Possibly getting a Patagonian Conure

Staysee

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Hi, me and my other half have been talking a while about getting a parrot, so thought I'd surprise him this Christmas with a parrot, that surprise went out the window as he now knows haha

We were first going to go for a ringneck parrot, beautifully colours, great talkers etc but was told by the shop that they were aviary birds so would not come to the hand and never would, is this true?

We have now been offered the chance at a Patagonian Conure, they are only just growing their first feathers so won't be ready for 9/10 weeks, research shows they arnt great talkers, which is something my other half would like is to be able to teach a bird words and phrases and chat with it. But also it says they are noisy birds and being as we live in flats, it's not ideal....but are they noisy all the time, whenever they squawk or is it just now and then they get loud?

I do love the idea of this bird being soley ours, that no one else will get to handle apart from the person hand rearing and us. But is it the right bird for us?

Also, pricing up stuff, we can get everything we need from the shop but it's gonna cost about 630/680 in total, but you can get large cages of Amazon but what bits would I need to buy for the cage? Would it be cheaper to get all from the shop? Or cheaper to buy seperates? If seperate, what do we need first before we welcome a new feathery addition to the family?
 

jce2005

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Green Cheeked Conure
Here is my advise :

1. Don't buy the bird from a shop. A breeder with good reputation is probably still cheaper.
2. Buy your cage from Amazon, a lot cheaper than in stores
3. May consider a Green Cheeked Conure, since they are really quiet and can lern to talk, do tricks, wanna be pet all the time and usually enjoy the company of their owners.

NOTE: Green Cheek can be a bit nippy at times, especially when young but eventually they loose their nippyness.

Hope that helps. Good luck
 

YUMgrinder

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pet shop birds need homes too!
 
OP
Staysee

Staysee

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The pet shop I'm going to has a great reputation and the owners are a family who breed and hand raise many of their young and unfortunately I did look for breeders but there are none local to me, all a good few hours away and I don't drive.

Why a green cheek and not a Patagonian? We'd like a medium/large parrot and I believe other conures are small birds?
 

plumsmum2005

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Hi I have looked after my friend's Patty and yes he can make a bit of noise. It is more alarm calls and contact calling. He does talk a little. They seem quite robust parrots (good job in this case LOL). They are independent and will entertain themselves with their toys which need to be strong. He is messy, but hey he's a parrot! I am a mum to a RB2 but still have a very soft spot for this Patty, he didnt know me from Adam to start with but warmed up reasonably quickly. You will need to watch your furniture when he is out of cage.

Without seeing what the shop is providing in terms of cage difficult to say really. Biggest possible IMO and playtops are useful. Please do some research in readiness on the best diet for these parrots. Nightime cage covers work extremely well also. Good luck.

There are two choices re buying from the shop or not.

Cheaper on-line and you will want to check out Northern Parrots and Scarletts Parott Essentials. (Certainly do some research here)

Probably pay more from the shop but by doing so you are helping them stay in business, without trade they cease to exist. If you like the convenience of having them nearby then it makes sense to buy from them. You may be able to negotiate a discount?
 
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itchyfeet

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I can't comment on Patagonians - as much as I love the Rickeybird from afar they're not in my country so that is about as close as I can get. I call bull on IRN's being aviary only.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVQtcIosh3c"]IMG 0116 - YouTube[/ame]
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O22LiJYL5Tc"]More Chat - YouTube[/ame]

View attachment 19407
View attachment 19408

That blue one was 'untouchable' a few months before this video was taken. The owner listed him for sale at 5 months because she couldn't get near him despite him being handreared. I'm not saying I'm some magic IRN god. I am saying that if you take the time to understand this species, they'll reward you for it many times over. And that my first IRN was a bloody good teacher :)

Both birds talk up a storm. Both are super chatty. Neither is all that snuggly, although both enjoy shoulder time. Neither is all that loud...but I'm comparing loud to a too. If they're out a fair bit, their yell isn't bad. If they yell when on your shoulder, it is ear ringing loud. They're like the highly intelligent slightly awkward geeky friend. Not too touchy feely, easily teachable, a little quirky, those who work with them successfully seem to be of like mind.....

Don't discount IRN's. They are not aviary birds only.
 
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sonja

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A Patagonian is going to be too loud for an apartment. They have a VERY loud, shrill sound that carries far. I was at an expo in a huge arena and there was a patty on the other side of the arena and we could hear him above the crowd all day long. I thought it was cute, but my co-workers were driven nuts by the sound, even from that far away.
 

LordTriggs

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I would agree with a Patty not being the most suitable for apartment living. there are loads though that do work. Any of the small pyyrhura conures like the green cheek are excellent, tiels and budgies (Budgies are surprising how much personality they have and they are second in talking only to a grey) as well. Meyer's Senegals, Pionus and Lorikeets (if you can handle lori poop) and Ringnecks if kept entertained are all good for apartments. On the "maybe depending on the bird's personality" you've got, Greys and Eclectuses both of which are big, Greys are the talkers of parrots but could be noisy if they decide they like the sound of their voice and Ekkies although not as good talkers still can learn some words and again can be noisy when they want. Really any bird can make a racket if they decide to, luckily they sleep at night easily so very rare to worry about night time noise. Most parrots can talk to some degree though and some birds in species can decide not to talk or talk more than usual. My Green cheek learnt to say more words at his age than some greys do, just to give you an idea. Try going to different places and meeting birds. When one chooses you decide if it's viable in your home and if yes then there's your friend!
 
