New member, what bird would you recommend for me?

[SeanFla]

Hello, first time poster here!

I'm 22, from Ireland and currently living with my parents while I attend college.

I'm hoping to get a parrot in the not so distant future (but not right away), I've been doing my fair share of research but I thought I should ask the question to those who know.

What pet bird/parrot would suit me?

My family had a budgie when I was a kid, so a bird isn't an alien thing for us.

I am in college during the week and working on weekends, I am home otherwise.
I've still got a decent amount of time to share with my pet, plus my family is around when I'm not (I know, but I just want to emphasis that there will nearly always be someone around).
That being said, a pet that is very needy probably wouldn't suit..

I'm fine with mess - no problem.
I'm fine with some noise but I'd rather not have a bird that's going to constantly scream.
I'd like a pet that will tolerate my other family members, I know most will bond with just one person but it would be less than ideal for the bird to hate everyone other than me.
I'd like a parrot that is intelligent, I want to be able to train and really bond with my pet.. Talking isn't make or break but of course it would be nice if they spoke.
I have a decent amount of room but I can't convert a whole room for my pet.. I can/could fit a large enclosure and I'd have the bird out whenever possible.

I'm asthmatic, it's not severe.
I have 2 dogs whom I'm allergic to but that doesn't stop me..
I'm not sure how dander would really affect me..

I would love an African Grey but with their dander it may be an issue for me..

I won't be buying a bird until next year but I want to research as much as I can before then.

 

[noodles123]

Welcome and glad you are researching!!!
Have you ever had a bird before?
I would NOT get a grey, cockatiel or cockatoo, as all produce powder. A cockatoo should be ruled out for other significant reasons as well (excluding powder). Plus, any large bird is going to need a room for the most part. All birds will need a quiet space for sleeping as well.
The dander is EXTREME and it is worse than I ever imagined it would be (in terms of the amount and the staying power---it is in everything no matter how hard I clean and no matter how many purifiers I run). No powder down birds unless your lungs are 200% great all the time.

Make sure you have your own living situation without roommates and make sure you are financially stable--the number of restrictions on your lifestyle including cookware,curling irons, crock pots, skillets, perfume, candles, incense, polishes, cleaners etc etc will be HUGE if you are living with anyone who doesn't fully understand.
Remember that birds live a LONG time (some upwards of 80) and so any partner or child or lifestyle choice you make between now and then will have a huge impact on the bird. Travelling, painting, remodeling, treating insect issues, daily cleaning, buying appliances, picking a husband/wife/partner/roommate all will be impacted by the bird (they are a ton of restrictions and they are very easily unhinged emotionally by small changes). Things that once seemed simple (like accidentally burning something small on the stove) become life-threatening situations for a bird.

Birds can be really hard in apartments due to noise and fumes from neighbors (Teflon/PTFE/PFOA/PFCs can kill a bird on separate floors). Let me post something I always post for new bird-owners.

 

[noodles123]

Here is my "new to birds" post that I like to share with first-time bird owners. It is long and you probably know some of it already, but since there is a large learning-curve, I hope it is helpful!

I copied and pasted from another "new bird owner" post. Sorry it's so long!!!

When you have a bird, any sort of heated mechanism (anything that heats or is intended to be heated) and contains PTFE/PFOA/PFCs/Teflon will be out of the question (and most things that heat up or are intended to be heated DO contain these chemicals)--This includes things like pots, pans, cupcake trays, cookie sheets, cake pans etc, but it will also things like include hair-dryers, straighteners, curling irons, curlers, rice-cookers, SLOW COOKERS, popcorn poppers, air fryers, microwave meals (including certain types of microwave popcorn), steamers, irons, ironing board covers, electric skillets, griddles, George Foreman Grills, drip trays, toasters, toaster ovens, poaching pans, electric blankets, humidifiers, heat lamps, SPACE HEATERS, Scotch Guard etc etc...Here 2 links about it: https://www.ewg.org/research/canarie...on-kills-birds
To find out what contains PTFE/PFOA/PFCs/Teflon, you have to call and be a bit insistent about it over the phone (and in some cases, you won't get far--but sometimes it is a matter of how you ask). Almost always, it will take a few days (and numerous holds) for them to get back to you and you must provide the full chemical names, abbreviations and brand-names. Shopping when you have a bird is super annoying because cannot visually ID these chemical coatings, as they can be colored, transparent, or mixed into metal/fabric during the manufacturing process. Teflon and chemically similar products have killed birds on separate floors with the doors shut. Similarly, while DuPont claims that off-gassing only occurs at higher heats, there have been myriad bird deaths (even within academic circles) at temperatures well within the 300 degree F range! There is a reason they used canaries in coal-mines and it is because they die very easily due to even low levels of fumes of any sort. Some specific accounts: https://www.ewg.org/research/canarie...-death-diaries
Here are the abbreviations and full spellings of the chemicals you need to ask about when inquiring about a product (give the name, spelling and abbreviation of each):

Teflon= common brand-name using the chemical types in question
PTFE= Polytetrafluoroethyline
PFOA= Perfluorooctanoic acid (sometimes known as C8)
PFCs= Perfluorinated chemicals

Sleep=essential to hormonal and immune function. Different species have different requirements, but 12 is pretty much the average. This means that someone must be there to cover and uncover the bird at the same time each night and that your home must be conducive to sleep.

