What type of bird would be good for me?

[Kaya]

Hey everyone!
I'm new to this forum and bird keeping in general I guess. Id like some suggestion on what type of parrot would be good for me.

*I live in an apartment so a particularly noisy bird is not a good idea.
*On the other hand, I travel to my parents home every weekend which is a good few acres which I intend to use to flight train my bird.
*I have a kitten who has a solid recall, walks on a leash like a dog and has been socialised with birds, dogs and other cats.
*I have this cage
(http://www.bird-supplies.net/media/product/AE/Cages/ss_size1/CC4242BirdCage.jpg) which I believe might be big enough to house more than one parrot?
* I'm not particularly interested in buying a parrot for its talking abilities.
*I am interested however for a bird good for freeflight training, and trick ability, who I can take on walks and hikes
*It would also be a bonus if said bird could be housed with a sun conure as I intend on getting one once I move out of my apartment
*I live in Australia
*So far I have considered a eclectus or a alexanderine?

Thanks muchly

 

[paulhanlon]

Hey Kaya welcome to the forums if your not really bothered about the talking but are bothered about the noise level I would have to say a conure or a caique would be a great choice for you if you wanting to go for a conure I would personally go for the yellow sided conure as these are not loud birds but they are a bundle of fun and a real joy to have in your home.

 

[BradGC]

We have an alex and he's awesome although they do tend to make noise. They don't make noise when you're with them, but as soon as u turn around or go to another room they'll do everything to get you back close to them

 

[kc_y0]

I live in an apartment and I have a female eclectus. She suits it good, rarely any loud noises just happy chatter. I know that eclectus parrots are usually quiet but the boys can be louder then the girls as they have their warning scream. As far as getting a long with other birds every individual bird is different so there is no guarantee that they would get along and you would have to house them separately anyway.

 

[FutureDVM]

If you are worried about noise, I would not recommend a conure. Even the green cheeks have the potential to be pretty noisy. Pyrrhura conures are generally quieter than aratinga species, bit they are still conures and can have very loud screams/screeches.

Do you know what the bar spacing is on your cage? It looks like it is made for larger birds, so if you plan on using that cage, you will likely have to narrow your search to medium to large sized birds. I would recommend researching pionus parrots as they tend to be on the quiet side, although I'm not sure if they are readily available where you live.

 

[Alisana]

What is the bar-spacing on that cage? If it's too big, it can put smaller birds at risk of escaping or injury.

If you like flight training, conures are good in a flock. But not recommended for apartments. (If you've ever sat with a Jenday or Sun on your shoulder, you'll know what I mean)

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRuhuhENl20]Flocking Macaws & Free Flying Sun Conure Parrots - YouTube[/ame]

The reason why flocking is recommended is there is more than one set of eyes, and their constant looking around at flock mates and contact calls can warn in advance of predators.

How long before you move?

 

[4theBirds]

First -- how much time do you have to spend with your companion? Many species require several hours a day. Parrots are intelligent and require social contact. In the wild, they have their flock with which to be social.

I can speak for the following:
Amazons -- Definitely noisy
Mini-Macaws (Yellow Collared) -- Noisy (almost got me thrown out of my apartment)
Greys -- Quieter, but require a lot of time
Cockatoos -- Noisy and demand a lot of time and interaction.

 

[Seaweed]

I have a lovely male Eclectus named Seaweed & I just cant get enough of this little guy! I strongly believe a birds personality has much to do with its up bringing.The first day I bought Seaweed home with me was the same day we started taking showers together lol.He barely makes any loud noise at all,he prefers to chatter May I also strongly suggest that what ever species you choose that u should have his/her cage in a place wheres theres alot of family traffic/interaction.Seaweeds cage is located right in my kitchen/family room,so he learned right away to be the center of attention around here & now if I decide to move his cage 2 another location (like in my dinning room 4 some bright sunlight) He will fly off his cage & walk over to where Im at.I must say that Seaweed is VERY attatched to me.Hes my velcro bird lol.Needless to say he is anything but shy,but I dont think I ever gave him a chance to be shy lol.We just hit the ground running lol.I have noticed that his personality is much likes mines! He loves to go on car rides,we just came back from eating Subway's & going 4 a nice walk.People LOVE to see birds,they are very bird friendly over here.Ive taken him out to several restaurants,all have been very welcomming to me & my buddy.Eckies are a great choice! As with any bird the more quiality time u spend with it the better quality pet u will have for many years to come I wish u the best of luck in ur choice

 

[Ash]

I have two alexandrines.
They are very easy to teach tricks to, well my two were. Alex learned his first trick within a day.

