. I want you to know that I fully support your comments in this video. I had a friend that owned a reptile sanctuary and she had similar comments about owning snakes. The bottom line is know and understand what you are getting into. I personally raise Ringneck Doves and I have a rescued purebred pigeon. With pigeons and doves breeding behavior is their life motivation and so I do not end up with too many I have to monitor that behavior constantly. I pull their real eggs and substitute fake eggs. I explain this because even birds that are not as dramatic as Parrot species their behavior still needs to be monitored closely. Again, Good work here and I fully support this video.

[@graceharfilder5597]

My bird started screaming because of your ‘birds are loud and annoying’ part 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️

[@ruthwikrao9603]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@mariaangelabandales8985]

Rip ears ????-2019

[@is_ya_average_idiot1613]

Same but my budgie chirped

[@claudeakel]

C O C K A T I E L is the answer my friend

[@insayn7995]

Claude Akel Facts

[@katbeckstead4737]

I loved my cockatiel growing up. I really want a sun conure.

[@ivanstorment8484]

Ayyy another OG

[@universalpancakes4101]

They aren’t great for ppl with asthma tho. But they are really cool

[@ivanstorment8484]

Sadly my baby died last week. She got sick some how I’m not sure. I got her back last month and she was trained and happy. Then she wouldn’t move so I made her comfortable and next morning she was gone. R.I.P. Birb. 2019-2020

[@friedaschnell3729]

👏👏👏👏👏 Jami you hit it outta the park on this topic!! EVERY single parent child husband (in my case) should be required to watch this BEFORE signing on the dotted line. The internet didn't exist so there was that when my husband got me a Conure for our anniversary. (yeah. I thought the same thing 😵) Today there is SO much good information out there (bird tricks bird tricks bird tricks) there is NO reason to be educated on what having a bird is about. Job. Well. Done. on the video! Birds EVERYWHERE are thanking you!!

[@quasiotter]

this is EXACTLY what i needed to hear. i only have a mantis (extremely low maintenance) and can't help but dream of other pets... i knew birds weren't for me right now, and this video really put that last nail in. i still love these cuties, of course

[@justt9507]

I appreciate how honestly truthful you are. Nobody thinks about all those things when they get a pet they just think about the cute part of it. Thank you for sharing

[@HorseRanchRealtor]

Yes, even when it comes to horses (people who are novice's) . We (horse owners/trainers) talk about seeing a horse kick another one, they cough...we go to hospital and hope to live! A famous horse trainer said kicking is bad, but a bite is an act of war! However, NEVER hit a horse in the face, it will create serious problems for handling them ever again safely...

[@kayleesingleton4320]

Hey I’m 14 and found a local bird sanctuary that I’m now volunteering at, before volunteering there I never heard a cockatoo scream. Holy cows is what first ran through my head. But when I started to get to know the cockatoos they seamed soo sweet. DONT FALL FOR THEIR CHARADES. and I’ll leave it at that.

[@BirdTricks]

Hahaha, so true!!

[@allisfaith]

Kaylee Singleton When passed an enclosure for cockatoos at a bird sanctuary recently. The cockatoo closest to me, screamed scaring the bejesus out of me, and As I moved on, I could hear it laughing. Lol yeah I bet those birds are a full time job.

[@Primalxbeast]

Kaylee Singleton I worked in a very small pet shop that had a cockatoo, and that thing was insanely loud.

[@aprilbaker2672]

We "inherited" a pineapple green cheek conure. Let me tell you, it's a learning experience

[@catherinekirby-smith53]

I have a green cheek. He runs my life!

[@jefflol4295]

I remember my green cheek he was so nice

[@imprisoned.marionette]

What do you mean “ “inherited” “

[@aprilbaker2672]

@@imprisoned.marionette I mean exactly that. A family member passed away. We now have a Conure.

[@dreamtreecreation]

I have a green cheek, he's a little shit :')

[@everybodydancenow8307]

I loved this video! I think I would also recommend cockatiels, because they are sooo affectionate and they get along with more than one person. They're great with kids, basically a bird who's basically a dog! They're not as loud and are quiet calm compared to other birds.

[@WorthyMissJ]

Birds aren't pets! They are lifetime companions! Parakeets are awesome to start with for indoors! Just make sure you don't get a breeding pair unless you want your cute couple to become a flock of 20 within a year!

