Suggestions on a first bird?

Hi, I'm new here. I've researched getting a bird off and on for the past few years, but I'm seriously considering one now that I'm a junior in college and live in an apartment rather than on campus. I keep lizards and would consider keeping and studying reptiles as one of my main passions. In fact I'd like to pursue that as a career provided things continue to go well with getting my biology degree. But unfortunately, reptiles usually aren't particularly affectionate toward people or often even each other (though some of the more intelligent lizards, like monitors, may surprise you). I wouldn't exactly consider myself shy or anti-social, but have determined that I spend a majority of my time at home alone or with friends/roommates and would definitely like a companion animal.

I'm generally a quiet, laid-back guy, but I think I would like the opposite in a bird. I'm very attracted to caiques. If there is a bird that's like a smaller, quieter, easier-to-manage caique or lorikeet, I think that would be ideal. Talking is not an important quality to me (the quieter, the better), but I think being a playful, hands-on bird is. It would also be nice if it is not a one-person bird and is friendly towards my roommates and new people in my life, like girlfriends. I'll have to move eventually and will probably drive 1 1/2 hrs home on occasion, so being open to change is an important attribute.

Pyrrhura are an obvious choice, and one of my top considerations. I'm just concerned about them still being potentially loud, despite being the "quiet" conures. Quietness is not really an issue for me, but it could be for my neighbors. A pionus would probably make a nice buddy, but they seem too sedentary for me. Poicephalus are also appealing, but I've read that they can be phobic and may not cope well with change. I'm also considering some of the smaller birds like budgies, parrotlets, linnies and the grass parakeets, but am still uncertain of their personalities.

Please leave some suggestions with an explanation if you have any input. Hopefully I've described what I want in a bird clearly enough. If not, I'll condense it into a bulleted list. Thanks!

Cheers!
Ryan

It sounds like you are describing a caique to me! Puck was very trainable when it came to noise levels. I kept relaxing music on while I wasn't home, and ignored him if he made noises I didn't like, which grew fewer and fewer. I had him in an apartment when I first got him. He was very, very friendly with new people, and loved to leave the house. I took him to stores, parks, other peoples' houses, parties, etc. He was nervous the first time I took him to a crowded party, but after the first time, he loved them.

What kind of bird experience do you have? I would strongly recommend spending some serious time with caiques before bringing one home. I did not do this, and I was kind of overwhelmed at first because of the noise (which got better) and his need to chew on things, despite all my research. Nothing prepared me for the reality of having one. He was awesome though.

Oh, and they're bipolar. Just FYI. Somehow I missed this fact while I was researching. I have several scars because I didn't know how to read his body language when he wanted to be vicious, or when he was overstimulated. I think a lot of birds are moody though though.

hey Ryan, welcome to the forum. i noticed you didn't list a cockatiel. Cockatiels are great apartment birds, especially females. Well socialized as babies they can be great companions that you can take around with you. rarely bite and get along with lots of people.

caique's are not a quiet bird in my experience for sound I'd suggest a GCC or Myers or senegal, and cockatiel. do your research get Parrots for dummies or is it Birds for dummies? Then make your choice.

I would suggest a linnie but look for one with a real outgoing personality. I have two and one is shy and the other is fearless and reminds me more of a green cheek conure. The breeder liked the quieter bird because he just likes to cuddle on your shoulder and give kisses but after taming down House from his nippiness I think he is an all around more fun bird. I think it is easier to tame down a wild child than build up the shy guys. He loves exploring and playing but is fairly quiet even when he is being loud.

Thanks for the quick replies! Hmm it seems that I've received suggestions to get practically all the birds I was already looking at!

-I really love the idea of a caique. But I have virtually no hands-on experience with any parrot species and am probably not ready to handle one.
-I suppose I haven't really given cockatiels a close enough look. I'm not that prone to allergies but I do have concerns with their dust. Though very sweet, they also don't seem particularly playful-a quality which I would like my bird to have.
-I want to love the Bourke's, but I've read that the popular pet grass parakeets (Bourke's included) can be somewhat sedentary. I'll keep looking though.
-My gut is telling me to get a green cheek or another Pyrrhura species. There are a couple of larger breeders here in Arkansas and both breed Pyrrhura species. One also breeds Senegals and the other breeds red belly parrots. I could visit either breeder and check out both some Pyrrhura and Poicephalus species.
-Linnies are also appealing to me. A small, quiet bird that has the playful, outgoing nature of a conure or caique would be wonderful. There is or used to be a linnie breeder very near where I live. I'll contact him and see if he still works with them. Also, any input on how linnies compare with parrotlets?

