Teknogeddon
New member
Conure v Hahns
Brace yourself, this is going to be long and I'm not sure where to put it forum wise.
So I'm in a bit of a dilemma. I have decided that I am going to get one bird, my future husband is cooperative, and I have a decent sized cage occupying a section of my third floor apartment. (23x24x60)
However, for the life of me, I cannot choose a bird. Indecisiveness is a terrible trait I was blessed with sprinkled with social anxiety and the irrefutable fact I am beyond help in normal society. I have tried talking to some breeders and stores locally but they all just recommend I 'research' the birds to get to know them. I do not believe in "Beginner Parrots" as no one gets a Chihuahua to later someday maybe get a pitbull, it's not fair to the bird.
This is not helpful.
However, I have came down to the final three. I came to the forum to ask for your help and get updates once I have obtained my new feathered friend.
In no order in particular I produce to you all my list:
The Painted Conure:
I love the colors. I'm not going to lie, these birds have been a pain to find, however I have located some dedicated breeders and adore the fancy feathers. For comparison sake, they have the same personality of a green cheek or black capped.
I like the fact they are smaller, and yet still playful. I regularly visit a green cheek yellow sided at Petsmart named Skittles who has became quite enamored with me, even the staff is surprised. (The trick was car keys. That bird loves keys.) He's quite the little clown and I adore his playful nature without the screeching and hollering at me.
Hahns Macaws:
Not nearly as colorful but making up for it in intelligence, I like the Hahns for its compact size and big bird personality. I've found lots of breeders with these, even one less than 3 hours away with one that is very reasonably price and from a reputable breeder. They have all the features I want in a bird and then some, but I can't seem to find much downside to them other than the noise. I found a video of one barking and just about melted.
White Bellied Caique:
They seem so much fun! Even with the downsides of a horrendous bite and shrill- cheese- grater- on- ears- screech, they seem to make up for it by being the little jokesters that they are. I'm just not sure I can keep up with such a rambunctious bird, but I tend to sell myself short in almost every way possible and come out just fine. My significant other seems to favor these, and between the two of us, we'd be able to handle one just fine. Local breeders have them too.
My concerns:
Social:
My significant other wants a bird that is personable, and I would like that too but I understand they are birds. He tends to have family over quite a bit that tends to get into everything (teenagers, young adults, and mother). In addition, my sister is only 8 years old and I would like a bird I can introduce avians with. For this, I would need a bird that can be extroverted and friendly, fun to look at, and sweet-natured. She has never had a bird before and I would be there every step of the way. I understand this is all in socialization, but a parrot that is a quick learner and able to adapt fast is definitely a plus for this reason.
Noise:
I live in the third floor of an apartment. I've already discussed with management and have written approval to have a bird, however out of consideration I don't want a bird that can literally deafen a neighbor who is unfortunate enough to stand next to our one shared wall. It's rare we have sound leaks due to the newer construction, so I can probably handle a mid-tier noise level bird. We do have a couple noisy neighbors and I'd say on a scale of 1-10 they rank about a 7 or 8 with their stereo. Something around there or lower is preferable and we plan to get a small house in a year or two.
Size:
I already have a cage, so a bird that is comfortable sleeping in that size (23x24x60) is best. Whenever I am home I will have the bird out, which brings to the next concern.
Compatibility with Other Pets:
Similar to my first concern, I need socialness with inhumans as well. I have a small dog named Rocky (Road) who has a good 6-8+ years in him. He's a miniature daschund so he's a bit yappy and opinionated but tends to get bored with whatever he cant have after a day or two. He can be trained to leave the bird alone but not after a few days of him hopping up on his back paws to look in the cage with ears up. (He has never been aggressive to smaller animals) Stubborn little brat. He's very tolerant with children, cats, and other people, but he's not yet been around a bird outside a store. Does a fiance count as a pet?
So what it comes down to is the following (tl:dr section here)
Conure:
Downsides: Social? Pets?
Upsides: Noise and Size
Hahns:
Downsides: Size and Noise
Upsides: Pets and Social*
(*my future husband is cussing a storm atm, I'd rather the bird not learn this.)
