Theme for parrot web site

I'm working on a new project with a new partner and we're going to attempt to create an all-parrot forum (for pet parrot and bird owners/enthusiasts).

We are looking for a very fitting theme, and I'd like your guys' input.

I've only checked out SultanThemes so far, and here are the ones that have caught my eye: (The first three are my top faves, but the others are great too)

https://www.sultantheme.com/forum/index.php?styleid=25
https://www.sultantheme.com/forum/index.php?styleid=64
https://www.sultantheme.com/forum/index.php?styleid=10

https://www.sultantheme.com/forum/index.php?styleid=78
https://www.sultantheme.com/forum/index.php?styleid=31
https://www.sultantheme.com/forum/index.php?styleid=36


What are your thoughts on these? Do you have any better suggestions?

Thanks! I know we have some great designers with awesome taste, so I look forward to your input.

 

I'm not really fond of them myself, but either 64 or 10 (second and third links) I would think would work for a parrot forum with their nice blues and greens.

The last three are really hard for me to look at.

 

I don't like any.

But if I HAD to choose

https://www.sultantheme.com/forum/index.php?styleid=64

 

Can't say I like any of them. If I were to envision a parrot theme it would be blessed with an array of colours with vectored images, foliage and other relevant imagery throughout the style.

None of those styles fall into this criteria. The colours are very bland, to an extent saturated. Images are generic and don't feel part of what would be a parrot orientated style.

Just my 2 cents. But I really think you can find something more suitable and visually more appealing as well as something a little more consistent based on the niche your site is which the theme should really go hand in hand with.

 

https://www.sultantheme.com/forum/index.php?styleid=10 out of the ones you have listed, or why not go custom?

 

I don't like any of them, either.

Like Shelly mentioned, a bird forum should have lots of colors, vectors of birds, etc - very detailed, long story short. And the only one, in my opinion, that can fit a bird-themed forum is this one. I really like the rounded colors, and the color scheme.

An addition of Bird-like ranks, bird-like buttons, and other bird-like graphics can definitely make the theme more genre related.

Have you considered getting a custom theme?

 

Thank you for the feedback, everybody. I really do appreciate it.

I wasn't extremely fond of these either, but I didn't know what to make of them. I of course considered a custom theme, but that's not viable at this point, in my opinion. The cost is the only hindrance; also considering the fact that this forum may never even take off or do well, is another limiting factor.
We really intend to go with something free at first, but SultanThemes are rather cheap, so it's not a big deal if we go for one of them.

If you guys know of any themes that already exist and are either 1) free or 2) extremely cheap, then please feel free to recommend them.
I'm having a hard time finding anything suitable so far.

 

With a bit of TLC, I can see this theme working out nicely (minus the floral graphics). It has a "feel" that can be migrated nicely over to a parrot-related discussion community.

 

Nick, I actually like 64 or 10 to get things kicked off and started for now. Not too bad and has some color that you can play off of with some nice images.

 

I'm still having no luck. I've checked eXtremepixels, Transverse Styles, and vBSkinWorks and haven't found anything that catches my eye.

One that I do like is: vBSkinworks - Quality vBulletin Styles & Skins
What do you guys think?

Perhaps I shall scout the vBorg free skins and maybe I'll find something good there. :shrug:

 

Here's one of my sites that I haven't yet got around to setting up, other than the design: Parrot Articles

I think something like that would be excellent for my new forum, but nothing out there is so simplistic yet great!

 

Have you taken a look at ForumMonkeys? Some of their work is quite impressive (and clean).

 

Yeah... I love ForumMonkeys.

Demo38 Forums - Powered by vBulletin

^For the scheme you're looking for

Demo38 Forums - Powered by vBulletin

^ You can change the scheme a bit.

 

Here are a couple that are free and might serve as a starting point.

Forumtalk - vBulletin theme by vB Skins
Kleo - vBulletin theme by vB Skins

 

Ah, yes - I forgot about them. Their work is clean, and I love the style of theirs that Wayne uses on vBCodex.

I just looked through and the only one that catches my eye is this one: Demo38 Forums - Powered by vBulletin
But I'm not sure if that's suitable or not.

Thank you Wayne! These are actually pretty nice, and I think one of them will do (at least for now). It's free, so there's no harm in trying it out.

 

Link: http://www.talkparrots.com

So I have decided to go with Kleo as Wayne suggested. I like the bright, happy vibe that it gives. What do you guys think of it?

I've added three links that I think should be prominent, to the header. Thanks to FMB for designing the little blue images to serve as buttons.

I also used a more conservative font for the header text, although I am questioning its suitability. What do you guys think of it?
I'm thinking I should definitely combine some parrot images and put them in the header, although I have no graphic abilities whatsoever. Do you like the idea of putting parrot images up there? If so, should we have somebody design some cartoon parrots, or use real photos?

What are your overall thoughts on the site so far - design, layout, homepage, etc.? I've employed some various registration prompts, buttons, badges and images. Are they standing out to you?

Any feedback is very much appreciated.

 

Reminds me of one of the love birds I had. xD So it's defo fitting.

 

Everything looks great, Nick.

I like the skin, very bird-like. Colorful and smooth skin! The text you used for the header is nice. I like the color effect. I think it would be cool if you cloned some images of parrots in the header. Maybe real ones, maybe even yours? Seems like you have the standard vBulletin registration form with birthday, and NoSpam and reCaptcha. How about adding a few custom fields like "How many birds do you own," "What is the species," and "How old are they." Maybe even their names, etc. I like that you've put the badges to use - however, you used it twice, on the same page - how about using different colors for each? Buttons look nice, all of them. Have you considered making different rank images? And not use the standard rank names, maybe use actual bird names. From least popular, to most popular.

 

Thanks for all of the suggestions, Tom. Those are all things that I do intend to employ; I'm just working on the basic structure and the design for now. Doing everything at once is overwhelming, unorganized, and leads to work without quality. 'Gotta do everything in stages.

I didn't even realize that I had used the same yellow badge twice; I ought to fix that. Maybe one blue one and one green one?

 

That sounds good.