Thinking about getting a bird, need more info

I have been thinking about getting a bird, that I can teach to talk. I've wanted one for a long time but I've never had a bird before. What all is involved? Cost? How much time should you spend with the bird? Any personal experiences are fine. Just need some insight, I know it's not something you just go out and buy.

I don鈥檛 know where you鈥檙e located, but I would check with avian rescue and adoption organizations first. There are birds out there that the owners give up on for one reason or another and need to get rid of. Just because one person didn鈥檛 want the bird, doesn鈥檛 mean that you wouldn鈥檛. People get rid of birds for varieties of reasons; they don鈥檛 all mean the bird isn鈥檛 a perfectly suitable companion.

Good ones will work with you, offer some training and have informational sessions. You might have to get ready to travel a bit in order to adopt one and prepare yourself but the time and effort will be worthwhile! Classifieds may also list individuals that need to adopt out a bird, so pick up a local paper and see what you find.

Any bird can be a great companion and some might not act at all like others of the same species. I鈥檝e known my fair share of African Greys that don鈥檛 talk. It鈥檚 not that they can鈥檛, it鈥檚 that they don鈥檛. On the other hand, I currently have a male Ringneck that talks clear as a bell, despite not being a species known for their verbal ability.

If you adopt, you鈥檙e not getting a 鈥渇ree鈥?or discounted bird (some people ask for a small donation). You will need to put many hours of effort into the bird. Think of it more as 鈥渟weat equity鈥? Birds have feelings like any other animals and can go through the same emotional disturbances as we do. Coming from an abusive home, or losing a loved family member (being adopting out) can be stressful on a bird. Realizing this and allowing for them to adapt is essential to adopting a bird.