Cockatiel or Conure??

Hi everyone!!
I've been thinking about getting a bird for a while and was wondering if any of you could help me decide which type!
I've narrowed it down to either a conure (either black capped or green cheek) or a cockatiel but can't decide what would be better for me. I go to school everyday for 8-10 hours on weekdays and would have 30 minutes to be with the bird in the mornings and the rest of the day (probably between 3-4 hours) in the evenings to be with the bird. I would provide many toys and stimulation to the bird and will probably keep a radio on so they don't feel alone. Will the bird feel too lonely if this were the case? I only want one bird and know that a second one would ensure the bird doesn't feel neglected.
I would prefer a quieter bird and have heard mixed things about both the cockatiel and conures. Could spending time with the bird in the evenings include just sitting with the bird while I study or read? Is this the same with both conures AND cockatiels or is one bird more energetic than the other?
The last thing I am worried about is mess...which bird tends to be messier? I know that cockatiels are very dusty but have heard of conures that throw their food all over the place...is this true? I'm fine with some mess but the less the better!

Any information you have would be helpful!
Thank you!!!

I hate to be super negative, but I would REALLY advise that you reconsider and research. Do you plan to go to college? Your parents need to support you 100% because this bird will totally change the way everyone in your house lives and they will have to keep the bird if you live in a dorm. I will copy and paste my reply to another school-aged individual who asked about bird ownership:
"
You sound very responsible and smart. The problem is, a bird isn't like a dog or a cat, in that it really takes cooperation from the whole family to make sure a bird is healthy and happy (and it is often thankless work, as the bird may or may not like everyone in the house).

Birds are flock animals, so keeping them in a cage out of convenience is not fair to them (even though it often works best with humans' schedules)

Birds are easily killed by household fumes from cooking with Teflon/PTFOA/PTFE (found in no-stick pans, drip-trays, irons, ironing boards, curling irons, blow-dryers, space heaters, pop-corn poppers, rice-cookers, bake-in-a bag meals and many other places!!!), bleach, Windex, Fabreeze, scented candles, hairspray, perfume, you name it...if it has a smell and isn't natural, it can kill your bird or irritate its respiratory system (which is far more sensitive than those found in other animals).

This means that everyone would need to understand these rules and adjust their lifestyles to help the bird....Your parents would have to completely change the way they cook and clean and after many years, that can be difficult (and expensive when replacing pots, pans, irons, popcorn poppers, rice-cookers and other things that contain teflon/ptfe/ptfoa)---This chemical has killed birds on the 2nd floor of 2-story houses, even though the actually teflon usage was happening on the first floor. Death can happen in as little as 5 minutes.

Also, birds need bedtimes and routines. If you are out late because of a practice or if you want to see a movie, what happens to the bird then? Forget sleeping in, because your bird will wake up when it wakes up and you will need to be there to uncover it and start its daily routine.

Birds' water and food dishes need to be washed well each morning (with soap) and they cannot just eat seeds and be healthy. Feeding and cleaning up after a bird is expensive and time-consuming....Also, birds bite and can be super moody/hormonal. They are also prone to screaming and without a lot of experience with training/behavior, you can easily end up in over your head. Your bird may not like you or it may like you and hate everyone else---then what?



If cared for properly, your bird should still be alive when you decide to go to college. Then what happens?
You can't have pets in dorms, and you can't usually live off-campus as a freshman.
Also, as you get older, you will be driving and dating etc and you will find yourself spending a lot less time at home.



Birds hide illness because they are prey animals. This means that you have to watch your bird like a hawk for any red-flags (and these are VERY hard to spot, even for experts). Vet bills are EXPENSIVE and not going to the vet is simply NOT an option.
I can see why your parents are resistant to the idea, simply because birds are way more complicated than other types of pets. The issue isn't a matter of responsibility, so much as the logistics. Without their help, you won't be able to adequately care for the bird, so they need to be okay with that in order for it to work. This can work BUT ONLY with their help....so they need to want it too.

Does that make sense?"

