How do you choose what species?

[Pollywog88]

How do you know what species is right for you and your family? This is so hard. I’m trying to learn everything I can so I can make the right choice, but it’s very overwhelming. Any advice? I’m looking at green cheek conures, parrotlets and cockatiels but I don’t know what is best.
•I am a stay at home mom that homeschools. So we are home 99% of the time.
•I do have small kids (10, almost 8, 6 & almost 4) so an “easier” or “beginner” bird would be better.
•The bird needs to be able to handle some noise.
•Lots of noise is fine, I live in a house with no close neighbors.
•The least messy the better.
•Almost 8 year old wants a bird that talks and I want one that will “cuddle” or like to be near me.

Is it even possible to find a bird that would work for us?

 

[zERo]

Welcome to the Forums!

Choosing a species can be hard! I would personally not go with a parrot let. They are the most prone to behavioral issues and plucking out of the green you listed.

I personally own 3 tiels and a green cheek.
I think cockatiels are a good first bird, now that doesn’t mean their care is any different than other parrots.They can be taught to talk but are more likely to whistle songs, I have seen videos of them talking.
Tiels aren’t always the most cuddly but like a head scratch every now and then. They just seem to prefer to be near you rather than on you like a green cheek.
Tiels are very dusty, so if anyone had allergies, it’s something to keep in mind.

As for green cheeks, they can be quite needy and a little overwhelming once they trust you. Sometimes a I have to take a break from Tom (my green cheek) because his energy!
They generally love to cuddle though not every bird will.
They can learn to talk but it’s usually very hard to understand. I’d say a cockatiels voice is more clear.
He is harder to entertain than the tiels, and though he plays with his toys he prefers interaction with me.

Their diets are very similar, though tiels should have more seed than green cheeks.

 

[clark_conure]

green cheeks are super popular.....a cockatieel also a good choice around kids. They are good birds that can't do serious damge to a kid if they get tempermental. These birds are popular for thier temperment. They are playful and silly, both species. Both tend to be clowns.

Cockatiels need grit where conures don't but there's a big price difference, like 100 vs 600.

 

[zERo]

green cheeks are super popular.....a cockatieel also a good choice around kids. They are good birds that can't do serious damge to a kid if they get tempermental. These birds are popular for thier temperment. They are playful and silly, both species. Both tend to be clowns.

Cockatiels need grit where conures don't but there's a big price difference, like 100 vs 600.

While I agree on the price here, and would say a cockatiel is a better choice if you have kids, I must disagree about grit.

Parrots, of any kind, do not need grit. Unless said grit is composed of oyster shell/egg shell or charcoal (charcoal when needed) Grit made for chickens could kill your parrot, especially if your chickens grit is small pebbles.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

While I agree on the price here, and would say a cockatiel is a better choice if you have kids, I must disagree about grit.

Parrots, of any kind, do not need grit. Unless said grit is composed of oyster shell/egg shell or charcoal (charcoal when needed) Grit made for chickens could kill your parrot, especially if your chickens grit is small pebbles.

Grit is only needed for birds that don't remove the hulls before swallowing the seeds. As Zero notes, no parrots (hookbills) need grit. In fact, parrots can suffer serious digestive problems if they are given grit because some will enthusiastically swallow too much of it.

 

[clark_conure]

In the 1980s apperntly they needed it, my bad for adding misinformation. I"m sure you are you correct. I just know what I knew then.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

In the 1980s apperntly they needed it, my bad for adding misinformation. I"m sure you are you correct. I just know what I new then.

A lot of people used to give budgies grit including myself way back before the 80s.

 

[clark_conure]

A lot of people used to give budgies grit including myself way back before the 80s.

Thats why we need parrot forums I guess.