Bird breeds?

Question

My son has recently become intersted in owning a bird as a pet (note: he is14) he wan'ts a macaw but i think its not a very good beginner bird forhim and suggestions he would like something sorta big of atleast handleable

Answer 1

hi there!! my son is almost 14 and we have loads of birds and at the min he is trying to tame a cockatiel!! it mite be a good starter and u can get them to talk!! get it very young and go to a breeder they are alot cheaper it will be about £15!! good luck in wat u decide!!

Answer 2

hi. I got my bird at age 5. And i took care of it by myself once i learned how to. Cockatiels are a very easy bird take care of. And they love interacting with their owner. They also have a variety of personalities so your son can choose the personality he likes! I would recommend getting at least two so they can keep each other company!

i hope this helps,

smiley gal!! :D

Answer 3

The birds I suggest to everyone are called Parrotlets. They are great first time pets because they are very quiet and small, but they have the personality of a large parrot. I am 13(almost 14) and getting a parrotlet. this will be my first bird too, and I am completely new to them. but I think I can manage a parrotlet, and your son may be able to too.

P.S.- parrotlets come in many colors. Males have blue on them, which I think is really pretty!=)

Answer 4

I don't personally think a large macaw is a good beginner bird, I think large birds are something that you should work yourself up to with more experience.

Has he checked into the Mini-macaws? They are pretty cool birds. They are macaws- just alot smaller. My dad has an Illiger's. Their are also Hahn's (which are the smallest of the mini's), severe macaws, yellow-collared (which are awesome!). This may be a better compromise if he is truley bent on a macaw.

Parrotlets are very neat little birds, like the other girl said. I breed them and I have noticed they are definatley becoming alot more popular. They are low maintenence birds. They are the second smallest parrot in the world. They are extremely active, smart and sweet.

I also think quakers (if they are allowed in your state), make very good beginner birds. They are just as intelligent as the larger parrots, they are easy to  handle and low maintenence. Quakers have amazing personalities.

Conures are a good beginner bird. You can tell your son these guys are the closest relatives to the Macaws. Some species even look like small macaws- especially the beaks, just on a lot smaller scale!

Big birds are awesome, I have three. But I think that your son should probably  start out with a medium bird before he plunges headfirst into a large bird. Large birds take total commitment and dedication. Alot of the larger species have special diets. Large birds make large messes- especially macaws. And big macaws have ear piercing crys. I would definatley look into the mini macaws, quakers, and conures find which one you think suits your sons personality and lifestyle, and then go to him with your compromise.

Answer 5

Well for a 14 year old, a macaw is definetly not a good first bird. He might be interested in them bc of their flashy colors and large bird personality but these birds are also extremely loud and that big powerful beak is very intimidating. In the wild they use those massive beaks to crush large nuts and seeds in seconds and imagine the damage they can do to a human hand. They should not even be considered as a first bird for a teenager unless the person has had considerable bird experience already with at least several other species both large and small. For a beginner I would highly reccomend a poicephalus species such as a senegal,jardine,meyers, or red bellied parrot. They are all decently sized birds especially if he wasnts something handelble and they all have very good temperament if given the amount of care and love the deserve. Also the poicephalus species aren't known for being very boisterous, beaky, or loud, well for a bird that is :) and they make great companions. I have also heard that red bellies are great talkers ( but a bird should not be ought on a whim just for its talking ability). The jardine is one of the largest of the poicephalus species and they are known for their playful amazon like attitude in a somewhat smaller and all green body.

Also, you might want to look into these bird species.....

Indian Ringnecks- Also very intelligent, good at learning tricks and talking

Quakers- Very intelligent, bit noisy

Caiques- Can be a bit beaky but are natural performers, very fun loving bird

Pionus Parrot- Not a flashy bird but very cute and loving bird either way regardless, not known for talking ability

Conures-If you don't mind the noise, they are very fun birds and love to snuggle and entertain

http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesA...

http://www.avesint.com/poicephalus.html-... good site!!!

http://www.wingscentral.org/aps/

If you need more info, links, or anything whatsoever please don't hesitate to contact me :)

Answer 6

They problem with large birds is that they are as smart as children and need as much time, attention, stimulation, and interaction as a 2 year old child.

It's like living with a 2 year old for the rest of your life, complete with temper tantrums, and destroying stuff.

Not great for teenagers that will be going off to college and starting lives on their own.

Tell him that Cockatiels, parrotlets, lovebirds and parakeets are charming and smart.  They'll be perfect pets for him.