Hi noodles123
Thanks so much for your reply! I've done extensive research on all of these topics you mentioned and have solutions for all of them to improve the living conditions in the house for the bird. My parents are both on board and we have discussed all the practical stand-points of bird ownership such as looking 5-10 years into the future and where to put the bird, cage size, what we would do if we go away on vacation (it wouldn't be that often), cost, etc.
I feel as though I am prepared to for this long-time commitment and am open to any suggestions and tips you may have to a first-time bird owner.

Thanks again for replying so quickly!

I will write more later---I have to go to work now, but...
I have heard that cockatiels are very sweet (generally). Conures can be a bit trickier (from what I have read). Read through the cockatiel and conure forums and I will get back to you on the rest.
I am so glad that you have already researched because it is such a huge commitment and a lot of people just don't realize how hard it can be to take care of a bird properly.

I would reconsider until after college or until you move out. I got my first bird when I was 15 and I was convinced it was going to work. I wasn't in school, I had a job so I could pay for everything, and my parents were on board. Fast forward 5 months, my mother had a teflon pan she had been using the entire time. She didn't know the difference between teflon and normal, me and the vet both asked and she told both of us she had no teflon. She got tired of expensive organic cleaners and went back to windex. My dad decided he didn't like the bird after a year so he had to stay in my room. I made it work and paid for a new pan, but the windex stayed. Then came college, most colleges say they will make an exception of the common rule that you have to live in the dorm for the first year. Every college I applied to denied my request, but I refused to rehome my bird. I'm still looking for an online college with the major I want. I will never rehome him but if I could turn back time and gotten my gcc a few years after I did, I would do anything to make that happen. My bird was in a flight cage with the right toys, perches, and a pretty good diet, but I wasn't taking good care of him. I don't know how he is healthy with all the teflon, windex, febreeze, candles, hairspray, etc..

Please don't keep your bird alone. Keeping social animals like rats or guinea pigs alone is always frowned upon but it's accepted for birds because it's more convenient for humans. Keeping them alone is never the right decision.

Do both parents work 8 hours a day? Would they be willing to interact with the bird when you are out? If so, a Cockatiel might work. Do not consider a Conure. All Conures are very loud and need a LOT of attention to be sweet and tame. All birds are messy, from small to large. I had a parakeet when I was still in school. We didn't know anything about birds and kept him in the kitchen where all the action was. It was a huge kitchen. Didn't know about Teflon. Don't think it was around then....HA! Anyway, my mother cooked with cast iron. He became my mother's bird as she was home more than me and looked after "Beau" when I was out. He was a wonderful Keet, talked a lot in his little Budgie voice. The whole family loved him. You might consider a Budgie. They are excellent first birds. You'll learn a lot about parrots and when it's time, you can get your dream bird. Welcome to the Forum and let us know what you decide.

Coming from someone who got a Jenday Conure as a teenager..... please WAIT until you are at least 21, are in your own home, have a stable income and reliable transportation.

You can't be relying on your parents for a bird that has a potential to live 20-30 years. If you don't know what you'll be doing in 5-10 years, then you should wait.

Parrots want stability. They like routine, knowing when they'll be up in the morning and knowing when they go to bed. With college approaching, who knows if you'll be able to take your bird, who knows if your parents will take good care of your bird, who knows if you will be even living in the same place in 5 years. Still a teenager, there's just so much you don't know about where your life is going.

I owned my Jenday for 4-5 years and then I had to go to college. My parents were not willing to care for him, and my college wouldn't allow him so he ended up sadly getting rehomed at such a young age. Had I known what I know now, I wish I would have waited 10 more years until my life was stable, in one place and I was home a lot.

I didn't get another bid until I turned 24, I was in my own home and had an income and transportation. Having a parrot is almost like having a kid... they need your attention and love even when you want to go out partying with friends or start dating or going out all night. It's not fair to your bird to have so much uncertainty of whethere you'll be home or not, and while things may seem to work fine now, you live with your parents but that doesn't stay that way forever. Eventually you make your own life and move out into your own place and into the world. And who's to say that your bird ends up bonding to one of your parents, and doesn't want to leave them?

