Never had a parrot before, which type should I get?

[StormyPica]

a single male Budgie would be a good choice

I don’t agree with keeping budgies alone. This is just my opinion, but they don’t seem to thrive alone. They are flock birds, and live in extremely large flocks in the wild, so depriving them of other birds in captivity seems cruel. I have a flock of 3 budgies, and they’re all tame.

 

[Truepacifist]

I don’t agree with keeping budgies alone. This is just my opinion, but they don’t seem to thrive alone. They are flock birds, and live in extremely large flocks in the wild, so depriving them of other birds in captivity seems cruel. I have a flock of 3 budgies, and they’re all tame.

This is why I got 2 bunnies. I initially wanted 1 but they can die of loneliness

 

[Truepacifist]

I think I'm going to buy one of the conures I met after a bit more research and some more visits to the pet shop. One of the conures was the only bird who paid me any specific attention, he/she stepped up onto my finger when I was allowed to meet them but the other birds avoided me. The weight of the bird is quite light so the perching doesn't bother me as much as I feared.

 

[texsize]

I confess I have not read this thread all the way through.
The price for parrots has gone up quite a bit since Covid and 2020.
and cages have gone up too. Most coming from China. The ones made in US aren’t cheaper but maybe better quality.
In 2016 I bought our African Grey for $2,000 US.
The prices I have seen recently that looked legitimate not a scam were in the $4,000-4,500 range.

I think the green cheek conures are an ideal size and. Sweet but I have never even held one. Seen many at my local mom/pop pet store.
There prices on them has just about doubled but if prices are comparable in Canada you should make your budget.

 

[ravvlet]

I think I'm going to buy one of the conures I met after a bit more research and some more visits to the pet shop. One of the conures was the only bird who paid me any specific attention, he/she stepped up onto my finger when I was allowed to meet them but the other birds avoided me. The weight of the bird is quite light so the perching doesn't bother me as much as I feared.

That’s great to hear. I have faith that with your experience with senior bunnies and their needs you can do this. Birds have hollow bones for flight, so yes, they’re quite light! I’d suggest until you teach them appropriate spots to relieve themselves to invest in a bird shirt - I like to grab old flannels at the thrift shop to throw over my clothes in case they potty while sitting with me, haha. Kirby is no spring chicken so if I don’t notice him getting antsy and put him back on his playstand I get a big wet “present”.

 

[Truepacifist]

That’s great to hear. I have faith that with your experience with senior bunnies and their needs you can do this. Birds have hollow bones for flight, so yes, they’re quite light! I’d suggest until you teach them appropriate spots to relieve themselves to invest in a bird shirt - I like to grab old flannels at the thrift shop to throw over my clothes in case they potty while sitting with me, haha. Kirby is no spring chicken so if I don’t notice him getting antsy and put him back on his playstand I get a big wet “present”.

Thank you! I didn't realise you could train birds where to poop, but most people don't know that about rabbits so it makes sense. People think a rabbit can't be a house pet because they'll poop everywhere but they're very easily litter trained and clean animals that like having a clean environment. It's not fair how a lot of people keep them in dirty hay outside in the elements and it does shorten their lifespan. I feel like lack of good information being readily available is common with a lot of exotic pets. So I'm used to having to dig for resources.

Birds are actually so fragile! It was my first time interacting with a bird that wasn't a chicken. I've held chickens before but of course they can't fly so they're a lot more "sturdy" but parrots feel like porcelain almost. I can now see why having an avian vet is so important. What if they fly into an obstacle. Or you accidentally fall asleep while they're out and you squish them? Ahhh!

The birds also seemed very emotionally there. Even the budgies and smaller birds as much as the big ones. Although I have autism I'm very good at reading emotions in animals I think. Not so much people. And with a hamster for example their eyes say scared scared scared food food whats this? Chew chew chew must run here now. But with the parrots they seem kind of like dolphins or gorillas. I felt like they were having thoughts. Is that silly?

