Seeking Tips and Advice for First Time Bird Owner!

[Robo]

Hello! First, apologies, because this will be quite a lot to read! My name is Aidan, and I was looking into getting potential advice and input from experienced bird owners! I've wanted a pet bird my entire life, and I am finally in a financial and realistic place to do so! I am getting approved for an apartment, and the complex said they will allow parrots as pets!

I've been doing a lot of research into different bird breeds and their behaviors and needs, and I have absolutely fallen in love with Caiques! I've read all of the posts on here about their pros and cons, such as 'The Good, Bad, and Ugly about Caiques'. I've been watching YouTube videos about target training and enrichments for birds, I've already started planning dietary recipes like chop and what pellets, I want to provide a proper diet and environment for my potential baby!

I am aware of their need for hours of enrichment and human interaction, I work as a dog groomer so my evenings will be free for me to hang out with and train my bird, I am not someone who does things halfway, especially when it is something I really care about, I've dreamed of having a bird my entire life! I understand it will not all be fun and happy interactions, I've been bitten by dogs in my profession and am used to not letting pain inflicted by an animal affect my feelings towards them, I have experience in dog training (I trained my own Service Dog) and while it is different for parrots, I am willing to put in the time to properly train and communicate with my potential bird!

I know hormonal things are what is said to be the main 'issue' with Caiques, and I've read a lot of articles and threads on how to deal with hormones when they get bad, though I understand that is very different than experiencing it firsthand- or firstbeak! I've spent hours at the bird store meeting all of the baby Caiques, and have begun bonding with one of the little Black Headed Caiques! The babies all seem to be wonderfully socialized and open to meeting new people and being handled.

The bird store was so helpful in educating me on Caiques and how they are not traditionally 'beginner birds', though after the time and research I've put in, they think that I am a good fit, and have 'soft held' the parrot for me until I move into my apartment and can take her with me, they say that once purchased, they'd like to keep her for a bit to train her to live and become comfortable in a cage, since they are in an open glass enclosure since they are still young and their wings are clipped for their safety while they are in the open store. I ideally would like to let her feathers grow in and work with flight training, but the store recommends for her wings to be clipped for the next few months of her life while I work on training, I'd like y'alls input on that!

The store seems wonderful, they offer free beak and nail services for birds purchased with them, along with bird boarding services, I think I will definitely be going to them for in person advice and help, they seem very knowledgeable and are focused on their birds going to a well adjusted home that can realistically meet their needs. I understand that I will have a lot to learn and go through, but I am absolutely committed to providing the best life for her that I can, if you guys have any tips or advice for me, I would appreciate it greatly! Here's some pictures of the girl so y'all can see how cute she is!
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If you have already purchased the bird, start training it now to be your best friend, have good habits and tricks. Flight training is also so important.
Birds are touchy. They will love you and then you have a baby or get married or move and their whole world changes too!! They seem more sensitive than most pets like Dogs or Cats because it’s a lot harder for us to understand them. They have time in a cage that they can’t get out of until you let them. Honestly I absolutely love my bird but over the last 18 years I have slacked in training and keeping him as stimulated as possible. So be ready for the REST OF YOUR LIFE with a bird that will need more attention than anything else!

 

[aidan16]

If you have already purchased the bird, start training it now to be your best friend, have good habits and tricks. Flight training is also so important.
Birds are touchy. They will love you and then you have a baby or get married or move and their whole world changes too!! They seem more sensitive than most pets like Dogs or Cats because it’s a lot harder for us to understand them. They have time in a cage that they can’t get out of until you let them. Honestly I absolutely love my bird but over the last 18 years I have slacked in training and keeping him as stimulated as possible. So be ready for the REST OF YOUR LIFE with a bird that will need more attention than anything else!

For sure!! Having a bird is something I've spent years considering the commitment at hand, I have a service dog named Leia, and throughout her and I's partnership I've had to reinforce and always work on training, and I intend to do the exact same thing with my bird! I'm shaping my new apartment around the bird so she can have a welcoming and comfortable environment, there will of course be ups and downs given that I am disabled but I feel ready to bring a beautiful, lifelong friend into my life! I haven't yet purchased her, but I'm planning to do so in the next week or two, I'm thinking I'll name her Na'ringa!

 

[aidan16]

@CrazyKozmo @Shezbug @Trent84 @Pixiebeak

Also, I'd like y'alls opinion on proper toys and enrichment! BirdTricks the YT Bird Rehabilitator recommends natural materials ONLY so that they can destroy and shred since it's a natural behavior (I looked into purchasing some of her toys but her packs are expensive) while I see many Caiques play with colorful, plastic toys.

I know to not use cotton rope or offer any nesting, but are plastic toys completely unsuitable for birds? I of course am planning to give her many variety of enrichment toys, destroyable and such, but will plastic toys be harmful for her?

 

[Pixiebeak]

I prefer natural materials, with only plastic accents , or plastic attachment. I do have a couple plastic ones tho .

