There should be warning signs on every cage in pet stores that say “If you’d like to have a screaming toddler for the next 15-80 years, please buy this bird.”
Pinkshadow Games I miss owning cockatiels, I hand raised mine from when they were babies. Best birds I’ve ever had. I have two budgies now. The first one my father in law found outside. That bird has potential to be trained. But as soon as he bought it a friend they both want nothing to do with people. For a year I’ve been trying to train them. The one with potential will go away n my finger and stay on my shoulder a little. The other one is still scared. They also both stay hidden under furniture when I let them out the cage 🤦🏽♀️
My daughter asked for an Alexandrine for her 7th birthday. I told her it was a huge commitment and I couldn't get her one just on her promise, because well, she was 7. She is 11 now and has saved nearly $1500, spent countless hours learning about them, designing the perfect cage when she buys one and planning how she will handle it's diet. Im blown away that for the last 4 years she has dedicated her time to learning about what she wants and understanding what kind of commitment it is. Had I just bought her a bird when she asked for it at 7 it definitely would have become my bird. I can't wait until she gets to pick out her baby in April. I'm really proud of her
@Sunsun DKS she actually still hasn't bought it. She got pretty focused on sports and instruments that she said she wouldn't have proper time to care for the bird.
They truly are!! We rescued one and she was super aggressive, thanks to birdtricks we began training her and she was the highlight of our lives! Our cute, funny little angel! ☹️ It has been a month since she crossed the rainbow and we will forever miss her happy, little fluffy face!
I’m trying to be understanding, but that email really made me sick to my stomach. We are all those birds have in their life. Their happiness, sadness, and everything in between depends on us.
Me too ughhh... I can't help but look at listings on craigslist and these are such common stories. It's infuriating that big box pet stores are allowed to sell such intelligent animals, when it is setting up so many people to think flippantly about the lives of these birds.
I just randomly got a bird like that but on my way back home I started doing research for them all the time I would just watch things about them for hours so now I think I'm good
@@jessemartinez2955 just want to add that theres always more to learn! Not for your sake but for other people haha. Although of course you become more and more prepared and better at knowing what you need to about birds, but there's always something new to find out about birds as with any animal, especially when you're getting to know a specific bird and it's personality ..! :D
Agree with you 120%! And not just birds, no animal should be a present. As for the "can you handle a bird on its worst day?", problem is people don't really see the bad days because social media is jam packed with cute and funny videos. Nobody wants to see videos of birds (and pets in general) having nervous breakdowns...
This happens a LOT at my job. I work with Macaws and parrots and I talk to the public about them. A lot of people see their beautiful colors and their tricks and tell me/their families "I want a parrot". I can't tell you how many times I have to tell them about the screaming, and the mess, and the toddler mindset. People can be so frustrating.
My budgie was a present but I care for it so much he means the world to me I’m home schooled so I can look after him everyday and teach him tricks he wasn’t just an impulse buy he really means the world to me
Exactly. When I was 8, my parents got me a bird as a surprise and made me his sole caretaker. I wasn’t fit for the job. I did the best 8 could, but I couldn’t tame him, so I started neglecting him. I still fed him and changed his water and everything, I just wouldn’t take him out of his cage. My parents never should have given me that responsibility.
Right!!! I got my blue budgie as a surprise but I was expecting it my aunt got me one because I had been learning about them for 7 moths already and one day she came home with one. I was already prepar ed I had a Cage toys and food. But that's a different story for another time. I completely agree with your statement.
Exactly I only wanted one bird, a week after I got my first bird my mom got a second for the sole reason it was by itself and it had pretty colors.. luckily I was way past prepared with a year of research and I got pissed
Yeah its so stupid to get a kid who can't even take care of themselves, a pet and expect them to take care of another living being. That should be an adults job
I got to rehab my dad’s african grey when my dad died, don’t get me wrong I love it with all of my heart and I do feel like I found my strength and passion through being a part of this process and it is SO rewarding. but being a full time parrot parent, a 20 years old boy, saying it’s not easy is sometimes an understatement. imagine YOUR KID being a single parent and a provider for a bird, it’s not a baby, but it is time consuming and cost lots of money especially when the bird is turning older and has health issues.
I got 2 of my budgies as a "free to good home" case where they had dangerous toys, seed diet, and a tiny cage. They've been fully upgraded to a flight cage, chop, and toys they can actually use safely and we're slowly working on hand taming and building a little flock because budgies are SO social. I did probably 15 years of research and always waited for the "perfect time" to take the plunge but as soon as I saw these birds I knew they deserved someone who knew better and could do better for them. 💙💙💜
That’s amazing!! How did you get them to eat their chop and what ingredients do you use? I’m trying to switch some budgies to chop rn and it has been about a month and it’s not working very well
@@mangotango4529 my current chop is red, orange, and yellow sweet peppers, green bell peppers, mustard greens, carrot, and butternut squash. I started off by mixing a tiny bit of chop into their seed and slowly adding more chop and less seed just like when you switch dog foods. Eventually and what we do currently is a small sprinkling of seed on the bottom of the dish topped with the chop. The two rescued budgies are extremely food motivated which has helped our switch and hand taming. I know some people have to be extremely patient and try different temperatures, recipes, textures, sizes, etc before they find something that their birds love. It just takes patience but I hope you find something that works for you!