Make sure you aren't using any unsafe products around the bird. This is pretty much everything with a scent (and some things without).
No perfume, carpet cleaner, flea shampoo, aerosols, solvents, air fresheners, paints, smoke of any kind, vaping, sunscreen, bugspray, candles of any kind (organic or non), insecticides, certain soaps/shampoos, fire-places, burning or heated oil/fat, self-cleaning ovens, gas and any household cleaners (e.g., bleach, windex, lysol, fabreeze, scrubbing bubbles, kaboom, pine-sol etc)...You will seriously have to re-think your entire home and your cleaning routine will change a ton.
NEVER use the self-cleaning oven function or try to season cast iron around birds.
The list goes on. Birds have VERY sensitive respiratory systems. Essential oils are also fairly unsafe due to their ability to be absorbed into the blood-stream and due to a bird's sensitive air sacs.
In terms of safe cleaning alternatives: White vinegar + water (as long as you don't heat it), grapefruit seed extract + water, baking soda (for scrubbing), some (but not all) natural cleaning products sold in pre-mixed formulas, and then avian-safe veterinary disinfectants, such as F10 SC (the yellow/clear concentrate has to be mixed with water but it is super safe and more effective than vinegar at killing bacteria etc).

Fumes make traveling with a bird complicated, as it is very unsafe to bring your bird with you into a location where teflon or chemical cleaners are being used. My bird does travel with me, but it is important to consider the safety of your final destination, as well as car temperature and any stops along the way (if you plan on bringing your bird inside).
I would recommend getting an air purifier (non-ozone producing/non-ionizing) to help with dust/mold etc (which can harm birds). Please note- a purifier will not protect birds from cigarette smoke, vaping fumes, teflon/ptfe/pfoa etc. It will only help increase the quality of the air to some extent. You cannot use unsafe chemicals around the bird just because you have a purifier.

Generally, you should only pet birds on the head/neck and you should not allow any shadowy spaces in the cage (boxes, bedding, crumbled paper, tents, blankets, low furniture, in clothing etc)...and so are tents/huts/hammocks etc. These things are hormonal triggers and they can cause health and behavior problems and snuggle huts can also entangle birds and cause blockages.

Birds hide illness like crazy, so there is nothing intuitive about their diseases. You have to be ready to study your birds poop and behavior daily, because even the slightest change can be a huge indicator. Blood work must be done yearly (at minimum) and should be done soon after you get a new bird. Birds can carry and spread deadly illnesses without showing any symptoms, so play-dates and exposure to boarding facilities etc come with risks of their own. PBFD, ABV and PDD are all very serious and very contagious diseases that can be spread by things like feather dust in the ventilation system. These diseases are also notorious for producing false negatives in infected but asymptomatic carriers (when tested).
Bottom line: make sure that you have a certified avian vet (CAV) near you. Exotics vets who see birds are not the same thing. If you don't have a CAV near you, your life will be much more anxiety-ridden than if you do (and the difference between a CAV and an exotics vet can mean the difference between life and death for your bird in certain instances).

Birds are very sensitive to temperature changes and drafts. Any temperature change of 10 degrees or more puts significant stress on their systems. If you have to take your bird out in the cold, make sure you carefully cover the cage and pre-warm the car. Also, make sure you don't have any air-fresheners in the car or vents blowing directly on the bird. Extreme heat can also be harmful. Over time, birds can adjust to a wide ranger of temperatures, but this adjustment has to take place over a long period of time. Anything too quick is going to shock their systems.

Dowel perches that are smooth/even in texture lead to a disease called bumble-foot. Textured perches prevent this---look into dragonwood, manzanita and pummice perches. There are numerous guides to appropriate sizing online.

Birds move in slow motion and especially and establishing real trust can take many months.

A baby bird will generally be friendly to all (much like a baby human), but teen and adult birds experience significant hormonal changes which impact their personality and preferences. Puberty is particularly bad in many cases. Although it passes, an adult bird will never be as nice as a baby and it will come with a whole new set of preferences, desires and rules.
It is very important not to engage in behaviors that will eventually be inappropriate for the bird as an adult, as this sets an unsustainable precedent. You must teach independence, refrain from allowing the bird to graft itself to you all day, do not spend excessive time with your bird due to the fact that they are a new and exciting new pet (because you will be expected to keep it up long-term), pet on head/neck only and do not provide your bird with access to fleece huts, huts in general, tents, boxes, blankets, pillows, bedding etc, ignore screams for attention and attend to the sounds you will be able to tolerate long-term, ignore biting when it happens and do not scold/react.

 

[Jen5200]

Welcome! So glad you are researching ahead . I would echo what noodles says - cockatiels, greys and cockatoos would be pretty iffy due to dustiness. Big birds need big space and come with big volume generally, so I’d hesitate until you know more about future housing as life progresses.

