Which Parrot Is For Me???

apatrimo94

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Bartleby-Pearl Cockatiel
S'mores-Albino Parakeet
For those of you out there looking for a new bird but you're unsure as to what bird to get? Well, this thread will give you the levels of diffculty on each bird as to their needs, costs, behavior, etc.

I will state a group of parrots, I'll give them one of the five labels (beginner, easy, medium, hard, expereinced), followed by a brief paragraph explaining the type, and then I will rate them on several fields:
1) Cost of bird and cost for care: 1-10 (1 is the cheapest and 10 is most expensive)
2) Diet: 1-5 (1 being basic and 5 complicated. And make sure it's a well balenced diet of pellets, fruits, and veggies)
3) Noise (Include talking, singing, chirping, screaming, etc.): 1-10 (1 being quiet and 10 the noisest)
4) Enrichment and Interation: 1-3 (1 being they can do fine with lots of toys in the cage or with a mate, and 3 being they NEED enrichment and interaction)
5) Messiness: 1-5 (1 being somewhat clean and 5 being extremely messy)
6) Longetivity (how long they live): It'll be stated in years

A few more things: another factor to put in is the bird's personality. Some birds may be different so don't rely on this 100%. And lastly, all birds bite. There's no rate for it. Their biting depends on their personality and trust in humans as well. OK, here goes:

MACAWS: Hard/Experienced
Macaws are the largest of the parrots on the pet market. They're known to be gentle giants filled with huge amounts of love and affection that a price can't be put on. There are different species of macaws with different colors. They tend to be noisy and very mischievious, but their love and cuteness makes up for it.
1) 8-9
2) 3
3) 8
4) 3
5) 4
6) 40-60 years

MINI MACAWS: Hard
The smaller cousins of the giant macaws, the mini's pack a powerful punch for their size. They're basically conure size. Their personalities match to the regular-sized macaws. They may be small, but their hearts are large.
1) 7
2) 3
3) 8
4) 3
5) 4
6)20-30 year

AMAZONS: Experienced
The humble amazons can make the perfect companion if raised right. Amazons have a very stubborn nature and can be grumpy at times. However, they're love bugs with the right person, and can give you all the love they have.
1) 7-8
2) 3
3) 4-6
4) 3
5) 4
6) 60 year and possibly more

COCKATOOS: Medium/Hard/Experienced
The noisy clowns of the parrot family goes to the cockatoo, hands down. They tend to get loud, but they're very lovable. They're also very mischevious, and love to get themselves into all sorts of trouble. Make sure you give them sturdy, good-quality cages since they might attemt at breaking it apart. They're always out for cuddles and love. And they give lots in return.
1) 7-10
2) 4
3) 9-10
4) 3
5) 5
6) 40-50 years

ALEXANDRINES, MOUSTACHE PARAKEETS, AND INDIAN RING NECKS: Easy/Medium
These guys are basically bigger versions of parakeets/budgies. They come in lots of exciting different species and colors. Give them your love and attention, and they'll give more in return.
1) 5-7
2) 2
3) 5-8
4) 2
5) 3
6) 20-30 years

AFRICAN GREYS: Medium/Hard
The chatterboxes and mimics of the parrot family, African Greys have an excellent, and the best, capability to mimic and understand human speech and sounds. They're lovable little buggers who love to perform cranzy antics. However, if you have dander allergies and no air purifier, greys are the worst birds for your allergies.
1) 6-8
2) 3
3) 10
4) 3
5) 4
6) 40-50 years

CONURES: Easy/Medium
The acrobatic conures are such clowns and cuddle bugs. They love to snuggle in any place they can slip themselves into, such as your shirt or hair. They LOVE to chew as well, so make sure they have lots of chew toys, and no hazards for them to chew on outside they cage.
1) 5-6
2) 3
3) 6-10
4) 3
5) 3
6) 15-30 years