[@paulorr9262]

I agree.

[@dinodalmatian4781]

Yikes inbreeding

[@emmieelizabeth908]

Your grey is such a cute little buggo. Love my cockatiel so much, she’s my bff, 11 years going on 12. We used to have a grey, and he was awesome. He just new how to be gentle with me, especially when I was a baby. He would just gently pick up my hand and move it if he didn’t want me touching me. Thank you for making this video so many people need it.

[@68mwsully]

What happened to your African Grey?

[@annabanana7659]

I think I'll stick with the old crow that hangs out in my backyard xD

[@Goosebumpentertainments]

I just got a new bird and this helped soooooooo much! Keep doing this and never stop! We need more people like you!

[@schatzip]

Yes!!! Thank you for saying that. Honestly, you and your husband (and your free flying friends) are the only people I have seen that SHOULD have birds. You let your birds be their natural self and your job means they are your focus. Honestly, the fact that I have subscribed to your channel really says something about you and your husband because I belong to the camp that believes birds are meant to be free. But you and you husband encourage and respect their natural ways. I was absolutely moved when I discovered your channel and the free flying club. Love you guys. You both are amazing.

[@julia.parker]

This makes me SO HAPPY. I work at a parrot shop and it is SO ANNOYING when people only want macaws, African greys and cockatoos. It makes me nauseous.

[@julia.parker]

This is seriously the most comforting video I’ve ever found about parrots as pets... I watch it all the time, especially after an annoying day at work! I’m thinking about making a video about my opinions and recommendations from working at a parrot shop

[@hyrumhanson3390]

I'd recommend a silkie chicken, for a first bird. If your life's situation prevents you from having adequate time and funds for a parrot, like myself, a silkie chicken can work, they love cuddling, have personality, and are not as fragile or difficult to feed.

[@marakuja514]

How old the chicken should be to be like that? Have few days, weeks? Is 4 weeks chicken will be good? :o

[@Flufferz626]

In some places it is easier to own a budgie or cockatiel than chickens.

[@fairygore3526]

My dad was a bird breeder in Australia and South Africa, and my goodness he died when I asked for a bird when I was 10. He was like “I’ll teach you everything, consider me your researcher!” And I was so grateful. He did go against getting an African grey a bit, but I’m the end we got one. It was like my life was complete, but then again I had a lot of responsibility. When I was 16, he said that he’d look after the bird when I went away for college and I felt so happy, although I wasn’t happy to leave my bird. Of course, i came back every weekend, Thursday afternoon and some Fridays, but it was hard. When I was 18, I decided got accepted into Oxford university, but I declined the offer just for my bird. But when I came back home from a hotel to say bye to my friends, my dad sold my bird. I lost two things. Two important things.

[@BobbieDraper]

sold your buddy without telling you? thats messed up

[@PetalsAndPreds]

😢

[@MyLifeInTheDesert]

Why would your dad do that to the bird - if he knew a lot about birds he would know how hard that would be on the bird

[@paxwallacejazz]

No just watching your channel is enough. Having an elderly dog is enough. Well she's truly my best friend.

[@javiertorres6995]

Great video! In 30 years I've had conures, bred lovebirds and cockatiels, an amazon and now a macaw. All the things you talk about are on point and straight forward. Thanks for the HUGE contribution to happier parrots and future bird people!

[@martineparry9102]

Just rescued an amazon male from someone determined to kill him. Very lovely bird. Been bitten a number of times (mostly when I go in with a mug of tea) but comes with the territory. He loves me and I love him. He's been loved in the past - v important for behaviour. Great channel. Thanks. Just got a UV lamp and he's excited so hope it helps him expand on his visual abilities.

[@jamesgibbs7933]

THANK YOU for this honest video! I had birds for many years (old guy here), and most folks don't have a clue. Noise is a biggie. I came home from work one day, and the police were outside my home. They said that a neighbor called and said someone was being murdered. Had to let the cops in to see for themselves that it was my macaw and amazons (of which I had three different types). Thanks again on behalf of the birds.

[@pancakekoala3058]

I’m getting a cockatiel when I turn 16, I have birds and my best friend has a sun conure and I and good with him. I am so excited and this video helped

[@ilovenycsomuch]

Thank you for being so honest & blunt, as much as we might admire birds it’s far more important to have the birds’ best interest in mind since they’re so sensitive & challenging!