 

[ravvlet]

Nope, studies have been done that show parrots are easily as intelligent as human children. Alex and Me is less a reference guide and more of a biography of Alex the grey, but it’s a great book if you’re interested in how emotionally intelligent they are.

 

[ravvlet]

As far as potty training goes, birds will still have accidents and it’s not a good idea to accidentally teach them to avoid relieving themselves, but I have a friend with a tiel she was easily able to teach to fly to the various playstands she has around her apartment when he needs to potty.

 

[Truepacifist]

Nope, studies have been done that show parrots are easily as intelligent as human children. Alex and Me is less a reference guide and more of a biography of Alex the grey, but it’s a great book if you’re interested in how emotionally intelligent they are.

Are all species that intelligent?

 

[ravvlet]

Are all species that intelligent?

All species of parrot? No, and intelligence can also depend on the individual bird - other greys in the same study as Alex didn’t perform as well as he did, although I believe his successor is very successful also. I’d say though a bird being smart isn’t necessarily important…

Also, there are different kinds of intelligence. I’d say Sammy, our yellow nape amazon, is probably more traditionally intelligent than our orange wing Kirby. However, Kirby understands the difference between children and adults, and is calmer and easier to handle when the kids are around (and also likes to dance and perform for them, heh). Even when our youngest was very small he has always been gentle and has never displayed at her (although we kept her away due to his size). Sammy, on the other hand, is smart as a whip but a bull in a china closet with anyone, including the kids, and doesn’t seem to differentiate even with her favorite kiddo; and has a nasty bite if you overstep your bounds.

Additionally, “smarter” birds tend to have more issues with plucking, anxiety, and unwanted behaviors. This isn’t always the case but they do seem to be more prone to them.

 

[wrench13]

Healthy discussion. Just keep in mind - each parrot is its own bird, so to speak. Within a given group of the same parrot species there are smarter ones, bolder ones, stubborn ones, needy ones, etc etc. Just like people! Be ready to accept your parrot for who he/she is. Much of the development of a parrots good side, lets call it, depends on your involvement with them.

 

[Truepacifist]

Healthy discussion. Just keep in mind - each parrot is its own bird, so to speak. Within a given group of the same parrot species there are smarter ones, bolder ones, stubborn ones, needy ones, etc etc. Just like people! Be ready to accept your parrot for who he/she is. Much of the development of a parrots good side, lets call it, depends on your involvement with them.

That makes sense. People have human children and sometimes don't realise or accept that their personality might be very different from what they'd like. You might get a shy, not athletic son who prefers reading when you wanted a footballer. But putting those expectations on a child just makes everyone unhappy. If parrots are like children then they're going to have their own personality which you can't really change, right? My rabbits definitely have personalities but they're definitely less "complex" pets, they have likes and dislikes and individual behaviours but a lot of their behaviour depends on how well socialised they are and how well you care for their basic needs. But I'm guessing you could be the perfect parrot owner but your parrot might never be super playful, or talk, or want to do tricks, or want to be handled much by humans.

 

[ravvlet]

Yes, exactly! When folks who haven’t had a bird come into bird ownership with a lot of expectations there’s a real risk for disappointment. It’s better to go in, and, instead of having specific goals, focus on doing your best to create a positive and enriching environment, and see where it takes you!

 

[Truepacifist]

I've been reading a lot of disaster threads on here about worst case parrot scenarios. Some of them I understand. Like screaming and attacking family members. But that seems less common than people simply struggling with the taming process. My bird hates me, my bird won't let me near it, is terrified of me etc. And also the opposite. My bird is clingy and won't leave me alone.

 

[Cottonoid]

Keep in mind, too, that those threads are the people who take the time to create an account and post. There are at least 10 times as many people struggling with proper care and relationships with their birds that never join a forum or discussion group.

I've worked with a big variety of animals for years, and have had different pets, and I find my parrots aren't really pets but are roommates that have really specific needs from me to truly be happy. It's a very different relationship than with any other animal I've had.

I'm glad you're researching and visiting birds in person, and it's a great idea to read a bunch here to get an idea of dangers and potential toxins in the home. Falling asleep while your bird is out, especially a conure, is never safe, for example.