My alexandrines get along well with my Peach Front Conure. But I know some people who say there alexandrines who have been aggressive to other bird species.

They can be loud. But my alexandrines rarely squawk, instead they talk. Well alex talks and makes other sounds like meowing etc. Yuki doesn't make any sounds really. She does make some clucking sounds sometimes.
I know my friend's alexandrine squawks once or twice a day. It's pretty high pitched and loud but it doesn't last long.
When I first got Alex he was quite noisy but with treats and some work we were able to change his call to meowing. So hes not loud any more.

My Alexandrines get along great with my cats, the love to meow to each other.

 

[wolf0994]

My grey is not loud at all. Are very intelligent but, do want / require your attention when you are home. Most of the time if he makes any noise at all it's trying to get your attention but he does fairly soft whistles and such. With any parrot if you respond to the noise as in give them attention, they will keep doing it.

 

[Kaya]

Do you know what the bar spacing is on your cage? It looks like it is made for larger birds, so if you plan on using that cage, you will likely have to narrow your search to medium to large sized birds. I would recommend researching pionus parrots as they tend to be on the quiet side, although I'm not sure if they are readily available where you live.

I think pionus would be perfect for me but unfortunately I don't think we have them in Australia
Any one heard of any breeders?

 

[Kaya]

I have a lovely male Eclectus named Seaweed & I just cant get enough of this little guy! I strongly believe a birds personality has much to do with its up bringing.The first day I bought Seaweed home with me was the same day we started taking showers together lol.He barely makes any loud noise at all,he prefers to chatter May I also strongly suggest that what ever species you choose that u should have his/her cage in a place wheres theres alot of family traffic/interaction.Seaweeds cage is located right in my kitchen/family room,so he learned right away to be the center of attention around here & now if I decide to move his cage 2 another location (like in my dinning room 4 some bright sunlight) He will fly off his cage & walk over to where Im at.I must say that Seaweed is VERY attatched to me.Hes my velcro bird lol.Needless to say he is anything but shy,but I dont think I ever gave him a chance to be shy lol.We just hit the ground running lol.I have noticed that his personality is much likes mines! He loves to go on car rides,we just came back from eating Subway's & going 4 a nice walk.People LOVE to see birds,they are very bird friendly over here.Ive taken him out to several restaurants,all have been very welcomming to me & my buddy.Eckies are a great choice! As with any bird the more quiality time u spend with it the better quality pet u will have for many years to come I wish u the best of luck in ur choice

Wow, to restaurants? They let him in? Thats exactly the kind of thing Id love to do with my bird. Not sure if people would allow it over here though? Where do you live?

Also I live alone, so there not really much family traffic anywhere, but I get pretty bored ect so my bird would probably be out whenever I'm home. xD

 

[lene1949]

Hi Kaya

Welcome to the forums..

I have quite a few birds, including an eclectus and an alexandrine... These two have time out together - very closely supervised...

I don't find any of them loud (I often work nightshifts and have no trouble sleeping during the day)...

I have had both these birds from babies... The alexandrine is much more independent, wanting to explore his world, where as the eclectus always flies to me...

I think either of these species will suit you...

 

[pjoel]

I have an Alexandrine his name is bozo and he can be a very load bird if he get excited, if u live in a apartment i would not recommend one.

 

[paulhanlon]

I have an Alexandrine his name is bozo and he can be a very load bird if he get excited, if u live in a apartment i would not recommend one.

Not exactly true a friend of mine lives in a apartment and she has a number of Alexandrine's and not one of them is loud to the point where she gets complaints from other people living in the complex but saying that differant birds have a differant personality and i agree with you that they can be loud but if you have the right amount of time on your hands to spend with them you can keep there noise to a minamal level.

 

[wenz2712]

I think Birds are a bit like Children, some can be noisy and some can be quiet

I know 2 People with Alexandrines... One of them is noisy to the point of driving you insane and the other one is very quiet!

 

[paulhanlon]

I think Birds are a bit like Children, some can be noisy and some can be quiet

I know 2 People with Alexandrines... One of them is noisy to the point of driving you insane and the other one is very quiet!

Ohhh don't I know it lol and don't forget if they don't get there own way they throw a fit but its so cute

 

[wenz2712]

Sometimes Codie gets moody and throws all of her Toys across the Room in temper, just like a Child having a Tantrum lol.... I always say, " She is throwing her Toys out of her Pram "

 

[paulhanlon]

Georgie is the same way she throws all hers off the fire place she's munched threw arial cable for the tv aswell and that's my mams bird I wonder what jinx is going to be like lol