My budgie when I first got him kept calling for other birds and eventually I would have to go back to school so I got him a friend I was 11 at the time and my other bird belonged to my sister she was 9 when I got them out my sister's budgie Nellie sat on top of the gage and did nothing she eventually gave up because Nellie wasn't doing what she wanted then she got that tik tok app thing and totally abandon her bird! But yet she won't let me have/train her so now all she does is sit on the cage and if any fingers go near her she bites. I am training her any way because I am not going to let her live like that >:( Edit: I taught her how to shake now :) and my sister barely even talks about Nellie let alone own her just glad I know roughly what I'm doing
@@juliusroman8616 pellets I tried many they only ate the crushed ones the size of seeds and Their cage it at least 1x1 meters my grandad made it for me some weeks ago
Same I’m 10 I got my first bird last month as a gift but I knew how to take care it but it sadly got sick and passed away last week but he didn’t show signs so that happened
As a 12 year old, I don’t understand how anyone around my age could do to a bird what that girl did to her green cheeked conure, I’ve got four budgies (started with two, my aunt got two and when she moved houses she “didn’t have space for them” so I took them so they didn’t have to go back to the shop) I’ve always been an animal lover but just recently I realised that one of the reasons I went for birds was because of how you worked with Morgan, anyway just wanted to say thanks for educating people on birds, big and small, especially since budgies are so smart and can get overlooked and neglected so thanks!
When I was a kid, I had a friend who kept 2 budgies in a relatively small cage. Whenever I was over at my friends' home I always wondered why one would get birds in the first place. They seemed bored, and they seemed like boring pets to me because I never saw them do anything, they were just sitting around all day. It was only a few years later when I realized how extremely intelligent they are, and how I probably witnessed 2 depressed birds because they had nothing to keep them busy except for the same 3 toys that always have been in their cage, they were on a poor diet, and they didn't get much interaction. I feel so sorry for all the depressed birds out there, living in small cages with nothing to do all day, because parents thought they would be a cool gift for their kids. Jamieleigh, I absolutely love your channel. I love your content and although I don't have a bird, I absolutely love learning more about them through your videos. (Been binge-watching your channel when I discovered it few months ago and haven't missed a video since!) Parrots are incredibly interesting and fascinating. I would love to get a bird one day, but I'm not 100% sure if I can. However, if I ever get a bird, I want to be 100% sure I'll keep it and treat it right til the end.
I hated that email, they realize the kid has gotten tired of multiple animals and should have known it was a bad idea and the entire situation angers me because I would love a green cheek and that poor bird is in a bad home
It's difficult to say no... believe me, I know this, so you are very strong for doing so! If you know you are not a good match for a bird, you really are better off just enjoying birds vicariously. I absolutely adore birds of all kinds, and I regularly go to the local bird stores and interact with them, but even I am not cut out for having most birds. It turns out I did find the right bird for me eventually, though!
Anyone who's ever watched Norman Barrett work with his troops of trained budgies will never underestimate these little birds. Keep up the crusade, Jamieleigh!
The daily commitment is a huge part too. Everyday you need to spend hours with your bird. Not just a few minutes here and there. They are so intelligent and need your attention and love! Great video!
"My child is bored with her current pets, so lets get another one..." Wow, that... That's not how this works lady... If your kid gets "bored" with her pets, that's a sign that she needs LESS of them, not more.
Hear me out.... maaaaybe people shouldn't get pets as presents in general? All animals require dedication. A stuffed animal, or a toy is a good present. Not an animal.
This Depends. Say if you have everything you need for a pet, physically and information wise. But the pet itself costs more than all of the supplies combined so you have to spend months-years to save up. Your friend has the money already and decided to surprise you by purchasing it for your birthday/Christmas. Sure this situation isn't most definitely not everyone but you said "in general".
I really wish I could have seen this before I was given a budgie. I was given a bird as a pet, and scrambled to learn as much as I could. It was a rough start, but as the years passed I finally got a foothold. It's been 3 years now and I still have him. He is now happy and will be living a happy long life with me. You really helped me with building my confidence, and making sure what I was doing wasn't going to be a problem later on.
