Which parrot should I get?

[Magnumpl]

Hi. I am looking to get a birdie. I had a budgie few years back, which I bought at a chain pet store. It took me some time to fully tame it but it died soon after, due to health issues. I now prefer to buy a hand-fed bird from a reputable breeder or owner. I own a small dog but I currently work from home so I have enough time to take care of another pet. I was going to buy another budgie but after doing some research I am also considering other birds which are a bit bigger. I am planning to spend $100-500 at most (without accessories).

Since some species have their temper, so I want it to be inteligent, playful and it would be great if it would be cuddly. It should be gentle and safe with small dogs and kids (I might have kids in the future). It would be wonderful if it had the ability to mimic human talk and not be too noisy.

Is there anything better than a budgie?

I was considering:
- Budgie
- Cockatiel
- Green Cheek Conure
- Quaker
- Pionus Parrot
- Rose-ringed parakeet

 

[chris-md]

Better than a budgie? Not crazy about your approach to your search here if that’s your mentality. Let’s chalk that up to poor word choice and move on.

You’ve listed every common thing would be first time bird owners say they are searching for: sweet, gets along with everyone, quiet, good with other pets, talks, etc...

If that’s your criteria, you’re in for serious disappointment. That bird doesn’t exist.

Parrots don’t work like that. They are noisy and are opinionated about who they get along with. Living with a bird is more like living with a child than a dog. More frustrations on a time-percentage than dog ownership, by far.

A bit more research is needed on your part to make sure parrots really are the proper pet for you.

Should be gentle and safe with a dog? You DO understand dogs are the predator here, correct? Birds pose no threat to a dog. Quite the other way around. Birds and dogs of any size should never be allowed to interact. Even the sweetest dog can snap and chase/kill a bird, despite exhaustive training. So forget that criteria: never the two shall meet.

Please do a bit more research here, to properly make sure a parrot is right for you.

From there, I recommend you look at either a budgie or a cockatiel from a breeder.

 

[ParrotGenie]

Go to a rescue, or sanctuary, or even a store that sells exotic birds and interact with them and do extensive Research on the species you are interested in is best way to know which one you prefer. Just because what a bird cost doesn’t mean they are starters birds and etc. There is no such thing as a starter bird. So a budgie or cockatiel is no less of a bird then a Macaw for example. Just larger birds typically live 50 years plus and some species have special requirements, like much larger cage and have temperamental issues if don’t get require attention, or Hormones act up and can be more dangerous. So extensive research is required.

 

[Laurasea]

welcome to the forum, its a great place to learn about parrots. You are a step ahead of many by starting your research here and asking questions..we all started out not knowing much, and for sure there is plenty i wish I'd known before getting into parrots! Lol

What's been said above is certainly true, we ALL wish there was a parrot like that. Your species choices look great. All parrots are difficult pets, lots of sacrifice, and also lots of joy.

Dogs and parrots should always be kept apart, watched, trained, but never trusted. I have dogs and they have been around parrits since pups, abd are well trained, but recently one has started acting bad, and one parrot has also recently decided to try and attack the dogs. So you can never let your gaurd down.
I'm going to provide some links tgst I think are good reading.
https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/stress-reduction-for-parrot-companions/

https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/bird-behavior/

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/449-toxic-list-our-birds.html

 

[Magnumpl]

Thank you for your comments. Sorry if my post turned out to look like a kid looking for a perfect pet, that was not my attempt but my english is limited. My expression might not be there yet.

As for where I am located - I currently live on Florida, USA. Not too many breeders in my area unfortunately. Lots of breeders offer shipping but I am very concerned about shipping a tiny young bird.

I know that birds (and most animals) have their indiviual personality. I had a budgie which was cuddly and playful once tamed and never tend to show any aggression, but my wifes budgie was tamed fast but not cuddly at all and shown signs of aggression.

After making more research, I am considering either Cockatiel or Budgie. Cockatiel would probably not have the ability to mimic speech and might be louder, but thats not really a big issue. I am not sure if it is a myth but there tend to be two budgie species - English and American. American are more related to wild birds and English is what is used for bred parakeets. I never knew that there was a difference.

I would prefer to keep the bird outside of the cage as much as possible but I am concerned about the dog meeting with it when the bird lands on the floor.

I can spend a lot of time with the bird, I am working from home office where it would be hanging out with me.

Per your recommendations, I am considering either an English Budgie (seems perfect but I am worried abour their short lifespan), Cockatiel or Conure.

 

[bug_n_flock]

My mom's elderly 4 pound when wet froo froo pomeranian/papillon mix with only a couple of teeth left in her mouth participated in the killing and eating of 3 of my mom's pet parakeets. One time I even found the little diva with a pile of parakeet wings in her bed that she was defending like a prized chew toy. I agree 100% that dogs and birds do NOT go together. That said,


Cockatiels and budgies are some wonderful choices. Hand fed is not as important as many think, and I personally only hand feed baby birds in life or death situations these days. Parent fed but socialized just produces a healthier and happier bird imho.