[@spiralmoment]

if you have a birds interest in mind you don't have a bird.

[@bunnydefunct]

After growing up with budgerigars for years as a kid, when I was ready to own my own parrot after graduating high school, I got a cockatiel after doing so, so much research. And it was still a learning curve, because there's so much conflicting information, and each bird has their own individual needs. I'm still learning more about their care today. If it weren't for his first and current vets, I don't know where I'd be. I still have him today, he's 10 this year. He's bonded to me but still is very strong-willed and affection and attention is always on his terms. During the spring time when his hormones are raging, he is at his most difficult! I have a hard time recommending cockatiels as a first bird to people who ask me because I've known people who have bonded 'tiels who are sweet and more easygoing, and others, like mine, who rule their owners' lives with a strong beak and attitude while still having affection for their owners. Other people just keep them in a cage, feed them, maybe walk by and whistle or talk to them, but the bird doesn't get a lot of real attention. And yet, I read a lot in internet guides that cockatiels are "sweet, docile, affectionate, a great first bird". You just can't blanket a whole species that way every time, even the little ones. They're still parrots, still individuals, and still come with a lot of difficulties. Always remember that you have to make sure you research first, not only to understand bird needs and health, but to find a bird whose maintenance and lifestyle fits yours. Understand that what you read about their behavior or demeanor is not a catch-all for every bird of that species, and also that birds may not be right for you, even if you think you want a bird and would do your best for them. Don't always assume that the cheapest or most easily available bird is the right one for you, either. Even a budgie may not be right for you, though they are definitely precious little beans. Thank you for this video, even if I'm replying to it over a year late!

[@Radial9Gaming]

Are you talking about a cockatiel or a cockatoo? Cockatiels are not that hard to take care of…

[@lil_neet]

our family had a cockatiel growing up and the same thing. He ruled the roost, bonded with my mum and attacked anyone who went near her. This was after we had ALL raised him, fed him, played with him, etc, too. He got very hormonal and cranky. He was cute and all, but definitely didn't fit the description people give them of docile, sweet and harmless.

[@maccoolmac5191]

This is your absolute best video. So far we were introduced to all your birds, good and bad. This sparks everyone to want a bird for themself. Thank You for your wealth of knowledge.

[@BirdBath1]

Mac Coolmac, look at bird bath

[@threehand]

How I wish I had seen something like this before I got “bird fever” and bought Sydney, my Moluccan 30 yrs ago. After having him for at about 12 years, I eventually surrendered him to Mollywood in Washington state. I still feel much guilt over that decision, and never imagined I would/could ever do such a thing. Things were good for awhile, but when behavioral issues started, I had Chris Davis come to help (well known bird behaviorist at the time). While some of her advice was helpful, it ultimately did not work (wheeling him around on a rolling perch so he didn’t scream when left the room was super impractical). After a number of somewhat decent years (being able to take him to work with me occasionally helped), in my 20’s, I went back to school at night. As a result of my bird fever, I had other birds beside Sydney (including a grey), but Sydney was the standout not able to adapt to the new situation, and when he started picking his feathers and getting aggressive (which was not typical for him) I couldn’t see him that unhappy anymore and I made that difficult decision. The thing is...in hindsight, he shouldn’t have had to adapt. But as someone in my 20’s, my life was in transition, and it was such an impractical and selfish decision to get a cockatoo when I did. I can’t tell you how many people said they wanted a bird like him - and how many people I advised against getting one. I feel like I took this sweet bird that lived for being petted CONSTANTLY, and just trashed his life. I still believe to this day that there are relatively very few people prepared to provide the optimum life for cockatoos. And as someone who has always wanted lots of animals of all kinds, I’m realizing (now in my 50’s) that it’s not the best plan for me. My feelings have changed over the years with what I’m willing to tolerate, how much flexibility I’d like to have, etc. - and even though I still have thoughts about “wanting” some kind of new pet, I thankfully have a little more maturity and thoughtfulness by putting that potential animal’s needs first - so aside from reluctantly taking in some feral-ish cats 😊, I have not sought out any new pets. So that part about taking into consideration what stage of life you are in when choosing a bird is so wise and certainly rang true with me. I still have one bird, Chiku, my grey (my bargain bird whose mother chewed most of his toes off when he hatched). I finished hand feeding him 27 years ago and I’m happy to say that he’s doing fine. I know there’s a possibility of feather picking, but he seems to be content just observing everything. Even at a time when my dogs and cats had all passed on some years ago, I adopted another cat because I was concerned he would get bored and start picking. Since then he has observed, learned the names of, and imitated every new member of his animal family. I’ll never forget when he started leaning down way over his perch and shaking his head (tricky for him because he can’t grip his perch). It took me a bit to figure out what he was doing, but he was imitating the dog shaking her toy. I never expected him to come up with that on his own - so smart! That dog has been gone for about 20 years now, but he still occasionally calls her (along with all the other animals who’ve passed on). When he does that it’s kind of a weird-but-nice reminder of them. Despite the fact that he is awesomely entertaining and I love him dearly - he will be my last bird. Great videos from great bird owners 😊.

