First time hopeful parront-really confused about which species is best fit?

jenib0

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Jun 5, 2013
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Hi, and nice to meet you! I've been looking into purchasing a parrot for our family that consists of myself, my husband, and my 4 year old son. The bird will primarily be my responsibility, but everyone wants to be involved in its care and we really want it to be a member of our family! My son will obviously be supervised around the bird, and we have close relatives with both Sun Conures and a Cockatoo that he really gets along with, so he is used to birds and loves them.

I've been asking around and still can't make up my mind as to what bird we should get! I want to make sure it fits in well with us and that we can properly care for it and give it the attention it needs. I've been looking at Maximillian Pionus and think they seem great except I've read they're a bit timid, and we are a very rambunctious family! I don't want to stress whichever bird we do get.

We live in an apartment and have no plans of moving anytime soon, our landlords are great and on board with us owning a bird, but we do need to be careful about noise-so, the quieter the better for our neighbor's sake, but honestly most birds should be fine. We live on the 3rd floor-in the trees almost, and there are birds all around, in the walls, on the balconies, it's a bird mecca here!

So, to summarize, I'm looking for a mid-size bird that preferably has these traits:

1. On the quieter side
2. Will hopefully get along with us all
3. Moderate need for attention. Someone is home 99% of the time, but we do have a young son to give attention to as well
4. Playful!
5. Has the ability to talk if we work with it (but not that important!)

Help?! Hopefully I don't sound like too much of a newbie! Rest assured I've spoken with a number of parrot owners and understand the commitment and time that go into owning a parrot!

Thanks!
 
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Also-apologies if I posted this in the wrong place, if so please let me know and I'll delete and repost it in the appropriate area!
 
My Wilbur, who was a green-cheeked conure, had all those qualities, and then some. He was definitely my baby, but he was good with the whole household, other birds included. :)
 
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Thanks! We'd originally looked at GCCs before the Pionuses were recommended to us, I just love them! I may have to look into a GCC again! Very sorry to hear about your little guy, we lost a very special cat last month, it is so hard to lose our friends.
 
I have a green cheek conure myself. These little guys are playful, not as loud as other conures (such as suns), they are also a bird if the whole family works with could be handled by all of the family. I think a active house will not bother this bird. In fact most conures will probably want to be part of the action. My bird can be cuddly and loves head scratches (like this bird does) [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mfs-OE1acM&feature=player_embedded]Cuddly Jack - YouTube[/ame]
 
Green-cheeks are great (I might be biased), but don't discount budgies, lovebirds and cockatiels, etc.

Regarding talking, it's very hit or miss. Mine does sort of talk, but if you didn't know what he was saying, you'd probably think it was random noises. Don't get a bird expecting it to talk - assume that it won't, and enjoy it if it does.
 
I recommend a turkey vulture. They can do home security and you can give them all the table scraps.
 
I also agree that a GCC would be a great fit ... usually quiet, love people, good size for an apartment.
 

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