Looking for a Bird, what kind

[Jsup]

I make beach stuff, umbrellas, anchors, chairs, so I'm busy this time of year filling orders.

But come September I am interested in a bird. I don't want a really big parrot, but was looking at a Lori, Conure, or similar something colorful, playful, and doesn't ming hanging out with you in the evenings.

I work out of my house, so I can spend time with a bird all day. My concept is to just leave the cage open while I'm home and let the bird do as it pleases.

I want to to teach the bird three tricks. Fly to me, fly to back to the cage, and poop only in the cage. I know it's a monumental task, but I think I'm up to it, and want a bird that would be up to it too. Any tricks after that are just bonuses. I'd like to take it outside, I know risky, but that's why I want it to know how to fly back to me.

I travel a bit in the summer, to my parents and back, about 100 miles, since they are near the beach, and I stay there to visit customers. I need a bird that can travel, I'll put a cage in their house to make him feel at home.

I know this is long and probably heard it 1000 times, but I'm leaning Conure. Maybe Crimson Breasted, Maybe Sun, I don't know yet. Tell me if I'm wrong.

Thanks in advance, I appreciate the input.

 

[Puck]

Well those three tricks aren't very hard--my Quaker has learned them all in two weeks. But flying back to you OUTSIDE is a whole nother deal and I suggest you train that parrot for a LONG time before ever even think of free flying it! So many bad things can happen, even to those who do it well. Michael "the Parrot Wizard" has been on TV doing tricks with his birds and he still lost a bird for several days. He now says he will never take them outside without a harness again. But that is an option: Train your bird to wear an Aviator flight harness and let it fly on a line.

But to your actual question.... Most small parrots fit your needs. The specifics really have more to do with how loud a bird you want, what kind of talking ability you want it to have, etc. For a first bird, I sat go Green Cheeked Conure. They're friendly, somewhat cuddly birds who don't have as piercing of a scream as, say, a sun conure. If you want looks and noise doesn't matter, well, then I say go sun! Sun conures are one of the most beautiful birds in the world IMHO. I obviously like Quakers (I wrote a post just yesterday in the Quaker section on why I think they are great starter birds) but if you plan to get only one parrot and don't care about talking ability (Quakers are great talkers) then GCCs are great! That's my opinion, anyway, but the things you want in a parrot come in most of them, including budgies. They are very smart. Learning to come when called and poop (mostly) in a certain area is icing on the cake!

NOTE: for the bird to "do as it pleases" you really MUST birdproof every area it will be in 110% and even then they really need some supervision. Sammy managed to open a bathroom cabinet and pull out my disposable razor today!!! Who would have thought he could do that? Not me. They are very clever and birdproofing is TOUGH!

 

[Jsup]

Thanks for the comments. I'm thinking having a perch next to my office chair for him to hang out on. I will close the door. The office is 16X16 not too small a room.

Knowing those behaviors are pretty easy, that's good to know. I don't expect 100% potty trained but I don't want to have to run around the house with a wet rag.

As far as volume, I really don't care. As long as they sleep through the night. My cockatiels used to. I get up early, before sunrise anyway.

I typically stay up till 11PM. Is that too late for a parrot?

 

[Puck]

They need 10-12 hours if sleep but you can put him up before you go to bed and cover his cage. if volume is no problem I personally would go with a sun conure simply because they are beautiful. They are bird number two on my dream list after galah, however I don't think I could ever handle more than two birds. Seriously though I love that yellow and orange!!!

 

[MikeyTN]

Make sure you can tolerate the noise level a conure can make as their scream can drive some people up the walls. Especially a sun conure! Don't let the beauty fool you! It's never safe to just let your bird free flight so a harness would be essential. Finding the bird you want is up to you really, go visit different types and make your choice there. Another thing, Lory can be messy birds. They're nectar feeders so they tend to squirt liquid poo.

 

[twit]

I can help with the up to 11 pm part. Birds do need 10-12 hours of sleep. However I definitely don't have birds that are early risers. I worked second shift for years and my birds are on a second shift schedule. Up around 9 am and up pretty late. They are happy and healthy on that schedule. I have a GCC. He's really sweet. Definitely a snuggler. He glues himself to the side of my neck and is quite content to do whatever I'm doing. I'm partial to Pi's too so I'll through that out. However they don't seem to be into snuggling as much as other birds.

 

[goalerjones]

Lorikeets food and poop are different. Make sure you know what you're preparing for.

 

[ZephyrFly]

In sun's versus green cheeks, might be worth considering socialization. Aren't sun's meant to be more jealous/more likely to be one person birds?
A generalization I know but food for thought if you want to take your bird to your parents.

Note: I am bias for Green cheek conures, I think that are prettier than sun's ( who are also pretty but I like green).

 

[sunblaze]

i think that a few of the members have recommended a green cheek already for good reason they are excellent beginner birds, as are most of the conure family, their not definitely one person birds if well socialised when they are young but they are very needy and like to make noise.

You sound like you have plenty of time to give your birdy the attention it needs but do remember that however much you give him in the beginning should be consistent with how much attention you intend to give him in the next 20 - 30 years. If he gets used to being out his cage 8 hours a day most days and that changes you will most likely end up with a screamer on your hands.

if you decided in the future to get more birds conures are alot easy to introduce to each other and other birds while lori's and lorikeets are know for their bird aggression, just food for thought.

If i were you i wouldn't settle on what species you want until you've done some hard research on what life is like with a few of the birds that interest you, good luck in your search =)