[@monnie802]

J C don’t feel bad, Cockatoos become aggressive and unmanageable when they are ready to breed...

[@sel9356]

Thank you for sharing what you've learnt over the years. It shows that you are a true animal lover when you put their needs first, especially when their well-being dictates them not living with you anymore. Your old Grey's emotional intelligence is touching and deserves the respect, patience, and devotion you most clearly have to give.

[@bestfly8558]

Well reading all this make me realise....it is very depressing being a parrot

[@If6turnsouttobe9]

I feel for you and the bird... I had a similar problem with a capuchin monkey. He wasn't supposed to get any more fangs ( eye teeth) when I got him .. and he was really young. So was I. When he reached " puberty" and his eye teeth lowered, he wasn't difficult.. he was felonious. By the time I was able to get him to the vet, ( I also wasn't financially able 100% to keep up with his needs) he'd escaped and was killed by a car. That was 35 years ago and I still feel tremendous amount of guilt practically every day. It's like i let a family member down so badly that it ended in death. He was like my brother. I hate even telling the story. Don't get a capuchin monkey for a pet unless ,like birds, you're really sure, and know qhat you're getting into.

[@sgwealti]

Thank you for creating this video. This message is so important for people who haven't fully thought it through to hear.

[@CarpenoxThriller]

I totally recommend a cockatiel. They’re amazing little birds. Totally underrated.

[@statchue]

Cockatiels are actually really popular

[@CarpenoxThriller]

AshleyPlayz they are super popular in Australia- but to be fair, common belief (as with budgies) is that they aren’t very smart. Totally not my experience with them. They might not be as trainable as a macaw, but they are incredibly intelligent funny birds. They’re easier to give an excellent life to them as well. That said, as with any birdo. If you don’t have a couple of hours every day to flight them, give them fresh food and entertain them then you shouldn’t have one. Which is why I don’t currently have a birdos :(

[@casucasueq4479]

They are still messy and very demanding of thier bonded humans attention, noisy too... but at least if your cockatiel bites you it won't hurt so much.

[@eugene7309]

My experience was quite negative with a cockatiel. He was lovely but a little dumb. I stepped up to an african grey and never looked back.

[@timezone4176]

I recently got one and they're just the best! I got one that hadnt really had human interaction so I've been working on basic training and they're so intelligent for their size

[@designsonyouinparis]

I will live vicariously through all these wonderful bird parents. I will remain a doggie parent- I just re-homed 4 mixed tea cup chihuahuas. I have lived with pups most of my life- I have always loved birds- but, I know I can’t give them their best life. This was a great video! Thank you for your incredible knowledge an information! A note to all, think of the quality of life that the bird will have instead of the desire of having one. And, remember, one can always love and admire from afar! ❤❤❤❤

[@chellebble]

I currently don't have a bird... Loved your Morgan series and got hooked. I've been volunteering for about a month at a local parrot rescue. Gosh they are loud and messy! I currently live in an apartment and never wanted a bird just volunteering because of you!!