You have inspired us so much. We are huge advocates of rescue and foster neonatal kittens. Several months ago we began researching birds. Our lifestyle is very conducive to caring for them. Then I heard about 2 Green Cheek Conures that needed a family. While I am a bit over my head I am striving to make their life amazing. Their diet was atrocious and the home was not respectful of their space. They didn't even have names. We call them Leeloo and Ruby although I joke that Leeloo is fight and Ruby is flight. We enriched their cage and changed their diet straight away. Within weeks we could see their colors changing. Over the weekend we moved them into their new cage! We waited 6 weeks for them to settle in here since their other cage wasn't too too small. I have been touch training Leeloo mostly and was able to move her easily. Ruby took a long time and when I have a success I always think how proud you would be. Thank you for the bottom of my heart for all of the wonderful information.
Excellent video and definitely applies to all animals given as a presents. I'm really horrified because Logan Paul (gross) got an African Gray on a seemingly complete whim. And he is highly influential to very young kids. I fear for that poor bird soul... Because you already know the second it starts to display behaviors of being psychologically harmed, he is going to get rid of it... And by then, the damage will already be done.
In all fairness, Logan had a sun conure prior to the African grey, which was well loved for many many years in his older content. And while it may seem "on a whim" he did say that he had been thinking about getting an African grey for some time since his conure died. He also has plenty of enrichment, has a huge outdoor flight cage, and is always treated well in his videos. Obviously I can't say for sure if it's 24/7, but of all the influencers, his isn't awful in terms of animal care.
I don't really like the guy, but from what I've seen with his sun conure, he's doing a lot better than 90% of bird owners. He treats it very well. It's got a big enclosure, lots of toys and looks pretty chill.
While I by no means support the Paul brothers, Logan actually takes better care of his Grey than the large majority of bird owners can afford to do. He has owned birds before and does seem to, to a certain extent, understand what he is doing. I think the most dangerous thing about it is that he is a public figure. He has too much influence, especially over kids, and is glamourizing bird ownership in a way that is dangerous no matter who is doing it.
So true! My relatives got 2 INRs as a present for my mom but at the end i was the one who had to take care of them because my mom couldn't. I didn't know anything about birds and was scared of them. I though once their wings grow out id set them free like a newbie but I was wrong about that. I had to research day and night to take good care of them. I love them very much now but wouldn't have gotten a bird if I had the choice because they are a lot of work.
Sooooooo glad/ happy / very fortunate that you DID NOT SET THEM FREE!!!! THAT IS THE WRONG THING TO DO FOLKS!!! Never set a bird free.....it is a death sentence for the bird. Or at least a miserable existence trying to survive and find food, fight off predators etc.
@@camilledammasch3648 I feel that, I love birds but not sure if I'd get more (I used to have a budgies years ago) but I have a friend that has 4 and I am trying (slowly) to tame them and convince him not too
When I was 11 years old, my parents gifted me 2 parakeets. We ended up getting more birds over the years and now at 19 years old I have 3 parakeets and 2 zebra finches. I have had them all for 9 years and yes sometimes I wish my parents never got them for me because I'm a full time college student with a job and my own apartment but I still have them and love them.
This is such an important video! When my girls were young, we talked about getting a dog. My requirement from them was to keep the backyard clean (pick up the poo). They would never commit to that so we never got a dog. I was willing to do everything but that! I don’t even think people should give plants that need a lot of care & attention to others. It really is a great responsibility to care for another living thing. Best to be ready to do it!
@@crimsonsilvermoon I don't know much about lovebirds. However, I can say this. If it's primarily your bird than that gives you a lot more options when getting a bird. If its a family bird your best bet would be a cockatiel, and if not a lovebird would work just fine. How much time you spend bonding with it and the current mental condition in your house (e.g. non-stable relationships, aggression, etc) also matters. For newer owners. Yes, all small parrots (5-12 inches) including lovebirds make great beginner parrots. Whether or not you have done enough research also heavily matters. Do you know proper emergency procedures, care needs, dietary needs, where you can take them to a veterinarian if they're sick? Impulse buying is a huge problem in the parrot community and just the bird community in general. Hopefully, the information helps!
I feel you. Now that I’m looking at this my budgie died about the same time. He had a healthy diet and was so lively. I think he may have been inbred or had a heart attack or stroke 😭😢
It's clear in your videos that you take Blueberry as seriously as your other, obviously much more expensive birds, and I commend you all for that. Even if they only cost twenty bucks, budgies are intelligent, emotionally capable living creatures deserving of all the love and care their human companions can provide. I saw how upset you were at his brief escape and I really felt for you, glad to see it all worked out okay.
