What Parrot Type?

Hello Everyone, I have been considering buying a parrot but am having trouble choosing a lot of things. This is my first time buying a parrot and I want to know which one to choose from a Cockatiel, a Budgie and a Lovebird. I want something that easily becomes close to the owner. I have to go to school for about 7 hours and also go to a football class. I get quite a bit of homework and have quizzes and assignments very often so sometimes I won't be able to provide attention. Can someone tell me which one to choose (like I said, I want something easy to tame) and how many to get. I don't want a female because I don't think I'm ready for breeding. I would also like to know how old the parrot I get should be. Thanks for giving your time!

Welcome to the forum!
Have you considered volunteering at any bird rescues, this ought to help you with making a decision? A bird is a big responsiblity and from what you've shared, you already have a lot In the meantime, there is a wealth of information readily available on the forums to guide you.

Unfortunately, no parrot is suited to be left alone all day, and since it sounds like you are still in school, eBay are your plans for college? How do you plan to pay for all the things a parrot needs?


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Some really good suggestions and questions for you to think about.
It really is a huge decision, isn't it?
You could always get a pair of same-sex birds. They would then keep each othr company, but would likely not get very attached to you. Annnnnnd... it can be hard to sex cockatiels and budgies until they get their adult plumage... lovebirds... harder still, I think.
In general, I would say... yeah, see if you can volunteer... you might even find an adult same-sex pair which is already bonded (there's never any guarantee that two introduced birds will get along at all).
If and when you proceed, I'd advise finding a local certified avian veterinarian, shopping and pricing equipment, cages, pellets and treats.
If it sounds overwhelming, maybe consider another small pet like a guinea pig, rat, chinchilla, again, maybe a same-sex bonded pair.
Good for you, for researching and reaching out!

Loz's idea is a good one. The amount that you already have on your plate, coupled with your uncertainty regarding which bird might be best for you, makes the prospect of volunteering at a bird rescue an ideal one. Not only because you could get experience with a number of different bird species, but also because it will give you a good idea of the commitment level involved.

Talk of football, homework and quizzes places you in the school age bracket. This isn't a bad thing in and of itself. Heck, I got my first cockatiel as a student in college. But I wasn't exactly a party animal. I was home enough to give him the attention that a bird requires. And believe me, they do require a lot.

Thing is, a lot of people decide that they want a bird without a full idea of what having one might mean. I'm not saying that's the case with you. Only you know your personal situation and the kind of time you would have for interaction with a parrot. I just want to make sure that you've asked yourself the right questions.

1) Do you have an average of 4 or more hours per day to spend with your bird outside of his or her cage? Parrots are highly intelligent animals, and as such require A LOT of interaction and mental stimulation to be happy. This can cut heavily into an active social life.

2) Do you have the necessary financial resources? Parrots can get extremely expensive. Not only in terms of the initial costs (the parrot, the cage which can cost hundreds of dollars, the play stand(s), the toys, the food and the initial visit to a certified avian vet), but also in terms of the ongoing costs? Such ongoing costs include (but are not necessarily limited to) routine yearly veterinary visits and the required lab tests and such, emergency veterinary visits (which can be insanely expensive), food, toys (remember that the best enjoyed parrot toys are the ones they'll be able to destroy... which means you'll have to replace them. Frequently), and replacement perches.

3) Do you have the time for required maintenance? Parrots should be showered at least 2 to 3 times a week, the paper at the bottom of their cages should be changed either daily or at least every other day, their cages need to be spot-cleaned daily and deep cleaned at least once or twice a month, and their play stands have to be cleaned as necessary as well.

4) Do you have the necessary patience (and time) for properly training and socializing your parrot? Parrots require a lot of work, patience and commitment to make them properly socialized and adapted to life in your home. Simply put, parrots are closer to their wild counterparts than dogs are to theirs. So getting them to fit comfortably within the framework of your household can tend to be a lot more work.

5) Are you flexible enough to be a good "parront"? One of the hardest truths to ingest when it comes to keeping parrots is that it's not about bending them to your will. In truth, it's closer to 60/40 or maybe 70/30 split, meaning that while your parrot will have to make massive adjustments in terms of how he/she would typically conduct themselves as determined by their hardwired instincts, it's not a one-way street. There are simply certain adjustments you'll be required to make as well. This is one of the biggest reasons that most people do NOT make good keepers for parrots. Most think it's not much different from keeping dogs or cats, but that is just not true. it's markedly different.

6) Is everyone else in your household fully onboard for having a parrot in the home? And all the potential downsides that can come with one? The most common example would be noise. Some parrots are just louder than others. There are tendencies that vary according to species, but some of the variances are on the individual level. Meaning one cockatiel might be quiet as a church mouse while another likes to test the limits of your eardrums at every given opportunity. There are training methods that can refocus somewhat their screams into more pleasant utterances, but you can't eliminate altogether the need of a bird to be heard. And to a certain extent, you will have to learn to live with a noisy bird. Is everyone else in your home willing to sign on for that? Are your neighbors?

7) Are you willing to bird-proof your home? This includes some of the obvious things like making sure all electrical wires and such are out of reach, or making sure there are never any open windows or doors when your parrot is out and about. But it also includes lesser known things. All non-stick coated pans (such as teflon), for instance, have to go. To be replaced by their ceramic or stainless steel equivalents. Why? Because teflon, heated beyond a certain point, releases a gas that is almost instantly fatal to birds. We're talking death within seconds or, at most, minutes... depending on the level of exposure.

Scented candles, oils, aerosol sprays and such are out as well, as the delicate respiratory systems of birds can easily be overcome by the particulates they release into the air.

8) And lastly, can you be sure that you won't be going away to school? Birds form strong bonds, and we have a responsibility to them when we take them in that we won't just basically walk away from them after making the tacit promise of a lifelong bond. And make no mistake, it really is like a promise. Your bird won't understand the necessity of going away to college or grad school or anything like that.

I promise I'm not trying to be a wet blanket, here. If you can honestly answer yes to all of these questions, then by all means, go for it. But just make sure you're being completely honest with yourself. Your future bird's wellbeing would depend on it.

All this said, in my opinion a cockatiel best fits your criteria. They are amazing companions, very loving, smart and highly interactive, yet they are also very capable of self-entertaining if if properly introduced to toys. Hope all of this helps.

Edit: Wrote all of this, then had a lengthy talk with my son before realizing I'd never pressed send. Excellent advice given above all around.

Like others have said, parrots require a lot of attention and that can be difficult to manage for a kid who doesn’t spend much time at home. If you want to get a parrot, I would most likely suggest two budgies because they can bond to each other and won’t need as much of your time. Keep in mind that they won’t be as interested in bonding with you, though.

I think it might be hard to have a parrot in your situation as others have already gracefully stated. Even a cockatiel which is usually more forgiving timewise would still probably suffer a bit with the lack of time you'd be able to spend with them. Think of it like this, parrots are a companion animal not a "pet". Think of how much time a husband and wife or a human couple spend together and that's about how much time you need to spend with your bird if not a bit more. If that sounds like a lot to you then perhaps it's not the right time for a bird. For instance I have 2 birds and I spend my whole day rotating birds on and off me, feeding them, talking to them, carrying them from room to room, paying close attention to their mood and behavior, cleaning up after them and loving them. The only time I'm away from then is 1 to 2 nights a week for 2 hours before they go to bed and even then I have my babysitter (and trusted flock mate) come to the house when I'm gone and put them to bed on time so there is no interruptions in their routine. So yeah....that's what it's like...or is if you're doing it right.