By Erik J. Martin for WebVet
When you are thinking of what type of bird is best for a beginner, start simple. They say you've got to learn to crawl before you can walk. But when it comes to choosing the right pet bird for first-time owners, you've got to start small before you can squawk, say the experts.
Indeed, if you've never owned a pet bird before or are considering a fine feathered friend for a child, it's probably best to think about what type of bird is best suited to your lifestyle .
Pecking order
"Historically, the best beginner birds have been cockatiels and budgerigars, which are a kind of parakeet,'' said Angela M. Lennox, DVM, of the Avian and Exotic Animal Clinic of Indianapolis. "These smaller birds have outstanding pet quality and provide fewer challenges than bigger birds, and novice owners tend to be less fearful of smaller birds.''
Thomas Bankstahl, DVM, of Parkway Small Animal and Exotic Hospital, in Clinton Township, Mich., said that while some pet lovers go directly to owning a bigger breed, a large bird can be very intimidating for the first-time bird owner.
Beginners often "do not have a feel for normal versus abnormal behavior, and a large bird's behavior issues often lead to an owner who is afraid of the bird or who gets bitten,'' Bankstahl said. "This results in mutual disruption in the trust between animal and owner and a bird that does not receive time outside of its cage and proper exercise.''
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