Tiels are less likely to talk(most don't, but a male tiel will whistle just about any tune. Trade off is they can be shrill and loud). Male budgies are more likely to talk than females, but females are wonderful too. Young young kids must be supervised very closely around ANY pet.



I don't have much experience with the other species you mentioned, but both budgies and cockatiels make wonderful choices for newbie parrot keepers. They make wonderful choices for experienced keepers as well. They are just all-around wonderful choices.



Happy Thanksgiving, and welcome to the forum! I choose to read your "better than a budgie" comment as a "budgies are great" kind of statement... as a owner of budgies for over 20 yeats and a breeder, I agree! Very few things in life are better than the bond you can share with the so often underappreciated budgie. Awesome huge birds in such wee itty bitty adorable bodies!


P.S. we have 5 dogs and more budgies than you can shake a stick at. It can work to have both in a house, but no unsupervised time! Even if the bird is in what you think is a dog proof cage! All 3 of my mom's budgies who got eaten were in cages! One time the dogs knocked over a tabletop cage, another time they managed to open the food dish door on a standing solid, secure cage that could have held much bigger and more powerful birds than a couple of parakeets! Be CAREFUL. A threat never feels "real" until it is "too real"!!!!

 

[Magnumpl]

With "better than a budgie" I of course meant that budgies are great and I am asking if there is some other species which would suit me better than a lovely little budgie.

 

[Ira7]

Where in Florida are you?

If you’ve decided on a budgie or cockatiel, you can find those in any “pet store.” Once you get into conures, you’re better off going to a store that specializes just in birds, of which there are plenty here, or going to a home breeder. And you’ll find many home breeders here...responsible enthusiasts who aren’t scam artists...selling on Craig’s List.

I’m in South Florida.

 

[Laurasea]

Florida has tons of parrot breeders!!!! And you do not have to limit yourself to budgie or cockatiels because you are new to parrots. You should get the species you feel drawn to.
Quakers can be loud , green cheeks can be nippy ( but still loves) i have he a heard lots of great things about pionus! I think you should meet a pionus , and go abd look at quakers and green cheeks too. And my freind has a cockatiel male that talks, and I do think English budgie are cool.
Hoobly lists birds, and I've found my breeder on Craigslist. You just have to ask questions, and listen to your gut or instincts. Never ever take an unweaned baby!! Those are terrible breeders if they try and pass off an unwesned baby. A well socialized young parrot will step up for you when you meet them and be interested in you.

 

[wrench13]

Another small parrot you might consider is a Canary (or Yellow) wing parrot (or parakeet). The little guys have several other nicknames: Beebee parrot, Pocket parrot. About the size of a chunky cockatiel but with the shorter tail feathers similar to Amazons. These parrots are usually fond of cuddling and socialize with multiple family members. They are smart, curious, fearless clowns. Certainly worth checking them out. Ours never talked but was an accomplished whistler. We still miss him to this day.

Species name Brotogeris CHiriri, others in the Brotogeris family are equally good selections, just harder to find. Shady Pines in Palm Springs is a breeder in Fla.

 

[Laurasea]

You should get the parrot you are thrilled about and excited about, and when you meet the parrot seems interested in you .
Its easy to find good stuff about each parrot so try and read and research the negative stuff to, that way you can decide if you are all in even if things can be hard or challenging.
Budgie that aren't hand tamed as babies can be challenging, and they aren't the biggest cuddling, green cheeks do like cuddling, most are not loud and some learn a few words both sexes, but they can learn to nip to keep yiu in line so you want to read up on how to prevent and manage, cockatiels don't use their feet like other parrots, they can be a hoot, some learn whistles and a few words I think males are better at that , and hand raised like head scratches and shoulder rides, quakers both sexes can learn to talk usually, they do usually like cuddling and attention, but they like to make noise, and easily turn to screaming when they aren't with you, or unhappy, and they need more attention and hands on time for their whole life. Do you would want to read up on screaming, for prevention, not reinforcing, and behavior modification, and they can as adults and dur breeding season be very aggressive defensive about their cage, but away from the cage their normal selves. And I stress a quaker in the cage looking at you will want to scream to be out of the cage , and their default fir boredom, loneliness, and unhappy is to make a lit of noise or pluck their feathers. They are rehomed a bunch due to noise. Pionus are known for being quieter species, but there are always individuals thst aren't, we font tend to hear about much issues with them, but partly due to nit as many have them as tgey are more rare in the trade. I don't know anything about rose ring parakeets

 

[Magnumpl]

I just found few resque places and a bird store which has lots of species that are hand fed. I am going to visit these places next week and het more familiar with all the species.

I've read that a conure might be more problematic, since I am planning to have kids in few years, I will go with either a Budgie/English Budgie or Cockatiel.

Im often visiting my family members, so it would be great if I could take the bird with me. I assume it might be safer to put a harness on the bird.

Is it safe to put a harness on a Budgie? Or would ot be only an option with Cockatiel?

Are Budgies generally much better talkers than Cockatiels?