Looking to get a bird

[Mmr1084]

I have been looking to add a bird to our family. I have done lots of research and I have had a tiel and parrotlet before, both were wonderful loving birds. I was looking at a green cheek or a love bird but I have no experience with either. Are male lovebirds a good choice ? I’m getting a lot of mixed pros and cons. Are green cheeks nippy ? More so then a parrotlet? Are love birds nippy ? I have children now so I have to be more cognizant of those things. I know if you have a bird you must expect to be bitten. Both of my children are respectful of animals and obviously I’ll be the caretaker. I don’t need the bird to love everyone I just don’t want a bird that will attack anyone near me either. Any insight is appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

 

[noodles123]

Well, it's hard to say what will happen. All birds can be nippy if you push them past trust point, and all birds use beaks to communicate when signals are missed by people. You absolutely must be committed to no shadowy spaces/ huts/snuggle huts/cuddle huts/BEDDING/ CAVE-like AREAS (LIKE COUCHES or under furniture) and a 10-12 hour bedtime W/ schedule (like a toddler who lives 30 years). Petting on the head and neck only (the rest is sex)...Plus teaching independence, moving at the bird's pace and seriously understanding that this will be like a high-intermittence kid if you are to do it properly (given what we take away from them and impose upon them in captivity). On top of that, even the sweetest baby will be a pain during puberty, much like a 17 year old child...so don't expect a baby to stay sweet 24/7. That doesn't mean they are bad, but they just have to have patience and serious boundaries.

and then no standard household cleaners, candles, aerosols, waxes, essential oils etc, no air fresheners, no burned foot, no ovens on the self clean setting, no perfumes etc. They can be very hormonal and they also have very very sensitive respiratory systems (canaries in the coal mine).

A very very important thing is no ptfe/pfoa/pfcs/ teflon in the same house PERIOD. Doesn't matter what room..cleaners can be similar, but these fumes are one of the most common killers of birds.

Its also important that everyone be on the same page behaviorally--- you cannot "punish" a bird, but ABA can work quite well, as long as everyone understands.
They really are very complex, as pets go...
They are way more complicated/different than cats or dogs, and honestly, quite a lot smarter, not to mention more sensitive to changes and respiratory irritants.

Tiels can be really chill/social compared to their larger counterparts but I am less familiar with parrotlettes (and when I say "chill" I still mean, require hours a day, and still just as smart as the others). The thing is, you just have to be fully committed if you do this, due to the challenges and restrictions they pose (along with many wonderful things)...But there is no way to know for sure, and most definitely, you will have to make some sacrifices.

 

[Mmr1084]

Thank you for your reply. I already bought new ceramic cookware and I will do more research on the cleaning chemicals. We use all green products in the house but I’ll have to double check them.
My cockatiel lived to 18 and went to college with me, goodness I loved that bird. And my parrotlet lived to 7 he would have lived much longer if not for an accident while I was on a business trip. He was placed in a draft. I was crushed. So the commitment I fully understand. I’m not sure if I was just lucky but neither of my boys were nippy at all. Luckily I work from home and have a lot of time to devote to a bird. I just want to make sure I get the right bird as they do live very long lives.

 

[noodles123]

good good!!! Just wanted to make sure you knew!
Either way, you could be bitten or deal with hormones (especially if you allow snuggle huts etc,pet in sexual ways, or push contact without understanding body language) but even then, you could be bitten. Just make sure you are open to whatever, while researching and prepping for "better or worse"

 

[cneuhauser]

Personal opinion...

My Dusky Conure, is an AMAZING little creature; though she's loud and has bitten me only a few times in 15yrs, she's never drawn blood. Most of the time she uses her beak to "play", we play fight on the couch and tease one another; sometimes she can get a little aggressive with it, but when I say "Ouch" or "No" in a serious moderate tone, she calms down. Parrots are very intuitive and understand the finer points of play vs pain. So I wouldn't worry too much about nippyness (if that's a word). As long as you and your children are respectful and understand body language of the parrot, I don't think you'll have a problem.

However, I can tell you right now, even though I'm looking for a male Eclectus, my next parrot I plan on adding to the flock with be a black headed Caique... those little creatures are just an absolute hoot, they're like the court jester of the avian world. I've absolutely adored each and every one I've ever come across.

 

[wrench13]

So a lot of how any new parrot reacts to everyone in a house hold has a lot to do with how they are socialized. Easier to do with a young parrot than an older one, who might come with some strong preferences ( not male or female necessarily, could be mustache/no mustache or other crazy difference), but again, even they can be socialized. Also how your kids react to them. Pretty much all parrots don;t like short quick moves of anything, kids have a hard time understanding that. Socializing starts with passing the parrot much like Hot-potato, only gentler and slower, much slower. If you start that soon after your parrot has settled in and is not frightened of everyone, the better off you will be. Also, bribes work exceedingly well with most birds. Don't have to be much, just a little treat every time one of the kids passes his cage; the parrot will learn that they bring good stuff.

With care and consistency, I think the type of parrot can be more of what you like about them and what they like about you.