Questions from a teenage girl interested in parrots

[Cressy]

Okay, so I found this place and made an account specifically for some very specific help! I have some questions that I am finding various answers for, and would like some confirmation.

I'm a 16 year old girl that passionately wants to become a vet, and I feel that I should uphold the hefty responsibility of owning a pet before I start trying to poke needles in them, also because they're so dang cute. However my grandmother is adamant against getting a dog or cat (or rodent or any slithery thing), and for understandably good reasons. We live in an apartment (condo) and simply cannot accommodate for one. Also she's scared of them.

I have discovered, however, that she does have a soft spot for birds, specifically those that mimic! She likes to teach them Chinese. So she's finally allowing me to own an animal that's not stuffed with polyester, (under the condition that the cage stays in my room and I clean it frequently) and I'm considering a parrot.

She has decided to let me buy a bigger/medium bird, and I was considering a sun conure or a green cheek conure. All in all, my heart is set on a conure. A sun conure, because I hear they're very excitable and affectionate, just like me, and make great long-term companions. Or a green cheek conure, because I hear they are slightly quieter and more laid back, which may please my brother who has Hulk-like tendencies when awoken at 5am, which I expect to be happening often. What do you guys think? The green cheek, or the sun? You're the experts. I'm aware that birds enjoy screaming. I'm willing to put up with it, and possibly discourage it if it's possible.

Secondly, socializing. My grandmother will not socialize with it much, and my brother will look at it once and forget it exists. There's nobody else in the house but me! Is this a problem? For just one person to socialize with the bird? Maybe, should I get two? Obviously as a student I'll be gone frequently, 8:00am-3:00pm every weekday at the very least. However, I fully intend to get in its daily training and socializing in every single day the moment I get home. It'll probably never be in its cage once I get home. However, obviously there will be days where I'll be home late. Mostly Fridays, you know, dates, football games, movies, and just random stuff that pops up. Will these infrequent days also be a problem? If so, is there a way to remedy this?

Another thing. Can someone name some common things that are toxic to birds? I've heard things such as teflon and non-stick pans that are toxic, however only when heated. Is it safe to bring my bird down to kitchen when these items are not in use? I've also heard nail polish remover is toxic to them. (It's toxic to us too. Ew.) I'm very passionate about painting my nails, I do it every week. Would it be okay to simply do it in another room, or with a fan going?

I can't think of any more questions, but I'm sure I have more that I want to ask before I get a feathery friend. I'm pretty sure I have most of the basics down - lots of stimulating, shiny, colorful toys, the diet, the cleaning, the bathing, the training, the responsibilities that come with owning a bird. I'm not going to lie - I have been dying for a pet since I was a kid, and I honestly feel like I'm ready and so close and I'm researching parrot care more than I've ever researched for any AP class. To the person that actually read this entire spiel, thank you, and have a good one you glorious parrot forum reader. Have a nice day!

Haha, look at these smilies. <- I like this guy

 

[RubysMum]

i think its great your considering a parrot! out of the two tho, i would suggest the green cheek, suns are rumored to be very noisy! and since you live in an apartment that may be an issue... i am also the only person in my house who plays with my parrot, and im a student as well, what i do is eat breakfast with her, put her out in the sunshine while im out at school (if its a nice day) then when i get back from school i take her out and keep her with me! i dnt reckon those days be an issue, maybe ask your grandma to talk to her on those days where your out?
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/740114/a-list-of-toxic-foods-for-birds
thats a good link, its about chickens, but its pretty much the same thing...

 

[faeryphoebe1]

I have a Sun and a Green Cheeked. They're both funny, little clowns and adorable. Sunny is by far, much louder than Trixie. Don't get me wrong, they both can be noisy but our Sun's call is piercing and my ears literally ring if he squawks too close to me. Green cheeked conures are much quieter birds.