[@r2dlee953]

I feel like everyone who owns any kind of pet tells people not to buy them

[@ria7803]

cus they wanna be cool

[@Jazz-jazmine]

True story

[@caspar_gomez]

and any job, "you couldn't handle it, it's not what it's cracked up to be, but I love it I'm special"

[@r2dlee953]

@@caspar_gomez ^ this

[@iamsaztak]

except rats, weirdly. at least from what ive seen

[@somegirl4631]

"I don't want parakeet!" as someone who had parakeet (by accident, someone give them to me) they are the sweetest thing and I really hate how people call them a "starting bird" learn nothing about them and make them die in small cages at age 3 years (they can live till 15!) parakeets are GREAT, they can talk, they can love, they love to play and pet and they have more curiosity than any other pet I had, that being said, stop treating them as "I don't need to know anything, they are just a starting bird!" you know why? beacuse they never end up in animal rescuse CUSE THEY DIE, cuse incapable owners treats them as "not much work" "onlt a strter pet" PET IS A LOT OF WORK starter or not, you need to give them the time to bond with you, you need to give them a proper diet (NO ONLY SEEDS, veggies and fruits and more, much more! they won't live long if you only give them seed!) and people treat them like that beacuse "they are cheap" so they arn't "worth the effort" to take them to animal rescue when they understand how much work it is, and they just leave them like that or worse, "let them free" even though they would DIE in nature beacuse they never lived in nature(!) and I had enough of people complaning about them when it's not the bird fault, it's mostly the owner that just wanted a cute doll instead of a living breathing pet. All pets needs time and work and help, they would take HOURS from your day, not just "petting and having fun" but also buying them toys, cleaning their mess, helping them jump around whithout hurting themselfs, I used to chase my birds (cuse one of them was so BAD at flying...) around the house just to help them learn to fly (and catched them any time they screwed up!) for hours, that's what it means to be a pet owner. Parakeet are great, but if you want one, remember, "starter pet" DOESN'T MEAN 0 effords. the starting pet is always the hardest but also, will always stay in heart forever. this comment was made for the greatest pet in the world, my parakeet, Sky, RIP, who died way too early at 5 from cancer in his leg. others wouldn't take a "cheap bird" to the vet, and I hate this, we took Sky to the vet, it doesn't matter how much it cost, and the vet said there was nothing we could do. I will forever love you, Sky. your gentle soul and how much you loved the ferries weel for you, I hope that other people who se this post would start caring for your kind and would understand... how amazing you and parakeet are. I will love you forever pashoshi (my little one in my native languge).

[@diamondfox_w9008]

i know right!?people treat them like goldfish.i have two parakeets and they mean the world to me.ive had them for almost two years and ive tried to feed them bananas or apple.they wont eat it qnd i end up taking it out until it rots.but ig i give them millet and different mixes of expensive bird food.

[@somegirl4631]

@@diamondfox_w9008 I was doing it too! 😂 they hated veggies so much but I tried hard letting them eat ANYTHING from cucumber to that ... how you say in English? cosbara? cilantro? I'm not sure, any how, they hated everything 😂 I had to crush expensive food with a hammer and a bag cuse it was too big for them to crack, and one of my parakeet just LOVED getting stuck in her food pallet 😂

[@imprisoned.marionette]

Same

[@somegirl4631]

@chris c. No. it was too hard for me to buy more thinking I would lose them. but my lil sis bought a bunny and I'm happy playing with the sweet guy so it's gonna be fine 👍🏽 and thank you so much for saying they are lucky, I always blamed myself for not giving them enough veggies I thought if I was doing that than I could somehow stop the cancer, just a bit, though I know it's insane. (my birds just really hated healthy food 😂🤦🏾‍♀️ even when I freaking crushed it for them since I was afraid it was too hard for them to eat)

[@meghanmacqueen5157]

I'm sorry for your loss too. I understand the guilt that comes with not being able to force budgies to eat healthier foods--if they are hand raised on a wide variety of foods, they are more likely to eat them, but I had a budgie who was raised ONLY on seed--not even on pellets--and he wouldn't eat anything else. He lived a very short life too :(

[@FlaggWoW]

I know your focus is on larger birds, but I located a starling fledgling. It had fallen out of a nest and is was next to multiple other starlings that were deceased. We took it home in an attempt to give it a fighting chance and he thrived. Since they are invasive no rehabs in my area were willing to take him in. We found him at approximately 10 days old, and as of writing this he is about 7 months old and is a surprisingly good pet. He is very smart, playful, and was fairly easy to bathroom train. I never knew starlings could talk so... imagine my surprise when he started mimicking me lol. His best friend is a dwarf rabbit and we intent to give him the best quality of life that we can :)