I absolutely love your videos thank you so much I’m about to get a green cheeked conure in 4 weeks and I’ve been watching your videos for so long preparing to get my bird and I just want to thank you so much! 💕✨for preparing me and I’m so so happy and grateful every time you post! 💕✨
I love birds and have wanted one for about 10 years. I recently retired and rescued two parakeets that an owner had abandoned. They came to me at the perfect time. I have time to devote to them. I so enjoy spending time with the little guys. Thanks for all your advice. It has helped me tremendously. ❤
As I was watching this, I was looking at adoptable birds. The description was that birds are a "look don't touch" kind of animal and it is just sad to see
I’m ten and have a budgie and cockatiel. I am getting them both flight cages in about two weeks. I make about 20 dollars per week so I can afford news toys for them every once and a while. They eat Harrison’s pellets. And I make them new chop every 3 days. But they still get chop every day. They have natural wood perches and shredding, foraging, and wooden toys. They have daily interactions. And have a tree stand and many rope perches out of their cages. But I used to have two budgies and my mom got them from a friend that neglected them and once they got to me I gave them another chance at life. Trust me they looked awful. And I had the patience to work with them but one of them sadly passed. And I worked with them for over 6 years to get them to trust me. My parents did get me a cockatiel as a gift but we were all planing on it for over a year and I clearly knew what I was doing. And it did make my budgie a lot happier. Now they are very happy and my cockatiel was clipped when we got her and now she knows recall and is strengthening her muscles. I am only ten but my birds have proper care and I do everything I can for them. My parents trust me with their life. They take 100% responsibility for me for my birds. My parents say I am a lot more mature and wiser then my years. Hopefully if you see this comment this will make you happy that I’m ten, and have two birds and I love them with all my life. 🥰
This is the same for all living creatures we keep as pets, no matter their lifespan. NEVER give a living creature as a gift. It's wrong. Thank you for the amazing video! 🥰
I got my birds as a present, although I guess it really wasn’t a present cause I paid for everything and I still pay for everything today. I have loved birds for a good portion on my life and had been doing constant research for over a year and my mom saw in me that I was ready for the responsibility’s and that I knew what I was doing. Personally it would have been better if I had a training physically with me, but your videos have been with me the whole time and really helped in areas I was unsure about. I haven’t had them for that long but they both are absolutely amazing creatures. It makes me so happy seeing my birds fly around my room and come over to me when I call for them. I had my entire room revamped after I got to know them and realized that I wanted them to have more things to do out of the cage other than just training.
Incanus Olórin well U can still look after it I’m going to college in 4 yrs bc I’m 12 and my budgie is 2 but my parents are at home to look after it and let it out during the day but when I come home I can look after it don’t worry it’ll be fine
Incanus Olórin first off, you don’t even know if I am going to college, so don’t assume my life like that. Secondly, what makes you think that if I do go to college I somehow wouldn’t have any friends or family members that would watch the birds Or- oh wait! Go to college virtually?? You really didn’t think any of that through
I could do that 3 is non stick cook were candles and harsh cleaning products 3 common illnesses fatty liver Lyme disease pbfd 3 toxic foods avocado chocolate and dairy products
@@kelpie7287 well if your talking about stuff humans use as household hazards, air fresheners, laundry detergent, electrical wires. I was gonna say fatty liver disease btw:< but I guess polyomavirus, goiters. Anddd apple seeds, plums, peaches.
I had 2 budgie growing up. I so wish my parents didn’t. We did everything so wrong.... my parents ended up saying we can give them away to get a dog I was 10 and my brother was 7 so we said yes. I always wanted a dog.. I feel so bad that we ended up doing that
Same thing happened to me but I was much younger (6 or 7/8?). My parents both grew up on farms and knew animals very well....but I still feel now that getting that little budgie was the wrong thing to have done. I hate those pet stores selling all kinds of dogs, birds etc. The staff are NOT TRAINED ENOUGH to spot the wrong family or person that should NOT buy a bird for example....and they don't give the correct information (or enough) and just set up that bird for failure.....so frustrating and very sad. There are 10,000 + videos all over the internet from all over the world with unanted and rejected or neglected/abused animals...ADOPT .. DON'T BUY!!! Peace!
R.S. S. i do buy my dogs from breeders. I have a mini schnauzer and currently have one on hold that’s 4 weeks old will be getting her in 4 weeks. I do agree that it’s good to adopt but it’s not everyone. Most dogs that are in adopting places originally come from puppymills not saying all but most of them do. The puppies health is the most important for me when buying from a good breeder you know exactly where they come from so you know if the parents or grandparents have anything. I will only get my dogs from a breeder.
@@scottishgirl1100 I grew up with miniature schnauzers ( my parents had 3 when I was an infant!) I totally agree there are breeders out there that are doing their best for the health and vitality of the breed. I also feel that if someone can rescue a pet that is awesome too. We have a rescued Maltese mix who needed a lot of vet care and had a broken foot when we got him. I'm sponsoring a budgie at a rescue out of state who needs surgery and he was surendered because his family couldn't afford his care.
