New to forum, help with my decision

[lyricrex]

I'm new to the forum and need a little help choosing the right bird for my family.
Just a little info about what I'm looking for in a bird and my family. I have 2 young boys (2 and 3 1/2) they are very rambunctious kids, obviously. My wife is not really into birds the way I am but can tolerate them because she grew up with birds. We do live in an apartment.
I'm looking for a bird that's
playful
cuddly
entertaining
Likes being handled
Not nippy, I know they go through a phase.
Won't mind being alone while I'm working
Can tolerate young kids and fast movement
Most importantly doesn't make constant loud screeching. I don't mind chattering but being in an apartment, can't have loud calls through out the day.

Here are a few birds I'm looking into:

Lilac crowned amazon
Brown-headed parrot
Green cheeked conure
Maroon bellied conure
Meyers parrot
White capped Pionus
Pionus
Jardines parrot
Lineolated parakeet

 

[Violette]

Hey, I can only comment on the birds that I have experience with... A Green Cheek Conure may be a good choice. They are very playful, cheeky, and entertaining pets. Mine is very cuddly and loves to snuggle. They are very smart and easily learn tricks. I've heard they go through a nippy phase... And there is a tendency to bond with one person, so that is a negative if you want a family pet. You'll have to ensure they are properly socialized.

I also have a Linnie! They are just like a little parrot, very comical and cute. Mine is very non-aggressive and has never bitten me. That breed may be suited to you as the noise levels are really minimal. They do have a loud contact call but I find they only do it once in a blue moon... And it's nothing compared to my GCC's call. They might also be better with young kids as they are smaller and not very nippy.

Hope this helps a bit. I am sure there are other people on here who have experience with the other breeds and can comment on them. Good luck!

 

[lyricrex]

With the linnie are they skittish? I have seen videos of them playing. But not too many videos of people handling them.

 

[Violette]

My linnie isn't very hand tame. They aren't hyperactive and are very slow moving. They are not flighty. A lot of people find linnies to be hand shy as they age (I noticed this as well, my linnie was hand fed and still has an aversion to hands). So, if you are looking for a very hands on bird it may not be a good choice.

 

[lyricrex]

That's exactly what I've been reading about them. I did enjoy their chattering but I want a bird that I can be hands on with.

 

[thekarens]

My linnie isn't very hand tame. They aren't hyperactive and are very slow moving. They are not flighty. A lot of people find linnies to be hand shy as they age (I noticed this as well, my linnie was hand fed and still has an aversion to hands). So, if you are looking for a very hands on bird it may not be a good choice.

Ditto. I have 5 linnies. They like human interaction and hanging with with you, but they all hate hands.

 

[thekarens]

I have 2 sennies, so I would vote for the poicephalus group. Mine love to snuggle, but are also great at self entertainment.

 

[RavensGryf]

I vote for Poicephalus too. They're pretty emotionially resilient parrots, not prone to pluck or scream. Drawback is they bite way harder than the other birds of similar size. Even if you don't have "a biter" keep in mind you and your family members who handle a bird, at some point or another WILL get bit. Second thought the Poicephalus might be better for older children and teens who can better understand a deep, painful bite. Same with medium or larger birds such as Pionus or Amazons (especially males).

Maybe the popular Green Cheeked Conures? They can be a little more demanding than Poicephalus, but while their bites can draw blood, they're not going to take a chunk out of anyone. Regardless, a 2-3 year old child's soft flesh should be watched very carefully at all times and be 100% supervised when around the bird. I'm not sure I'd recommend toddlers at that age holding a parrot, but it's only my opinion. I'm thinking in terms of getting bit, and knowing what a bite feels like... Have you been bit by a parrot before?

Good luck with your decision . If you have any more questions, keep asking!

 

[lyricrex]

Are they're any members from the NY or NJ area that can recommend a breeder?

 

[Birdman666]

My Lilac Crowned amazon is the neighborhood watch bird.

Anyone she feels like something doesn't belong, she lets the entire neighborhood know.

