Which bird is better for me? Parrotlet or Indian Ringneck?

[chika]

So there's a bird rescue about an hour and a half away from me and yesterday my family went up their to see their birds because I want to adopt my next bird. I went to look at a Nanday Conure, but she didn't like me very much. So then he showed me some baby yellow indian ringnecks and a baby parrotlet. First, here's what I am looking for in my next bird:
~ A friendly, fun, and comical companion
~ Easy to tame and train
~ Not too loud. No screaming. I can handle the other noises as long as they aren't too loud. I love little chirping and little noises and everything, though.
~ Hopefully gets along with my green cheek conure. She gets along with another green cheek in her house on her playgym so she shouldn't cause any problems. I know that not all birds will get along.

There were 3 IRN's, all yellow. They will be ready to go in 2 weeks and are $300 for the bird. My main concern is price, because I'm only 14 so I don't have a job and it would take me months to earn that. I am paying for it myself. Cages cost hundreds as well. That's a huge problem... Anyways, the babies were cute and hyper. They wouldn't stay on my hand! They kept flying to their playgym (only 10 inches away. They can't fly across rooms yet). They were all so cute. I'd love an IRN because of how smart they are and they can learn to talk and the guy said they will get along with a conure if introduced young.

The baby parrotlet was so small! Oh my goodness, he was just the cutest little bird I've ever seen. He just sat in my hand! I don't know how much he costs, but his parents are $200 for the pair and the guy said that might include their cage, so the baby might be $100, but I'd give them $150 because it's a nonprofit and they deserve it for what they do. I could earn enough money for this little guy easily. I'd have the money before he was ready to be taken home. I know that parrotlets are territorial, so if I were to adopt the guy while he's still so young and introduced him to my conure and their cages were next to each other, every time I took him out would he fly to her cage and try to attack her? I don't care if they dislike each other, as long as they won't try to go at each other. Honestly, this little guy, I can't see him being territorial. He was just so calm when I held him. His wings will be clipped but still, the cages will be a foot or so apart. He could get over there with clipped wings. I originally wanted my new bird to be able to play on a playgym together because I'm working on building a super big playgym for my conure, but my parrotlet would get my conure's current one if they didn't get along. It's half the size of the one I'm building. Do you think they could be on the same playgym together if supervised? It's approximately 4 feet by a foot and a half by 3 feet. The parrotlet's one if they don't is two by one and half by two feet. Also, how much interaction do they need daily?

I keep going back and forth about which I want. Right after we left the rescue I wanted the parrotlet. Then this morning I wanted a IRN and now I want a parrotlet again! I need help figuring out which is better for me. They are both great birds from what I've read and they're both beautiful.

Thanks for your help in advance!

 

[mrob]

personally i would go for the parrotlet - I find younger birds are easier to so******e with others...
Also if he seemed really calm with you thats always a good sign! And of course the price ..... if it will take you a long time to save up for the IRN, and they are in a group, it can be harder to tame them down when they are so used to other birds......Personally i would get the younger bird as soon as he is weaned. Especially if he liked me!
IRNs are cute though! Little clowns! hard decision, good luck!

 

[Autumn]

I'd go with parrotlet, compared to roseneck(indian ring) which some people find hard to tame and get them cuddly and comfortable. Bur Roseneck is cheaper.. yo can adopt baby parrotlet and buy a IRN for $65 USD thats what they cost in my local petstore.

 

[mtdoramike]

If your only 14, I would have to say NONE, take the money and put in the bank. Because at 16, your going to be wanting a car. You life will start to change drastically. So one bird will be hard enough to keep up with at that age with all the other things going on in your life muchless 2 birds.

So unless your parents are wanting to adopt this bird, I would say leave it at the rescue, or else they will become your parents birds soon enough. I'm a father, I know!

 

[chika]