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Staysee

Staysee

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Can someone answer me some questions please?


They are loud birds, which I understand but is it constant? Or is it when they are bored? Want attention? Having fun?

Someone told me they are at their noisest at bed time and when getting up.

Are they noisy because they have other birds around them so they just chatter loudly? Or does having a second keep them quiter?


In our place my other half is home all the time due to knee problems and depression/anxiety.....so the cage door, once the birds settled will be open all day unless he leaves the room, would this matter as he would always have attention.

Also, we're a quiet household, so would he learn to be quieter because it's a calm environment?

Thanks guys!
 

Kiwibird

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Where is Gail and the Rickeybird??? One of our regular members has had her Patagonian for 30-something years and I can't believe she hasn't chimed in yet. The RB is quite the avian "character":p

From what I hear, they are noisy birds. Of course, with parrots there are many individual personalities. Some members of a species may be quiet and others vocalize constantly. It is also not typically recommended to deliberately encourage a bird to only go to one or two people. Socialization is very important for pet parrots, mentally, emotionally and especially if anything ever happens to their owner(s) and they find themselves in need of a new home. It is much harder for an unsocialized parrot to adapt than a properly socialized one should a tragedy or unforeseen circumstance occur. Single person birds also tend to be more fearful of new things in general and have a lesser opportunity for mentally stimulating activities like going out and about or being included when guests come over due to a fear/aggression towards strangers.
 

itchyfeet

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I do love the idea of this bird being soley ours, that no one else will get to handle apart from the person hand rearing and us.

The more people who handle your bird, the better it will be all round. You want them to be able to go safely to children, elderly, vets, family ...if something happens to you or you want to go away, life is much easier with parrots who can go to many different people!
 
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Staysee

Staysee

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I do love the idea of this bird being soley ours, that no one else will get to handle apart from the person hand rearing and us.

The more people who handle your bird, the better it will be all round. You want them to be able to go safely to children, elderly, vets, family ...if something happens to you or you want to go away, life is much easier with parrots who can go to many different people!

I'm just on about it's upbringing. Once with us it'll have my parents and my other halfs parents over every week, his daughter will eventually be with us at weekends too and his mate drops by unannounced sometimes too and a friend of mine hasn't got a Patagonian and would love to see one, plus either she or my aunty and uncle with baby sit for us IF we went away, so we'd make sure the bird met them too a few times
 

GaleriaGila

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Here we are!
Yes, noise is an issue... treat yourself to any of the links in my sigature below for a first hand sample!
Or Skype with me and get an earful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wait, I'll just rent you the Rickeyburd... no, wait, wait, I'll pay you to take him for a while!
 

wrench13

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The plain fact is that every bird is an individual,and any given indiviual mayy exhibit all, some or none of the traits that species is known for. This forum is filled with African Greys who never say a word, and Amazons who are cuddle bugs.

Keep in mind this is an open forum, and anyone can post -those with a LOT of knowledge and those who wish they had a lot of parrot knowlege, but want to sound like they do. Birdman999, Sailboats and Henpecked are 3 of the very very best and their advice is wirth a LOT.

Read readread all the stickies at the top of each subforum . Good luck
 

GaleriaGila

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Well said, Mr. Wrench.
I guess I'm just saying Patagonians are a higher risk, for noise, roosters seem noisier. Even so, they are SO FUNNY AND FUN... I hate the idea of they're going unadopted and unloved... best of luck to you!!!
 
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Staysee

Staysee

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Don't know if we can risk it then, don't want complaints and have to rehome him or her down the line, it would upset me too much
 
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plumsmum2005

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The plain fact is that every bird is an individual,and any given indiviual mayy exhibit all, some or none of the traits that species is known for. This forum is filled with African Greys who never say a word, and Amazons who are cuddle bugs.

Keep in mind this is an open forum, and anyone can post -those with a LOT of knowledge and those who wish they had a lot of parrot knowlege, but want to sound like they do. Birdman999, Sailboats and Henpecked are 3 of the very very best and their advice is wirth a LOT.

Read readread all the stickies at the top of each subforum . Good luck

Or even Birdman666 :confused:

Agreed the three mentioned have some terrific advice but unfortunately just three people do not make a forum. Everyone is entitled to post a reply and it is up to the OP if they choose to pursue the advice given. Which category would you place yourself? I find your comment insulting tbh.
 
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Staysee

Staysee

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Plumsmum.

Would you say they only call loudly morning and eve? I literally have like 2 hours to make a decision haha
 

plumsmum2005

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Benji when he was with me would call if he saw the postman, a delivery driver, me outside and then if he wanted his mum, was left on his own. My friend shrieked at him which is not the best tbh and he was better, calmer with me and my differing approach. He needed reassurance that I was still around and called to me during the day not for that long and if you went to see him or even just replied to his calls he was happy. If you are out all day and the bird would be left I have no idea how much noise would be made.

Patty's will differ between individual birds, like all our parrots.

If your neighbours are horrible and intolerant people then I wouldnt choose a Patty because you are likely to hit trouble.

I loved Benji, he has a lovely personality, was funny and entertaining, just a little noisy.
 
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Staysee

Staysee

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We've never really spoken to our neighbours, everyone keeps themselves to themselves.


I did just read that hand reared birds are less vocal then wild caught bird and if given the attention and stimulation they are likely to call less.....is this true?
 

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