Hello!

[knacky]

Hi everyone! I would like some advice. I'm relatively new to bird ownership. I have four budgies, but they're not what I thought they would be... meaning that I love them and I love watching them interact, but they don't like me at all!

I really want a cuddly bird that will always want to be out in the house with me, snuggle me, and sit on my shoulder while I do chores and things. But I don't know what kind of bird is like that.
I don't want a large bird (back in elementary school I had a teacher who had lots of parrots... and a macaw bit her lip off! Ever since then I've been scared of big birds) a little bit of mess is okay. I live in an apartment, so I need a bird that won't scream a lot. I think I want a conure, but maybe there's a better bird for me. And if not, what kind of conure?

 

[BruceV]

Welcome! You might want to reconsider Conures as they tend to be screamers. At least in my experience.

And for the most part, macaws aren't shoulder birds for the exact reason that you stated. Mine tries to get on my shoulder, but I don't let him. Mostly because I've only had him for a little over a week.

 

[knacky]

I know that sun conures are very loud, so they're off my list. But I've heard that green cheeks are quiet?

Wow, how do you do it? I don't think I'll ever be able to be near a macaw. Animals can sense fear, and I'm definitely afraid of their big hard beaks and beady eyes.

 

[JerseyWendy]

....and I'm definitely afraid of their big hard beaks and beady eyes.

Beady eyes???? I have NO idea what you are talking about here. Are you referring to "pinning" the eyes? When they contract their iris and make them look super small???

FWIW, ALL birds can be loud, or get noisy. ALL birds are messy, some more than others.

Whatever bird you eventually decide on, please just know that as he/she makes himself at home, the behavior will change. The bird may be very quiet in the beginning as it's in a brand new environment. Then, as he/she becomes more comfortable, it's quite possible the "noise factor" will increase.

Also, your bird may not throw around the food in the beginning. He/she may NEVER do that, but there IS the chance that he will.

Do LOTS of homework. LOTS of reading and research.

How are you keeping your budgies? Are they all in one cage together? How big is the cage? Do they have toys that you change regularly?....I'm just curious because you said they "hate" you. They have each other, so they may not want to interact with you, but I seriously doubt that they hate you.

 

[getwozzy]

Wendy makes a lot of good points- regardless of what bird you end up with, they're personality may change and go from quiet to loud, little messy to a lotta messy, etc etc.

What kind of living environment do you have? A apartment with close neighbors? Your own house? Do you rent or own? Does anyone else live with you?

 

[GaryBV]

I think you should practice working on your parakeets - they most certainly can be loving and cuddly and frankly if you can't handle them I can't think of any other bird you would be able to work with. That kind of 'cuddly' relationship takes a lot of work and time, regardless of the bird species you are working with. Work with your parakeets, learn how to tame them and then it may be time to 'graduate' to a more difficult bird species.

 

[knacky]

I guess just the iris size in general? For example, to me this looks like a mean bird that's plotting to mutilate my face, and this looks like a nice cuddly bird. I've never had any experience with big birds, besides when I walk past the macaw at the bird store and he looks at me in a way that really unsettles me, like he wants to tear my eyes out, so I don't know if they have the potential to be sweet, loving birds. Up until now I guess I've thought of them as the face tearing birds, which I'm sure makes me very prejudiced.

My budgies are all together in a flight cage that is 30" L by 18" W by 18" H, and they are free to come out all day long. They have a variety of perches and quite a few toys that I change out or move around every few weeks so they don't get bored, and a playgym that they sometimes will come out and perch on. I never said that they hate me, just that they don't like me at all. I can get the two males to sit on my finger or on my head, but they won't stay for very long before they go back to the cage. The girls bite me very hard if I try to handle them.

I'm looking to get them a bigger cage after I get my parrot, a standing one that measures 22" L by 17" W by 55" H, but they seem happy in their cage right now.

I don't mind mess very much, I guess I meant to say 'mess is okay', leaving out the quantifying 'a little bit'. I don't mind noise either, just that I can't have a bird that will screech a lot and can be heard through the walls, or we might get kicked out of our apartment. I'd love a bird that would sing and chirp often.

 

[GaryBV]

If you are looking for a large sized cage I can recommend the Prevue F040 cage.

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Prevue-Products-Wrought-F040-31-Inch/dp/B00176F5L0]Amazon.com: Prevue Pet Products Wrought Iron Flight Cage with Stand F040 Black Bird Cage, 31-Inch by 20-1/2-Inch by 53-Inch: Pet Supplies[/ame]

I have seen it under $100 if you shop around and sounds like it would be perfect for you. It even comes in a larger size, the F050:

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Prevue-Hendryx-F050-Products-Hammertone/dp/B0002AQ228/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1384796471&sr=1-1&keywords=f050]Amazon.com: Prevue Hendryx F050 Pet Products Wrought Iron Flight Cage, X-Large, Hammertone Black: Pet Supplies[/ame]

If those links don't work, just go to Amazon and search for F040 or F050 (those are zeros).

