(Part 2) Best pet bird supplies according to redditors

I think it's this ?
https://www.amazon.com/Downy-Large-Stuffed-Munyu-Mamu-Cockatiel-x/dp/B00KL3S29C

Amazon link for that Big Birb

There is nothing morally wrong with getting parrots from a bird rehab center. They don't breed for profit, just rescue and care for birds. By adopting from them, you are supporting them and making more room for other birds. So, as long as you can adequately take care of the birds, it's not a bad thing to do.

My understanding is that lovebirds are pretty similar to parakeets (which I have), so I could probably give you some information. There's no need to file their talons or beaks, as long as you have the appropriate stuff in the cage. Typically, the kinds of perches that come with most cages are rubbish. Birds need perches with varying widths and textures. Stuff like this or this is awesome. These textures and width variations keep the talons worn down properly, so that they do not need to be clipped. It also is good for their muscles, I believe. Give them lots of things to chew on, and that should keep their beaks in line. This way, you won't have to touch the bird to clip their wings, talons, or beaks, which could really scare the bird if it isn't used to you.

Feeding them the food in those bird food bags at the petstore isn't a good idea in the long run. It's not good for their health. Try feeding them fresh vegetables and fruit if you can, as well as the generic bird food. It's likely they won't like the fresh stuff at first, but give it to them fairly consistently and they may give it a try.

A cage is absolutely necessary, simply because you need to have a place to put them where you know they'll be safe. Like if you're cooking or have all the doors open for moving furniture in or out. The birds should not be loose in the house during those events. I'm not saying you should lock them in their cage all day, just at certain times when it's necessary. Also, keeping them there at night gives them a sense of security in that space. Ideally, you would have a room in the house that you know is bird-proof, where you would feel comfortable leaving them out unsupervised, but you should still have a cage in that room, as a safe haven for them, where they know they will always have food and water. When out flying, they typically like to have a few favorite places to perch. One of these should be the top of the cage.

The cage should be large. One thing to remember, though, is that "tall cages are kind of useless. Birds will typically move to the topmost part of the cage and stay at that height. Instinctively, they prefer to be at the highest available location. So, a cage like this is, in all practical use, much smaller than it looks. A wider cage is better than a taller cage, as far as giving them space. A wider cage might mean that they could fly a short distance from one perch to another. A tall cage is basically a small cage. Also, you want the cage to have horizontal bars if possible, on at least two of the sides. Parrots are big on climbing, and horizontal bars, as opposed to vertical bars, are great for that.

I'm procrastinating right now so can't go into much more detail right now, but if you have any questions, just reply :)

I call these dildo perches. My birds have a few of them.

A seed-only diet is bad for the bird as it's very high in fat. You should try to get him to eat pellets: https://www.amazon.com/Zupreem-Fruit-Blend-Medium-2-Pound/dp/B0054RV486

Use seed, millet, etc as treats.

Harrison's. My vet highly recommend it as well. She "peels" the pellets and eats the innards like seeds. It's hilarious.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0009ZFDA8/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?qid=1463438100&sr=8-6&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=Harrison%27s+pellets&dpPl=1&dpID=51Gt0jL0FuL&ref=plSrch

Get him a new cage asap. It's far too small, plus it's round which can contribute to their stress and anxiety (they need corners to feel secure). Something like this.

Get him plenty of toys, macaws are highly intelligent and will get destructive if bored. Also keep in mind he's going to need a lot of attention, the bigger parrots are basically toddlers in that they're loud, needy, but learn fast, and can be charming. Be careful of him bonding to you, if this is just temporary, it'll be devastating to him if he's taken away. I don't know about macaws specifically, but a lot of parrots when stressed and unhappy will pluck out their feathers, it's essentially like humans cutting themselves. And definitely keep him away from your parakeets, he can easily kill them. Singing to each other from their cages is one thing but I wouldn't let them interact other than that. Best of luck.

birdcage


This is the one I bought and it’s really easy to put together

Thanks!

Its a Prevue empire macaw cage

Linked to Amazon for details but can be found cheaper if you search around.
Very easy to setup

Awesome! So a typical flight cage is usually 18-22 inches high and 2-4 feet long. It's just to let them fly around a little while they're not out. It's a totally acceptable all the time cage too :)


I'm excited for you! Budgies are great. I'll see if I can find anyone who's looking to get rid of theirs. I'm looking (eventually) to get rid of one of my flight cages in the near future, but I'm waiting a bit to find the right fit for what I want (double or stacking cage since I have two birds). It's really big for a budgie, taller than wider, and fantastic pricing, pretty decent construction to cost, not the best, not the worst, just don't transport it a lot like I do because it can get bent.

Feel free to message anytime!