They can be quiet, but when they decide not to be, your neighbors will be aware you own a parrot.

 

[henpecked]

You don't have a cockatiel listed...that's the perfect parrot for your situation.

 

[lyricrex]

You don't have a cockatiel listed...that's the perfect parrot for your situation.

Yes, I'm realizing that now after reading how many people rave about them. I didn't think cockatiels were entertaining or playful. But I was wrong.

 

[thekarens]

Probably my all time favorite tiel video

[ame="http://youtu.be/O7D-1RG-VRk"]オカメインコ　ぽこちゃん　cockatiel singing Totoro - YouTube[/ame]

 

[RavensGryf]

OMG Karen thanks for sharing, that is the cutest thing!! Wow, he's amazing too. Very smart bird.

He looks like a whiteface pearl male? My favorite tiel color is the white faced grays!

 

[SilverSage]

Green cheeked conures would be a great choice. Pionus are not usually going to be very cuddly and they tend to be on the shy side, which isn't a great thing around excited small children.

GCCs have a rep for being "nippy" but I believe from the bottom of my heart that this is because people do not respect them as parrots and take the time to train them as such. I have taken several "nippy" conures and even one that was quite the vicious biter, and taught them not to bite. I vote green cheeks, they are cuddly, active, quiet (for a parrot), etc. they do NOT have to be one person birds and they do NOT have to bite and they do NOT have to scream.

Just remember, socialization, training, and mental stimulation!!!

Also, I have noticed a distinct lack of info out there about conure training when it comes to unwanted behaviors. Many people just ignore it or lock their bird up when they bite, which is the wrong reaction. I golly suggest you look into macaw training techniques. It has been said a million times that conures are just macaws in teeny tiny bodies and I have found a lot of the macaw training info out there to be very useful.

Edit: Cockatiels are also a fantastic choice! They are not always the most cuddly but many are, and playfulness seems to mainly be determined by how they are raised and their diet In my experience. I love tiels, just not as much as I love GCCs, but I am biased

 

[lyricrex]

Ive always been drawn to green cheeked conures. Just a few things about them that keeps me a little hesitant. Their nippiness, possibly only bonding to one person, they have the ability to be loud. Most likely it's going to be between green cheeked and cockatiel

 

[Dinosrawr]

All parrots have the ability to be loud, so no matter which you choose you're going to hear a scream at some point I honestly love my GCC. They're wonderful birds! She's very loving and sweet, but she's going through hormones so she's spontaneously a monster at times (which every bird will go through, so be prepared!). Thankfully they're subsiding!

Personally I too think conures or cockatiels would make an awesome family member for you. Yes, Avery can be nippy if I don't read her body language or if I force my desires on her. Yes, she is bonded to me but I can easily pass her on to other people and even strangers. Yes, she screams sometimes and it makes me want to stuff my ears. But when I compare her to Shiko, she's the quietest bird ever!

They are line of sight screamers if you don't train them out of it, though. If I leave the room without saying "be right back" or "bye baby" and don't shut the door, she screams. If I take her water bowl to fill clean it/replace the water, she screams for me. If she's hungry, she screams. When I come home, she screams for me. It's just part of being a bird - they vocalize to communicate and make sure everyone in their flock is safe. You eventually learn what different flock calls mean, and how to best respond to them. But over all, I'd say GCC's are very quiet birds.

 

[lyricrex]

Thank you for the advice. Making my decision a little bit easier. Also helping me understand their behaviour. Now it's just a matter of finding that right breeder. There's a lot that I've found in my area so I have my work cut out for me.

 

[Birdman666]

'tiels are really just scaled down toos, without the usual screaming or plucking issues...

The main problem with these birds also tends to be human. (1) they don't get handled or trained enough, (2) they are frequently seen as disposable "starter" birds.

They have wonderful personalities, and temperments. My girlfriend had one that was 30 years old... and that bird is still alive and kicking...

 

[henpecked]

tiels are great birds. get a tame baby or a rehome/rescue bird that likes people. Let the bird pick you. All those fancy mutations mean little. Personality over parentage every time.