is your Grey quiet enough for an apartment?

[Jaz27b]

Whats the Quietest, Large parrot?

Overall, which LARGE parrot species would you say would be the quietest?
Of course every bird is different, but as an overall general what would you say?
Would there be such a thing as a Large Parrot that would be ok living in an apartment?

 

[Jaz27b]

Hi!

Would you class your Grey as being overall quiet enough to live in an apartment?

Thanks!

 

[antoinette]

We have lived in the same apartment for 8 years.

I have had Mishka (my African Grey) since he was 6 weeks old, he now going on for 7 years.

Never once have we had a complaint against him EVER.

Just make sure you bird is kept well entertained, has lots of stimulating toys to keep him occupied for hours.

Spend quality time with the bird daily, as they thrive on one on one time.

 

[SilverSage]

Re: Whats the Quietest, Large parrot?

I see by your other treads you are considering Greys. I do not suggest parrots in general for apartment living, though some do manage it. I first of all never suggest ANY first time parrot owner start off in an apartment. What will you do if the bird is too loud? Sell it? Move? You know that some of these birds have longer life spans than a lot of people, right? If moving is an option, move. If not, wait for your parrot until you no longer live in an apartment.

There are species that are "known" for being quiet - but you want a LARGE parrot. Could you tell us a bit more about WHY you are set only on a large parrot? Because if size is your number one factor, I suggest you look into dogs instead of parrots. All parrots have the potential for being loud - have you ever heard a macaw scream? Do you know what it takes to keep one happy and healthy so it doesn't turn into a chronic screamer?

 

[Jaz27b]

Thanks Antoinette! I dont actually have one right now, and do have my eye on the Senegal Parrot..... but always think about the Greys
How much one on one time do you spend each day with Mishka?

 

[EAI]

Re: Whats the Quietest, Large parrot?

What Silversage said is the hard truth about it.
I'd love to have a large parrot, but even then, you have to always think about the screaming or any other problems faced with large parrots. And just because you find a bird that's quiet now, doesn't mean they'll be quiet later.
If you have your mind set on a large parrot, I'd rather choose an African Grey. Macaws are said to have volumes up to 105 decibels.
Of course, you could help by quieting them down with A LOT of toys and foraging things but they'll be screaming in the mornings and evenings no matter what.

What are your other options for birds? I used to think that large birds made superior pets because of their size, but now I only want the smaller-medium because they're just like they're larger counterparts but have the qualities you won't find in larger parrots .

 

[antoinette]

Thanks Antoinette! I dont actually have one right now, and do have my eye on the Senegal Parrot..... but always think about the Greys
How much one on one time do you spend each day with Mishka?

African Grey's are awesome companion birds but very demanding birds.

I was working from home when becoming Mishka's guardian. We were together 24/7.

Two years ago I gave up the business and went out to work.
Mishka adjusted well.

I make lots of CD's for him ( sounds and saying) of what I would like to teach him.

Each night Mishka is out his cage for 3 hours sometimes even more. We chat and play interacting with one another.
Before he goes to sleep he sits on my lap for one hour.
I go over the words etc he had heard during the day, repeating them over and over again, making sure he understand each word.

Over the weekend when I am not running a marathon, he has my devoted attention continuously.

 

[Jaz27b]

Re: Whats the Quietest, Large parrot?

Hi Silversage,

Im actually set on a Senegal Parrot and have been for a good couple of months now My question about the largest quiet apartment parrot was purely just a hypothetical question, sitting here looking through threads and pics etc and asked myself the question, so decided to post it. I was asking heaps of Q's when first joined about hahns macaws and Caiques as apartment parrots when i first started looking at different options. Greys are simply amazing birds, and yep have posted a question about aparmtnet friendly or not and also about their dust/dander... but again, its all just hypothetical to learn as much as possible and pure curiosity and to hear other peoples stories

I was the mama of a Lorikeet up until January this year who sadly passed away, so i do have a small amount of knowledge, all my questions are simply to provide me with information and to learn learn learn, so when i am in the situation to get another bird, i know as much as possible

I didnt mean to upset you and dont mean to come across indecisive etc, i just ask what i think at the time when i have a certain thought that makes me curious to hear peoples experiences.