 

[Cressy]

Thank you to both of you! It seems green cheek conures seem better for apartment living. Maybe when I'm older, living in my own place I'll see on getting a sun conure. Their colors are really stunning and they are just beautiful. Really, if my neighbors think I'm willing to put up with their screaming baby at 2am, they should be willing to put up with my conure, right? Haha

 

[RubysMum]

are you sure you have your heart set on a conure though? i was going to get a sun but i really wasn't in the right position, with the screaming and all, there are definitely quieter birds

 

[faeryphoebe1]

I agree with you about screaming babies, lol. Suns are beautiful. I have a very sweet, cuddly one but each bird is different, depending on their individual personality. I imagine that not all Suns are super cuddly nor are all GCCs little, green divas (like mine).

 

[Cressy]

are you sure you have your heart set on a conure though? i was going to get a sun but i really wasn't in the right position, with the screaming and all, there are definitely quieter birds

That's true, but to be honest the loudness is almost a selling point for me! I can't imagine having a quiet bird. I'm sure I'll regret saying that eventually though lol However I was also thinking about a cockatiel, I hear that they are very good beginner birds as well.

 

[faeryphoebe1]

Tiels are sweethearts! Whatever bird you get make sure that it's a hand-raised baby, that way you get a tame one. To keep these wild animals tame, they need to come out of the cage & spend time with you daily.

 

[RubysMum]

yeah, i find it really weird when ruby doesn't reply when i scream at her from another room (how i check that she is ok) but make sure everybody in the house is ok with the screaming, we never checked and my brother cant stand it when ruby has a scream sesh

 

[kc_y0]

The bird will be happy to socialize with just you But maybe you can bring your friends or family around so that he/she could become used to strangers as well! Those hours are fine, honestly, a lot of us here work 9-5 jobs. But its important to remember lots of toys to keep your birds mind busy while you are away. In your situation, I would come home, let the bird out, let it have some out of cage time, maybe just hanging around on the top of the cage or on a play perch, and make some time for lots of cuddles and play too. This is what I do with my bird, whenever I am home, she is out, but she isn't hanging onto me 24/7 lol.

Perfume, Hair spray, spray deodorant, Strong cleaning chemicals, air fresheners, candles etc. All of these things are toxic for birds. So you need to be very very careful about sprays and smells. If the bird is going to be in your room, I would 100% say not to use any of these products in your room or anywhere near the room where the fumes can get in. For example if you have a two story house, do the smelly stuff down stairs, and if you bring bird downstairs make sure the house is well aired out.
If you want to paint your nails, wait until they are bone dry and wash your hands, as even the nail polish can smell a bit. That was something I had to give up though, not because of the smell but because my bird couldn't stand my nails painted, it terrified her lol!

Hope this information helps!

 

[Mike17]

I'd second the motion on a cockatiel as a first bird. I've had no experience of conures except at commercial aviaries and while they appear to have lovable characters, they're also very noisy. I also have no experience of apartment living (sounds awful) but I'd imagine neighbours complaining of a noisy baby would look bad compared to complaints of a noisy bird. The upside with birds is that they're rarely noisy at night, unless the lights are on. Cockatiels are rarely noisy and if you get the right one, gentle and easy-care, and as seed eaters, less messy than fruit eaters.

 

[sonja]

A cockatiel is definitely the best choice.
Consider also what will happen to the bird when you move out to go to school. Who will care for the bird if the dorms don't allow pets as most don't? Who will pay for the birds supplies and vetting now?

 

[kq_fan]

Well conures are not recommended for condos or apartment because they are LOUD really loud!!!!Sorry to inform you of that but GCC are pretty good for that. when my GCC wants me she will scream and scream and I just hafto leave it alone! One would be beter then two because of loudness. And theirs a big list of toxic stuff on Google but one big prob is Chocolate, avocado, onion, salty food, and junk food. The reason we are telling you about loudness is because the neighbors will be mad about how loud they are! My grandma lives in a city and she lives where there are houses all around you and she is three houses down from and older couple with a Jenday conure and a Moluccan Cockatoo and she can still hear them! And the neighbor right next to her has a Macaw so it is loud around there! Jendays are quieter than Suns because Suns are brighter.

 

[Cressy]

Hm, maybe cockatiels would be better. I looked up what sort of noises a GCC makes and to be absolutely honest, I would be willing to deal with it, but I doubt the rest of the block would be too willing.

