(02-24-2012, 12:23 PM)Beth Wrote: HI. Getting a bird is a great idea. The cage you are talking about is fine. The bigger the better for any bird. As long as it can fully expand its wing and flap away then it is big enough. But birds love to climb and have plenty of toys. Just make sure the bar spacing is correct for the size bird. I would suggest getting one parakeet instead of two. That is if you want it to bond with you and be a hands on bird. If you get two they usually will want to pretty much be together and not bond as well with you. They may even get over protective of each other. Ways to make sure one does not get lonely is to put plenty of toys in with it, give it lots of attention. At least devote 1/2 hour a day or night for just bird and you time. Leave a t.v. or radio on when you are not home or even when you are. If you find that you don't have a lot of time to spend with it then I would suggest getting two. Many times two birds will bond with a human and it works fine. But in my experience it has always been better to start with one if you want the bird to bond and be a hands on pet. Good luck. I hope you find a great bird or birds. : )
Good lesson on the bond.
No wonder my parakeets (from my childhood) never really formed a bond with me. Because I always had more than one! I gave them a lot of attention, built a "nest" for them, which worked... they always slept in that little box I remodeled for them. But when I took them out of the cage, they don't act like my friends lol. I could put one on my head and shoulder, but what came first = I must lock up all my doors and windows.
It is pretty common for them to fly away and never return from what I knew. As I caught one escapee myself when it entered my home.
I only really thought about not to let the birds being lonely, and never thought about the effect on the bond with me.
Good advice!
Next time when I want to get any bird again, I might just put our bond first.
