Thinking of a bird

[MinkFeathers]

Hello all!

I will be moving out on my own in a few months, and have been thinking of adding a new pet to my life as a home warming gift. I have quite the collection of 'children'. I have a horse, a cat, a dog, and many reptiles (geckos and snakes). I have thought about a bird before, but, since I am a rather thoughtful pet owner, I knew I just wasn't ready. For one, while I know a bit about birds over all, my knowledge is basic.

Now, I am going to be very up front. If I can't find a bird that fits into my life, whose needs I can fully satisfy, I am more than willing to walk away from this adventure. Yes I know they are wonderful animals, but I, like I'm sure many of you, believe in giving them what they need, and if I am unable to do that, then they don't need me as an owner.

That being said, I am interested in a bird, not just a parrot. Why did I come to a parrot forum? Because mostly what I have been looking at are small parrots. Parroleets, Tiels, conures, are among them. However I am open to doves and others as well.

What I'd like to do us explain myself, situation, finamces, and what I'm looking for in personality, and get some help from this community to guide me to the best choice...or...to just walk away.

Some 'no no's' for me first. Nothing large, no screamers, nothing Uber expensive.

I have an exotics vet already for my snake, and have already inquired about birds and know they actually have an avian vet as well! So yay on that one!

I will be in an apartment, but plan on putting up plastic sheeting where I put the cage (walls and floors) but would prefer a 'less' messy type.

I do work full time. I will be away for 10-12 hours a day. However, I am a home body, so have little issues with free time when I'm home, but can't cater to an animal that needs 10+ hours of free time (maybe on days off, but not every day).

I'd like something cuddly, but not 'obsessive'.

I'd like something that is more likely to accept others as well (so perhaps I can take it out and about and not worry about it attacking others. Likewise, if I have friends over, no crazy dive bombing)

I don't need it to talk like a person. I'm happy with it talking like a bird.

Birds I have considered are sun conures, parroleets, tiels, and some doves. Fan tailed, diamond, ring necks, ect.

I am open to a full 'grilling' to my expectations and ability to cope and provide for my feathered buddy. If it sounds like there is a bird perhaps more 'right' for me than a parrot, please let me know! I do not know everything out there and want to concentrate on a good match than just something pretty.

I am open to leaning more about birds as well as myself, so please do not be shy!

Thank you!

 

[Rockford]

Even before I read that you had parrotlets (and I'm only saying this because this is a big pet peeve of mine but I won't dwell on the subject - the word parrotlet has two T's in it not one) on your list, I was thinking that parrotlets are probably what you'd like. I'd also recommend a peach-face lovebird, 'tiel, and highly under rated budgie. The pflb's can get noisy but in my opinion are not 'annoy the neighbors' loud like most conures or larger parrots would be. Plus they come in many colors. If you want a conure though, I'd say to forget the sun conure and any other Aratinga conure and look at the Pyrrhura conures - this is the group that includes the green-cheek, black-capped, pearly, and painted conures.
I don't think doves would be as interactive as you'd like.

 

[MinkFeathers]

What are the benefits of a parrolet? Also, nit a fan of buddies if I can help it, and lovebirds I'm unfamiliar with. I got bitten a lot by budgies when I was younger.... x.x

 

[Rockford]

I was thinking parrotlets because they are small, not noisy and not expensive. But you would probably want a male because females can be one person birds.

I was also just thinking that if you're going to consider any conures, if you haven't already done so, you should probably also look into the poicephalus parrots - senegals, red bellies, brown headed, meyer's, jardines, etc.

 

[Kyoto]

If you're not able to tolerate getting bit, I'm afraid to inform you that all birds will bite for different reasons. There are situations where birds can only get us to understand what they need by giving a good nip. It's something that is bound to happen at some point or another with bird ownership. And trust me, if you think a budgie bite hurts, try a small conure or lovebirds. They like to rip skin and make you bleed. In fact, my conure just gave me a good pinch because I wouldn't let her sit on my head.

