Parrot Shopping + Making an old cage look new
I'm getting a parrot soon, and I have a question or two.
1) I'm looking for a good apartment bird. Right now I'm looking at a black-headed caique, and I have an appointment to meet it on Friday. A seemingly knowledgeable man at a bird store told me that they are playful and quiet (for a parrot), but peoples' opinions on the internet seem to vary. I know a lot of it has to do with the owner, and the individual bird also. I am somewhat concerned about the noise factor because I live in a small apartment, and someday I might live in a dorm (or might not). I want a bird that I can take with me wherever I move. Does anyone have any personal experience with caiques? I've been pretty good with parrots and other birds in the past, so if it's a training issue, I'm not too worried about it.
I've also been looking at poincephaluses and pionuses, but I'll be honest, the man at the bird store sold me on a caique. He didn't seem like he was BSing me, because he said he didn't want to sell me a bird that I'd want to return to him. I also told him before he showed me that the caique was about $1000 out of my price range. However, I found one on Craigslist for $450 from a woman who is ill and can't take care of it anymore.
2) My mom has some old cages that she'll let me have, but they're rusty and not very pretty anymore. I would like to take one and paint it, but I don't know what kinds of paint are durable AND bird safe when dry. The cages are perfectly good, aside from looking weathered.
Edit: Okay, so it looks like painting a cage isn't a good. It was worth asking. It would be nice not to have that expense at the same time as the bird, but I also understand that the bird deserves (and needs) a great cage.
Also, a dorm is a very BIG maybe. I live by myself right now, and at this point, I never plan to have another roommate ever again.
1) I'm looking for a good apartment bird. Right now I'm looking at a black-headed caique, and I have an appointment to meet it on Friday. A seemingly knowledgeable man at a bird store told me that they are playful and quiet (for a parrot), but peoples' opinions on the internet seem to vary. I know a lot of it has to do with the owner, and the individual bird also. I am somewhat concerned about the noise factor because I live in a small apartment, and someday I might live in a dorm (or might not). I want a bird that I can take with me wherever I move. Does anyone have any personal experience with caiques? I've been pretty good with parrots and other birds in the past, so if it's a training issue, I'm not too worried about it.
I've also been looking at poincephaluses and pionuses, but I'll be honest, the man at the bird store sold me on a caique. He didn't seem like he was BSing me, because he said he didn't want to sell me a bird that I'd want to return to him. I also told him before he showed me that the caique was about $1000 out of my price range. However, I found one on Craigslist for $450 from a woman who is ill and can't take care of it anymore.
2) My mom has some old cages that she'll let me have, but they're rusty and not very pretty anymore. I would like to take one and paint it, but I don't know what kinds of paint are durable AND bird safe when dry. The cages are perfectly good, aside from looking weathered.
Edit: Okay, so it looks like painting a cage isn't a good. It was worth asking. It would be nice not to have that expense at the same time as the bird, but I also understand that the bird deserves (and needs) a great cage.
Also, a dorm is a very BIG maybe. I live by myself right now, and at this point, I never plan to have another roommate ever again.