Wait... until you are settled into your own house and career. The wait is long but SO worth it.

Welcome to the forums, kudos for researching before making an impulse decision! I don't have either species, but believe a cockatiel to be more closely suited to your desires.

So much to consider before acquiring a bird at your age. It is possible to be a good parront at this phase of your life, but the well being of your bird and overall success depends on your consistency and assistance from those around you. This wonderful thread may be of help: http://www.parrotforums.com/new-mem...-students-should-ask-before-getting-bird.html

I understand why so many here are concerned and advise caution to a student looking to take on Parronthood. While I agree that most people (myself included) before getting a Parrot, they think it's like getting a cat or dog and not really a big deal. The reality is that getting a Parrot is more like adopting a child than it is like getting a cat. Something to think about.


I am NOT going to advise against it though, if you feel ready and your parents are on board and you're doing your research, then it's not for any of us to tell you No. It's FAR more helpful for us all to give you good advice for whatever you decide to do.


I also made my decision between a cockatiel and a green cheek conure when I got Yoda. At the time I couldn't find any hand-fed baby cockatiels so that's why I started looking at the conures. I'm SO glad I did.



If you want a parrot that is a little less demanding of your love and attention and a little more independent and a little more quiet, then the Cockatiel is a fine choice.


If you want a parrot that is super cuddly and affectionate and funny and can learn tricks and maybe to speak, then you want a GC Conure.



All parrots will be messy to some extent, and all will be loud at times. You'll have to clean the cage regularly, and I recommend getting a little cordless vacuum cleaner and using it daily around the cage/playgym. I clean Yoda's cage and playgym every night and vacuum the whole downstairs, all together that takes me about 15 to 20 minutes per day. Not really a big deal, and my house is clean and Yoda is healthy and happy.



Chances are, either bird will be happy to sit on your shoulder or play on a playgym near you while you study and do homework or watch TV or whatever you are doing. Most of the time Yoda is happy to sit on my shoulder and watch me do whatever I am doing. Sometimes he is only happy if I am holding him in one hand so he can chew on his foot while I pet him with my thumb, and so I have gotten very good at doing things with one hand. You could probably expect the same from a GC Conure.



Either way, be sure to choose a reputable, good breeder or bird specialty store (not just some big chain pet store!), be sure you get one that was hand-fed and is fully weaned. Most of all, be sure to handle the young bird (handle MANY young birds) and choose the one that seems to like you as much as you like them. Let the bird choose YOU. Maybe you will decide on a Cockatiel and then find a young Conure that won't stop following you around and seems to love you right away, if so, do NOT pass this up! Choose the one that chooses you and you will not regret it.


Good luck! Keep us posted!

Squeekmouse said:

If you want a parrot that is a little less demanding of your love and attention and a little more independent and a little more quiet, then the Cockatiel is a fine choice.


If you want a parrot that is super cuddly and affectionate and funny and can learn tricks and maybe to speak, then you want a GC Conure.

Click to expand...

By the way, I mean this only relatively speaking. Cockatiels still need lots of love and attention and they do still make noise. They can also be affectionate and smart. I'm just saying this in MY experience, compared to a green cheek conure.

I'm a college student with a GCC. I would recommend waiting until you know where you'll be for the next few years. Many colleges require freshmen to live in dorms, and that's really not a suitable place for a bird (or humans, sometimes - trust me, I lived in one! Fun experience, though!). How far is college going to be? Taking care of a bird is a lot to ask of someone, even your parents, and birds are so lovable I'm sure you'll want to take them with you if you had one. You should also think about how much free time you're going to have in the future. If you like to stay out late, party, or have a packed schedule a bird is not for you, as any bird needs lots of time and attention.

As for cockatiel vs. GCC: I have a GCC, but he is much more needy than the cockatiel my friend owns. I'm very invested in my bird and give him lots of attention and take him to places with me, but if you're looking for more of a quiet buddy cockatiels are great. I'd say noise level is around the same, in my experience cockatiels love their own voices more, although if we're talking top volume GCCs would probably be louder.

I agree with everyone else. Wait a few years until you have your own place to live, stable income, etc.