I visited my first parrot three times a week for several months before deciding I was ready for a parrot. Plus shipping for his cage took a while, so I'm glad I didn't bring him home too soon without a big enough place for him to live when he's not out

I think it's smart you're taking your time, and keep learning - it's been a way bigger commitment for me than having a human child.

 

[StormyPica]

I've been reading a lot of disaster threads on here about worst case parrot scenarios. Some of them I understand. Like screaming and attacking family members. But that seems less common than people simply struggling with the taming process. My bird hates me, my bird won't let me near it, is terrified of me etc. And also the opposite. My bird is clingy and won't leave me alone.

Well, some birds will be like that. Some won't. Especially if you get a baby bird, you'll never know how their personality as an adult will be. This is why I recommend getting an adult bird. You know how their personality will be, for the most part.

Another thing, they may be difficult to get used to. I have sensory issues as well, and I definitely struggled with sensory overload due to the budgies a fair amount of times. Not saying you shouldn't get a parrot (I love my little guys and don't regret them AT ALL). But prepare for it, both physically (headphones, quiet spot, etc.) and mentally.

And what Cotton said about them being a bigger commitment than a human child is pretty accurate! They need a lot of "stuff", and they can have tantrums and issues just like human toddlers, but you can't communicate with them verbally (In your language) to figure out what's going on. Just like they can't say "Human, I'm not feeling good" when they're sick.

 

[StormyPica]

Falling asleep while your bird is out, especially a conure, is never safe, for example.

I second this SO MUCH. There are so many stories of birds cuddling with humans, the human falls asleep, rolls over the bird... It's one of the most common causes of death in captive parrots, I'd say.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I don’t agree with keeping budgies alone. This is just my opinion, but they don’t seem to thrive alone. They are flock birds, and live in extremely large flocks in the wild, so depriving them of other birds in captivity seems cruel. I have a flock of 3 budgies, and they’re all tame.

I normally don't like to keep a lone Budgie either UNLESS you can spend a lot of time and become their flock. I've has wonderful lone male budgies when I was in a situation that allowed lots of one on one time. But a lonely Budgie is a very sad Budgie that's for sure!

 

[ravvlet]

I visited Kirby twice before taking him home - he was going to be my first parrot in ten years and initially his poor health scared me off - that, and he was terrified of me!

The second time I visited him, after seeing his ad on Craigslist again after months, he stepped up for me and let me weigh and check him out with no fuss. His owner insisted he was a “mean bird”, but was doing what he could for him in a very bizzare and trying situation. We made the decision then to bring him home, even though at that point we’d adopted a cockatiel because I thought an Amazon would be too much bird for me.

That’s kind of also why I say keep your options open - you may unexpectedly make a connection with a bird you would otherwise not have considered.

 

[Truepacifist]

I visited Kirby twice before taking him home - he was going to be my first parrot in ten years and initially his poor health scared me off - that, and he was terrified of me!

The second time I visited him, after seeing his ad on Craigslist again after months, he stepped up for me and let me weigh and check him out with no fuss. His owner insisted he was a “mean bird”, but was doing what he could for him in a very bizzare and trying situation. We made the decision then to bring him home, even though at that point we’d adopted a cockatiel because I thought an Amazon would be too much bird for me.

That’s kind of also why I say keep your options open - you may unexpectedly make a connection with a bird you would otherwise not have considered.

Here's the cage I'm considering getting... thoughts?

Wire Spacing: 3/8
Material: Non-toxic and pet safe powder-coated steel mesh with metal tray.
Color: White hammertone finish
Includes: 3 Perches, 4 Cups, Grille, and Tray
Overall Size: 37" L x 28" W x 68" H
InTerior Space: 36" L x 27" W x 48" H
Wire Gauge: 11 x 16

After a lot of research I don't think I will be getting a large parrot. I am keeping my options open for sure but I don't think I'm an appropriate owner for a macaw, or a cockatoo.