I and so grateful to find you. I own a parakeet I bought them for my birthday and unfortunately in those times I was abused by my mother and took out my anger on these birds. One flew away and I was so upset. She was the one I was bonded to most and I forgot I put her on my shoulder while I cleaned my room, and I went to let my dog out and she flew off. I searched for hours, set out food, and even put a temp cage outside hoping she would come home. My other broke his beak from flying into a wall in the dark and passed, and my other who was also one I bonded to closely passed due to unknown reasons, I was gone for that week and my mother made sure they had what they needed. I’m not stuck with my terrified parakeet pinto who’s been one of the first parakeets I had and I’m trying to form a new bond with him, and train him the way I should have almost 4 years ago. Watching you, he has a new cage, new toys, I’m setting him on a diet he needs, and training him. It’s been about two days since all that and he’s already getting for comfy with me being around him and I’m so thankful. When I move out I plan to get more so he won’t be lonely. I love birds, I was in the wrong mental state when owning them causing them to have trauma from my own. I’ve realized my mistakes and trying so hard to fix it and it’s working. So thank you. Thank you for getting blueberry. My pinto bean thanks you as well
My family sort of inherited a budgie once, I don't know the whole story all I know is one day a cage showed up and my parents said it belonged to a distant family member. She loved my dad the most.
Not going to lie but my mom literally did the same thing when I was little she got me a bird just like blueberry but I do remember I tried my best to take care of my bird but as I said many times my bird ended up dying due to a poisonous bug that got in its cage and I think the bird might have ate it and the poison got to it but I was probably taking care of the bird all the wrong ways when I was little because back then I didnt know to give the bird fresh food I think I just give it seeds and let it bite on this white thing so it could trim its beak down but I did change its water when needed to be and I cleaned its cage when needed thats about all I could remember
i’m 12 and i recently got 2 budgies. i’ve been researching for 6-7 months. i got them for like €125 each off a professional trainer. it’s been about a week - he said it might take about 2 weeks for them to settle in and start being let out the cage. (so far the male is a lot more friendly and will step up) they eat off my hand. but only when there’s food they’ll step up. they’re still really scared.
I got “my” budgie at age eight and as you might expect did not care for him very well. I carried this guilt for years, and he died a few weeks ago at age 11. I told my mum about this and she told me she knew I realistically wouldn’t be responsible for his care and that I shouldn’t feel bad for failing to meet my ‘responsibilities’. It kind of led to a “why didn’t you tell me 10 years ago!!” moment haha. All this time I felt like I was neglecting my bird when my parents were also caring for him. I like to think that his last few years were much better, he ended up getting lots of attention and being pretty cuddly despite not liking being handled. I’ve started over with some untamed parent raised green cheeks (that are 4 years old!!) I’m out of high-school now and have chronic illnesses that prevent me from working so I feel prepared for this commitment. 1 has tentatively stepped up from day one, and today I got the other two to put their foot on my finger for the first time! I’m probably a two weeks in now, so progress has kind of been slow but it’s hard to tame them when they’re all in a big family group and don’t really thirst for human interaction.
I hate how people think less of budgies just because they’re inexpensive. They live long as cats and dogs or even longer. It is also a parrot but a smaller version of it.
pets definitely shouldn't be gifts. I got a corn snake when I was 12, but I researched for months and made sure I was financially able to pay for all her expenses. It took a lot of convincing, but my parents let me buy the snake and even agreed to pay for half of all the things I might need for my snake!! Don't impulse buy, people. When my mom impulse bought me a hamster when I was eight, it died within weeks because we did no research. I've had my snake for over a year now, and I still love her to pieces!!!!
Yes!! My mom got me a hedgehog as a gift a few years ago, we did the research and had a good enclosure but it was supposed to be my pet but since she got it in advance but still needed to play with it and let it out, she kept it in a room we couldn’t go in so we didn’t know about it and it bonded to her and hated me because she was the only person to play with it, which made me not like it much because it didn’t want anything to do with me. When we decided to get a bird I had her promise to not surprise me with it.
A hedgehog as a pet? Now I have heard everything. We have them in our home when we find a hedgehog that is ill. We don't keep them as a pet, we put them back in the wild when they better. In Germany it is against the law to keep a hedgehog as a pet.
Gabriele GHUT yeah, in a lot of places it’s illegal but where I live it’s kind of common ish. Not super popular but it’s not super surprising when you see them as pets here either.
that email made me so mad, as a 12 year old, who has two budgies, i have worked all day everyday taming them, during school i wash out their food and water bowl twice, i stand next to their cage for hours upon hours talking to them, feeding them treats and being kind and loving, i am so close that they get excited every time i go to their cage, so far i have almost gotten one of them to step up multiple times by using millet spray, i have been videoing my experience with taming my first birds ever as a 12 year old, i am so close to what i have been dreaming of and i am so happy for the days that i will spend with them in the futer! and your account has helped me so so so much and literally the only thing i watch nowadays is bird tips and how to improve a better life for them! please don’t ever treat your pets or family badly, karma will pay you back!
