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Post by rainbowfeathers77 on Sept 3, 2008 19:02:22 GMT 10
Yep, was totally gonna go "off plan" (as mentioned in my recent post here in confessions) and was very, very, very close (Tash knows off this lol) in getting a bird, that I didn't even have on my wish list and wasn't even planning on getting...some might call this impulsive shopping, I think I will call it, doing a "meandem" LOL.....well the bird I was this close to gettting is....DRUMROLL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [glow=red,2,300]A SC COCKATOO !!!!!!! [/glow] . . . I was actually kinda influenced by my 5 yo son, who really wants one but the more I thought about it, the more doubts I was getting....some of my reasons/concerns being..... * Being a family with three kids and other birds - will we have time for him. * My son said he would fully look after him but really, was I being realistic, a 5 yo looking after a big sc 'too? ....or how long before the novelty runs out. * He wasn't PBFD tested - another risk I'd be taking into the home. * Apparently they're really loud. * What if my kids/hubby get allergy from his feather powder/dander. * Apparently if you have a 'too and other birds in the house, you have to use an air purifier , coz of his dander. * He'd be hard to manage/handle being so big. * Everything will cost more coz I'd have to get it in bigger sizes. * If I don't always have time for him, being such a demanding/attention needing bird - what if he gets bahavioural problems/feather plucks. * Having such a highly needy bird, would I still be able to have other tame birds - as mentioned in my "original plan" ? * Bigger beak = lot more destructive. What do you all think?  I could still get it, the seller is waiting for my decision!! Do you agree with me that it wouldn't work out or do you think having a 'too could be easily manageable and possible, along with what we already have and the family size we are??? Am I possibly over-exagerating (sp?) ? Anyway, if we do decide to decline, I am struggling to break the final news to my 5 yo, who has his heart set on him, the 'too. I had a small talk with him and told him that it may not happen but if he really is interested in birds, then he could get something small first, like a budgie, cockatiel or a lovebird! What do you all think about that one? After looking thru some of my birdie books, he said he wouldn't mind a blue love bird. I don't know what they're called but I think it may be called a blue or violet masked lovebird....or does anyone know (Robert you may be able to help me here lol  ) about any web sites, that display all the different lovebird mutations - so we can choose from there? So what do you all think of the idea of a tame lovebird for a 5 yo - would that work??? Thanks everyone for reading and offering any suggestions/advice you may have!! Cheers Kat PS> I do feel kinda relieved about not taking the 'too (more likely not gonna take him, I feel) coz I really wanted my two tame irns and my sunnie (my plan) that I had been waiting on for sooooo long!!  Having two high attention demanding birds like a 'too and a sunnie, would be too much for me, wouldn't it!? IRNs are ok, they aren't so dependant - I could even get more of them still LOL...ok....deep breaths...1...2...3...4.... LOL |
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Post by just4birds on Sept 3, 2008 19:16:45 GMT 10
with a cockatoo ... i find them hard to get toys for ... cause they break everything .... and they chew everything ... a person on another forum who just adopted one .. left her guy out while she did washing and when she got back inside he has chewed off like 5 keys on her laptop which cost $35 to replace ... cockatoo = BIG CAGEEEEEEEEEEE ..... plus pricy toys .... and high attention birds ..... I dont think they are a bird for you .... specially having neighbours etc .... but having said that you are just as likely to get complaints from ya neighbours with a sun conure as well ..  Also i didnt think ring necks hand raised or not really make that great of a pet ... arent they prone to biting and nipping?? as for a bird for your 5 year old ... a lovebird could be sweeet .... |
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Post by Jane on Sept 3, 2008 19:56:23 GMT 10
What about a cockatiel? They are awesome and friendly, can talk abit if you like that and let you scratch them, while still being friendly and social to other birds. You could have a 'tiel out with your red rumps and scarlets no worries whereas from what I've read here a lovebird is too agressive.
If a 'tiel bites your son he'll ouch a bit but a 'too could do real damage also. And realistically unless you have the most responsible 5 year old on the planet you are going to all the cleaning, feeding watering etc.
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Post by avinet on Sept 3, 2008 21:38:13 GMT 10
DON'T!!!
I think an SC2 is totally unsuitable for a 5 year old - one bad bite and you have a kid you is scared of birds for life, even if he keeps his finger.
They are a high maintenance bird, not well suited to a multi-bird household, loud often a one person bird and unpredictably aggressive to others, and best owned by adults not kids.
