Ideal first parrot?

[Galaxy88]

Hello everyone

I've recently fallen in love with parrots, and while doing my research I heard a lot of conflicting things about what a good "starter" parrot would be. I know there is no such thing as an "easy" bird and every parrot is by definition high maintenance, but as far as I can tell there definitely are different degrees of difficulty.

Personally I would love to get a big bird, preferably an Eclectus, but most I hear they have very difficult dietary needs. Is it smarter to start with another bird? What would you guys recommend? I have never had a bird before (except for chickens), so that's maybe another thing to keep in mind.

 

[LizardSith]

Hello everyone

I've recently fallen in love with parrots, and while doing my research I heard a lot of conflicting things about what a good "starter" parrot would be. I know there is no such thing as an "easy" bird and every parrot is by definition high maintenance, but as far as I can tell there definitely are different degrees of difficulty.

Personally I would love to get a big bird, preferably an Eclectus, but most I hear they have very difficult dietary needs. Is it smarter to start with another bird? What would you guys recommend? I have never had a bird before (except for chickens), so that's maybe another thing to keep in mind.

I've had many birds in the past. I love the larger birds, but they are like children. Not in a bad way, but it's like taking care of a mini human. Parakeets? meh cockatiels? Mmmm maybe. Not to say I didn't like them, bonding with them was weird. I can't explain. They were good birds. Cockatoos (ok, I love them, but it's like I had a 3rd child). African greys are supposedly decent to start with from what I'm told.

I had a quaker (monk), he was a pain in the ***. Trainable, yes. Talk? Yes (a little). Loves people, but moody. Someone would walk in the room and he'd bite me. However, it should be mentioned he was abused before I got him. My dad ... Whole other story there would hit the cage, yell for him to shut the **** you piece of.... Well you get the idea. I told him I'd take the bird. I loved the bird for sure. I'm just saying it took great effort some days to smile through the biting. So that's not a fair review. Not the bird's fault. He had trauma. That was 30 years ago. Still... I loved that bird.

I went with a conure. Easy to take care of, trainable, can talk, but not usually. They will try and they definitely mimic whistling.
The diet is fairly easy. Clean up is easy. Huge personalities and they like to entertain (playing, rolling on their back). They are nibblers though. I don't mean biting. If they do bite, it can be trained no to do it.

I'm gonna be honest, I have a conure. He's amazing. I never had one, but when I saw him, he came bounding over and rolled around on his back wanting to play. So... He came home with me. I'm biased. Yes it's like having a child, but the needs are less exhausting. Again. Im biased. lol honestly get what you want. You sound like an animal lover and you'd take care of any bird you picked. These are just my thoughts. I loved all my feathered kids.

 

[wrench13]

@Galaxy88, a little more about your living conditions will help us suggest a species. Work full time, house or apt., who else is there, time you can spend with the parrot. That kind of stuff. Some species are pretty forgiving in some areas, others not so much.

 

[henpecked]

Hello everyone

I've recently fallen in love with parrots, and while doing my research I heard a lot of conflicting things about what a good "starter" parrot would be. I know there is no such thing as an "easy" bird and every parrot is by definition high maintenance, but as far as I can tell there definitely are different degrees of difficulty.

Personally I would love to get a big bird, preferably an Eclectus, but most I hear they have very difficult dietary needs. Is it smarter to start with another bird? What would you guys recommend? I have never had a bird before (except for chickens), so that's maybe another thing to keep in mind.

LizardSith post your best info. Not so much about all the other birds but the fact that she let the bird pick her. When that conure went to her is the sign you should look for. Regardless of what specis you decide on ,, go for the bird that picks you. The more they love you, the more you love them. Good luck , imo , amazons rule.

 

[Percival the great]

Hello everyone

I've recently fallen in love with parrots, and while doing my research I heard a lot of conflicting things about what a good "starter" parrot would be. I know there is no such thing as an "easy" bird and every parrot is by definition high maintenance, but as far as I can tell there definitely are different degrees of difficulty.

Personally I would love to get a big bird, preferably an Eclectus, but most I hear they have very difficult dietary needs. Is it smarter to start with another bird? What would you guys recommend? I have never had a bird before (except for chickens), so that's maybe another thing to keep in mind.

I was once in a similar situation my dream bird being a Senegal. I ended up getting a budgie just to test the waters, train him and such he was super easy! Then I got him a girl friend she was shy but I still found it easy to train and such. I also visited a few bird shops. A few months later a found my dream sennie! RIP Percy
So I’d recommend either getting something around cockatiel/budgie train it for someone (or fall in love and just have lots of birds like I did ) or volunteer at rescues or even bird sit for a friend. And watch tons of YouTube videos about the specific parrot you want I would watch hundreds about different pet Senegals and parrot training (became a bit of a nerd) But definitely meet more then one as their personality’s can differ quite a bit

 

[Galaxy88]

Thank all of you for the reactions.

Living conditions; I am currently living at an apartment, but will move to a house soon. I do have a housemate but they are okay with the noise that comes with a parrot, and are willing to help in the process of training/socializing it. Sadly I do work full time, I don't know what parrot species is fine being alone? I heard Eclectus birds are quite independent.

You guys seem to advice to pick the bird that chooses you. So the best option would be to go to a rescue? Aren't behavioral issues a big problem over there?

 

[Kor446]

Thank all of you for the reactions.