I’m 12 and I just got a cockatiel. I did tons of research though and instead of buying him from a breeder, I adopted him from a shelter. He isn’t tamed at the moment but we are making great progress! He has a great pellet and veggie diet and lives in a humongous cage with lots of toys and Perches. I love him very much and would never EVER give him away or let a younger child mishandle him. Ps I love ur videos and all your birds. You were the person who made me want to help a bird and adopt so thank you so much 🙏
Blueberry looks just like the budgie my family had when I was younger! He used to “play” board games with us and sit on our shoulders. My mom taught him to whistle at her when she walked by his perch. The most adorable little bird. Lots of time went into keeping him happy and keeping his cage clean! Budgies are a big responsibility. I miss him! ❤️
I am that person. I don’t have room in my life. Just don’t think I would be able to give a bird a home and the love and attention it deserves at the moment... some day though ! Plenty room in my heart though ♥️
Another awesome video Jamie thank you for talking about this I have a budgie that lived a horrible life before I found your RU-vid channel thank you for changing her life .
The conure story broke my heart. I have 2 green cheeks and I try to give them the best life possible. They are so smart and training with them is amazing.
Love your video's, their full of information which I can use when I do get a parrot down the line. Was wondering if u can do a video on how to handle a parrot on their bad days, and maybe even share your experiences too.
I'm 17 years old right now, and I feel you completely, but the opposite. I worked my ass off with crappy jobs to get the money enough to buy and take care of an African grey. I adopted him from a friend of mine who is a breeder, so naturally I'm the only one he's ever stayed with. He's now 2 years old and we're best friends, he's with me almost all the time and I couldn't see myself giving up un him. So I really appreciate you sharing this kind of information about birds so that people wont make a mistake. Everyone around me told me no, that it was a bad idea and much more, but I jumped with trust in myself and I was right. So to see this kind of content makes me really happy that there are people out there are people out there that might hesitate about jumping the gun. Just wanted to say thanks about everything you share. I've been supporting this channel ever since I started discovering birds as pets.
I have a rescue Cockatiel, He had enough going to home to home, and enough being abused. The Cockatiel is with me forever and I love him. my Cockatiel's name is IRWIN and he is 9 years old.
I love parrots but im just too introverted for them. Id like to work with parrots from time to time but not live with them. Fortunately pigeons and chickens exist.
Even we adults forget sometimes (I had to leave early this am and forgot to put my Cockatiels chop in his plate. Something I do every day and it totally slipped my mind. Luckily my mom is off and she knows his schedule, and she does feed him when it's time for him to wake up) I can't imagine just letting a child go at it without reminders now and then and expect everything to go well.
I did my research, I watched your videos. I’ve always been fascinated with macaws. I remember going to a wild bird sanctuary and shyly waving at a macaw who shyly waved back. This year, in a shop I’d never been to before, a beautiful boarding macaw beckoned me over and asked me to scritch his head thru the bars. It was magical. I fell in love. Of course, im also rational, and I knew owning a macaw would not be in the cards for me. That’s ok! I have a little maroon bellied conure now. She’s great! I try to remember to reference back to your videos often, or just watch your videos in general to keep a good mind set. I also try to be inconsistently consistent. Watch what I’m reinforcing. Saying ja’na and a treat before i leave for work, saying night night with a treat before I turn off the lights. Last chop is delicious it can only be eaten inside the locked cage. I’m not saying we don’t have our disagreements or confusions. Like if she climbs off her tree onto the floor up my legs onto my head, and reaches all the way over to touch my (diamond painting pen) stick, does she get a treat? Uhhhhh I guess but I’m not gonna click for that and you’re going back on your tree missy here’s more treats in a foraging tree to distract you 😂 or how she used to throw a fit when I asked for a step up and I thought it was because she hated hands and was being a priss but actually it’s because I would move my hand down which would bump her tail. Or how I’m just not great at bird body language but love to be annoying and pester my pets which I knew would be a bad combination so I taught her to foof up anytime she wanted me to back off. Or how she doesn’t really like to be touched with hands, so I taught her the phrase “can I pet you” and she can either let me or floof up and I’ll back off (she’s okay with head kisses tho oddly enough) So yeah it’s not perfect, and I’m sure we’ll have some not great days, but it’s been a lot of fun! And also relieving to know that any issues I’m having are probably my fault and any and all successes or failures can and will be shaped by my hands. And when I read Facebook group posts, I realize how lucky I am, being able to realize why this or that person is probably having issues. It may not be correct, but it means I would have a starting point to look at unlike some unfortunate few. Thanks again!