It's this (not sure on the size though): https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Foraging-Systems-Sphere-Diameter/dp/B001MWZF7S/ref=sr_1_23?ie=UTF8&qid=1495214434&sr=8-23&keywords=small+parrot+foraging+toy

It's a beginner level foraging toy, and I'd say it's good for small sized parrots like cockatiels to larger parrots too. The holes in it are kind of large, so I can't put my birds' pellets in there, but a larger bird's pellets would maybe be fine. Like it's just treats for my birds, but you could put all of a daily amount of pellets for a larger bird in it probably. I stuff it with millet and newspaper, but you could also do nuts or veggies (for less picky parrots!). My other tiel doesn't touch it, normally he'd push this one out of the way if there's seed involved but I don't think he has foraging figured out :(

Alright for cage you want something big, gccs need more space than cockatiels, my suggestion is 24 inch square or bigger in any measurement, my cage is like 24x24x30 with 30 being the height, they prefer taller cages. This is the cage I bought and I wouldn't recommend anything much smaller: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002SMC25E/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

A cage that size will generally run you between $100-300 depending on where you get it from. Most perches come with the hardware to easily install on the bars of a cage. You want many different styles of perches. Make sure it has several natural wood ones with varying thicknesses in the branches, get a bendable rope perch, and possible some time of swing perch that involves more coordination to sit on. You can get a perch that is rough to wear down nails if you want but make sure the perch is smooth on the top and only rough on the sides, and make sure it is cement and not sand or grit covered because green cheeks don't need grit like some other species of birds do and it can harm them.

For toys get lots of different things, plastic, leather, shreddable ones made from soft wood or palm fronds. Do your research and make sure anything you give your bird is safe and non-toxic obviously. Get him toys you could hide little treats in to help with foraging. If he is searching his toys for treats he won't be as bored if he has to spend a little extra time in the cage one day.

For food don't use seeds/seed mixes for anything other than treats really. A good pellet mix like Harrison's, Roudybush, or Zupreem is best. Try for something not colored/fruity flavored, I use Harrison's lifetime adult fine for my green cheek, the pellets are pretty small so they work well for a small conure like a green cheek. Here is the link where I bought those, they are also on amazon though: http://store.harrisonsbirdfoods.com/ADULT-LIFETIME-FINE/productinfo/ALF/

Other than pellets provide lots of veggies and some fruits. Its diet should be 50% pellets, 30% veggies, 10% fruits, and then the last 10% is spread among grains (cooked brown rice, cooked quinoa, cooked whole grain pasta) and treats (nuts, seeds, etc.). I make chop for my green cheek. I use a base of kale, spinach, or other healthy leafy greens, then I add in veggies like broccoli, carrots, bell peppers, jalapenos, peas, etc. I chop them all up somewhat small and then put it in a food processor until its very fine. If your bird won't eat the chop you make, mix it in with pellets and only offer pellets when it is mixed with the chop 2-3 times per day. You don't have to limit the amount of food your bird eats, they eat as much as they need. Just see about how much it is eating and offer that much so yo don't have a lot of wasted food. Don't offer the same chop/pellet mix after one day, the chop should be refrigerated so after one day it is best to toss it and offer fresh. You can also offer bigger chunks of veggies on a stainless steel skewer that you can hang in the cage. I do this a lot and put some blueberries, bell peppers, and spinach leaves so I know my bird is eating both his chop and his veggies in several ways, it helps with enrichment.

That's about all I got, sorry it was such a lot to read but I hope it helps! Let me know if you have questions :)

I have the same one for my Hahn's. He loves it!

Amazon Link

Prevue Pet Products SP42614-4 Flight Cage, Brown/Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SK7HOYA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_V1fWDbQ6VWWKS

This is the cage I bought. So far no problems

Sometimes it can take time ( normally weeks) for them to get use to new toys.

Here are a couple I personally used:
A) Foraging wheel. Super popular among all parrot owners.

B) Probably my tiels' first foraging toy I got them.. They love to chew up the seagrass and I would hide seed balls in the 'flowers'. The seagrass mat won't last long but I did keep the bulbs to use continuously.

C) This is a tad trickier foraging toys. You can first make it easier by taking out the wooden blocks and balls. Then slowly add it after they get use to it There are also paper strips that they will probably love to take.

D) Foraging clear ball

E) Another one of the 'first' foraging thing I would do for my tiels is this millet holder. This is super easier to set up. I would especially do this for longer trips out of the house. I would throw in millet and hang it and they would go to town on it. A couple other option is stuff it with veggies or seed balls with paper in between.

F) If you don't wish to put too money down at first, you can use a shoe box and shredded paper. Here is my flock using a slow feeder bowl with rock decor

G) You can put paper over their food bowl. At first your bird will knock it off. Then you can put a rubber band and poke huge holes. Then you bird will do little work to tear through the paper. Later make the holes smaller and smaller until you stop making holes. Then your tiel will have to tear through the paper to get to her/his food.
H)This tippler toy A tad harder toy for your tiel to figure out. You will have to fill it up a lot and probably tip it a couple times for him to see.

H) This clear, drawer toy Anotehr challenging one. You will have to leave it open at first then over time close it. Your tiel will learn to open drawer by himself eventually :D

Here are some pictures of my flock using these toys I mentioned.
I covered their play stand with paper so they will have to forage through it
My conure with the tippler toy
My tiels with the millet holders
Shoebox example with my flock
Millet with seedballs and paper
The put paper over their food bowl example
I used my late dog's slow feeder and rock decor for them to forage
Clear drawer toy
Example of C foraging toy

Good luck! :D

Prevue is a popular brand, though they have a very wide range of quality and purpose.

Here is what I’d recommend:
Prevue Pet Products Square Roof Parrot Cage, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0040QJ4Y8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_VRiQAbN0ZKJXQ

Plenty of height to allow two “layers” as well as the bottom, sliding door access for food/water bowls (important for being able to change out food/water without disturbing a bird that’s not comfortable), slide-out bottom tray (again, same with regards to bird comfort but also convenience).