Please help me, despite the fact I wrote a novel.
Brace yourself, this is going to be long and I'm not sure where to put it forum wise.
So I'm in a bit of a dilemma. I have decided that I am going to get one bird, my future husband is cooperative, and I have a decent sized cage occupying a section of my third floor apartment. (23x24x60)
However, for the life of me, I cannot choose a bird. Indecisiveness is a terrible trait I was blessed with sprinkled with social anxiety and the irrefutable fact I am beyond help in normal society. I have tried talking to some breeders and stores locally but they all just recommend I 'research' the birds to get to know them. I do not believe in "Beginner Parrots" as no one gets a Chihuahua to later someday maybe get a pitbull, it's not fair to the bird.
This is not helpful.
However, I have came down to the final three. I came to the forum to ask for your help and get updates once I have obtained my new feathered friend.
In no order in particular I produce to you all my list:
The Painted Conure:
I love the colors. I'm not going to lie, these birds have been a pain to find, however I have located some dedicated breeders and adore the fancy feathers. For comparison sake, they have the same personality of a green cheek or black capped.
I like the fact they are smaller, and yet still playful. I regularly visit a green cheek yellow sided at Petsmart named Skittles who has became quite enamored with me, even the staff is surprised. (The trick was car keys. That bird loves keys.) He's quite the little clown and I adore his playful nature without the screeching and hollering at me.
Hahns Macaws:
Not nearly as colorful but making up for it in intelligence, I like the Hahns for its compact size and big bird personality. I've found lots of breeders with these, even one less than 3 hours away with one that is very reasonably price and from a reputable breeder. They have all the features I want in a bird and then some, but I can't seem to find much downside to them other than the noise. I found a video of one barking and just about melted.
White Bellied Caique:
They seem so much fun! Even with the downsides of a horrendous bite and shrill- cheese- grater- on- ears- screech, they seem to make up for it by being the little jokesters that they are. I'm just not sure I can keep up with such a rambunctious bird, but I tend to sell myself short in almost every way possible and come out just fine. My significant other seems to favor these, and between the two of us, we'd be able to handle one just fine. Local breeders have them too.
My concerns:
Social:
My significant other wants a bird that is personable, and I would like that too but I understand they are birds. He tends to have family over quite a bit that tends to get into everything (teenagers, young adults, and mother). In addition, my sister is only 8 years old and I would like a bird I can introduce avians with. For this, I would need a bird that can be extroverted and friendly, fun to look at, and sweet-natured. She has never had a bird before and I would be there every step of the way. I understand this is all in socialization, but a parrot that is a quick learner and able to adapt fast is definitely a plus for this reason.
Noise:
I live in the third floor of an apartment. I've already discussed with management and have written approval to have a bird, however out of consideration I don't want a bird that can literally deafen a neighbor who is unfortunate enough to stand next to our one shared wall. It's rare we have sound leaks due to the newer construction, so I can probably handle a mid-tier noise level bird. We do have a couple noisy neighbors and I'd say on a scale of 1-10 they rank about a 7 or 8 with their stereo. Something around there or lower is preferable and we plan to get a small house in a year or two.
Size:
I already have a cage, so a bird that is comfortable sleeping in that size (23x24x60) is best. Whenever I am home I will have the bird out, which brings to the next concern.
Compatibility with Other Pets:
Similar to my first concern, I need socialness with inhumans as well. I have a small dog named Rocky (Road) who has a good 6-8+ years in him. He's a miniature daschund so he's a bit yappy and opinionated but tends to get bored with whatever he cant have after a day or two. He can be trained to leave the bird alone but not after a few days of him hopping up on his back paws to look in the cage with ears up. (He has never been aggressive to smaller animals) Stubborn little brat. He's very tolerant with children, cats, and other people, but he's not yet been around a bird outside a store. Does a fiance count as a pet?
So what it comes down to is the following (tl:dr section here)
Conure:
Downsides: Social? Pets?
Upsides: Noise and Size
Hahns:
Downsides: Size and Noise
Upsides: Pets and Social*
(*my future husband is cussing a storm atm, I'd rather the bird not learn this.)
Please help me, despite the fact I wrote a novel.
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