I have seen many people get their kids budgies and then not feed, shelter, and care for them in general properly. Just because they are small doesnt mean that they arent high maintenance, you wouldnt adopt a baby and just expect it to live without the proper care.
Hey birdtricks I am visually impaired and I’m interested in getting a parrot. I am physically unable to read body language sometimes because of my sight. I was wondering how you would teach someone who is blind or visually impaired to train and interact with a parrot? I really enjoy your channel and I love the name Blueberry to the budgie.
Hi! If you can try to train your bird to let you put ur finger on their foot it could be a life changer. You can feel shifts in body weight and learn what comes before and after those movements. This could help you tremendously!
I am still young I want a parrot but my parents wouldn't agree especially my dad I've been watching you for 3 years or more and I've been reading about them and studying my mother has a lot of experience in canaries she owned many many before iw as born and when I was born so she asks my uncle for a baby canary and it will be mine she will test me of course she loves canaries and if I don't take care of it she won't get me a parrot and will take over the bird of course if she knows om ready and she will test me in how much I know and how I will deal with them then she will think and get me a parrot we will keep the canary of course
It really is so important that birds are not rehomed. I know this because I rehomed a bird about 18 years ago. It may have been the right decision for me and even for the bird, but I never forgave myself. It took me that long to be sure I could even have a pet again after that... but after years and years of research and understanding that I was ready for a commitment again, I finally found birds that were right for me. Not only have I grown up a lot, but I have learned so much more and I'm doing things right this time. I didn't make this decision without being absolutely sure of it and knowing that I needed to be willing and able to commit 20+ years to my birds. It hasn't quite been a year, but I know I love my Bourkes so much I would never, ever let them go. That's how committed you have to be.
I had a budgie I loved SO much when I was about 13 or 14. I had him outside of the cage almost all the time when I was at home. I kept his wings unclipped and he choose to just perch on my shoulder and come nuzzle up and give me the occasional kiss. He was SO CLOSE to saying "hi!". I honestly took the best care of him and loved him so incredibly much. Then we got a cat. I took it SO SERIOUSLY. First, we had a scary accident where the cat jumped on the cage and it came crashing down. After that, we kept the cage in a room with the door closed. I had to be extra careful when I'd take him out of the cage, and ALWAYS made sure the cat was behind 1-2 doors (usually 2, cause I was that paranoid about my bird getting attacked. I was so worried about something accidentally happening, that I went as far as telling my family to NEVER let my bird out of the cage if I wasn't home. Then, one day when I was gone for the entire day, my mom let the birds out of the cage without doing ANYTHING with the cat, and next thing she knew, my bird was in the cats mouth paralyzed. She brought it to the vet and had it euthanized, and was kind enough to tell me while I was still gone, over the phone. I cried and cried, and I have literally never gotten fully over it, and I'm 27. That parakeet (budgie) was so so special and smart. I haven't gotten another one since, because no other bird ever felt right. I have 0 pets now, and I think about getting one occasionally, but my only pet (a dog) passed away of cancer last year, and I don't know if a parakeet would be right for me or not. I also worry I am just trying to fill the void in my heart, and don't want to let myself or any animal down by getting a pet, and realizing I'm just missing the 2 great pets I once had.
I've just bought myself a budgie and was planning it for months. I did a tonne of research including watching your videos and still felt a bit out of my depth. It took about 2 weeks for him to come onto my hand and another week for me to call him and actually fly to my hand. I feel like we still have a long way to go until he fully trusts me but It's literally the best feeling in the world, it's still early days yet but I hope our bond will build more and more. So thanks for all the guidance!
I've watched tons and tons of videos trying to educate myself with birds, ownership, feeding, all that goes along with owning a bird. BirdTricks has gone above and beyond putting out just loads of information from their own experiences with these beautiful animals. They have done a superb job doing their best to educate people and share their own experiences when it comes to these gorgeous little animals. I thoroughly enjoy the honesty, the ups and downs of bird ownership, but they also give you the tools to "not give up". Very, very well done!!! Fantastic to have you guys around!!!
When I got mine it was a present but I had asked for it and had done plenty of research and knew all about them so I was completely prepared when I bought it and I teach them tricks I tamed them and even taught one of them to talk sooooo
The ginger Kid well that wasn’t what I was talking about. You knew how to care for one. I was talking about people who he no idea what they are getting into. I got leopard geckos for Christmas once but I was prepared and I knew a ton about them. I had also been asking for some.
