Help deciding...

Sulphiria · May 16, 2012

My 15 year old has been asking for her own bird for awhile now and I think we are finally giving in. She is extremely responsible, will be taking care of the bird herself and has experience with all sizes. She took care of our birds a few weekends back while we were in the hospital. We have been seriously considering an amazon, but Im not sure if they meet her cuddly requirement.

Heres what she is looking for..

Potential for being cuddly and enjoying being held and scratched.

One that doesnt have the high pitched screech of a conure (no conures)

The bird will be in her room while she is in school from 6am until 3pm at least until she fully bonds with him//her.

Talking potential

Thanks!

KatherineI · May 16, 2012

Well... no conures, so that means GCC's are out, which is a shame because aside from the screech, it fits the criteria.

I'm not sure what else other than a Too would fit her cuddly requirement. I have no experience with Amazon's.

lexx510 · May 16, 2012

I think green cheeks get a bad rep due to the conure association. Their pitch and noise level is NOWHERE close to that of other conures. I think my parakeet made more noise than my green cheek. We live in in an apartment and noise has not been an issue at all. I would say their nippyness is more of an issue than anything. However, once you learn their behavior, you learn to to avoid bites for the most part. They are the sweetest, most cuddliest birds. My green cheek literally pushes her way into my palm so that she could fall asleep while being held.

Mozzie · May 16, 2012

Big decision! I don't know if our Amazon is typical but she is very cuddly! It took her a long time to adjust to us (almost a year) but now she loves to cuddle. Especially with my son!

KatherineI · May 16, 2012

lexx510 said:
I think green cheeks get a bad rep due to the conure association. Their pitch and noise level is NOWHERE close to that of other conures. I think my parakeet made more noise than my green cheek. We live in in an apartment and noise has not been an issue at all. I would say their nippyness is more of an issue than anything. However, once you learn their behavior, you learn to to avoid bites for the most part. They are the sweetest, most cuddliest birds. My green cheek literally pushes her way into my palm so that she could fall asleep while being held.

Loki's screech is soooo mild! The GCC nippiness is definitely more of an issue in the beginning until you can learn their body language and such. Loki still gets us a few times a week. But he is super super cuddly and during the hours that the bird would be "confined", Loki spends just hanging out. He doesn't want a whole lot to do with us M-F until around dinner time. And then it's "love me love me love me!!". He's learning to talk and has a vocabulary of "Step up", "Hello", "Shower", "Love you", "no" (he said that last night for the first time, lol) and I'm sure there's more in there but he hasn't said it clear enough for us to make it out yet.

Tammy · May 16, 2012

My OWA is the only bird for me. We are inseparable. In fact, he just regurgitated all down the front of my shirt when I wouldn't let him feed me. Don't know if it's typical, as he is my first bird. He cuddles, play's tag, talks a blue streak, showers with me & is my best friend EVER.

solobaby · May 16, 2012

i got my first bird 4 months before my 15th birthday and he is the love of my life , he will be 2 in september and is an indian ringneck. i would say a gcc, they really dont scream much if ever and are the biggest cuddle bugs
you should get your daughter to join the forum

Mayden · May 16, 2012

Meyers Meyers Meyers Meyers Meyers Meyers!

Cuddly, laid back, happy to play on their own, etc. + their noise isn't half as bad as a conure either.

I'd also recommend a sennie but they're a bit nippier than meyers, but other than that. meyers/sennie/any poi really!

mtdoramike · May 16, 2012

I agree with Mayden. If you want cuddly in a smaller package, then I would look at a Meyers or a Senegal. My Senegal is a real cuddle bug especially with my wife. She is also a real clown. She loves to flip over on her back. She is soooooooo hyper sometimes and is like a highly energized ball of feathers. I must also add here that although they tout Senegal's as being apartment birds due to the quietness of the bird. But I haven't seen it. Tiki can raise the roof sometimes.

Rio Mom · May 16, 2012

My GCC, River, is very sweet and cuddy. Noise-wise, River is generally more quiet than Pepper the CAG. Pepper can get whistling pretty loud.

Mayden · May 16, 2012

mtdoramike said:
I agree with Mayden. If you want cuddly in a smaller package, then I would look at a Meyers or a Senegal. My Senegal is a real cuddle bug especially with my wife. She is also a real clown. She loves to flip over on her back. She is soooooooo hyper sometimes and is like a highly energized ball of feathers. I must also add here that although they tout Senegal's as being apartment birds due to the quietness of the bird. But I haven't seen it. Tiki can raise the roof sometimes.

Merlin also can be noisey (potentially as noisey as a conure?), but in general I find them to be a little easier on the ears than most, they're a lot less 'harsh'?

Meyers/Sennie would be my vote

henpecked · May 16, 2012

I'm not sure who came up with "amazons aren't cuddly" but they're wrong IMO. We have several pet zons who are the biggest cuddle bugs ever.

Mayden · May 16, 2012

henpecked said:
I'm not sure who came up with "amazons aren't cuddly" but they're wrong IMO. We have several pet zons who are the biggest cuddle bugs ever.

My breeder who I got Merlin from showed me his amazons, they were just beautiful. He had lots of pictures around of him cuddling his breeding birds. I also disagree that amazons are not cuddle bugs! They are just wonderful. But for a younger person I think a smaller bird is a little easier.

Violet · May 16, 2012

If you are willing to reconsider conures, I have done a ton of research into crimson bellied conures and they sound like they fit the bill. Cuddly, affectionate, sweet, not too demanding, and they are also reportedly on the quiet side

dishgal1 · May 16, 2012

I wouldn't call the green cheek a screech. A screech to me is very high pitched. It is more raspy and not loud at all. I think they would be perfect but get a hand fed baby that can bond with her.

Help deciding...

Sulphiria

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KatherineI

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lexx510

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Mozzie

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KatherineI

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Tammy

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solobaby

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Mayden

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mtdoramike

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Rio Mom

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Mayden

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henpecked

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Mayden

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Violet

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dishgal1

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How do you control free flight

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