Looking for a good starter parrot

[iCupboard]

Dear everyone! I would love to have a parrot, but I am looking for a starter parrot.

My ideas of a starter parrot would be:

-Hahns Macaw
-Budgie
-Senegal Parrots
-Green Eclectus (really like this one)

What I am looking for in a parrot:

-Loving and affectionate, love to cuddle and sit on my shoulders with me.
-Good talker or singer (or both! ), showing some groovy dance moves would be preferable aswell. (or maybe I am just deluding myself now)
-Not that expensive in maintenance
-Could be alone for some hours
-I have quite a small room


Could you guys help me out? Thanks!

 

[Birdman666]

Eckies are hit and miss on the cuddle stuff. The males do tend to be a little better than the females.

Sennies are easier to manage, but will bring some 'tude into the mix.

Budgie? Not so much... on the cuddly and not really at all on the talking.

Based on your list, I would be looking for a Hahns...

But I am a macaw fan, so I'm biased.

You might also consider something like a blue crowned conure.

 

[Phlox]

Hand fed male Budgie would be perfect for you, in my opinion. Affordable, notoriously good at learning to talk and do tricks, little beaks so typically safe on shoulders and they are small enough to fit almost anywhere.

 

[Birdman666]

Hand fed male Budgie would be perfect for you, in my opinion. Affordable, notoriously good at learning to talk and do tricks, little beaks so typically safe on shoulders and they are small enough to fit almost anywhere.

I did not know that. I learned something new today.

I never actually worked with them All this time I thought they were like tiels. Could be taught to whistle, but not much on talking... I don't ordinarily think budgie and trick training either.

 

[iCupboard]

If you guys have another species you think better suits my needs, feel free you help me!
You guys are amazing, already!

 

[MrsKay]

My vote is for a budgie for a starter. I used to raise them. I believe a budgie will be everything you want, except I did not find them to be very great talkers, although some can learn a few words. AND... it will be able to entertain itself while you are away. They are extremely sociable, so you can get it a friend if you'd like and house them together with no problems provided you get them a cage at least 30"w x 18"d x 30"h (small flight cage)
I find the larger the cage, the less mess in the room too. Let us know what you decide and pics would be great

edit: when I say 'you can house them together' I am talking about housing with another budgie.

 

[Phlox]

All my male budgies over the years when they didn't have girlfriends said a few words. My English male was a snuggle bug too, until I got him a girlfriend and he lost interest in me. He was still totally hand tame and chatty, but he didn't talk human anymore, just did budgie language.

My female, Finnella, doesn't talk and is bonded to my tiel and dove, not to me, but I think it would be different if I'd tried to tame her. I got her for them, after my last male tiel died, not for me. She's sort of their pet...?

Anyway, there's one on YouTube named Disco. You'd be AMAZED; I know I was. Check him out!

 

[iCupboard]

But what about the Budgie vs the Senegal parrot? I am thinking about those two.

 

[kq_fan]

Budgies are dolls! I loved mine! They were amazing! My Mango would cuddle in my coat pocket! He was amazing I would so get another one someday! And when I would tell him a story or just talk to him about my problems, he would sit on his perch and look at me! I don't know sennies I have never had or been around one but my friend has one and he is very sweet! I personally would get the budgie! But that's just me! Good luck!

 

[kq_fan]

But budgies don't live as long as sennies and you really should be careful on where you get them. People over breed these angels too much! They usually live only 10 years if your lucky! My Mango only lived 11 Months bore he died! He had a birth defect and Lollypop well she just was got by a cat..... That was awful!

 

[Phlox]

Budgies don't live as long, that is true. I've never had a Sennie, so I can't really comment.


Here's the budgie I mentioned, if you want to see. He's not normal certainly, but shows what they are able to do.

[ame=http://youtu.be/ldawsDDuoPo]Disco The Talking Parakeet Talks to Daddy - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Mattroma]

A true English budgie would be a good choice. My niece had one that loved to sit on her shoulders and would dart behind her hair.