That said, if you can tolerate getting nipped and accepting that it will happen, I'd definitely give a smaller species like a lovebird or a budgie a try. They are wonderful birds and when given proper care will show you more love than you thought an animal could.

 

[Puck]

People tend to have bad budgie experience because they come in contact with budgies that are from stores like petsmart or petco, who are not handled enough to be considered "tame." If you get one from a breeder, budgies are not known for being excessively nippy. I would suggest a budgie from the wants on your list. I have had lots of budgies in my life and they can be AMAZING pets but don't get quite as neurotic as some larger birds when you don't pay them a lot of attention, plus their chirping sound is pleasant. Canaries are another could choice: beautiful to look at and they make beautiful sounds but they will not miss your presence as much as a hook bill might. The two things that stand out on your list that make me think canary or budgie is the "screaming" and the "messy" part. All parrots have the chance of being a screamer, ESPECIALLY if they get very bored. And all birds are messy, but parrots (especially larger parrots) seem perfectly happy to fling their food everywhere just for the fun. Budgies are smaller birds and easier to clean up afterward. Lovebirds really need a lot of, well, love, so if you don't have time to spend with them every day then I personally would avoid them. I have had Tiels and they are awesome, but super dusty, hence very messy--you need to wipe the dust off their cages at least once a day. Finches also come in a variety of gorgeous colors, make a nice chirp, and are tons of fun to watch. You can even get two and spend hours watching the little guys play.

Overall with what you want, I would definitely stick to budgie for the hook bills, possible parrotlets. Lovebirds need too much attention, conures have a tendency to become screamers if they get super bored (and are pricier in all ways--sticker price, cage size, toys, etc), and Tiels have a dust that makes them messy. As for other birds, doves are cool, canaries sing pretty, and finches are a blast to watch.

 

[gracebowen]

I have a pet store budgie. He had bit me twice and both were my fault. He escaped his cage and I put him back. I also have a tiel that is mostly tame. I bought him off craigslist from a backyard breeder.

Years ago I had a budgie from a pet store that was super cuddly. Ate off my plate and everything.

 

[MinkFeathers]

I'm not afraid of getting bit, I just don't want a bird that is more prone to it than another. Coming from snake experience, ball pythons are more chill ND don't usually bite, tree boas of any variety are feisty and tend to be more 'look but don't touch' type of snakes. All animals CAN bite.

As for something like a finch, I'd like something I can hand tame, and perhaps work out to taking out and about sometimes. (Can you put a 'leash' on a bird? I try for the dumb question jut not sure).

Also, It's not that I won't have time for them since I am a home body, I just have heard horror stories of some parrots looking their mind in 8 hours while their owner is work, and I don't want THAT. Not fair the animal, me, or my other pets and neighbors.
When looking at pricing, sun conures were mid range, between 200-500@. That's fine as it gives me something to save up for. However I have seen some parrots that are 500-3k, and that's more unrealistic for me. Of course a 20@ budgie is cheaper, but again, they make me nervous because in my experience, I had NEVER met a 'nice' one. Not saying they aren't out there, just...my own experience. I have met some nice lovebirds and tiels and conures though.

I didn't know about tiels being 'dusty'. Is that dander, or something else?

 

[Puck]

All cockatoos (and a tiel is a type of too) release special powder that coats their feathers. It means they are super soft, but it's far more than dander. It is a white dust that can coat everything... I will try to find a picture.

You are right that ball pythons are more chill than tree snakes, and there ARE birds that fit this trait, but budgies are not one of them. Quakers are prone to attacking you if you enter their cage (though mine is not that way at all so you can see it's not species wide), for example. But budgies are not more bitey than other birds if they are hand tamed. My Quaker can be nippy and macaws like to "play" with their beaks. Budgies, however, are usually very lovey and sweet when hand raised.

Yes, there are bird leashes--well, harnesses with leashes. Do a search on the Aviator harness for birds. It's the most popular one.