Blueberry was soooo cute 😭😭 I would die to have that bird... but then I already have the cutest bird 😪😪 It was a birthday present but my parents knew I wanted a bird and I have done enough study on them.. Right now he is 4 years old and he is still really cute. 👀👀 But we ‘pre ordered’ him. (We went to a professional bird breeder and they put us on the waiting list and I got him 4 months before my bday so ya. Keep in mind, I was 10-11 when I got my bird and I was quite mature at that age :)) 👏🏻👏🏻💖💖 Edit: I just wrote way more but then it all deleted :( 😔😔 PS. He is never stressed and has a huge cage, a healthy diet (he is really picky tho smh) and I try to teach him pretty much no tricks cuz I don’t wanna stress out my feathered friend :))
Thank you for expounding upon this. My 12 yr old is a budding ornithologist. On those rare occasions that we can get to an aviary the aviculturists are amazed at her knowledge of birds. You can therefor not be at all surprised at her desperate desire to have her own pet bird. She spends hours and hours researching birds and bird care. I wish I could say that her father and I are as enthusiastic as she. A co-worker of my husband calls his inlaw's birds "multi-generational curses" With as much as she begs and pleads and promises to be responsible it is heartbreaking to have to continuously say no. I realize that she simply is not mature enough to have her own bird. It is nice to have a professional confirm what we already know.
My grandmother has three budgies, two female and one male. She has them all in one flight cage with no toys at all with plastic food bowls and plastic water bowls and on an all seed diet. They are not tame or trained. I get very sad because the male budgie (whom I decided to call Kiwi because of his green plumage) is very friendly and very attached to me he won’t attack me at all although I haven’t trained him. He has had behavioral issues lately because he has never been out of the cage but I’m planning to change that. I send my grandmother your videos on how to take care of budgies and it turns out Kiwi was very stressed and sad. Your videos helped my grandmother take better care of her three budgies Sol (sun in Spanish, yellow plumage) Kiwi (the male) and Pearl (albino female). I really thank you for that. ❤️🥰. Keep shining!
i am 16 at the moment and i grew up with birds. i understand were you are coming from jamie and it makes alot of sense. but if someone is responsible enough and know what the ups and downs of birds are i must say they make amazing pets and are one off the purest form of joy!
I got my first bird at 12 years old after begging my mom for one for over a year because of the cute videos I saw online. My care as a 12 year old was not the most ideal because I could not access the amazing parrots groups and such I am on today so I didn’t have a lot of the knowledge I now have and my mom didn’t care to learn. He was however extremely loved and was my best friend. My mom did financials and I did all hands on care. I am now 17, my first bird passed due to a birth defect and I have 4 currents that are spoiled rotten and are my entire world with me doing all care. My time goes to spending time with them and learning about them, everything about them is perfect to me. My second bird was the opposite personality of my first. He gave me many challenges to work through and we did it together! Now all of my stinkers love training and have huge cages with lots of enrichment and have my entire bedroom with stands to fly around on the best diet I can get them on. Everyone knows me as the crazy bird lady and my boyfriend who I have been dating for over a year knows they come before him always. As much as I love big birds I know I cannot handle them personally. Every bird will bite and I know I cannot handle them in the same way I can handle my little guys. I cringe every time I am told someone my age has a bird because I have not come across one that is given proper care. I just got a little bird from an old friend that came to me in terrible condition, I feared for its life. I care better for my animals that any adult I know they’re my world! Birds are not the right fit for many people and they are not presents to be passed around I completely agree! I am not proud that I went into bird ownership knowing nothing but I am so glad that I have been able to learn more since and am able to give my stinkers the best care possible!
As a Parent of two daughters I made my child research about budgies before getting them and after three In a half weeks I let her get two and she is taking very good care of her birds she takes them out of their cage several times a week and tamed a bully budgie that in the pet store would bully other birds we decided to get him because it would be fun to tame him and after a few weeks he is stepping up on our fingers really easy and recalling is going not too shabby his name is Skyler and his girlfriend lime or Lima we call her both of those names I hope people don’t just buy birds cause they are cheap they are REALLY LOUD AND MESSY we clean their cage once or twice a week and They also really love my daughter a lot my daughters little sister has a great bond with the birds too thank you for reading this
Hello. I'm very glad you made this video and I'm posting this on my page. Another thing that I've noticed is with adults thinking that a parrot are just cool. And some don't realize that a parrot is a very smart creature and has a complete understanding and a emotional creature. I have a macaw he's 63 years old and there are some people he can't stand because they have talked bad to him. Not that they have ever interacted with him, it's just what they have said to him.
I am so grateful that you did this course. I personally don't have a budgie but I see how people impulse buy them from pet stores and it always breaks my heart because I know most of them have no idea what they are getting themselves into. I do have a question though. Were Blueberry's wings already clipped when you got her? I ask because, I am pro flight for my birds, but I just rescued a Senegal parrot that was in a bad situation. He is not tame and was most likely never handled, nor was he hand raised. I am considering clipping his wings solely for helping me to tame him but I am not sure that this is what is best for him. I know Blue's wings were clipped and wondered if that was something you did for training purposes. I am a Rocko tier Patreon of yours as well. Thank you so much for all you do for us and for the birds 😊