We get quite a few in to board - have up to 3 or 4 at times and some come in purely to calm the neighbours for a week or so because of noise complaints. Almost all are strictly one person birds. They come in being cuddled by the husband or wife, but will bite the other partner, and often will be unpredictably bitey on our staff.
If you do eventually get a SC2 get a baby not an adult - much better chance of getting it moulded to your family situation. Some adults can be too set in their ways and be a long term process to settle in.
Having said all that, when you get a good one they are amazing - one of our staff has one that is around 25 years old, and is just great, and some of the ones we get in for re-homing have been really good, but others can be awkward to handle.
However in you situation Kat, with a move coming up, and a house full of ringnecks and other birds, get your son a cockatiel - the ideal bird for an under 10 child.
cheers,
Mike
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Post by farseeker on Sept 3, 2008 22:03:12 GMT 10
I don't think it would be best in your situation to get it, for the reasons others have listed. For a small child I'd probably go with a cockatiel - lovebirds have some behaviours and needs that he may find hard to keep up with or deal with (nestiness in females, they tend to 'revert' to wild a lot easier so need every day contact for at least the first six months, aggressiveness toward other birds) - they also have a larger beak which can do more damage. Cockatiels are a bit more cuddly than budgies, and probably easier for a young child to handle - they're not big enough to intimidate but not as small as a budgie, which a child can be wary of handling in case they hurt them. Oh, and if the cockatoo is not PBFD tested most definitely do NOT get it. Considering the birds you already have and the business of your household it could potentially be a disaster. PBFD birds can make great pets if you have the the time and no other birds, but it's not worth the risk to introduce a bird when you aren't sure one way or the other. It sounds like you're making the right decision, and good on you for being strong and resisting. I know how tempting it can be to come home with another one - especially if there are other people in the house who want it!  |
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Post by rainbowfeathers77 on Sept 3, 2008 22:08:59 GMT 10
Thanks everyone for your help!!! I'ver sent her the email just now and declined - I do feel really relieved, especially after reading what you guys have said - deffinatelly not a bird for us.
The only thing, my son doesn't want a cockatiel, he now wants that lovebird! Would that still be ok? What makes them difficult birds?
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Post by pinkdevil on Sept 3, 2008 22:15:01 GMT 10
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Post by farseeker on Sept 3, 2008 22:15:13 GMT 10
A lovebird should still be fine as long as you're aware of some of the issues, and can explain why it's acting a certain way if it crops up to him. Just make sure that you get a handraised one, as lovebirds are very tricky to tame once they're past that growing up period. They wouldn't be my first choice of bird for a young child, but neither would a budgie really. It all comes down to you and your comfort levels in it really. In the meantime while you're looking for someone who has a blue lovebird, perhaps you could take him out and sort of 'nudge' him in the direction of a cockatiel if you do feel a lovebird is unsuitable. It may well be that he meets a gorgeous one and falls in love, and gives him and you more time to think about it. ;D |
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Minna
Addicted Member
Peekaboo!
Posts: 128
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Post by Minna on Sept 3, 2008 22:46:04 GMT 10
Lovebirds are sweet birds, but they're extremely social -and so, can get very needy -and very vocal. Their call is high, piercing, and they can keep it up for a looooooong time. I'd only had a budgie, and not for very long, before I brought Akira (my beautiful peachface girl, who has passed away) home, and so I wasn't as firm with her as I would be with a baby lovebird now. She drew blood and left bruises with her frustrated bites sometimes, because while they're very small, their beak is like, half their little heads. Good lord but they're surprisingly powerful. That said, Caspian has never bit me like that, and he came home a 3 month old wild baby.
Behaviourally, they're a lot like amazons -just packed into a tiny, adorable package. I've seen dominance training designed for amazons and 'too's recommended for lovebirds, and I'd probably recommend treating them like they're that big, because they all seem to honestly believe they are. 'Little man syndrome', haha. Pushy, needy, very curious and their call is SO PIERCING. In the middle of the day, when they're really going for it, I can hear them when they're four houses away and at the very rear of the house. They're so affectionate, though, and so sweet.