 

[TessieB]

Parakeets can be very tame and cuddly as you require, but they are usually the only pet. You need to find a breeder of quality parakeets who is willing to raise a youngster, socialize it, and let you interact with it before taking it home. And it ain't gonna be a 16.95 parakeet from Petsmart.

If you want a cuddly bird you need to learn about how a bird thinks and realize these feathered beauties are not domesticated like a dog. Birds really have no desire to be with us as we look like a giant predator with our beady forward-facing eyes and large teeth. Not to mention our breath can gag a skunk. All birds bite as that is the only defense against our hideous fingers that grab and squeeze unmercifully. They have no desire to be petted as being petted is not in their evolution. They like to preen and groom and our fingers just are not capable of doing such a thing. Our garish voice rattle sensitive ear bones. Then our hair entangles their toes, entraps their feet, and gets in their eyes.

We've all seen those tame and loving birds on screen but don't see the amount of training it takes to have such a relationship with a bird. Behavior modification does not happen overnight.

You want a tame and cuddly bird? Make it happen. Take your time, learn the methods, and watch what happens. And remember you can't teach love but you can reward proper behavior. And by proving to be a trustworthy companion you will have a trusting companion in return.

Enjoy your parakeets. They might not be as tame as you want but they depend on you to make proper decisions about how they live.

 

[tab_xo]

For example, to me this looks like a mean bird that's plotting to mutilate my face, and this looks like a nice cuddly bird.

I object!!! It is ALL about how you interact with your bird.. How could a blue and gold macaw look like it wants to mutilate your face

Fargo's eyes are fairly dark still, even though he is almost 2.. and he never pins his eyes unless he says a word




Like TessieB said, it takes alot of time and you need to earn the birds trust..

Even then a bird might not be cuddly.. Some birds love cuddles, some just like to sit next to you.. They are all very different!

I think a green cheek conure would suit you the best though..
That being said, you may get a conure who doesn't like cuddles, and may be very loud!

It is like taking a leap of faith

Although i think you should still try interact with the budgies a little bit!

Good luck!

 

[antoinette]

Welcome to our awesome forum
Have fun, learn and share and enjoy

 

[jenphilly]

Knacky,

I agree with megapixel that a cockatiel or green cheek might be options. But, both can be loud when they want. Green cheeks are known to be quieter birds, but we have two, caged separately. The female is the loudest bird in the house (and I have a bare eyed cockatoo), and she is the smallest bird, but when she gets going its LOUD, I mean hear her outside loud. She doesn't do it all the time, but my daughter's group (they all live in the same room), wake us up every weekend with their morning 'wake up, thank god we're alive' calls.

And be warned... if you get a baby green cheek, you will go thru a painful hormonal phase with either sex. Our little girl is in a hormonal period now and the other day she drew blood, their beaks may not be as large as the cockatoo, but hers is like a little razor, hurts like a youknowhat. And this is a supersweet bird, she's not a nasty tempered personality at all, she is the bird that converted me to a bird lover! But she is also extremely cage protective, my daughter has gotten her trained to step up on a stick because if you put your hand in her cage, great chance you're gonna be bitten! One day when I had bird sitting duties, I took the green cheeks out and put a sock over my hand knowing I was gonna get bit. Monkey grabbed the sock like a little bulldog and I pulled her out of the cage, literally her biting and hanging from the sock! Once out, she's a doll.

The male, Hijikata aka Monster, was a rough and tumble little boy as a baby (he came home right after being weaned). He loved to wrestle with my husband and used his beak alot. He was never mean, but he had to be taught what was appropriate for beak pressure. He is now a bit of a lovebug and smart as all get out...

I am not a cockatiel fan and actually their calls and sounds bug me more then when Ivory goes into cockatoo panic screech (hey the remote control could eat you, never know). If you go cockatiel, you'll probably want to have just one and plan to spend alot of time everyday working with them. But, again, not every bird is a snuggler even if you spend lots of time with them. We have 4 cockatiels in the house and they each have a different personality, even the two girls who are sisters.

You might want to consider a green cheek from a rescue or one looking for a home that is 3 or older. You'll be past the worst years, but with a female, still expect hormonal periods. Green cheeks are real clowns and lots of fun, they would get my vote But you will need a large cage and loaded with toys, green cheeks need to be occupied all the time.

Good luck with your search!!

Jen

 

[MonicaMc]

Five adult, flighted budgies. Not tame. Pretty easy to work with!


[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUx81WHTUwk"]1 Bird in hand Leads to Many - YouTube[/ame]


[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlSm4uFZzVU"]More Budgies!!!! - YouTube[/ame]