Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!uccba!uceng!lbechtle
From: lbechtle@uceng.UC.EDU (laurie bechtler)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: Pet Birds?
Summary: Parakeets!
Message-ID: <1062@uceng.UC.EDU>
Date: 23 May 89 23:01:19 GMT
References: <5880001@hpihoah.HP.COM>
Organization: Univ. of Cincinnati, College of Engg.
Lines: 26

In article <5880001@hpihoah.HP.COM>, rdouglas@hpihoah.HP.COM (Robert Douglas) writes:
> I would like to get another bird, but this time I would like one that was
> amiable with humans.  I was hoping I could get an opinion on what birds would
> make good pets from you kind people in net.land.  I am placing a limit on
> what I can get in terms of price.  I do not want to pay hundreds of dollars 
> for a parrot or other such beauty (even though I do love their personalities).

How about a good old parakeet?  I love birdwatching and about five
years ago decided to try having one as a pet, but, like you, didn't
want to spend a lot of money when I didn't know I would like it. 
Well, Mickey is extremely tame and a lot more personable than I would
have ever imagined.  He is a standard blue parakeet.  I never clipped
his wings after they grew out the first time and I think that had a
lot to do with his personality.  Of course, I live alone so there's 
no one else to mind his little messes, but for the most part he hangs
around in just his favorite window-wells and on his playground (a
wicker shelf on the floor full of bird toys).  I leave the cage open, but
he prefers to sleep in there.  That's handy because on weekends I close
it up and cover it so I can sleep late.  Yes, he can chirp pretty loud,
but he respects the cover.  He doesn't talk, but I admit I didn't spend
time repeating phrases to him when he was young.
   Parakeets definitely know their owner(s), they can live to 10 or 15,
they are easy to care for and are domestically bred.  It's a good pet
for me, living in apartments as I do.  I would hate to keep a big parrot's
wings clipped, but that would be like a B-52 flying around, not to mention
the squawking.