The size is above minimum. Bigger is better but honestly, a cockatiel combined with plenty of outside cage time make it unnecessary.

My mom got it from Amazon, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KL3S29C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_T1.xyb1QTGC4F Its so soft and squishy!

I just adopted a ten year old female cockatiel, whose previous owner passed away. The cage she was being housed in had two perches, no toys, and her behavior is very similar to what you describe. She's with my other two cockatiels now and LOVES the two thermoperches I have in their cage. I would definitely recommend those, as well as heating pads pinned around the outside of the cage to keep her warm. Fluff tents won't do the job, and tiels can get sick in the winter (just from drafts around the house) pretty easily. Here's the amazon link:

http://www.amazon.com/K-H-Thermo-Perch-Small/dp/B000795ZE0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418747885&sr=8-1&keywords=thermoperch&pebp=1418747886436

As for toys, the older tiel hasn't picked up on much yet, but my others like ones that they can destroy, as well as ones with mirrors. It depends a lot on their personality, so I would try a variety. Let me know if you need any help or have more questions!

I saw your other post. Is your budgies cage (near the window) in your room? If so, I would honestly just work on budgie-proofing the room and letting him fly around/wander during the day. If he just uses the cage to sleep or chill, it doesn't really need to be big.

Otherwise I found

https://www.amazon.com/You-Me-Finch-Rectangle-Flight/dp/B074P4T56Z/ref=sr_1_7?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1537148196&sr=1-7&keywords=flight+cage

https://www.amazon.com/Super-Parrot-Chinchilla-Cockatiel-Cockatoo/dp/B075T5Q4PF/ref=sr_1_19?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1537147014&sr=1-19&keywords=budgie+cage

Hi there! Parakeets are so misunderstood. Depending on how you train and raise them, they can act like a fun cuddly dog, or like a boring fish. If you want him to be a fun exciting pet, here's what you should do:

1.) Week 1, don't touch him. It's tempting to reach in there, but don't do it. He's scared as hell of being dropped into a new environment and you will only add to him being scared. Trust me on this, it gives him time to get used to the natural noises of your house. Instead, go about your normal routine around him, but stop and talk to him and get him used to your voice.

2.) After 1 week, start putting your hands into the cage - and by this I mean literally just putting your hand in and fiddling with things, getting them close to him, but don't touch him. This establishes that the cage is yours and he's just living in it. It will help with respect a lot later. Partway through 2nd week, work on getting him to climb onto your finger. Place your finger directly in front of his belly and say "up." If he does it, put him back on the perch, praise him, and give him some millet as a treat. Do this over and over. Birds LOVE repetition. Once he seems comfortable with this (about week of doing this), use this same method to take him out. Once you get to this point he will be more comfortable with the idea of hanging out with you.

3.) There are pros and cons of having his wings clipped. I've always clipped my bird's wings and that would be my recommendation (it doesn't hurt if a professional does it, it's like a haircut). So I won't give any advice on this except that you should definitely take into consideration if he has a safe enough environment to NOT clip his wings. If you do let him fly around your garage, make sure you "baby proof" it just like you would with a child, but vertically as well. Tools will need to be put away, check for holes or places he could crawl into where you won't be able to get to him.

4.) See #3.

5.) Parakeets are perfectly fine being alone during the day. Make sure he has 3-4 toys in his cage and that you rotate them every 1-2 weeks so he doesn't get bored. When you get home, give him attention. Aim for at least 30min of complete attention per day at a minimum. If no one in the house is home during the day, put the radio or TV on, they like the noise. Speaking of, they LOVE being the center of attention, I'd recommend you put him in a high traffic area of the house if you can.

6.) I have a very well trained parakeet and haven't been able to potty train. What you can do is try treating him for pooping inside the cage before he comes out which helps. You can expect he will go every 10 min or so. You can always pt a towel down anywhere you take him out if it bothers you.

7.) I wouldn't worry about it, he can probably get to it just fine especially since his wings aren't clipped.

8.) I agree with @FlyingPhotog for this. Also recommend searching google for foods that are ok and poisonous for birds. Giving him some human foods can extend his life.

9.) Additional tips:

-Be careful of drafts. Birds are sensitive to cold air blowing on them. Keep his area a consistent temperature and put a towel over the cage at night (this will also help with noise btw, they are pretty good about sleeping whenever it's dark.)

-Be careful of harmful chemicals. Any pesticides, air fresheners, candles nearby can be harmful

-Don't let him out if anyone is cooking. Seems self explanatory, but most bird deaths are caused by them flying into boiling pots of water because their owners were careless :-(

-Cages: Stupidly, every goddam pet store on the planet sells cages with vertical bars (like this:https://www.amazon.com/Prevue-Hendryx-Triple-Cockatiel-White/dp/B005S6V4QK/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1468628422&sr=1-2&keywords=parakeet+cage), but they very much prefer the horizontal bars (like this: https://www.amazon.com/Vision-Bird-Cage-Model-M01/dp/B000K67UF2). It will be harder to find but it is much easier for them to climb. I found my Vision one at PetSmart. This particular one also helps keep seeds in.

-I also totally recommend you put pellets on the bottom of the cage (like this http://www.petsmart.com//WFS/PETUS/en_US/-/USD/-zid36-4226/cat-0-catid-0?green=F0B73A16-ADD9-5A58-9BE0-EA09D3A310B1). It's something I've started doing within the last year and it's helped a ton with keeping the area around the cage clean.