Here are our Avian Avenue Vendors. I've shopped from many, and will continue to explore the ones I haven't yet. Lil monster, and things for wings have some of my favorites , made with nature stuff!

List of Vendors and AA Store Profiles

Bird Stores ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A Bird Toy AA Member: abirdtoy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ americanbirdbands.com AA Member: Matto ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Avian Organics AA Member: Danita...

forums.avianavenue.com

 

[aidan16]

I prefer natural materials, with only plastic accents , or plastic attachment. I do have a couple plastic ones tho .

Here are our Avian Avenue Vendors. I've shopped from many, and will continue to explore the ones I haven't yet. Lil monster, and things for wings have some of my favorites , made with nature stuff!

List of Vendors and AA Store Profiles

Bird Stores ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A Bird Toy AA Member: abirdtoy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ americanbirdbands.com AA Member: Matto ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Avian Organics AA Member: Danita...

forums.avianavenue.com

That sounds like a plan! I just got approved for the apartment, and I'm picking up the keys!!! There is so much to do and prepare but I'm so excited, hopefully once I settle in, I'll look into taking my baby home!! I'll definitely have my work cut out for me, but yeah my list is all natural toys that are destructible, and I'm buying a dog puzzle from my work to enrich her! I'll be sure to update yall!!!

 

[Trent84]

I can only share my very little experience with my caique, which is nearly 4 months old and he's still exploring many things in life, maybe experienced owners can better help you with this.
Mine likes colors and definitely plastic toys are the most colourful. They also do a lot of noise, which he likes. He also loves my plastic hair clips, for some reasons.
I bought him the little plastic balls with the bell in it and he goes nuts. Also, he likes to destroy anything made of cork, which is easy for him ATM.

They need to learn how to play tho, I personally spent a lot of time showing him how to use his toys. so I honestly wouldn't buy anything super fancy yet. I guess he'd stay on you most of the times at the beginning!

 

[Pixiebeak]

Parrot Precautions

Thank you to our friend Pat Pecora for these helpful suggestions Written by Carolyn Swicegood

www.exoticpetvet.com

PTFE treated products such as Teflon and other name brands of non-stick cookware kill birds by releasing deadly, odorless gases when overheated. PTFE is used in some space heaters, ranges, ovens, stove-top burner bibs or liners, heat lamps, irons, griddles, bread makers, woks, waffle makers, electric skillets, crock pots, corn poppers, coffee makers, roasters, curling irons, hair dryers, and more. Check labels before purchase.

 

[Emma&pico]

I just want to wish you luck in your new adventure

 

[Pixiebeak]

I suggest hanging a shower curtain on the wall be hind your cage, and getting a plastic office matt to place under the cage to protect the floor .

This will happen to any wall, trim, or window blinds or treatment they can reach .

They can reach further than you think ...when this happened I don't know! I was over here to clean poop and fling food off walls

They have also destroyed my couch, after years of never doing anything like that! They got started , now they want to chew all my furniture.

I've replaced,blinds, remote controls , picture frames .. and more

 

[Shezbug]

I wont limit my toys to only natural materials (like I did when I first got my Macaw) anymore as I learned my birds are more interested in engaging with everything than they are in being offered only shredding opportunities, my guys love a mix of natural toys, stainless steel toys and plastic toys. They will all fiddle and play with beads for a long time while resting so I find the plastic and stainless steel toys are a great addition to the more natural stuff- birds like to explore many textures and to limit my guys to only natural materials would mean they miss out on so many great opportunities for foraging, problem solving, exploration and noise making- my macaw loves to undo screws and move things so he has some reusable metal forging toys.

BT has their place and I will admit they put some content across in an extremely short and easy to understand manner but you will find they are not quite as loved or looked up to here as they seem to be with bird newbies. Their toy packs were pretty expensive and they basically used to simply be a heap of repacked planet pleasures toys (not sure what they are now as I do not follow them or check their recent content) which are great for shredding but shredding is not the only thing you will find most birds drawn to- I would highly recommend you check out the vendors here (pixiebeak linked them above) as you will get great customer service and brilliant engaging safe toys for your sweetie.

 

[Trent84]

I suggest hanging a shower curtain on the wall be hind your cage, and getting a plastic office matt to place under the cage to protect the floor .

This will happen to any wall, trim, or window blinds or treatment they can reach .

I do agree on this!
Because of my mom's gcc, I learned how messy parrots can be. The wall behind his cage was literally covered in food residues after only a few days. I placed a transparent pvc sheet behind the cage of mine, and I need to wipe it every single day anyway!
The mat is a good idea too!

 

[aidan16]

I do agree on this!
Because of my mom's gcc, I learned how messy parrots can be. The wall behind his cage was literally covered in food residues after only a few days. I placed a transparent pvc sheet behind the cage of mine, and I need to wipe it every single day anyway!
The mat is a good idea too!