 

[Jaz27b]

Ive watched many of your Youtube videos of Mishka, hes absolutely adorable and very funny! I hope that one day i am able to own such a birdie like yours

 

[MrsKay]

Re: Whats the Quietest, Large parrot?

Hi Silversage,

Im actually set on a Senegal Parrot and have been for a good couple of months now My question about the largest quiet apartment parrot was purely just a hypothetical question, sitting here looking through threads and pics etc and asked myself the question, so decided to post it. I was asking heaps of Q's when first joined about hahns macaws and Caiques as apartment parrots when i first started looking at different options. Greys are simply amazing birds, and yep have posted a question about aparmtnet friendly or not and also about their dust/dander... but again, its all just hypothetical to learn as much as possible and pure curiosity and to hear other peoples stories

I was the mama of a Lorikeet up until January this year who sadly passed away, so i do have a small amount of knowledge, all my questions are simply to provide me with information and to learn learn learn, so when i am in the situation to get another bird, i know as much as possible

I didnt mean to upset you and dont mean to come across indecisive etc, i just ask what i think at the time when i have a certain thought that makes me curious to hear peoples experiences.

It's incredible how carefully we have to word things these days. I think Silversage's first concern was for the welfare of the bird and it is plain that you understand that. Personally, I agree that any animal that is capable of disturbing a neighbor is not a wise decision as a pet. Of course there are those few people who do have birds in apartments and are concerned neighbors and capable of containing disturbance, but not everyone can do this.
Good luck with your continued research.

 

[RavensGryf]

IMHO, it's RARE to be "kicked out" of an apartment because of bird noise complaints. I once lived in an apartment with a neighbor (shared walls) with a Goffin's Cockatoo. I honestly could only it if I was quiet and listening. I know it was a super loud bird though, because when the door was open it was full blast. I've also heard (fairly commonly) on forums where people have "loud" species in apartments. Many people have loud birds in apartments all the time.

I also believe that it's the pitch (how piercing) the sound is, whether it carries so much, or is irritating or not. For example, I was able to hear a Sun Conure very clearly (and frequently), while the even louder Goffin's lower raspy voice wasn't heard as easily.

Also remember, MANY people at apartments have Cockatiels, Budgies, and Lovebirds, and have them caged outdoors during the daytime... If you've ever heard those species, I don't have to tell you they don't have to be super loud to be noisy and seriously annoying, and complaints on that are rare. Pet communities have dogs barking. Dogs can be very loud too. Even still, I've never heard of noise complaints over such a thing.

I'm sure it can happen if someone has an animal who makes an uncommon amount of noise incessantly, or an extremely sensitive neighbor or day sleeper who works graveyard shift, but those scenarios won't be common.

Usually when people have noise complaints on them, it's from things like extremely loud stereo or tv at inappropriate times of the evening, loud tenants having parties, or otherwise human screaming and shouting on a regular basis. I think most people have a fair amount of tolerance in the daytime toward a 'reasonable' amount of animal noise, but at night not as much. Birdies should be sleeping or quiet at night anyway

 

[Scott]

Absolutely! I've had Timneh Greys over the years and they rarely if ever gratuitously scream or make loud noises. My sole survivor ET whistles, talks, and occasionally mutters some gibberish not much louder than a normal conversational level. He would make the ideal apartment pet!

My Cockatoos, on the other hand.....

 

[khaiqha]

I have an alexandrine and I've only lived in apartments. Never gotten any complaints. People's dogs and children are way louder than my bird.

