Buying a bird

Question
What is the best breed of bird for a pre-teen?

Answer
Wow, very sorry for how slow this came to you!  I thought I'd answered your question but it must not have gone through... or maybe I missed clicking the "send" button or something.

There really isn't a "best" bird for a pre-teen, but there are several good options.  The first thing to realize is that really NO bird is suitable as a pet for a pre-teen unless the whole family is willing to chip in and take on some responsibility.  The first thing you want to decide is whether you want a pet that's tame and can be handled -- obviously they're more interactive and fun to have, but they're also more demanding.  A single tame bird will get lonely if not handled daily.  Kids have a hard time with this sometimes -- kids are usually awfully busy anyway, it's hard for them to get the bird out of the cage on a daily basis.  If the parents or other members of the family can help, it works out better.

Probably the best tame bird for a kid would be a cockatiel.  It's important to find a bird that's been hand-fed and is tame at the time you're buying it - shy birds can be hard to tame down even for an adult, and next to impossible for a kid.  Tame cockatiels are usually very calm, gentle birds.  They like to interact and be "scritched" on their heads, but they're not a huggable pet the way a puppy is.

Budgies ("parakeets" as they're usually known) and lovebirds can also be good pets if they're tame.  In most areas, though, it's easier to find a tame cockatiel than it is a tame budgie or lovebird. Both of these birds are more active than 'tiels.  Budgies are less cuddly, but some can learn to talk very well.  Lovebirds are more the cuddly type, and often like to hide in hands and pockets -- but some individuals can be nippy once they get older.

Two birds won't need as much attention, but they probably won't be as friendly either.  Some can't be handled at all, and are more "watchable" pets -- a pair of finches or untame budgies can be a lot of fun to watch and talk to, but won't be handleable.

Another good kid's pet if you can find them, is either one or two tame doves.  Ring-necked doves are the most common type and come in a variety of colors, including white.  Doves never bite, so that's their first plus!  Also, if they're tame to begin with, they'll stay just as tame in pairs.  A pair of doves don't have to be handled regularly and will still stay tame.  They're fairly easy to handle and care for.  The downside is they're not as smart and trainable as the parrots, but in some way this makes them less demanding.

I'd pick a couple species you're interested and do a lot more reading.  There are websites devoted to each type, and books as well.  I'd also try to contact local breeders rather than pet stores -- you're more likely to find a tame, healthy bird that way.

Hope that helps some!

- Lara
psitta@yahoo.co