I've considered what will happen once I move out to college, and I've decided that I'll take the bird with me. I won't just dump the responsibility on somebody else I was thinking of renting an apartment near whichever college I end up going to. I understand that birds have very long lifespans (apparently some can live up to 100?), and I intend to accommodate for that lol

 

[Mike17]

Hm, maybe cockatiels would be better. I looked up what sort of noises a GCC makes and to be absolutely honest, I would be willing to deal with it, but I doubt the rest of the block would be too willing.

I've considered what will happen once I move out to college, and I've decided that I'll take the bird with me. I won't just dump the responsibility on somebody else I was thinking of renting an apartment near whichever college I end up going to. I understand that birds have very long lifespans (apparently some can live up to 100?), and I intend to accommodate for that lol

Cockatiels don't live to be anywhere near 100 Do landlords there impose restrictions on pets for tenants? They certainly do here, houses and flats, in fact our house just changed tenants so lease did too, and we had the option of banning pets (and smokers, as if you could stop that).

 

[jugoya]

I had my heart set on a Conure as well..

Then I did my research and found out about another species thats moderately loud and tend to be little clowns as well... extremely cuddly little birds that entertain themselves quite well as well! I also live in an apartment and can't have dogs or cats.

Have you looked into the Brotogeris Parakeets?

I have a white wing.. and I'd put temperment right between Cockatiels and Conures. Quieter.. and very very cuddly.

They aren't know for being excellent talkers however.

 

[ShellyBorg]

I got my first bird, a Teil when I was 13. I have been a parrot lover every sense. A hand raised one is a definite. They are sweat and really love to do clicker training. Some colleges insist that first year students live if the dorms, you may want to look into it.

 

[kc_y0]

Can you hear noises from the other apartments?

I only ask, because I live in a unit as well and I have an eclectus. And when she wants to be loud, I can hear her from down the street!! HOWEVER! I can't hear her from my next door neighbours house unless she has the tv off, and is being very very quiet. And they sleep when we sleep as well.. so it might not be a big problem.

 

[MonicaMc]

I started with budgies when I was 12 years old. When I was 13, I got a cockatiel (she's now 12 years old! ), and a month later, was given a cherry headed conure! When I was 18, I got another conure... he was supposed to be a cherry head, too, but he wasn't!

My cherry head (RIP now) was actually a pretty quiet bird... but he also wasn't a normal conure. If he was, he probably would have been a lot louder!


Between a sun and a green cheek, I'd recommend a green cheek! If you are considering a cockatiel as well, make sure that no one in your house has any breathing problems! Tiels are dusty birds, and people who have asthma or other breathing related problems may not do well with a dusty bird.


Look at the local pet stores around you. Look for local breeders. If available, look for local rescues! If you can, go and interact with a variety of birds before choosing one! That's really the best thing to do!

 

[Anya]

If your brother starts to act like the hulk at five in the morning, I might suggest a Pyrrhura molinae, or Green Cheek. I own a Sun Conure and my brother wakes up very easily, I just keep a cage cover on when I'm sleeping and my bird won't scream. I don't know if this is true for all conures, also I like to play simple games with my bird before school. I give him some cuddles, get all his food and water ready and play some peek-a-boo. He seems to like it, although he can get very grumpy at times. Although all of the birds in my household(We have three, Green Cheek, Sun and Eclectus) are usually asleep at five in the morning.

Also, a few tips on what not to let them eat and on cages. Anything in the lily family, including onions, leeks etc. are bad for birds, as well as alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, avocados. There are also some plants, but I think if your uncertain about some things looks it up first, safety is first for whoever you get. Also for cages, try not to choose ones from China, they tend to have zinc and that is poisonous to birds. My bird has a 20x20x24 cage and he seems pretty happy, I just take him out ALL the time. My brother has a finch flight cage for his Green Cheek, the size of the cage is 23x16x13. We take them out all the time, also if you want to include lots of toys but not crowd the cage you can get a hyacinth cage. They are HUGE, so I suggest you only get one if you have a lot of space. Another cage option I will soon move my bird into is a cage with a play perch on top and 2 1/2 inch tall railing on top. The cage size is 32x33x34 not including the top. I could go on for much longer but I'll just stop there, hope you like this information.