-Get him comfortable with you before you have other people hold him

-Be confident. I'm not sure how they do it, but it always seems birds can tell if the person handling them is not confident and they will act up. It's like racing any other animal, you show them you're in charge and they'll respect you for it

-Give him kisses and chat with him. He'll start to chat back. Parakeets won't talk like big parrots do, but they do "chat" and repeat things you say. It's so cute.

Have fun! Parakeets make for fun, adorable, and convenient pets if you put the time in. Love him and he will love you back! Good luck!

Happy RAOA anniversary! It's exciting to realize it been a year! Can't wait til that day :)

Perch for my birdy or surprise me!

I'm very sorry for your loss.

I would recommend this page for cockatiels. I have two and they can both fit in there, but it's great for a single bird as well. Easy to clean with a sliding drawer like you said, and I have moved it out to the porch at least once every year to clean my oven, since the fumes are bad for them.

Also, the cage is super sturdy and it'll last you a long time.

There's a rescue/breeder place in Houston that had a TON of rescued adult tiels that needed a home last time I checked. It's pretty "famous" as far as Houston bird places go, so you probably don't live nesrby, unfortunately. Just thought I'd throw that out there anyway.

You could possibly repurpose your old cage into something nice. It might also be a travel cage, but it seems a little too big for that.

Here is one I have used in the past: https://www.amazon.com/Living-World-Pedi-Perch-Medium-Color/dp/B0002DGYZK/

Here it is! https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B075R7NGGK?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

I liked it so much that I bought one for my budgies too!

Try Amazon for pellets? Or theres this place which does toys, perches ect. Akd you can buy in bulk.

My vet reccomends this for both my tiel and gc conure.
https://www.amazon.ca/Zupreem-Fruit-Blend-Medium-2-Pound/dp/B0054RV486/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=1H17GCRUFV0FW&keywords=zupreem+fruit+blend&qid=1556050726&s=gateway&sprefix=zupreem+f&sr=8-1

http://www.exoticwings.com/shoppe/zupreem-avian-maintenance-fruitblend-cockatiel-bird-pellet-parakeetconure-p-197.html

Also. PM me. Not sure where your located but I could help you find a good vet.


As for interaction. Take it slow. Open the cage. Let it come out as it wants. Talk to it. Then slowly get closer. Respect boundaries. It may take a while but be patient

You can get cage skirts pretty cheap from most pet stores in the bird section.

It's important to have more horizontal space than vertical because budgies are not vertical flyers.

Here's a cheap good sized one

You & Me Finch Rectangle Flight Cage https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074P4T56Z/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_R2dMAb30W4HYT

Here's a cage skirt:

Prevue Pet Products Mesh Bird Seed Catcher 13" H, Large Size https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004LOEQDI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_U4dMAbVBR6247

http://www.amazon.com/K-H-Thermo-Perch-Small/dp/B000795ZE0

A heated perch could be an option as well

Hey! I was able to get a big cage online through Petco for about $60. I don't have a specific link for you but I'd definitely check there. Basically, I would get a cage big enough for 2-4 budgies because, if you're like me, you'll definitely end up getting more. Budgies can get really depressed if they don't have friends.
Here's my number one rule for buying a cage for any bird: the bigger the cage, the happier the bird! It's also important to get one that doesn't have a rounded top, because it can make budgies anxious. Cages that open at the top are cool too because it's easier for your budgie to leave/enter the cage. It's also nice if there's a big door on the front so it's easier for you to train your budgie while it's still in the cage. I'll give you some links I found on Amazon for different sizes/prices:

Super tall cage, $65

Good for 2-3 budgies, $65

Very popular cage, would fit several budgies, also has wheels, $100

Flight cage for 1 budgie, $50

Petco links:
Cage for 1 budgie only, $30

I suggest this one, good for 1-2 budgies and has open top!!

stuff like this

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0054RV486/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_2?pf_rd_p=1944687722&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B001F95SV6&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0QZJMHZC9S7J5RZX8BS7


and some time the smallest amount of seed enough where he enjoys it every few days of the week. I give him seed on sunday and wednesday along with fruit blend and stuff.

and other accsanal stuff I haven't done in a while. also give him protean stuff to help with molting and what not. Cooked Eggs sometimes.

Haha. I'm kind of at a loss for chickens and bees...but parrots I can work with.

This is neat. It has a mirror and buttons that they can push that talk and as such encourage talking. http://www.amazon.com/Jungle-Talk-Play-Phone-Large/dp/B000UJURY0/ref=sr_1_8?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1345483594&sr=1-8

This hangs in their cage so that they can work at getting the treats out. http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Foraging-Systems-Sphere-Diameter/dp/B001MWZF7S/ref=sr_1_3?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1345483594&sr=1-3

I have one of the Hagen Vision cages - the small cage is too small but the medium is great for one or two birds:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000K67UF2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_tdMsybZE1AV4Q

It's really good and the design helps catch mess made by your birds when they eat. Highly recommended!

We got our lovely girl from a rescue. We originally went for an african grey but after several visits she just won us over. Definitely go with a rescue that allows you to meet and learn about their birds, it is such a huge factor. Baby personalities will change, but an adult bird knows who they are.

We got the absolute largest cage we could afford, which is taller than my 6'3" husband, though we really wanted to get this awesome massive corner cage.

