Playing with the idea....

[Leah00]

....of talking my husband into a second bird. It's probably not going to happen but I'm entertaining the idea just because it's fun to imagine.

Are there any smaller species that would make good "family" birds? Or really just friendly birds who feel comfortable with more people?
Yoshi (my Quaker) is a wonderful bird but I'm his primary caretaker and handler and he's gotten to where he will barely tolerate other people. My husband and children can occasionally hold him but he will not let them pet him at all. My husband tried to let him on his shoulder recently and got his cheek bitten.
It's not Yoshi's fault at all. My husband and children aren't as interested in him as I am so they don't spend as much time with him.
So is there such a thing as a small/medium bird who would be ok with spending the majority of its time with one person but still be affectionate (or just tolerant) of other people when they wanted to spend time with it?

We are unfortunately not fans of cockatiels (the dust and the whistles). I adore budgies though.

 

[SailBoat]

It is so very important to socialize your parrot to a point that they will go to near everyone. But more importantly, everyone in the family.

Prior to the next parrot, get this one socialized first. It will help greatly when and if you get another parrot.

 

[Leah00]

Thank you. I was actually meaning to add that question in my OP of how we should go about socializing Yoshi to others. The past few days I've been letting my 5 year old hold him on her hand but I don't let her pet him. My 7 year old is a little more scared but he will hold him on his arm if he's got long sleeves on. My husband would like to try again too but I'm worried he won't be consistent.

 

[Piasa]

If Yoshi can hang out with just dad and the kids in a neutral area (away from his house, or in an unfamiliar room), that may curb some of the aggression. Basically somewhere Yoshi won't feel like he's the boss or in his territory.

I would think most birds would act similar to Yoshi unless socialized. Unfortunately, dad and kids will have to be the ones doing the work to earn his affection. That means, spending ambient time with Yoshi, not touching or holding but just being close and talking, TV, music, that sort of thing. Eating together. Playing or trick training. Maybe having Yoshi sit on their arm while they transport him to the fun places (play gym, or the shower or whatever he likes to do outside his cage).

My pionus is pretty tolerant of children and strangers, and definitely a flight over bite kind of girl. I don't know how a male pionus would be. But she is a lot less temperamental than most parrots. If she doesn't like someone (rare), she is very obvious about it, hissing, lunging, and making a loud scary squawk. It you get bitten, you deserved it!

 

[wrench13]

Leah, what makes you think a second parrot will behave any different from the first, if your family does not take the time to become friends.

Salty hated my wife at first, lunging, bite biting, running away from her, the whole 9 yards. She commited to Salty becoming friendly with her. She read a lot ( some here some elsewhere) and put it into play. Sitting by next to the cage, reading aloud to him, talking to him, offering small treats ( pine nuts, his favorites). Every day for oh 2-3 months. Every day. Studied the written material ( ignore minor bites, say No forcefully when the big ones happened, dont flinch, etc). Geri is now his second favorite person and the one he talks the most to.

Your husband and the kids will need to invest some time, either on this parrot or a second one you bring in. Or are you going to trust that your husband is instantly the second parrots "person'? Or the third bird, or fourth... you see where I am going with this.

 

[Leah00]

Leah, what makes you think a second parrot will behave any different from the first, if your family does not take the time to become friends.

Salty hated my wife at first, lunging, bite biting, running away from her, the whole 9 yards. She commited to Salty becoming friendly with her. She read a lot ( some here some elsewhere) and put it into play. Sitting by next to the cage, reading aloud to him, talking to him, offering small treats ( pine nuts, his favorites). Every day for oh 2-3 months. Every day. Studied the written material ( ignore minor bites, say No forcefully when the big ones happened, dont flinch, etc). Geri is now his second favorite person and the one he talks the most to.

Your husband and the kids will need to invest some time, either on this parrot or a second one you bring in. Or are you going to trust that your husband is instantly the second parrots "person'? Or the third bird, or fourth... you see where I am going with this.

I have just seen other bird owners with birds that can be handled by strangers or people that they don't see very often so I was just wondering if there were certain species that were more apt to be ok with that. From the answers I've received though it seems like those birds are just much more socialized and didn't just hatch that way. Question answered.

Still contemplating a 2nd bird but it looks like the "so you can have one to hold too" angle isn't going to work. Haha.

 

[wrench13]

We often play pass the birdie some evenings. That seems to help, too.