Living conditions; I am currently living at an apartment, but will move to a house soon. I do have a housemate but they are okay with the noise that comes with a parrot, and are willing to help in the process of training/socializing it. Sadly I do work full time, I don't know what parrot species is fine being alone? I heard Eclectus birds are quite independent.

You guys seem to advice to pick the bird that chooses you. So the best option would be to go to a rescue? Aren't behavioral issues a big problem over there?

Can't beat a rescue in that you'll meet a number of birds. The really good ones go to great lengths to assure a good match by serving as the bird's advocate--making sure it meets your lifestyle/living situation, offering/requiring training you as an owner, etc. In fact, the tougher the rescue makes it the more impressed I am with them. Gabriel Foundation (Denver) is one that comes to mind.

Don't be surprised if you feel you are the one being interviewed because, in fact, you are. In addition to learning about you they'll require a home check. Many refuse to offer a bird to people living outside a certain radius so that they are able be "hands-on" as you are vetted. Others will consider people at a distance. In that case, plan on spending 3-4 days at their center as they observe your interactions with their birds over the course of a number of visits. They'll require proof that you have a cage that meets the size requirements of the bird you're adopting, etc.

Also expect to sign a contract stipulating the bird will not be sold or bred, and that it will be returned to the sanctuary if for any reason you can't continue as its owner.

I say all of this out of respect for the work many of these rescues do to assure the birds under their care are responsibly placed. Again, the more intimidating they make the process, the greater the likelihood you are dealing with a reputable organization.

 

[Percival the great]

Thank all of you for the reactions.

Living conditions; I am currently living at an apartment, but will move to a house soon. I do have a housemate but they are okay with the noise that comes with a parrot, and are willing to help in the process of training/socializing it. Sadly I do work full time, I don't know what parrot species is fine being alone? I heard Eclectus birds are quite independent.

You guys seem to advice to pick the bird that chooses you. So the best option would be to go to a rescue? Aren't behavioral issues a big problem over there?

Most people work full time it’s doable I work full time graves with my sennie & budgie flock and make it work, I just have my sister who lives super close pop over and put them to bed, and on my days off I just spent extra time with them

 

[Jexnell]

I belive one of the biggest keys to success is letting the bird pick you.
When I got my conure, he was one of 25 hatchling they had. I went in three days in a row and all three he was the only one to climb up to me. So needless to say he was the one I got. Wasn't fully weaned yet so for seven weeks I went in daily to spend time with him. This made the transition to my home so much easier as he was already bonded to me.

 

[harmony]

Hello everyone

I've recently fallen in love with parrots, and while doing my research I heard a lot of conflicting things about what a good "starter" parrot would be. I know there is no such thing as an "easy" bird and every parrot is by definition high maintenance, but as far as I can tell there definitely are different degrees of difficulty.

Personally I would love to get a big bird, preferably an Eclectus, but most I hear they have very difficult dietary needs. Is it smarter to start with another bird? What would you guys recommend? I have never had a bird before (except for chickens), so that's maybe another thing to keep in mind.

My only advice is being open to being picked by the bird instead of the other way around.

 

[PeentPeent]

Perhaps something to consider
My first birds were cockatiels I got two. They were very easy for me to train and very docile I got them at an aviary NOT a Petco or something like that. They were hand raised and weened . They are not very fussy and aren't super loud even when singing.

I had conures and Caiques love their personalities but bigger species BITE HARD I have nerve damage in places. Cockatiels simply cannot do the same damage. It's a whole different playing field when you go bigger. My boyfriend is pretty much a stay at home dad with our bigger parrots! It's very rewarding but I would never of been able to have these as my first

That's my personal antidote

 

[ParrotSnakeMan]

My ringneck picked me. I wasn’t even planning on getting a bird. The blue color caught my eye and once I got to have her step up onto my hand my fate was sealed. Enjoyed the first bird so much my wife and I knew we wanted another and then came the grey.

Several people who knew nothing about birds told me not to get any bird, that they’re too much work and hard to tame, they bite etc.

Several people who knew more about birds told me I was really getting in over my head having a ringneck or a grey or both as my first birds.

I feel that I’ve been lucky to have two fairly well behaved birds that haven’t been too difficult to train. However, I also think my success with them is due to working from home and having them out in my office 10 to 12 hours per day.

 

[Vampiric_Conure]

Considering your living situation and your experience, I would also recommend the Pionus. I have had pionus and they're the best birds out there, at least for me. They're independent, relatively quiet for a bird their size, and are the type of bird that likes to sit on their cage and play all day. The downside to them is that they're HARD to find and breeders/rescue birds are few and far between.

And yes, rescues are a good place to start. My problem is that they often don't have the bird(s) I want and I end up going with a breeder. My next bird is hopefully going to be a Timneh African grey. I have a breeder set up.

 

[rheashard2]

Decide on where you plan on keeping your feathered friend. Clear it out as a practice. Is it convenient for you to work around, acess for cleaning, etc. This will give you an idea about the size of your future feathered friend. Check to see if you have an avian vet within reasonable distance. If not try to locate one. Then read, READ different articles and books about the "what books say" about your choice. Then go to different forums to see what the real actual bird people say. You'd be surprised by what is there. Then expect your friend to be a combination of those influenced by their individual personalities. Parrots are experts at studying their human and training them. Imagine what you'd do in some of those situations.