Many cockatoos are absolute woodchippers, our girl included. Our little goffin's only likes easy to shred paper and cardboard though, so it depends on each bird. These toys get EXPENSIVE if you don't make them yourself. Our U2 is content to chomp untreated wood blocks we buy at the home improvement stores and chop into smaller pieces.

Food is important to. A high quality pellet, plus fresh fruit and veg, is a must. A steady diet of seeds will shorten your bird's lifespan massively.

An air filter is a must, a stinking good one. Cockatoos are dusty! We went with the austin brand, and we're not disappointed.

They are NEEDY. They scream, and they scream LOUD. Our U2 makes our ears ring sometimes, the goffin's is quieter but she screams more often so it's still rough when you need a quiet moment. They want your undivided attention. Some get bored easily, but can be taught to keep themselves busy if ample toys and distractions are provided. They are destructive. A bite from a cockatoo can get you stitches easily. You can't punish a cockatoo (our really any parrot) the way you do a child. They can be taught, but it takes excellent, darn near perfect, consistency and kindness to reduce things like screaming when they just do it to do it.

Also keep in mind... exotic veterinary care is so dang costly. We just spent 3k on saving our U2 when her oviduct twisted and trapped an egg she was trying to lay. She had to have a blood donor due to her particular situation (which the rescue she came from provided, bless them) and it took over a week before she could come home. The day we realized she was in trouble all of the most trustworthy avian vets in our nearby area were out of town or unavailable and we had to drive 1.5 hours one way to get to someone who ended up giving her excellent care. Plus, many don't enjoy taking meds so the follow up antibiotics were... fun.

All in all, we adore our birds. In general they can be fun, funny, sweet, comforting, and if you get a rescue you can make sure you bring a bird home that fits your personality. They are a TON of work and a huge investment in both money and time. Find yourself a rescue and start meeting birds, stay a while if you can. You will learn quickly if you're ready.

Pellets are fairly easy to find online. Here are some examples:

Harrison's pellets

Roudybush Crumbles and the smaller Roudybush Nibbles

Zupreem Natural pellets and Zupreem Fruit Blend

There are many more, but these are the one's I've looked at for my own cockatiel. My bird is not a big fan of pellets, but he will occasionally eat Zupreem Fruit Blend for budgies and the Roudybush Nibbles. He ignored the larger, "cockatiel" versions of the pellets.

My cockatiel is also not a huge fan of veggies. Like your bird, he'll eat the broccoli bits that look like seeds. I found out that he'll eat anything that looks like that, which includes cauliflower (especially purple cauliflower) and broccolini. He likes crunchy stuff, so he'll nibble on the stems of kale, spinach, and other greens (not the leafy part). Try as many crunchy vegetables as you can: green cabbage, red cabbage, snow peas, green beans, pea pods, etc. If I make a big show of eating sweet peppers and carrots ("mmm, yum yum, these peppers are sooooo good!"), my bird will get interested and try a bit. If you can, make yourself a little salad with lots of different vegetables and pretend to keep it away from your bird. When she comes up to steal a bite, let her get away with it. My bird will eat more vegetables if he thinks he's sneaking "people food!"

My budgies are shredders, they tear everything up, hence every 2-3 months or so, I get them a 5 bucks shredding toy from the pet store made from bamboo, paper and wood. It keeps them away from shredding their perches and food bowls. Something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Super-Bird-Creations-3-Inch-Crinkle/dp/B002ABLDXA/ref=sr_1_6?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1452969182&sr=1-6

Got you covered for plushy birb

Here's some of the things others have not stated. Firstly getting a UV bulb like that one. Also you could get a perch with a tent , a bird hammock, or something similar, especially if your bird sleeps on a perch.My bird used to sleep on a specific perch that came with his cage. I bought him a tent perch and he's been sleeping there ever since. He seems happier with it.

If you live somewhere where it gets cold, you could get a bird heater and maybe a heated perch

If your bird is scared of almost everything like my bird. I've noticed putting my bird on the objects(new toys, perches, etc) makes him feel more secure about the object and it may be useful for you.

If you are planning on getting a harness, it's better to get it earlier than later and if your bird doesn't like wearing it, don't use it.

This is optional and maybe not useful (depending on how talkative your bird is). If your bird is talkative try to teach him the concept of "stop it". My bird doesn't like being touched on the chest. To teach him I gently rubbed him on the chest and would say "stop it" 3-5 times. I move my hand away and would say "okay, stop it". Now he will sometimes say stop it when I'm doing something he doesn't like instead of biting.

And it's better and safer to not let him go on the floor.

I prefer the vision cages. They are great if you don’t want them creating a mess when eating their food. I got a medium sized cage for my budgie and she was excited to be in it. Heck I cant get her to come out anymore because she wants to stay in it all the time. She loves to talked to the plastic hooks and the door knobs on the cage as well. I got a medium sized cage, you can order a large, or small one if you prefer but I found the medium is pretty good for me. Its also a lot easier to clean in my opinion!

The vision cages have different sizing as well. I got the medium m01, its longer. They have a medium m02 which is taller. So I would look at each cage and look at the dimensions, reviews and videos if you decide to get a vision cage. Its made it easier for me since I don’t have to worry about her flinging bird seed everywhere.

I recommend this cage to everyone who ever asks.