I second what the person on your welcome thread said--a sun conure is probably not your best choice for an apartment. They are gorgeous but their shriek is particularly ear splitting. Green cheek conures tend to be quieter and seem to be a favorite "entry level parrot."

 

[MinkFeathers]

Hmmm...I may have to rethink a budgie then... there's a local pet store (not chain) that actually hand raises their birds including tiels, budgies, and smaller parrots like conures. Sad that my most wanted isn't apartment friendly. I really loved the sun conures I've met and do find them very beautiful. Perhaps when I get a house some day lol.

What about the ring necks?

 

[Puck]

. Dusty cockatiel!

Thread on tiel dust:

http://talkbudgies.com/other-birds/...ust.html#/forumsite/20596/topics/58641?page=1



You can always give a sunny a go, but there would be nothing worst than forced to either give up your bird or find yourself a new place to live, a predicament many sunny owners have found themselves in.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Please have a look (AND read) the following VERY informative stickies. Some of them may be oldies, but they are goodies nonetheless.

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/7244-parrot-me.html
http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/300-parrots-bill-rights.html

 

[Terry57]

Have you considered a Bourke's Parakeet? They are amazing birds, quiet and usually very sweet.
It may be a perfect fit

 

[Puck]

Ring neck doves like you mentioned in the first post or Indian Ringneck Parrots? Either way I will let others answer as I have no experience with either. If you like the smooth look of IRN you might look at Alexandrines as well. I have heard they make good first parrots for people moving up from budgies and tiels and was looking into them myself before I got a Quaker. I handled some and found them very friendly.

 

[MinkFeathers]

Thanks Jersey, but I did read those before posting. They are great reads, and haven't scared me off yet, though the one about 'which parrot is for me?', while great on. Asics, wasn't detailed enough for me to base my whole opinion on.

Please understand when I say there are things I 'don't want' it's not an all or nothing. Some noise is going to hppen, dirt will happen, nips will happen. I am just looking for the one with the least and some conversation about what is actually good good for me (and the bird) so I don't unknowingly talk myself into a war zone.

I am dedicated to all of my animals. For my geckos I have my own roach colony to ensure the most nutritious food source. I plan on doing the same for my snakes some day. I clean tanks every day, water, mist, hand feed my special needs boy, and so on.

That being said....woah...tel dust is crazy! I knew a lady with a love bird and a tiel, and necer saw the dust....her love bird would fly out of his cage and promptly make love to her hair...as a child, that was a little creepy lol. Is that common?

 

[MinkFeathers]

I meant the IRN, sorry for not being more clear. I am not familiar at all with the Burks or Alexandrines, so I will eed to look them up and see if they are found locally. I've had reptiles shipped before, but the idea of shipping a bird is freaky.

 

[Doublete]

I have a lovebird that isn't tame. Not likely to change. He has a large cage, tons of toys, and makes lot of noise (although not loud by my standards).

I have a hand raised green cheek who I adore but is going through a serious biting phase. He has never drawn blood or even bruised (maybe once) so I don't consider it hard. He wears an aviator harness and can go outside with me.
My amazon is such a cool bird but not on your list so I won't elaborate.

I don't have experience with the other ones. But if you want an interactive bird I think your choices are limited from if you just want a companion.

 

[MinkFeathers]

Someone else mentioned an amazon. Could you elaborate please. And what is the difference between interactive and companion?

 

[Doublete]

IMO interactive is a bird you take out, play with, teach tricks, and generally wants to be with you. Companion is something like a dove. Pretty to look at and hear.

Amazons are larger birds. Can be intimidating to a first time bird owner as their bites are more painful.

 

[MinkFeathers]

Ah, I am looking for interactive then. I love working with, training, and taking my pets out and about. I'm the weirdo that walks their cat...

As for soze, something in the sun conure size is preferable. Not too small, not too big.

My only time concern is that I do work full time, and sometimes overtime (rarely though) and do not want to stress a bird out to plucking or screaming. I would be more than happy to provide a flight cage, toys, activities, ect while I am gone though if those are things that help with boredom.