I purchased a shower curtain and a protective splash mat for underneath the cage! I also just purchased all of the main supplies I'll be needing as well, it's on the way! I'm so excited

 

[Pixiebeak]

 

[Pixiebeak]

Once you've got all your supplies, and thst baby is weaned, I see no reason to wait , a d I'd be bringing them home .
Do find your nearest or best avain vet.

 

[aidan16]

Oh I've been meaning to ask something pretty important! Does a birds sleep schedule have to be a consecutive 12-14 hours? My schedule is waking up at 6:30 to leave for work at 7:30, then I work 8-4 and get home around 4:30, and usually go to bed around 10-11pm. My question is does my bird have to sleep from 7pm-7am or can it be broken up throughout the day? I'd hate to have her have to go to sleep at 7 when I'm up and able to spend time with her until 10, what are yall thoughts on this?

 

[Xoetix]

They're pretty diurnal like we are - sleep at night, awake during the day. For mine, they go to bed usually between 7 and 8pm (although that might be shifted because of the time change, I can't remember what I did last year), and up at 7am-ish. During the day, I give them a "nap time" so I can do stuff like cleaning and laundry that is generally easier to do without a bird helping. But, that being said, I'm home during the day and not out at work. I know some people have different schedules, like a later bedtime for a later morning. See what works best for you and your bird, you'll definitely know if they need more sleep.

And hello and welcome!

 

[Trent84]

They're pretty diurnal like we are - sleep at night, awake during the day. For mine, they go to bed usually between 7 and 8pm (although that might be shifted because of the time change, I can't remember what I did last year), and up at 7am-ish. During the day, I give them a "nap time" so I can do stuff like cleaning and laundry that is generally easier to do without a bird helping. But, that being said, I'm home during the day and not out at work. I know some people have different schedules, like a later bedtime for a later morning. See what works best for you and your bird, you'll definitely know if they need more sleep.

And hello and welcome!

I do the same!
Even if mine is pretty much always out, I put him in his cage whenever I can't watch him closely, as I work from home but he just doesn't care and goes straight on my laptop to to stuff.
I live with my boyfriend and he'd play with him as well, even if I'm by far his favourite human/target
I'd like to do everything with him but he's happy to spend some time in his cage with his food and his toys whenever I need some time or we're out.
The sleeping routine is pretty much consistent every day, weekend included, he sleeps at least 12hr, I sing him a lullaby right before bedtime after about 1/2hrs of cuddles on the sofa, when he finally calms down!

 

[Emma&pico]

Oh I've been meaning to ask something pretty important! Does a birds sleep schedule have to be a consecutive 12-14 hours? My schedule is waking up at 6:30 to leave for work at 7:30, then I work 8-4 and get home around 4:30, and usually go to bed around 10-11pm. My question is does my bird have to sleep from 7pm-7am or can it be broken up throughout the day? I'd hate to have her have to go to sleep at 7 when I'm up and able to spend time with her until 10, what are yall thoughts on this?

It depends where your birds cage will be how you decide to control your hours eg cover natural light blackout blind curtains etc

I use natural light in summer but close curtain about 8:30 9 when sun out for longer and open about 8:30/9

in winter I turn light on as it’s getting dark at 5/5:30 at minute which is way too early so turn light off about 7:30 before my daughter goes to bed at 8/8:30
They gave natural light to wake upto though

when I am at work for 7 I leave at 6:30 so I fill water bowls and pellets up at 6 I do it in dark though I know it slightly wakes them but hubby says they are quite when he comes back
I fill foraging toys night before I have work just before they go to sleep so they don’t raid them

A normal not working day I get them veggies at about 8:30/8:45 after I e taken my daughter to school fill water fresh give them until about 9:30 10 to eat them then go get them out sit and play or pico and remi will come downstairs help tidy up fly around indie won’t come down I put them back in their cages about 1 have my dinner let them chill get them back out until about 3 tidy up their room etc then me and my daughter get them out after tea until about 7 they normally play or fly about upstairs while I bath my daughter or we do homework in her room etc
Then they go to bed at 7:30

you will find your routine that suits you and your bird and your bird will let you know if they are tired or should I say your fingers will know from a snappy over tired friend

 

[Pixiebeak]

You can do a light on a timer by cage. To try and give you a little more time in evening.

Mine are sun up, to sundown , ..works for me because I'm home during the day and get a quiet evening

An important thing is same bedtime routine, with un interrupted sleep around ten to twelve hours

 

[Shezbug]

Oh I've been meaning to ask something pretty important! Does a birds sleep schedule have to be a consecutive 12-14 hours? My schedule is waking up at 6:30 to leave for work at 7:30, then I work 8-4 and get home around 4:30, and usually go to bed around 10-11pm. My question is does my bird have to sleep from 7pm-7am or can it be broken up throughout the day? I'd hate to have her have to go to sleep at 7 when I'm up and able to spend time with her until 10, what are yall thoughts on this?

They do best on a proper sleep schedule and although they will likely nap at times during the day they really need a constant approx 12 hrs dark each night.