POICEPHALUS (INCLUDES JARDINE'S, MEYER'S, AND SENEGALS): Medium
Probably the quietest of all the other parrots (they're still noisy, just not as loud). They are excellent learners and love to learn words, sounds, and tricks. They look for love and attention (and scratches too!), so give them all you got.
1) 5-6
2) 3
3) 3-6
4) 2-3
5) 4
6) 20-30 years

LORIKEETS: Medium/Hard
Lories are really sweet birds with lovable personalities. However, they have special dietary needs, so make sure you look into it before you consider one. And they're very messy, but lovable in all.
1) 6-8
2) 5
3) 5-9
4) 2-3
5) 5
6) 20-25 years

ECLECTUS: Hard
They eclectus is a sexually dimorphic with the males green, and females red. They're loveable birds with big personalities. These birds are also good birds for people with allergies. Their feathers are hair-like rather than feathers, so they give very little dander. They're the hypo-allergenic species of the parrot family. Their diets, however, are a serious matter. They need a very healthy diet of natural (not colored) pellets, lots of veggies, fruits, and sprouts.
1) 8-9
2) 5
3) 4-6
4) 3
5) 4
6) 40-50 years

PIONUS, CAIQUES, AND QUAKERS (THEY'RE NOT THE SAME GENETICALLY, BUT THEY'RE SIMILAR IN MANY WAYS): Easy/Medium
At first, these birds may be shy, but they're very open and have warm hearts. Caiques are the bouning bubbles, always active and on the go. Quakers are sweet birds with a few territorial issues, but that can be worked on. And pionus are very quiet, laid-back birds who love to hang around with their flock.
1) 5-7
2) 2-3
3) 5-8
4) 3
5) 3-4
6)20-30 years

COCKATIELS: Beginner/Easy/Medium
Just because they're easy doesn't mean they should be treated any different from larger parrots. Give them a good diet of pellet, fruits, and veggies with lots of interaction. Cockatiels are birds that can be easily tamed and trained to be your loyal friend and companion for life.
1) 3-5
2) 2
3) 5-7
4) 2-3
5) 3
6) 20-25 years

PARAKEETS: Beginner/Easy
Same as the cockatiel, Just because they're easy doesn't mean they should be treated any different from larger parrots. Give them a good diet of pellet, fruits, and veggies with lots of interaction. Parakeets are great friends if you raise them right. Males are more capable to mimic human speech than females. They're also sexually dimorphic.
1) 2-5
2) 2
3) 5-7
4) 1
5) 2-3
6) 10-20 years

FINCHES: Beginner
Not much to say about finches except that they can sing beautiful birdie songs. It's very hard to hand tame them but you can give it a shot.
1) 1-3
2) 1
3) 5-8
4) 1
5) 1-2
6) 10-20 years

LOVEBIRDS: Medium/Hard
These birds are best to be kept in pairs or more, but even one is still fine. They can get aggressive, moody, and nippy. But overall, they're great birds for owners who want something small and cheap, but challenging.
1) 3-6
2) 3
3) 5-7
4) 2
5) 2
6) 10-20 years

TOUCANS: Hard/Experienced (Special Needs, do more research if you're seriously considering a toucan)
Toucans are beautiful birds with vivid personalities and colors. They're however have completely different dietary requirement from parrots because they're softbills. So make sure you thoroughly research them if you're considering in getting one. They still make great comapnions, and another thing, they love to be babied around.
1) 9-10
2) 5
3) 3-5
4) 3
5) 5
6) 20-30 years

HAWK-HEADED PARROTS: Hard/Experienced
When they display, they have a "fan of feathers" that will spread out around their heads, crimson feathers, tipped in bright blue. These beauties are vocal and fun as pets. They can be somewhat moody, so it may be crucial to handle them daily to keep them from preferring solitude.
1) 8-9
2) 4
3) 6-8
4) 3
5) 4
6) 30-40 years

Remember, there's also their personalities that might make them different from these numbers. And also, if you're a beginner but you want to shoot for a macaw, go for it, but just be sure you can handle it.

