Should I add a conure to my flock?

[FeathersandDrums]

So right now I have only budgies. I have been thinking about getting another kind of bird for a while but can't decide what kind.. I have narrowed it down to Parrotlet, conure, or Linnie. Does anyone have two or three of these? Also I stopped in a little family pet shop when I was out of town a while back and in with the conures they had another green bird that looked a lot like them. I got to hold it and they told me what kind it was (not a conure but some type of something winged parakeet) anyway I've always wished I got him.

 

[Acindo]

I can only comment about Conures. This is the second one I've owned and I don't know if I will ever get a different species. They are super affectionate and absolutely love to be scratched and played with. I love every minute with my little Kylar.

Going to start training him soon hopefully it will be successful!

Good luck making a decision.

 

[Nakiska]

I too, can speak for the Conure and the Cockatiel (which isn't on your list) Our Yellow Sided Green Cheek Conure, Franklin is a HOOOT! (see pic's of him in my profile albums) I was HOPING for a cuddly conure, but we ended up with a rather bold natured boy He'll be 3 years old in March 2014 and we've had him since he was 3 months old.

He's funny (hysterical is a more accurate description), acrobatic, smart and very much opinionated. He likes to play "peek a boo" he burrows under blankets and makes tunnels, he's a circus show most of the time with his toys, takes a daily bath in his water dish and we are his human jungle gym. He's learned a fair amount of vocabulary...which green cheek conure's aren't known much for their speaking ability, but he says Hello, Frank the Tank, Frankieeee, Him a good Boy, he goes to sleep every night telling himself he's a pretty pretty pretty bird, pretty bird in a whispering voice, but NEVER says it out loud during the day, which I think is soo funny! He's learning to say "What'cha Doing? Oh and he says...Give Kiss...but only after he's made an attempt to nip me and I gasp at him and say...in a rather shocking and disappointing tone - Baaaaad! Bad birds Bite, Good birds give Kisses...and then I'll stress to him...OOONLY Give Kiss...well it's the funniest thing ever...because as I'm telling him this he's all puffed up in his "tough bird" act bawling me out in Conure chatter with the occasional...GIVE KISS (in his gruff tone) thrown in there....I absolutely HAVE to get this on video one of these days...as it's hilarious!

Basically, he's trying to argue with me that HE WAS giving me a kiss! And then...he will touch me with his beak and make a kiss sound.

I can't imagine life without him!

He as a voracious appetite and will eat or try absolutely ANYTHING offered to him...and will bully his way to foods NOT offered to him which he believes he has a right to. He is a definite - if it's his it's his, if its mine it's his.

If you are trying to choose a conure for their cuddliness...well be prepared that you might get a bold bird like Franklin. I wanted cuddly too...but I'm absolutely NOT disappointed with our boy one bit. He's unique!

And although cockatiel's weren't on your list...here's a quick pitch for them. We have 3 cockatiels now and oh how I love them! I think cockatiels are a bit under estimated and deserve more credit for their pet qualities. I've owned 3 male cockatiels over the years and all of them have developed amazing vocabularies! Our female tiels chirp and such, but neither have learned a word.

Cockatiels are a LOT more "laid back" then conures, being more content to just sit on our shoulder and "hang out" , preen themselves, preen you and share a treat with you just happy to be with you. Where Franklin is all over the map exploring the wilds so to speak.

This CAN sometimes be a bit frustrating...because hanging out with Franklin while doing dishes...not good as he's always trying to climb down my arms or chest/stomach into the icky dish water, or get into the shower action of rinsing the dish, you can't prepare a meal with him because he's always in the way taste testing every ingredient, reading a book or magazine with Franklin...good luck...he's always in the way putting holes in the pages and shredding the book, good luck typing on the computer...he's ripping the keys off the keyboard and the mouse is NOT up for discussion...it's HIS!! Want to play a game on your cell phone...hahahahaha...he's growling and chasing your fingers away from the screen! But a cockatiel...ahhhh....such a relief to the mayhem of Frankie...cockatiels just love to quietly hang out...at least, that has been my experience with the 5 I've owned over the years. Cockatiels are very smart and the ones we have, have proven to be highly trainable and very loving.

Just remember that all birds are individuals and although some species are better known for certain characteristics eg: greys for their talking ability, conures for their cuddliness/acrobatics...the one you pick...just might NOT fit the "mold" for that species.

I wouldn't trade in Frankie for the most cuddly bird in the world, but he is DEFINITELY NOT the bird for everyone, he can be a lot to deal with when you just want to sit and relax after a long hard day at work and that behavior is just not in his "vocabulary"

Good Luck with what ever bird you choose and do keep us posted!

Toni

 

[FeathersandDrums]

Oh I was really leaning toward Parrotlet but now I am even more torn. LOVE these posts, they made me smile so much!

 

[MonicaMc]

Canary winged parakeet???? They are also known as "bee bee" parrots and "pocket parrots". They are in the Brotogeris family and used to be commonly kept parrots back when it was still possible to import them. I've heard great things about these birds!!!!

Parrotlets are smaller than budgies, but feistier than they are! Big attitude in a tiny little body!

I've also heard great things about linnies, and I love their coloring! Don't have any personal experience with them either...

As far as conures go? My first conure was a cherry head. My second is a mitred conure, my third a red throat. Conures can be *LOUD* birds! But they can also be goofy, hilarious, funny, cuddly and silly birds!


If you can, try and interact with all the species you are interested in before choosing one!

 

[Yuutachi]

I would have to say, if it were my choice, definitively a conure! I have had my conure Zuko for about a year and he is the greatest little bird! They can be pretty sassy and can occasionally be nippy with other birds, but are the most affectionate birds I have ever dealt with!

 

[crimson]

I've owned them all, for me Parrotlets are too nippy and bite really hard(of course what bird can't right?)

I've had linnies as well and they are as sweet as pie, but can be hard to find.
As for conures, I own 5 of them, 2 are super tame, and huge sucks.

I would go with a conure, they can be a bit of a challenge, but well worth it.
Have you considered a cockatiel? one of my favourites!

 

[FeathersandDrums]

Yes! Canary winged parakeet is what it was! I really want him. He was sooo tame and wanted to be with people all the time. He was $400.

 

[FeathersandDrums]

I don't know much about cockatiels but the one I met before was sooo shy.

 

[FeathersandDrums]

Also someone asked me today if I could take in their Rosie Bourke parakeet! Which I also can't find much Info about but am getting more overwhelmed with choices the longer I wait.

 

[faeryphoebe1]

Nakiska, Franklin sounds exactly like our Trixie. Same antics and personality. She (he?) is approximately 2 years old. Trixie says many words as well. What fun, little clowns!

 

[MonicaMc]

I think you need to decide the kind of pet you want.

I've never owned a rosy bourke, but I have had, and still have, a normal bourke. She's not a "pet" though, as she was parent raised and I never bothered trying to tame her. She was an adult when I got her.

Having said that, bourke parakeets do make excellent companions! I *DO NOT* recommend keeping one clipped because they are like finches and they fly to get around. They are quiet, but not normally cuddly. They are more the kind to sit on your shoulder and spend time with you rather than cuddling and receiving scritches.

 

[Blueridge]

Conures are very affectionate and fun but they can be very very loud. Have you ever considered a Quaker Parrot? They are so smart, cuddly, and pretty quiet too.

*Squawks and flies away*