I absolutely love it, I have 2 of them. One is for my GCC and one is for my 'Tiel. They love them too! It might be a tad on the big side for even a pair of Budgies, but I'm sure they'd love it (and you'd future proof yourself if you decided to get a bigger cage/more Budgies!).

If you're looking for those two cages specifically, don't buy them from Petsmart, they overcharge like nobodies business. I found 2 similar versions on Amazon to the ones you linked. 1, and 2.

Good luck and welcome soon to Parronthood!

that's good he'll goes outside his cage to play. reading is a nice idea. my tiel is also picky about toys but he likes crinkly paper toys like thesE: https://www.amazon.com/Super-Bird-Creations-3-Inch-Crinkle/dp/B002ABLDXA?ref_=bl_dp_s_web_17750466011 he'll warm up to you again. patience and love!

his wing feathers will grow back. clipping isn't such a big deal and is sometimes necessary for the safety of the bird.

for diet, feed him a sunflower seed free cockatiel mix, something like this mixed with a pellet like roundybush maintenance crumble size or roundybush california mini size

Seconding straw/shreddable toys. I have one of these for my tiel and she likes it, she also loves the ones like this that have the straw balls and stars that she can destroy. They don't last a super long time, but she goes nuts for them.

What about This?

Yep, I found it. Though it's cheaper to just buy it on Amazon:

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0793JTSNK/

Now to figure out how much I need...

This is the cage I have for my canary, it’s really good at keeping his mess in his cage and not all over my floor lol

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vision-Cage-Birds-Regular-Medium/dp/B000K67UF2/ref=asc_df_B000PGRVQU/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=256160966863&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9836321009111271278&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007008&hvtargid=pla-318775629279&psc=1&th=1

When it comes to letting my bird fly I let him out of his cage.

Have you tried acrylic foraging toys like these?
http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Foraging-Systems-E487-Feeder/dp/B004TRYI3U/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1394131550&sr=8-13&keywords=Bird+foraging

http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Foraging-Systems-6-Inch-Diameter/dp/B001N2TG22/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1394131550&sr=8-8&keywords=Bird+foraging

http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Foraging-Systems-E487-Drawers/dp/B00D84OEFC/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1394131550&sr=8-3&keywords=Bird+foraging

http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Foraging-Systems-Sphere-Diameter/dp/B001MWZF7S/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1394131550&sr=8-2&keywords=Bird+foraging

There's SO many like these out there! It'll require your cockatoo to think as well, so it should theoretically keep him occupied longer ;) they're a tad more expensive, but they last longer and are less messy so there's value in that! I don't have a big bird anymore, so my sources are out of date, but maybe another redditor can provide some suggestions on where one can get the best deals for these :)

Good luck!!

So a vision large cage (I think it's an L12) would be the most appropriate of those size-wise for your Sun. But it really offers more vertical space than horizontal space for your parrot and folks normally recommend the opposite, to have more horizontal than vertical space.

I had an L12 I used for my GCCs when we're visiting relatives. I don't really like the design (having to life the entire cage off to clean the bottom - give me a pull out tray anyway) and my elderly, blind, and disabled GCC could break out of it through the bottom food areas. She figured out if she hit them long enough it'd knock the dial and she could get out. My parents were watching them while I was out of the country and had to jury rig some ties around the cage so they couldn't get out. My GCCs are shrimps compared to Sun Conures, so if they could break out, chances are your guy could too. I was also always kind of wary of adding the snap on taller section onto the cage, as it didn't seem very solid to me.

I wound up replacing that cage with this and it's much easier to clean because of the pull out tray. It's a home-away-from-home cage so it's good that it's easy to disassemble and reassemble. I also like that its sides are solid pieces, rather than the vision ones you have to snap together.

I did a search for 'flight cages' on Amazon and there were a couple that were around the $70 range that you had listed for one of those vision cages. They tend to be larger and more sturdy, you might look into those and see if any are in your budget.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00SK7HOYA/ref=ppx_yo_mob_b_track_package_o0_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Harrison's, mixed with
Roudybush, topped with mixed human grade freeze dried veggies (broccoli, spinach, peas, corn, tomato, bell pepper, and carrots). He gets a couple nutriberries in his hanging treat ball. Plus he eats his share of whatever we're eating.

It sounds like a lot, but I mix the pellets in one container, and the veggies in another. In the morning I put half a shot glass scoop of each in his bowl, plus a couple nutriberries in his treat thing.

He is a healthy weight, and recovering from a blood infection. If I could get him to eat fresh veggies instead of dried, it would be great, but he refuses. Loves the dried. It would cost a lot to get everything at once, but buying over time wasnt that bad.

Edit: fixing the formatting.

Ideally you'd be purchasing food that doesn't contain sunflower seeds at all. I've been buying this and mixing it with this and this. Gradually I've been including less seed in general and reserve it for treats. I've also taken to growing millet in my garden, so soon I'll have fresh millet to give my conure as well.

Roudybush crumbles or minis
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000WFEK0Y/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1509572022&sr=8-3&keywords=roudybush+mini&dpPl=1&dpID=51G2DBr9k1L&ref=plSrch

thank you guys! would this one be good for one budgie?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074P4T56Z/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?smid=A2LDZGFAGG1QXE&psc=1

My mother has this travel cage for her grey. I personally think that it's way, way heavier than it needs to be, especially considering how small it is. I've had this travel cage for my grey for years and have been happy with it. It is a little on the heavy side (but still not as heavy as the one above) and offers a good amount of space, especially for overnight trips. It's also not as durable as the one above, but still think it's more bang for its buck!

link to cage

I have this cage for my cockatiel and I love it.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002SMC25E/ref=mp_s_a_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1542498550&sr=8-15&keywords=playtop%2Bbird%2Bcage&dpPl=1&dpID=512Xw1m7F7L&ref=plSrch&th=1&psc=1

Is this cage too small/bad choice?