 

[Kiwibird]

ANY species of parrot much larger than a budgie COULD be loud enough to get you evicted, and obviously, the larger the bird, the bigger the vocal chords. That said, how loud you bird has the potential to be and how loud they actually are is highly dependent on the bird as an individual and how you train them. Encouraging "good" vocalizations and ignoring the loud ones from day one will lead to a bird who makes more pleasant noises at a lower volume Also, given the fact parrots do not stay up late into the night, if they make some loud vocalizations during the day while they are learning appropriate communication, it's doubtful your neighbors would hear it or even if they did, be able to identify the source. Scott brings up a good point too- TAGs are smaller than CAGs and may be more suited to apartment dwelling

We have always lived in apartments with Kiwi, and he *can* be LOUD (like hear 2 blocks away loud). However, once we worked with him and he got used to what "volume" our "flock" communicated at, he is a very quiet boy, and perfectly suited to an apartment. He makes very little noise at all, even quiet ones. The perfect example of how it's more the owner than the bird- our old apartments changed ownership after we had lived there for about 2 years with Kiwi (we had no complaints, he had caused no damage, we kept everything clean ext...). There was one other couple with a few budgies, but we didn't know them well. The new owner knew when she bought the complex, 2 apartments had birds on their lease, one had a big bird and the other had small ones. Well, she had to come over one day because of a leaky faucet, and when she walked in, her jaw hit the floor when she saw Kiwi, in a nice clean cage/area, no damages to the wood panelling, being a good quiet boy. Apparently, when the budgie owners moved out, she assumed the people who had the "big bird" had lived there due to the amount of droppings and damages to the unit caused by the birds. Mind you, we trained Kiwi not to chew outside his cage, we trained him not to screech and we potty trained him as well (not to mention, I keep him clean). She was just so shocked he has cause no damage and was quiet and clean. It is almost always on the OWNER when a bird behaves badly because the HUMAN has not taught the bird how it should act.

 

[jasper19]

I am a landlord of apartments. I would definitely check with your management prior to getting a bird to make sure its allowed.

Noise complaints happen pretty frequently. I allow dogs in my building, but they are not to disturb other tenants. So if i dog is barking a lot at all hours, i try and work with the tenant to figure out why the dog is barking. It usually isn't a huge issue to get it resolved.

I can say if someone brought a very loud bird in without asking first that would probably not lead to a good outcome unfortunately

 

[Jaz27b]

Hey Mrs Kay, Yea i agree that silversage main concern is for the parrots welfare, which is what this forum is all about, caring for our current or future parrots
I just wanted to make it known that all my questions are purely just out of curiosity and to learn, doesnt mean i am looking at getting a specific species always if i ask a question, i just like hearing other people stories and experiences, especially as i have always lived in an apartment, so hearing what goes on in other parrot apartments is interesting for me

 

[Jaz27b]

Thanks everyone for your replies!
Jasper, yep landlords have always been informed with my previous bird, Hopefully though i shall be buying my next place in the not so distant future so i will be the 'landlord'

 

[Darci]

Mine never ever screams, she has been extremely well behaved. She always has lots of toys and stuff to do though and always gets a foraging basket if I am going to be gone for a few hours. My neighbour downstairs heard her ringing though. She makes some loud noises but not incessantly. I am really lucky. When I leave the room she makes all kinds of sound effects, so I make sure to whistle back to her so she doesn't develop an annoying flock call. My advice would be to always make sure they have the kinds of toys they prefer. I play music when I am away too and I don't know if it makes a difference but I would like to think she likes hip hop like I do

I used to have a quaker, and this was on the front door of the building one night when I came home. He was loud, and he loved to scream. I was really embarrassed but it was funny in hindsight.

 

[Birdman666]

I had three amazons, three conures, a gray and two macaws in an apartment setting at one time...

Never received a complaint. Mine don't tantrum.

CAGs really are fairly quiet, except for talking and sound effects. Not like big macs or toos, or even conures that way.

There were three other people in my complex who had CAGS.

 

[RavensGryf]

I used to have a quaker, and this was on the front door of the building one night when I came home. He was loud, and he loved to scream. I was really embarrassed but it was funny in hindsight.

Hahahahaa I thought that was funny, but it's even funnier you say that it was for you!