Parrots as a rule are pretty intelligent - no matter how big or small (some budgies blow my mind with their vocabulary). Off the top of my head - budgies, parrotlets, conures, Pionus, poicephalus could be worth researching. I’ve listed small to medium birds because as life develops they can be easier to move with you into various living situations.

I have 5 conures and a cockatiel. 3 of my conures talk, 2 love doing tricks, all are good with both my husband and I, and most visitors. The smaller conures are not as loud as my suns, but none make noise all the time. I’ve met several amazing senegals and Meyers parrots (poicephalus) - if I didn’t have a flock already , I’d be seriously considering one myself.

 

[Laurasea]

Hello and welcome!
Having a parrot us like having a kid. You want to plan on incorporating them into all or as much of your life as possible. They love sharing meals with you. Mornings are important to birds, they are mostly loud in the morning to make sure the flock survived the night, to reafirm bonds, you need to set aside time before work school to spend with them.
Here is a great link on birds behavior
https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/bird-behavior/

 

[Valyndris]

My suggestion would be to start small, you are still young and who knows what the future holds. My suggestion would be a green cheek conure, I only have experience with them as babies but they are amazing pets and can be very entertaining. They are very intelligent but not sure how easy it is to teach them tricks as I only had them as babies like I said. My mother used to breed parrots and I helped hand raise them and keep them tame, conures and cockatiels were my favorites of the small parrots. As stated above though, I wouldn't recommend a cockatiel at all as that will trigger the asthma no matter how much you try to purify the air. My macaw is allergic to cockatiels and dusty parrots (yes a bird that is allergic to other birds, sounds weird but that's what it is). My macaw has bird asthma, not sure on the proper term for it. We couldn't even keep 1 cockatiel in a separate sealed off room even with a really big air purifier next to the macaw. He still got sick till we got rid of all other birds.

Another idea could be a pionus as they are a little bigger and tend to be quiet but from my experience they are a 1 person type of bird, I had a white capped pionus and he only liked my dad even though it was my mother who took care of him.

 

[noodles123]

yes a bird that is allergic to other birds, sounds weird but that's what it is). My macaw has bird asthma, not sure on the proper term for it. We couldn't even keep 1 cockatiel in a separate sealed off room even with a really big air purifier next to the macaw.

https://www.petmd.com/bird/conditions/respiratory/c_bd_Macaw_Respiratory_Hypersensitivity

Macaw respiratory hypersensitivity is really common. Your bird is normal lol- mixing powder and non-powder down birds can be very problematic for that reason.

 

[Scott]

Welcome to the forums, deep respect for researching rather than impulse purchasing!

While many birds produce copious dander, this must be weighed against your asthmatic propensities. If you are very mildly affected, one or more effective air cleaners might largely obviate the issue. Best way to determine is spend time with various species of interest at a rescue, pet shop, or breeder if available.

 

[bigfellasdad]

My sons asthma gets bad when he visits me, I have an African Grey, they are dusty. In the UK indian ringnecks or conures seem to be popular. Id probably investigate them. As others have sid, a parrot is a long term commitment thing, unlike a dog...relatively speaking of course.



Also in the UK, we dont seem to have many rescues that you can go and help and understand the level of commitment and effort you are going to need to dedicate to a bird, and of course for you to learn the mannerisms of the species that you are interested in. So from that, its good that you are reaching out for help, well done.


Good luck in your research

 

[wrench13]

Honestly, a parrot would be the worst kind of 'pet' for you, at least for anther 10 years.Nor being cruel orhard haerted, but I think this is the truth.

All parrots are loud at some point of the day.
All parrots do better in the middle of dailiy lifein the house,not locked away in some bird room
All parrots need every day1 on 1 attention, hours of it
All parrots need medical attention at some point, by a expensive specialist vet
All parrots are messy, some super messy
All parrots will bite at some point ( depends howwell you read their moods)
All parrots tend to bond with 1 person, and that may not be YOU
All parrots may hate some one in your family (could be you)
All parrots need copious numbers of toys to destroy
All parrots need veggies, fruits and alittle seed, not the prepackage junk foodin supermarkets
But
parrots are the most rewarding animal that you could ever hope to have a bond with.

 

[Noahs_Birds]

Hand reared Bourkes Parrot are good little pets if you have access to them in Ireland
They leave very little amounts of dander, they are almost quieter than a budgie and generally have a very nice personality, have been known to talk, and a quite hardy
Thanks
Noah Till

 

[Zoruace]

a gcc or a boarks parakeet would suit you in my opnion

 

[Skarila]

a gcc or a boarks parakeet would suit you in my opnion

This post/thread is almost 3 years old, please be careful about the time stamps!

 

[Zoruace]

This post/thread is almost 3 years old, please be careful about the time stamps!

lord i keep well
not seeing-
i already got 2 warnings-

 

[Flboy]

lord i keep well
not seeing-
i already got 2 warnings-

Skarila is helpful, but not quite lord status!

 

[Skarila]

Skarila is helpful, but not quite lord status!

'Scuse me, I'll get to the lord status one day! Let me dream!

 

[Zoruace]

Skarila is helpful, but not quite lord status!

god let her dream-
i already gave away her win and stole her hard work-