I would certainly love to hear any more suggestions of other species or any further input on species already mentioned. Thanks again!

Cheers!
Ryan

I highly recommend Indian ring-neck parakeets. they can be taught to speak, are intelligent and quick learners when it comes to trick training(a great way to give mental stimulation). They love to be pet, but aren't cuddly. If you bought a hand raised baby and socialized it well(like you should with any parrot) it will be a amazing pet bird.

Remember when picking a species the character will be greatly effected on how you raise it, when you get the bird already weaned make sure to socialize him/her with people, move things around the birds cage, introduce new objects everyday and different healthy foods. Some breeders upon request will harness train a baby bird but you can do it yourself easily with patience.

XD you'd have to be prepared for a bit of cleaning if you get a lorikeet, because they ahve different diets their poops are a bit more annoying, and they somehow manage to projectile it not always on the bottom of the cage where you want it.

anddd we pretty much vacuumed around our cockatiel cage every single day because there were always bits of seed, dust and feather down there but it was quite easy to keep under control.

Maybe a Quaker would be a good consideration.
Also I heard of a parrot called a "canary winged parakeet" but I hear they are hard to come by these days as the market was flooded with them in the 80s and no one at the time set up any proper breeding programs

my 1st parrot is a quaker. im getting it in about a month. he is being weaned right now. but they arent the quietest of birds. let me just say that. I GCC or cockatiel would work well for you. your can HELP keep dust down by giving frequest baths(just water no soap.) but they just naturally have a lot.

Brad, i store near me sells canary winged parrakeets. they have 2 of them. the look like a big parrakeet but thet are like all green. cute they are like 40$ near me.

Oh that's cool? Are you in the States? I guess they're bred over there. I'm from Australia and haven't really seen any for sale anywhere here.

We have an alexandrine and he's awesome but would be too noisy for what Ryan is looking for.

Another good way is to just read about roughly what parrot you want and then go to a hand rearer (or call a breeder if they know of hand rearers in your area) and see what they have and see what they suggest.
They quite possibly will have a great breed that you have overlooked.
But you're going the right way about taking time to find the right breed and I'm sure you'll be really happy with the parrot that you end up with. Another thing that will make a huge difference is buying straight from a handrearer instead of a pet shop. Pet shop animals really do get bumped, poked, squeezed, prodded, refunded and resold birds. A hand reared bird is handed straight from 1 home to another, no trauma and u get a great bird (but the waiting time can be really frustrating)

Remy said:

Oh, and they're bipolar. Just FYI. Somehow I missed this fact while I was researching. I have several scars because I didn't know how to read his body language when he wanted to be vicious, or when he was overstimulated. I think a lot of birds are moody though though.

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LOL that made me laugh! I have 2 Caiques and 1 of them definitively seems like she is bipolar! Ahah. However she is more playful than the other.
I LOVE Ringnecks but heard they can be very LOUD?

Definitely visit the breeders and see their set-up. It would be great if you could handle some of the young, though the person may have a closed aviary to protect his breeders and offspring.

Thanks again for the replies, everyone.

Based on videos alone, I love how animated and charming ringnecks are. But they're a bit loud and probably too much for me to handle. Quakers have their own charm too, but are also a little too loud.

I think I've decided to either get a green cheek (or black cap, or maroon belly) or one of the Poicephalus species. I'll keep my eyes open for other species, like the canary wings, but it will mostly depend on which hand-raised birds I can find and pick out locally. Perhaps I will fall in love with an unexpected species once I meet it in person.

Cheers!
Ryan

I bought a 6 mo old hand fed hand tamed african redbellied parrot about 5 weeks ago or so and she is easy to keep. from what I have read and learned since they would much rather walk than fly or climb, she does not seem to be afraid of any new toy or cage, they are supposed to be the best talkers of that group and she seems much more laid back than my quaker or yellowsided gcc. she whistles a lot ,chatters but the only times I have heard her make aa alarm call was a couple of times when she climbed on the quaker's cage and he tried to grab her tail feathers. She also does not seem as aggresive toward the conure and will play a few inches away without attacking . The quaker is more aggresive and as of yet doesn't like the others although he is now about 13 mo old .

I am a breeder and would say a Green Cheek, Black Capped, or Crimson bellied Conure is what u r looking for! I breed all of them and also IRN. I would say stay away from IRN for what u want and being a first time bird owner! They r very loud and very hard headed. They have a bad bluffing stage that most people can't handle, u have to be a strong owner for them and know what u r doing. The conures listed r all great little birds and great for first time owners. That being said of all of them green cheeks can be the most nippy, black cappes and Crimson bellies r more laid back. Hope this helps and good luck with finding a baby for u!