[@naveenraj2008eee]

Wow nice detail you summed up... I decided to buy an african grey parrot by next year after finishing obligation.. I had already raised eight rooster who made loud noise,bite me pecked me.. Morning time they used to crow 50 times.. Makemy ear vibrate..Made a mess in house.. Still i love them.. So i now tolerant to raise a parrot. Its my desire to raise a parrot since i was 10.. Thanks for giving so much detail from your experience.. You are learned birdwomen.. And cheers to cressi .. I love her.. And finally how she said bye.. Its cute...😀

[@IrieAllDay88]

I think you're going to be a good parrot owner :-).

[@summerreed3688]

Bro... I am taking my time to thank you for being so real and so "in your face" with this information because I can tell that you have a real passion for birds in the way you defend them and "talk bad" about them too. It is actually how I describe being a teacher to non-teachers lol. I love how honest you are giving advice because you care about these animals and don't want to see them end up in animal shelters, but you also want to prepare potential bird owners for everything, including the best and the worst about birds. I appreciate this and will continue watching your videos. I'm looking into getting a budgie because I just like the way they sing. But! You bring up a great point about going to animal shelters first and being around them to check it out. Thanks again for the insight! I hope this wasn't too long lol. Take care.

[@Forbiddina]

XD thank you for not playing the sunny screech at 5:00 I might have had a ptsd attack. I love my baby but I absolutely wouldn't recommend a sun conure to anyone without experience. They are SOOOOOOO insanely loud. Just one notch below a bigger bird but they soooooo vocal all the time. Cute, sweet and endearing but soooo vocal. He just truly doesn't realize he's a fog horn 😂

[@missybiblio4673]

I know this is 5 years old but I just want to let you know that I thought I wanted a bird for 5 minutes and luckily this was the first video I watched and NOPE. So great job

[@soup4924]

In my opinion, parrotlets are one of the best first birds. They are easy to take care of , extremely quiet, and not to mention, very cute :)

[@kristihonkala3472]

Thank you for this valuable information. I continue to watch parrot ownership vicariously.

[@sootlet8894]

I think a cockatiel would be the best """starter""" bird (I don't really believe any bird is really a ""starter""). Pros (in my experience) - On the quieter side, I like their chirping honestly. - not as destructive as other species even if they are actively playing with their toys. - Forgiving. IMO they're among the most forgiving birds. - A nice big flight cage for them isn't that expensive (got mine for 90$ brand new) cons (in my experience) - Hard to convert to a new diet - A tad on the skittish side - avid egg layers / hard to get to stop when started I think they end up in rescues a lot for the same reasons as budgies. They're cheap and relatively small. Easy to shove into a tiny cage and never interact with so it gets skittish and mean. A lot of impulse buys especially since they're commonly in chain petstores. Senegals and such... I've never seen them in pet stores other than avian focused ones. They're also a lot more expensive in my experience. So I feel like the "they don't show up in rescues as much for a reason (they're good birds)" argument is a little flawed. They are good birds, no doubt. But IMO, caiques specifically aren't good starter birds. They're high energy and are a constant go go go. They can easily get nippy or even in extreme cases aggressive if not given the proper stimuli. Same for any bird but I believe it's more so in caiques due to their high energy.

[@R_candy]

Ive got a pyrrhura they are a bit bigger but live longer they are quieter but the other things is the same so if you read this and want something like a cockatiel but quieter (please first do more research about the pyrrhura) you should look for one

[@verasvolgs3436]

*Looks at my cockatiel* You are supposed to be forgiving *throws a tantrum*

[@trippy325]

I'm a big cockatiel fan since I own one but I think they still run the Cockatoo family trait of being very much a "velcro bird". I worked (and still do) very hard at socializing my hen with lots of different people so she doesn't lose it when I'm not around but I still don't feel comfortable traveling. Then again this is my first handreared bird and now I'm starting to question if the practice is unethical because of how the birds bond with us so strongly. It certainly makes getting them companions more difficult. I always used to have 2-3 budgies growing up as a kid and they always got along great and kept each other entertained. They would fly around the house in their flocks and have a blast on their own. But they were just regular non handreared pet store budgies. I wonder if the non handreared part is the key.