Hope this helps you pick out your new friend for life :)
 
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Pheonix Rising

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Pheonix-Alexandrine parrot
1 September 2010
mikki- barrarand x king parrot
21yrs young ;)
I wouldn't class a lorri as a hard bird to look after with correct diet they are a pretty simple bird

Lovies on the other hand I would class as hard
they are flighty nippy and territorial

Perhaps a review of their ratings
but all in all great thread
Awesome effort
and thankyou :)

Ps : how's the book coming along
 

CrypticDelirium

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Sep 16, 2010
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NC
Parrots
Georigie, a very maniacal ball of fluff.
Babii (baby), The cuddle sponge
I LOVE this idea!! Amazing work, with a few tweaks it could be a sticky! = )
 

Bobby34231

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Quincy - Blue Throated Macaw, Skittles and Dusty - Rose Breasted Too's,
Joey - Yellow Crown Amazon, Ashley - CAG
Great topic, you can refine it as you go, good luck with other member imput :)
 

Ratzy

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See siggie :)
If budgies/cockatiels/lovebirds weren't classed as 'easy', there would be a lot less of them dying under one year of age. I was informed today that lovebirds only live a year in the best conditions :( . Not true, but many people think that. I don't think any parrot should be classed as easy. Because then people go out, see a lovely cute parrot in the pet store window, buy it, give it a cage, seed and water. And then say it is okay.
 

Alienation

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I agree Ratzy. I don't think ANY pet should be classed as easy. Dogs and cats are called "easy" or "low maintenance", but if you want to actually care for them properly, and give them the best life and best care possible, they aren't really easy, or cheap, or low maintenance. Obviously compared to more exotic pets like birds they are easier, but still, no pet is low maintenance in my opinion.
 

bogo1

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Sam (GCC)
Gem (CBC)
Merry and Teechka (parakeets)
and non FIDS:
Harvey and Jed (dogs) Jolte and Churney (cats) Twister and Mac (horses) Nikolas and Aleksndr (ducks )
Great work!!! A lot of effort for you
Can I suggest you add a short paragraph post each rating to explain your meaning?

Parakeets are good example. By easy I know you don't mean toss them in a cage ...throw in some seed and change the water and bedding every couple of days.A newbie who just bought a bird on impulse for less money than a meal for two at McDonald's might not get what you mean and I understand Ratzy when she worried that the easy label can quickly turn into the disposable label. But if you explain up front that "easy" means balanced diet, the biggest cage you can afford, annual and occasionally urgent vet bills and a sincere donation of your time and love on a daily basis for years to come, then I think you will address Ratzy 's point. Again thanks for the work that wet into this!
 
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apatrimo94

apatrimo94

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Bartleby-Pearl Cockatiel
S'mores-Albino Parakeet
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Hey guys, sorry for the late reponse. I've been (and I still am) sick with several viruses and I'm totally out of it. I haven't been into posting lately.

Yes, I'm open to any suggestions to help edit this or make it look better. Please notify me if you think something about this needs to be changed.

Ratzy and Alienation, my sincere apologies if this has offened you. That was not my intention when stating that keets, tiels, and lovies are easy birds. The point I was trying to make was, there's a big difference between raising a parakeet and macaw. Parakeets are a lot easier that macaws. I don't want people to say, oh I had parakeets before so macaws should be easy too. I've heard that a lot. I'm working on trying to fix it so people don't get the wrong idea about the "easy" birds. I might actually use bogo's idea but it's going to have to wait until I'm feeling better. I actually made this the other day when I was sick but I got worse afterwards.