I've also been looking at a Parrot cage...

SUPER DEAL PRO 61''/ 68'' 2in1 Large Bird Cage with Rolling Stand Parrot Chinchilla Finch Cage Macaw Conure Cockatiel Cockatoo Pet House Wrought Iron Birdcage, Black (61'') https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0734SYJQG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_vzWvDb6K4D7K4

It's a lot of vertical space but I planned on a lot of hammocks/ledges/climbing to begin with

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003VVP0KU?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00

I don't see why one of these


Or one of these

Wouldn't have seemed like a better option for the guy.

I use to have custom 6 foot tall cage which was much cheaper and made of wrought iron. Right now I have a back yard with a 7 foot tall premade dog pen made of chain link fencing.

I'd never put a woman in an enclosure she couldn't stand up in. It's weird to me how so many other doms don't see the issue with putting their subs in cages smaller than what actual kidnappers use. Maybe it can be fun as an extreme restraint, but don't keep them in there longer than a couple hours.

Conures should NOT be eating seed mix for their primary food, although they love it. You need to switch him over to a balanced pellet diet. I recommend Harrison's, but there are other decent brands as well.

Getting the little guy to switch over might not be easy. You should start by mixing the pellets in with the food he WILL eat. Overtime, simply reduce the ratio of "bad" food and increase the amount of pellets. Make sure that you are not allowing him to gorge on treats (like millet), so that he gets hungry enough to (begrudgingly) eat the pellets. If you give him a choice, he will always go for the tastier food, ie. the sunflower seeds. I've had some birds immediately take to the pellets (generally if they are younger), and some that took some time and patience, but eventually they all come around. It's worth it though, as you will have a much healthier and happier friend!

If you have any other questions, let me know!

Look into perch heaters if the room is going to be quite cold.
http://www.amazon.com/Thermo-Perch-Large-Plastic-Non-Toxic/dp/B000795ZE0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414040871&sr=8-1&keywords=heated+perch

My IRN likes both of these, especially the sphere:
Option 1 and
Option 2

This one on Amazon is what I have and they love it. Fits the Oxbow adult rat triangles as well as big chunks of carrot and celery with no problem. The holes are big enough that they can chew a chunk off of anything that's too big.

If you decide to keep him, make sure you buy a nice big cage (most of the cages at the pet store are too small - this is a good size one for a single budgie https://www.amazon.ca/Vision-Bird-Cage-Model-Medium/dp/B000K67UF2/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1550124503&sr=8-4&keywords=budgie+cage, a few different perches of different sizes (wood, rope, cement) and some toys to play with. Most budgies love chew toys, swings, and bells. He will also need seeds, pellets, a cuttlebone and a mineral block. Budgies also love millet and honey stick but both are high in fat so only give them in limited quantities.

​

Also KEEP HIM HIGH UP AWAY FROM THE CAT. Far too many stories of budgies dying tragically by the family cat even when the cat didn't seem to notice the budgie before. The cat will see him as prey. Best solution is to keep him in a separate room with the door closed high up to where the cat can't jump to and never, ever let the two of them be in the same room together when he's out of his cage.

https://www.amazon.com/Prevue-Pet-Products-X-Large-Hammertone/dp/B00KYQUJME/ref=mp_s_a_1_17?keywords=macaw+cage&qid=1558040164&s=gateway&sprefix=macaw+cage&sr=8-17

I would keep it out off the direct light. Let it rest for a few days so the cuts can heal. It will be ok like that as long as there is no deeper damage. Then pot it back but make sure that the medium is really well draining. Don't put it back in the sunny spot right away, because your aloe is stressed enough and needs to recover.


Good info how to make your medium


If you can get your hands on the crushed granite, I use this chicken grit I buy from Tractor Supply store. Not knowing where you are link goes to Amazon. Try sourcing it locally, it is much cheaper.


Another thing I use is pumice, but a lot of people mix oil-dri in their medium. That you can get from any auto store. Just make sure it is not infused with anything.


You can make your own medium by sifting the MG cactus soil to get rid of the small particles and dust (I sift then dunk the sieve in the bucket of water and rinse it), let it dry, then mix 1 part of sifted MG, 2 parts of chicken grit and 2 parts of oil-dri or perlite. If it still looks too rich add more granite, perlite or oil-dri.


Good luck and come to r/succulents there is so much fantastic info there.

This is a great one for two budgies/parakeets and is affordable IMHO.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005S6V4QK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_JcMNDbM24ADCA

I have a bird toy on my list.


Super Bird Creations SB541 Crinkle Crinkle Little Star https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002ABLDXA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_hgp3DbVTQAMJ2

Two things

1. Heated perch
   
   
2. Heat panel

what type of Conure?

Are you planning on keeping Him flightened or clipping his wings?

You have to train and discipline him like a small child.
He will require love and attention daily. Respect his space, but handle, and pet him as much as he will allow you to.