[@catw5294]

I agree. My mom had a cockatiel and she didn't have a ton of time and she enjoyed hers a lot. I really enjoy my parakeet and lovebird. I like having a couple of parakeets and hearing them chatter to each other. Of course I just found this channel and now going to try to train. My lovebird was handraised and I really like him. Of course with the size of either, they can't take off a finger either if they bite - Lol

[@whyyousotriggered6050]

Me and my mom bought my cockatiel when i was like 10 as a impulse but for Christmas. At taht time we dinnt know jack shit about birds. Over the 7 years ive had my beautiful baby we have gotten alot more educated. Cockatiels are very social and love being around you and talking to you but ive notice they dont like being handled alot. (Ive been around a couple of theses bird so ik) they are also very cage aggresive but once out its all gucci. Also be prepared to be a morning person with theses birds. My big boy used to get up when i had school and was my alarm clock and would freak me out by flying onto my bed wheil im dead asleep and flying back to his cage. Another thing ive noticed is these birds can sometimes look dull when stressed so thats something to look at. My baby got so much more yellow and vibrant after i moved him right bedside a window and made a little ramp to his favorite mirror

[@goodwolf866]

7:45... “Mom, I’m pretty sure there something in your ear.” Lol. Thank you for a great and informative video.

[@celionedits7408]

Aaaah I'm so thankful that this video exists!!! This video inspired me to go to an animal sanctuary to see some birds and learn more about them as I was interested in having one as a pet. I started volunteering two days a week and seven months later, I now work there full time! I've never been happier. I'm going to be specializing in bird care, and I get to take care of 20 rehomed and rescued exotic birds. I stand by what she says 100%! I never would have thought to go there if it weren't for this video

[@Slone1329]

Im the volunteer coordinator at a parrot rescue, it’s definitely not easy and it’s not for everyone . We have a lot of Africa grays and cockatoos. ❤️❤️❤️ please come volunteer!! And adopt love you Jamie

[@peachysai605]

We got an Indian ringneck after about a year or two of research and preparing, and he's just the sweetest little thing, he's going through his bluffing phase at the moment, but he doesn't bite hard enough to really hurt, I've been pushing through and continuing what my research is telling me, and it's been lovely!

[@lhmcd5538]

Thank you for saying what you have said. You are a breath of fresh air. Hearing the truth is hard but necessary. Cockatoos can be difficult.

[@jackdaniels1367]

I decided over a year ago that birds aren't for me. But I greatly enjoying seeing you working and living with your birds. Keep it up

[@ShadowGirlyz]

Had a cockatiel for 18 years since I was a kids until I was 20. I took care of it when I was older and loved it. She barely talks about the amazing cockatiel. Yes they squalk and talk loud but I think that they are good for first timers.

[@charismaticallypolished1272]

Love your lil girls observation of you as you talk. Gives a whole “you tell em, lady!” vibe ❤

[@nina-eh6vg]

Orange wing amazon owner here! Owned him for 10 years and he's as noisy and charismatic as ever! Pur neighbours aren't fond of his singing but people come to our door from all the way across the estate to come and see him because his call is so loud and distinctive! He's my companion and always will be

[@Jp11130]

Still have

[@keelylowry6674]

Great video! Love the honesty. I would live a bored, but I know I would get fed up with the noise. That's why I live vicariously through you guys!

[@Shrimpcheesesandwich]

I just picked up a injured pigeon and said yep this is mine 😂

[@StarBoyLuci]

i love that

[@Erika-kw7ur]

Most underrated comment ever 🤣🤣🤣

[@faithx9260]

Id do that but only if it was a baby and not need parents cuz they are use to outside idk id what it outside like its suppose to if its born outside but id really want one

[@jeebusyaweirdo3733]

I love pigeons, they’re my favorite birds lol.

[@roccobateman9188]

I did that on holiday my nans dog ate it……

[@Sasharra]

"Or you can live vicariously through some KZbinrs who have birds and watch from afar" Yup, thats me! :)

[@melyn5681]

My neighbours (since I was born to when I was a teenager) had an umbrella cockatoo and they would frequently go on vacation, so my parents always took care of their bird. I loved him so much, I was a just kid but he was so gentle and patient with me! I have always loved birds so much, I had a budgie growing up and she was friends with my neighbour's bird. Now I want one again!