Beginner Help?

[Kaymay528]

Hi everyone, first of all I'm new to this site and I do not own a bird (yet.)
I've been interested in a bird my entire life and I figured this was the best place to ask questions. I would love to own a bird that I can bond with and teach to speak. Are there any particular breeds that are more for beginners that I can accomplish this? I would also love to know average pricing for the bird, and about how much I would be spending each month. I know the commitment with owning the bird. A couple people in my family have owned birds and I think it's my turn! Please don't be negative. I'm just asking for opinions

 

[Jayyj]

Welcome to the forum! It's a pretty friendly place round here, you won't have to worry about people flaming you for daring to want a parrot...

Can you tell us a little about yourself? What sort of living environment you have, what country you're in, how much time you can devote, that sort of thing?

Some species are more beginner friendly that others, but at the same time they all live a long time so the species you choose needs to be one you're really enthusiastic about. Some birds do better than others if you have demanding work schedule or you don't have a routine they can learn that might be a factor as well, and some do better in family environments.

Lastly, the Parrots For Dummies book is a great starting point as a general primer - lots of useful info to get you started. It will still leave you with lots of questions, but that's what we're here for!

 

[Birdman666]

1. Parrots tend to bond with the person that works with them. There's no guarantees with that one.

2. By bonding, are you talking cuddle factor?

3. What size parrot were you considering?

The smaller parrots that tend to be good talkers are the quakers and the caiques, both of whom also tend to be good trick birds, and cuddlebugs.

The larger parrots that tend to be good talkers are the Grays (both Timmy and Congos), the Hot 3 amazons, and the eckies... all of whom tend to be on the more "independent" side. Which is not to say you can't handle them... it means there is more work involved.

My suggestion, is always, if there is a local rescue near you, go spend a day volunteering, and get exposed to them. Get a feel for their personalities, and learn something about working with them first.

 

[Kaymay528]

Welcome to the forum! It's a pretty friendly place round here, you won't have to worry about people flaming you for daring to want a parrot...

Can you tell us a little about yourself? What sort of living environment you have, what country you're in, how much time you can devote, that sort of thing?

Some species are more beginner friendly that others, but at the same time they all live a long time so the species you choose needs to be one you're really enthusiastic about. Some birds do better than others if you have demanding work schedule or you don't have a routine they can learn that might be a factor as well, and some do better in family environments.

Lastly, the Parrots For Dummies book is a great starting point as a general primer - lots of useful info to get you started. It will still leave you with lots of questions, but that's what we're here for!

Hi I live in the USA, Maryland. I own reptiles, dogs, cats, and some furry little ones!

 

[Kaymay528]

1. Parrots tend to bond with the person that works with them. There's no guarantees with that one.

2. By bonding, are you talking cuddle factor?

3. What size parrot were you considering?

The smaller parrots that tend to be good talkers are the quakers and the caiques, both of whom also tend to be good trick birds, and cuddlebugs.

The larger parrots that tend to be good talkers are the Grays (both Timmy and Congos), the Hot 3 amazons, and the eckies... all of whom tend to be on the more "independent" side. Which is not to say you can't handle them... it means there is more work involved.

My suggestion, is always, if there is a local rescue near you, go spend a day volunteering, and get exposed to them. Get a feel for their personalities, and learn something about working with them first.

I guess more of an Amazon size. I just love the talkers! I would love to work with them. I want one that will want to be around me and allow me to work with them and touch them.

 

[Birdman666]

Then I've given you the six best "talkers." All of them tend to be pretty independent. No guarantees on the touching front, but if you get a young one, and you pick the bird that also picks you, and you work with it, it generally works out just fine on the "touching" front.

 

[sonja]

What's your living situation? Apartment? House? Kids? Etc....

 

[Kaymay528]

What's your living situation? Apartment? House? Kids? Etc....

House, no kids, I'm 21 and in a veterinary technician program.

 

[Birdman666]

CAGS are by far the best talkers, in my opinion. They can also be pluckers, if not raised properly. They are stubborn. They tend to get handled on their own terms. And they have a beak like a scissors if you push them too hard...

Timmys are smaller CAGS. A bit more reserved and shy, some people say easier to handle and less inclined to pluck.

Hot 3 amazons are clownish and excite-able. (DYH, YNA, BFA) They can and will bite if you get them worked up into a state, even the tame friendly ones... They have longer breeding seasons and can be "hormonally challenged" at times. Females are less hormonally challenged than the males.

Eckies are a lot like CAGS in that they also get handled on their own terms, and aren't always big on the touchie-feelie stuff. The females are the ones who get "hormonally" challenged of this species. They are diet sensitive birds, who are prone to diet related diseases if not fed properly. They do better on fresh foods.

I personally would recommend a macaw sized playtop for any of these. Something 40x30 works best. You will also need a separate playstand for outside the cage time. You can buy that or build it. Four hours a day minimum outside the cage time is recommended for ANY of these guys.

Every one of these birds requires breed specific training and handling. So, get familiar with these guys, and see which one suits your personality.

 

[Kaymay528]

CAGS are by far the best talkers, in my opinion. They can also be pluckers, if not raised properly. They are stubborn. They tend to get handled on their own terms. And they have a beak like a scissors if you push them too hard...

Timmys are smaller CAGS. A bit more reserved and shy, some people say easier to handle and less inclined to pluck.

Hot 3 amazons are clownish and excite-able. (DYH, YNA, BFA) They can and will bite if you get them worked up into a state, even the tame friendly ones... They have longer breeding seasons and can be "hormonally challenged" at times. Females are less hormonally challenged than the males.

Eckies are a lot like CAGS in that they also get handled on their own terms, and aren't always big on the touchie-feelie stuff. The females are the ones who get "hormonally" challenged of this species. They are diet sensitive birds, who are prone to diet related diseases if not fed properly. They do better on fresh foods.

I personally would recommend a macaw sized playtop for any of these. Something 40x30 works best. You will also need a separate playstand for outside the cage time. You can buy that or build it. Four hours a day minimum outside the cage time is recommended for ANY of these guys.

Every one of these birds requires breed specific training and handling. So, get familiar with these guys, and see which one suits your personality.

Thank you that was very helpful!

 

[Ann333]

I'm sure you will get a lot of help. I'm new to this forum, but everyone seems very helpful. The only thing I wanted to say and I'm sure it's obvious is to not get a bird just because it's a "beginner bird" even budgies live about 7-9 years and that's a long time to live with a bird that you only got for experience or as an introduction to birds. I only say this because it's something I had to recently consider when everyone suggested I start with budgies or finches.

 

[Turk]

Welcome and you have picked a great place to get info and opinions.

When I was 21 yrs old, I too wanted a pet bird that could talk reasonably well. I did my research, talked to whoever I could and did finally purchase a hand fed baby yellow naped amazon. As it turns out, he is not a very proficient talker. He has a vocabulary of only 6 or 7 phrases. He is however, a great companion and has been for over 30 yrs now. He has been around longer than my wife, has seen both kids grow and get off to college and has seen the coming and going of several dogs and cats. He is still my best bud.

Please note that just because the breed are known to be good talkers does not mean that all birds within that breed will be good talkers. Also, the bird you choose will be (hopefully) around a very long time.

(Actually buying that bird was one of my better decisions as it turned out.)

I spend on average $50.00 to $70.00 a month on veggies, fruits, pellets, treats, toys, vet visits, etc.

Good luck, ask many questions, and do not make a hasty decision!

 

[thekarens]

Just a point of interest, there's no such thing as "breeds" of birds. There are species. All dogs are the same species, but different breeds, but birds are different species