Make sure he has plenty of things to chew on. And get lots of bird safe bells that he can wack around. Conures get wound up, and can be aggressive at times. They need toys to be aggressive towards.

Get a sanding perch to keep nails trimmed
http://www.amazon.com/Pollys-Sand-Orthopedic-Perch-Medium/dp/B00176IDZA/ref=pd_sim_199_2?ie=UTF8&dpID=31%2Bdw7k2vdL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=0X6KNQ77TGF5M8MJZQ1J

Keep your toilet seat closed and bird proof your house. Do not use chemical cleaners, poison, candles, perfume, teflon pans in your home. These things will kill the bird.

Buy the bird the largest cage you possibly can.

Always put your hand in the cage to take the bird out to established shared territory. If bird shows aggression to an object put it in his territory (onto of cage/playstand)

Feed him harrison bird food pellets fine
http://www.amazon.com/Harrisons-Adult-Lifetime-Fine-5lb/dp/B0009ZFDA8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1458183844&sr=8-1&keywords=harrison+bird+food+fine

Give him lots of safe fruits and veges daily, and occasional cooked meat. Make sure he get 10-12 hours of sleep a night. Keep him on the same routine. Establish how much attention you can give him from the start and the bird will expect that from you daily. I spend most of my time with my bird in the morning and evening, and he is okay being alone during the day because he was raised on this routine.

When putting him to bed at night ignore him if he makes noise, or screams. Ignore him if he screams during the day and he will eventually learn not to.

Leave music on for the bird when you leave him alone.

If you have bitting issues:

If bites you tell him no, and do a bunch of step ups with him
if he bites again tell him no and put him in the cage.
if he attacks you tell him no, grab him with a dish towel,and put him in the
cage.

Only feed the bird where you want him to eat: my bird only gets food in his cage or play stand.

You can PM me with questions. The quality of the bird you raise depends on the owner. I have a 3 year old green cheek conure. I got my conure when he was 3 weeks old, and hand raised him. I have no issues with my bird. He doesn’t bite, or scream, he doesn’t try eating my food when I’m eating, and is potty trained.

you do have a very good point i have not thought of, i could leave the pet at home because there will be my two parents, two younger brothers, and my older sister to take care of the animals. also when i do go to college i plan to work also. thanks for responding. you are now making me think more of which i should buy then before

EDIT: also i just called a place near me with beardies and i might be leaning towards a beardie because they are cheaper. also after that i might just get something like a cape parrot or budgie. i have seen some channels on youtube that do use cages like these : https://www.amazon.com/Best-Choice-Products-Cockatoo-Birdcages/dp/B002SMC25E/ref=sr_1_13?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1494018256&sr=1-13&keywords=bird+cage for smaller birds and might just get one of those after i get a beardie.

Thanks for the response!

The budgies I bought were 1 month ago and two weeks ago.

Do you have any suggestions for cages? I have this one: https://www.amazon.com/Prevue-Hendryx-Triple-Cockatiel-White/dp/B005S6V4QK?ref_=ast_bbp_dp

Do I need a bigger one?

It was similar to this:

Prevue Hendryx Travel Bird Cage 1305 White, 20-Inch by 12-1/2-Inch by 15-1/2-Inch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003VVP0KU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_BB.HDbT37Z5B9

He didnt like it much, so how he has a soft-side travel cage.

I've been following your posts. Are you considering at all doing a light clip on him like everyone else has suggested? This would give him the opportunity to explore a little, but not get into too much trouble. I know the long days aren't ideal, but if you can get him a larger cage and provide enough toys he should be ok. Especially if you can squeeze some time in with him in the morning and then have him out with you when you are studying. Out of cage time doesn't have to be all one on one. You can just let him hang out on a play stand near by or something while you work. I really don't think you should give your bird away because it sounds like he is bonded to you. Can you save up for a cage more like this size? I saw the cage in your other post and really that cage is too small for one bird let alone two. I can see why two budgies would fight in a cage that small. If you got something more like the cage I suggested you might have more luck introducing a second bird. You could keep the original cage and use it as a quarantine cage for the new bird. Do introductions slow and then hopefully they can live together in the large cage.

https://www.amazon.com/SUPER-DEAL-Large-Rolling-Stand/dp/B0734SYJQG?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_12

I have a Grey who gets 90% of his food from foraging toys:

I use this , but he did figure out how to get the middle screw out, so I had to replace it]

This is my Grey's favorite. It took him a while to figure it out, but once he did, he goes crazy over this. I had to really tighten the screws so he has to put a lot of effort into rotating the levels. I use this for his favorite treats and it keeps him going for hours

I highly recommend both of these.

... Don't get another parrot. I'm gonna say this in the nicest way possible, but there are so many things wrong with what you want.

​

"I want the parrot to be around the same size as an Indian ring neck that's 100-300 dollars and can live in a medium sized cage that isn't high maintenance and quiet"

​

A parrot about the size of a ring neck likely isn't going to be less then $500, especially if you're getting one that's hand tamed.

​

Budgies? Aren't that loud. Anything bigger? Screeches. They throw fits like children. They're also not going to be low maintenance because larger birds tend to live for about 40-60 years (Conures and ringneck sized birds) and they're super messy.

​

A medium sized cage isn't big enough especially if they're aggressive and can't be held. They need at least a large cage like this one; an ideal cage for a larger bird

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0793JTSNK?ref=ppx_pt2_dt_b_prod_image