Farseeker was correct about their propensity for turning wild, but that's less true of peachfaces than of the eyering breeds. The first six months are still very telling, though. Caspian was tamed down from completely wildness to a calm standoffishness within a month, and now complains -LOUDLY -if I don't come and talk to him for at least twenty minutes once I get home, and when I was gone the weekend before last, he complained for hours, and then when I got home Sunday night, he wouldn't have anything to do with me until Tuesday. During the periods I was sick, if I didn't let Akira out to cuddle with me for a couple of hours, she'd be in high dudgeon for days, the little crazy. Which is to say, dear lord they can get their sulk on.
Now I feel like I'm painting them in a terrible light. This is just my experience with my babuts -they're gorgeous, and I'm so grateful to have their crazy little selves in my life. If you decide on a lovebird for your son, I'd highly recommend getting the friendliest little peachface boy you can find, and treating him like a bigger bird -make him socialise with everyone, be hardline on stepping up, that sort of thing.
:3 Good luck, whatever you choose!
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Post by rainbowfeathers77 on Sept 3, 2008 23:12:55 GMT 10
THANKYOU Minna sooo much for all that info!!!  My son wants a blue (black-masked) lovebird! I hope he/she'll be ok bird lol  |
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Post by meandem on Sept 4, 2008 11:44:19 GMT 10
I would love to offer some advice, but I am too busy laughing at the title of this thread!!!!  |
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Post by rainbowfeathers77 on Sept 4, 2008 16:21:17 GMT 10
Yes meandem, you have added a new word into the Oxford Dictionary ...
meandem = v. "doing a meandem", when you have lost total self-control and are in the act, or highly prone to, unplanned and unexpected purchasing of birds.
;D ;D ;D
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Post by courtzrocks on Sept 4, 2008 17:28:53 GMT 10
Lovebirds can give a nasty bite but i have found that the hand raised lovebirds are very sweet, need alot of time though but are very cute. Yeah I woulds said no for the cockatoo aswell, very demanding, joel (manager of bird and reptile section) ended up giving his away as he didnt have enough time for it, but if you do in the future decide on getting one may i suggest looking into getting one from the parrot rescue centre, they're birds in need of homes there.
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Post by vankarhi on Sept 4, 2008 19:20:07 GMT 10
Yes meandem, you have added a new word into the Oxford Dictionary ... meandem = v. " doing a meandem", when you have lost total self-control and are in the act, or highly prone to, unplanned and unexpected purchasing of birds. ;D ;D ;D PMSLOL that is so funny. I will remember that forever. Whenever I "hit" the shops even if for clothes.......I must remember to never "do the Meandem" lol |
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Post by pinkdevil on Sept 4, 2008 19:27:55 GMT 10
Hey I think it is going to be the new "saying" When ever someone does something, it will be "oh I just done a "meandem"  |
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Post by rainbowfeathers77 on Sept 5, 2008 0:36:28 GMT 10
I think there is a bit of meandem in all of us, don't you?
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Post by rainbowfeathers77 on Sept 5, 2008 0:40:39 GMT 10
Yes Tracey, never do the meandem, dangerous stuff ....you go out to buy one pair of jeans (or actually, not plan to buy any jeans at all).......but instead, you come back with 11  Or in my case (almost) ....you go out to buy a pair of shorts but come back with a pair of overalls. |
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Post by meandem on Sept 5, 2008 7:54:48 GMT 10
Kat you make me laugh, and I thank you for that. As if my life isn't enjoyable enough, you just make it so much better. As a matter of fact, reading everyday on this site makes it a great day. I don't know who I would vote for if you all ran for Prime Minister! Good luck with which ever bird you decide on. I think masks are really cute. I do have two, but haven't had them DNA'd yet, so I don't know what they are. I must get in the aviaries and take some more photos - it has been a while! All I can hope for is that I have two males or two females - that way I get to buy more.......sneaky I know, but it works! |
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Post by farseeker on Sept 5, 2008 8:53:08 GMT 10
Very sneaky indeed! And something I'd do within a heartbeat, haha. I think most of us here would! |
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Post by rainbowfeathers77 on Sept 5, 2008 9:31:50 GMT 10
Well meandem, I'm not surprised you have some masked, I'd be more surprised if you didn't!! Could it be, that there be a bird, that meandem has yet not got?? Well she got 11 new ones just the other day ;D ;D ;D
LOL ..glad I make you cheerie ...LOL
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I could still get it, the seller is waiting for my decision!! Do you agree with me that it wouldn't work out or do you think having a 'too could be easily manageable and possible, along with what we already have and the family size we are??? Am I possibly over-exagerating (sp?) ?
) about any web sites, that display all the different lovebird mutations - so we can choose from there?