Thank you all you suggested edits, they will be made.
 

bogo1

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Sam (GCC)
Gem (CBC)
Merry and Teechka (parakeets)
and non FIDS:
Harvey and Jed (dogs) Jolte and Churney (cats) Twister and Mac (horses) Nikolas and Aleksndr (ducks )
Sounds like a plan Diego, but, for heaven's sake, just get yourself well first or your fids are going to be putting together a collection to get you to the vet!
 

Ratzy

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See siggie :)
Hey guys, sorry for the late reponse. I've been (and I still am) sick with several viruses and I'm totally out of it. I haven't been into posting lately.

Yes, I'm open to any suggestions to help edit this or make it look better. Please notify me if you think something about this needs to be changed.

Ratzy and Alienation, my sincere apologies if this has offened you. That was not my intention when stating that keets, tiels, and lovies are easy birds. The point I was trying to make was, there's a big difference between raising a parakeet and macaw. Parakeets are a lot easier that macaws. I don't want people to say, oh I had parakeets before so macaws should be easy too. I've heard that a lot. I'm working on trying to fix it so people don't get the wrong idea about the "easy" birds. I might actually use bogo's idea but it's going to have to wait until I'm feeling better. I actually made this the other day when I was sick but I got worse afterwards.

Thank you all you suggested edits, they will be made.


No offense taken, Diego. I was just upset from being told that lovebirds only live one year and that somebody's budgies laid eggs all year round without taking a break. And from being at the local aviary, where 90% of the budgies are sick, deformed or have parasites and there is about 4 nest boxes in all year round ( causing fighting ) and mice eat off the food dishes in plain daylight.
I'm just not in a good mood today. :mad:
 

Alienation

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Oh! I wasn't offended! I was just agreeing with Ratzy that the term "easy" can be misleading and possibly detrimental rather than helpful. Too many people in pet shops trying to make a sale say that certain pets are easy to care for. I was told a blue-fronted amazon would be easy to look after!

I understand what you meant, but I think Bogo is indeed on the right track with the idea of adding an explanation.

I hope you feel better soon!
 
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apatrimo94

apatrimo94

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S'mores-Albino Parakeet
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All done, I made the edits to fix some problems. Each parrot species now has a paragraph that gives an overview of them. Hope that solves everything :)
 

Von1983

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Great job Diego!

Are you feeling better?

Interestingly, in Parrot magazine this month is the exact same topic!

I can't say I agree with it all(in the article) but then, these things are always "each to their own".

It DID throw up an interesting point that I've never heard of before or considered, but I can see the method in the madness.

"Sun conure's are best owned by people who have had experience of larger birds."

Method being they genuinely believe they are large! Madness being of course, they are not lol!
 

Alienation

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Most info I've read on conures say that they have big bird personalities, Von! Personally I have minimal experience with conures so I don't know if it's true or not, but lots of sources seem to agree.
 

Von1983

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hehe, I agree with that but being brutally honest, I would not feel comfortable adopting a larger bird.

I don't have enough experience! But then, it was a sunny I wanted for so many years and they were the only ones I researched! I also love sulpher crested cockatoo's but that wasn't something I felt equipped to settle into the household what with there being so many lovely critters here already.

As I say, it is all points of view, I just thought it was an interesting point by the magazine. One that I can't confirm or deny either hehe! I look after Cal to the optimum of my ability....give me a macaw or an AG....I think I would hyperventilate!!!
 

lisamarie973

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Maui - Male CAG (my baby) (Mom's babies) KiKi - Sun Conure, Fred & Wilma - Fisher Lovebirds, Gully,Sweetie,Baby - Cockatiels, Mork & Mindy - Zebra Finches Luna,Sky,Jilly - Budgies 16 Gouldian Finches
LOL! Looking after an AG is very much the same as looking after a Sun. You provide them with the same love and attention. An AG is just a wee bigger. You could do it, I know you could.
 
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apatrimo94

apatrimo94

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S'mores-Albino Parakeet
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Glad you all are liking it. If anyone feels changes need to be made, please don't be afraid to let me know. Thank you.
 

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