 

[MrsKay]

My oldest living budgie was 16 years. That was rare. He was outside in an aviary.
30 years ago the average lifespan for a budgie was around 8 years, however that number has more recently changed for the better. With proper care, I believe now it is closer to 10 - 12 years

 

[KiwiPlusUs1025]

I have read a lot on 1st time parrot owners. Green Check Conures come up a lot. I know that they are not on your list but hey.... they can be cuddly and LOVE attention. They can become a little nippy but with everyday handling, training and love this can be stopped to a point of course. They are small, not expensive (well to a point), and they are known for being quiet. I am a little bias, lol I love my Kiwi so much she makes my life so much better!!!!

 

[RavensGryf]

Can I ask around how old you are?

I'd say a Budgie is really the best choice if you're a minor living with parents.

If you're an adult and understand how Senegals are a bit more complex, and how their mood swings go with their hormones, and are willing to put up with some VERY hard bites and are willing to educate yourself about what to do when you parrot has attitude... AND have money for the initial cost and vet care... Then a Senegal can be a great first bird.

I have a Budgie and 2 Senegal relatives (Red Bellied and Ruppell's parrots). I love them. I've had birds a long time, and I don't consider these species "starter birds". They're simply the species I happen to love!

 

[Kalidasa]

Budgies are little packages of awesome! They're very bright, and can be super cuddly. It's best to work with one at a time...once one is tame, another can be introduced and will become tame by proxy....giving them a companion when you're not around. Here are mine. [ame=http://youtu.be/xI4yHNoFHUw]My boys - YouTube[/ame]


My budgies are 10 & 12 yrs old, and still going very strong. The longest lived budgie I've had was 17 years.

 

[SilverSage]

Honestly I LOVE suggesting budgies to anyone as pets I highly suggest taking the time to find a hand raised baby though - or at least a tame one. The birds sold in pet stores sadly often end up never tame. Not because they are not smart or anything, but because people dont take the time to tame them. A budgie is a smart bird, and someone of them are VERY cuddly. While cockatiels also make good first pets, they really are not very similar to own. A cockatiel is generally calmer, where a budgie is a tiny ball of energy! Especially the males. Go watch them in a pet store. Often you will see the tiels sitting, maybe playing, but all in all keeping things under control. The budgies, on the other hand, are usually flying or running around, chirping at this and that, hopping and flirting with EVERYTHING. I love them - nothing happier than a happy budgie!

I also love Green Cheeks as first birds, but if cost is a concern, budgie is going to be your best option. Many times the cost of the bird is an inicator of how expensive the bird will be to maintain. While no bird is truly cheap to keep, budgies are by far on the low end of space and money requirements.


Also: NONE of these birds are a good bird to start with and then "move on from," rehome, ignore, or otherwise neglect when you "graduate" to another bird. They are all amazing and deserve a life of loving care no matter what.

 

[kq_fan]

Aw I love Disco! One of my favorite talking birds!

 

[RavensGryf]

Budgies are little packages of awesome! They're very bright, and can be super cuddly. It's best to work with one at a time...once one is tame, another can be introduced and will become tame by proxy....giving them a companion when you're not around.

My budgies are 10 & 12 yrs old, and still going very strong. The longest lived budgie I've had was 17 years.

Chris, they're such cute boys! hopefully they'll make it to at least 17 also!

I wish my Twigs became tame by Proxy! My boy Pix who I lost recently (succumbed to bad genes) was a really nice handleable Budgie. Twigs on the other hand, will step up and sit on my finger, but otherwise is so flighty and wild. I'm hoping I can tame him down at least some.

I wonder if they have to be really tame and bonded to you first to learn to talk?

 

[iCupboard]

I would not even consider to neglect them for another bird. I think I will look for a Budgie.

I am 22, but still live with my parents for, I will suspect, quite some time.

Considering I am a first time bird owner, is there any book, video series or something you would recommend me to help care for my bird? Like, which cage, which food, how to (maybe) learn them to talk, make them tame. That kind of stuff.

Oh, and is it alright to take just one?

Thanks for you guys your help, you are great!