I'll be getting my dad's car at 16, and I have a plan for my birds up until the second year of college, when I'll take them. In high school I'll have enough time to take them out and play and them be on the playgym while I do my homework. For college my dad will keep them for the first year when I'm in a dorm, or I'll find a pet store to board them (NOT SELL). They always have birds in there of their own, so they could just have mine there for a year and I can come visit and clean the cage, play, etc. I will either work there and they can take the boarding payment out of my paycheck or I'll "volunteer" and clean cages, feed, etc. I don't mind caring for animals and cleaning up after them. Boarding at a real place is $50 a day! The second year of college I will take them to a pet friendly apartment where I'll live. Classes aren't all day and not every day, so I will have time to interact with them throughout the day. After this bird, I am at my personal limit until college. I have set that so my dad won't have to care for 20 birds for a year. He loves my current bird and lets her out of the cage and holds her. When I first got her, they bonded and she decided she hated me! He taught her to whistle too. I'm currently working on creating a website to sell homemade bird toys online, and 25% goes to my future bird rescue and 25% will go towards my apartment/bird boarding fee for college. The rest I'll need for gas money, clothes, etc. Then over the summers I'll get another job, but during school I probably won't have one. I have this all figured out and my parents know my whole plan. If my dad decides he can't take care of them for a year they'll either be boarded at some pet store or I could get my sister to take them. She'd still be in high school then. Once I find out what college I get accepted to (which will be in a few years), I'll look online for pet-friendly apartments nearby. There is no way I'd get bored of my birds because they're so cute, funny, smart, and all around great pets. I have no worries about not wanting them when I'm older. My birds will be used to strange people because we have friends who have birds and always play with her, and then at our house we have people over every weekend and they always want to see her. She is good with everyone, even my sister's 10 screaming friends who couldn't understand that I took the bird from them because they would stress her out, thrashing their arms while they held her and yelling. She was fine with them, but if I was her I would have chomped and held on. They will be good with kids, but mine won't be able to hold the birds until they are at LEAST 6 years old, but they will always see the bird and everything. I have it all planned out.

 

[Amber]

It's good that you have life planned out, but things hardly ever go to plan sadly. For instance, what if something happens to that car? My old car (which my parents have at the moment) required repairs upwards of 2 grand just due to general wear and tear. What if the pet shop wont let you board? What if they don't want to hire you or exchange you volunteering for board? What happens then? What if your birds get sick and you cant afford a vet trip? There are a million other things that can and will sting you when your off in the wide world on your own! I only found that out myself this year! (In my first year of uni!)

I would recommend waiting until you were not only in uni, but in your own accommodation. Some places require you to board on campus for your first year. Although you may think you have your birds covered, chances are equally good that you don't. Plus, it's hardly fair to uproot your birds like that. Once you have your own place, thats the time to be getting pets. Even then, it's damn hard to rent with pets of any sort at times! Even a single bird!

Enjoy the bird you have now, make a donation to that wonderful sanctuary, and when your settled and know your bird will have steady living arrangements, then it's time for another one Plus, when you find the right bird you will just KNOW he (or she!) is for you. Wait for them. You won't be trying to make up your mind like this, jumping between them.

 

[mrob]

If you have your parents support, go for it. I am at Uni and my birds have a great life - I have my own place so they get me around them much more than if I was working. Sure your circumstances may change (as mine will when i go back to work...) but I venture that you are pretty responsible, you have clearly thought all this through, you have the support of your parents, and In 4 years when you do go to college you will be so bonded to your bird that you will of course do the best for them.

Onesuggestion - If you do get to a point where you might have to leave your baby for a while, I would lean toward leaving them with your father instead of a pet store - if he agrees to it. Then you can visit often and the bird stays in its original home.

People on this forum really really really love their birds, and this means they can also get quite uppity about kids that have them, mostly from experience of where circumstances change, or the 'fun' wears off and the bird suffers. Some members would insists that you have to be EXACTLY like them, in their circumstances, to be justified in having a bird, lol. We all remember our teenage years and how easily distracted you can get .... but if you are committed to your bird then thats a moot point.

In saying that, you seem to have thought everything through a LOT more research than a lot of adults I have seen get birds, so well done, and good luck!

Circumstances ALWAYS change, whether you are a kid or an adult, its called life. Its unrealistic to pretend otherwise! You have the advantage of being able to prepare and plan for it, and good luck to you. I wish all 14 year olds have done the research you have done, and are not rushing out and buying the first bird you see. Just because your 14 doesnt mean you shouldnt have a bird - As long as you understand the committment and responsibility involved, and always try and do whats best for your bird ...then you will be fine.

Please post pics when you decide!!!

 

[Anna]

Which of us really knows that our life is going to be stable for all eternity? If I had waited till I finished uni to get a bird I would never have gotten one and my life would be much emptier for it. Life is unpredictable but if it's something you really really want you make the commitment and make it work.

I personally would go for the parottlet because the bluffing stage that IRN's go through can be very trying and you do have to spend a very large ammount of time with them every single day to keep them tame and cuddly. My IRN Shrek will yell at me if I forget to go and talk to him every single day and he is not super tame (I am going to breed him instead) but he still wont be happy with me unless I visit him for a chat. He is a clown and he talks and he is the cheekiest creature I have but unless you are prepared for the bird equivalent of a three year old you are in for fun and games.

 

[Hochimama]

I would recommend IRN ~~ ^^