GCC vs Pionus vs Caique?

[Brewster320]

To start off, I'm new here and I thinking of getting a new parrot. I'm a 19yo stay at home college student who has probably the most spare time I've ever had in my life. I have a few classes durning the day ranging from 3-1 depending on the day and my school is down the street. Also I work at a restaurant so I work mainly at night and if I go out to do things with friends that's usually at night too so I have most the day to myself and will probably for the next few years atleast so I feel like it could be a good time to bring a parrot in to my life.
The reason I want a parrot is mostly because I have all this spare time at home alone and I'd like a little buddy that could keep me busy. I have pet fish, turtles, and snakes and they are awesome and I love them but they don't show you any affection back so you can only do some much with them. My y also has a father and son lovebird pair that are bonded with each other and really don't want anything to do with us even though I've tried several times. They are more content playing with they're toys instead interacting or coming out of their cage at all. They are good birds though. My father also used to have a pair of parrotlets that were fun little birds. So I'm not a Jeanie to birds at all.
Now I'm conflicted between a green cheeked conure, a pionus, or a Caique. So far they each have their ups and downs and I'm not sure yet what will be the perfect match. Of course there's price differences with the GCC being the cheapest and the Caique being the most expensive. With the GCC I'm worried about it being excessively loud as it is still a conure even though they as one of the quietest of the family. The pionus seems like a good bird hut I afraid it maybe just be to laid back but I'm unsure. And with the Caique I'm concerned about the bipolarness and I've heard they can be needy.
What I'm looking for is a bird that it's extremely loud, obviously they will all make some type of noise, won't panick if I not always around, and will happy to see me and will interact with me while I'm with it. I kind of typing fast right now cause I'm in school between classes and I will talk when more detail when I get home. In the mean time I would love to hear some people's opinions. Thanks in adanvance!

 

[Lonnie]

As you stated they all have pro's and con's, but personally I don't think you can go wrong with the GCC

 

[andrea.faerie]

I have a black cap conure (similar to a gcc) and her screeching is sometimes unbearable... I love her to bits... but that shrill pitch drives me up a wall sometimes, thank goodness for noise canceling headphones! I'm a college student too, I'll be 21 in January so I know where you're coming from. I also have a blue headed pionus. I'll list some of the pros and cons (as a college student and owner of these breeds) that I've discovered.

Lucy - BCC
Cons
Loud... very... loud
beaky
incredibly hyper at times

Pros
She's only loud sometimes (but when she's loud... that's the only thing i can hear)
snuggly
playful
pocket sized
very tolerant


Bleu - BHP
Cons
He's heavy... haha
kind of standoffish
a bit cage aggressive

Pros
Very snuggly once I've got him on my shoulder
He talks
pretty tolerant
VERY quiet


Ok, these are just my birds.... but it may give you a bit of insight... It really is all in how you raise them. Bleu is a 5 year old rescue that was left to himself for 2 1/2 years so his standoffishness and his cage aggression come from that. Once I've got him away from his cage he's a doll. He's very VERY snuggly and his SOOOO quiet, the first time he sqwaked I laughed hysterically because he's so quiet compared to Lucy. Now for my little green chicken... Lucy is all conure... Big parrot in a little body. She's a busy body and loves to play, she's all over the place all the time, she's also only 6 months old so there's a big age difference between my babies. Lucy is so sweet though too. She gives me kisses as soon as I open her cage and she follows me everywhere. I can stick her in my pocket and take her to class without fear of her leaving my pocket (my professors love her and she doesn't make a ruckus so I'm allowed to bring her if I ask permission in advance).
Obviously, birds are beautiful creatures so don't get one just based on looks (I'm sure you wouldn't do that ^^). They're also very VERY intelligent and can convey their feelings and emotions clearly if you're willing to listen to them and learn their language Hope this helps!

PS: I've never owned a caique... but i played with a baby-baby one and i giggled so hard every time it make the little laughing noise they make when my hand got close XD

 

[Brewster320]

Thanks for the info. I like the personality factor I hear with the conures but the screeching kind of turns me off, a little screeching I can deal with but constantly all day would probably drive my family off or any future neighbors more than it would me(high tolerance towards animals lol). On the other hand I like he size and quietness of the pionus, although I feel they aren't that out going. So I'm still conflicted.

The Caique was a wild card I never thought of until recently. I went into a petstore and ended up spending half an hour playing with it through the cage lol.

 

[andrea.faerie]

hopefully someone with a caique will post for ya. I've heard that they can be moody and kinda bipolar.

Lucy isn't loud all the time... just sometimes... like when i open the front door to come home or leave for class... basically any times i leave her she screeches. if i've been gone awhile she'll screeches on my return. It's a toss up. I get angry with her and tell her "that's enough" or do something to get her to stop and it works 50% of the time... she's still a baby though. Personally and very honestly... had I known pionus were SOOOOO quiet and conures so very loud... I'd have gotten a pionus to begin with

 

[Brewster320]

Thanks for all that information, all of it's going into consideration. Anyone else with some tips?

 

[Atwee921]

I just got a GCC and hes AHHMAZINGG!!
Cons:
Nothing!!!!....yet
Pros:
He only screams in the morning and afternoon (which is when he wants out cuz i always take him out at those times)
When he screams, they're not loud.
He isn't too big.
He is happy to just sit on my desk and chew on stuff, and he also loves cuddling.
Not all do this, but mine knows his bedtime, so at bedtime he goes in his sleepy hut then I close the cage
They dont eat much, just about 5 teaspoons a day.

Overall, GCC are AWESOME. I don't think I could handle the insaneness of a caique (lol). I like pionus, but GCC dont take up as much space & they dont cost as much (cage, food, playstands, toys, etc.)

 

[Remy]

I've had Puck, a black-headed caique, for a few months now, and he's awesome! He's not without his challenges, but it's not too bad. The pros definitely outweigh the cons.

He can be moody (I call it his period) but it passes. Today he was moody, but it was because he wanted to go for a walk outside. So we went for a walk, and he's in a great mood now! I've noticed there is usually a reason for his moodiness.

He's playful, silly, snuggly and smart! He's always doing cute and silly things! He doesn't speak human language much, but I'm surprised at how communicative he is! I can take him everywhere (with paper towels, he's not potty trained). He's friendly with everyone (a little skittish with some people but warms up). I love him sooooooo much!

Don't let the price scare you off. I found him on Craigslist from a lady who couldn't take care of him anymore, for $450, as opposed to the $1200-1400 I've seen in bird stores (she payed $1400 for him).

 

[Brewster320]

I've had Puck, a black-headed caique, for a few months now, and he's awesome! He's not without his challenges, but it's not too bad. The pros definitely outweigh the cons.

He can be moody (I call it his period) but it passes. Today he was moody, but it was because he wanted to go for a walk outside. So we went for a walk, and he's in a great mood now! I've noticed there is usually a reason for his moodiness.

He's playful, silly, snuggly and smart! He's always doing cute and silly things! He doesn't speak human language much, but I'm surprised at how communicative he is! I can take him everywhere (with paper towels, he's not potty trained). He's friendly with everyone (a little skittish with some people but warms up). I love him sooooooo much!

Don't let the price scare you off. I found him on Craigslist from a lady who couldn't take care of him anymore, for $450, as opposed to the $1200-1400 I've seen in bird stores (she payed $1400 for him).

Finally some Caique info lol, thanks. How old is your guy? Is he still in the baby phase or is he fully mature?