What kind of parrot should I get?

[Elisa]

Hi everyone!

So I'm looking to get a parrot in the next year or so to keep me company when all my kids are in school, but I'm unsure which kind to get based on my needs. I'm a stay at home mom, so I have lots of time. We live in a house with lots of room. I have 4 kids, ranging from 3-8. We currently have 2 parakeets that are about 3 & 4 years old, and 3 cats that couldn't care less about the birds(which makes one of my keets really sad when the cat ignores him). I've had very friendly cockatiels when I was younger, and really enjoyed them(would consider having again).

Things I'm looking for in a bird:
-Personality
-Friendly
-Playful
-Easy-ish to train and handle
-Is okay with other members of the family interacting with it, and wants to be a part of the family
-Not too nippy(some nips okay)
-Loud is ok
-Is ok with lots of commotion and noise
-Not too destructive when given enough stimulation
-Is okay with being away from its family if we go on vacation for a week or so(but definitely having a daily bird sitter)
-Any size
-Can go outside and sit on the patio without flying away while we're out there
-Is okay with other birds

I'd also like to consider adopting a rescue bird, but I don't have much experience correcting bad behaviors. Are there any birds I should specifically look at getting, if it were a rescue?

Some birds I've considered: Caique, Eclectus, Hahn's Macaw, and Greenwing or Blue and Gold Macaw. I've also thought about a Mollucan Cockatoo, but I don't know if I would have enough experience to handle their tudes.

Thanks in advance!

 

[SailBoat]

Not sure God has made that parrot yet, let be check, Nope, not yet.

The majority of the parrots that you listed, hmmmm, seems that you missed listing an Amazon, but anyway, the group can be compared to life with a two-year old human. By luck, a sweetheart will come along, but I never had that kind luck.

I would recommend that you read the different Forums within the Parrot Forums to get a feel for life with these parrots. When you have shorted your list of wants and what parrots you feel may fit, than would be a good time to get some additional comments.

Just remember, these two-year's never really grow-up, they 'may' get a little mellower.

Dogs have families! Cats have servants! But Parrots have staff!

 

[Jayyj]

Do you have anywhere you can go to meet different species? Often it feels as much as though the bird picks you rather than vice versa. If you have a local rescue that would be a great approach - not all the birds will have behaviour problems and you and the people staffing it can talk through what you feel comfortable with so that you don't end up biting off more than you can chew.

Big cockatoos such as Mullocans and Umbrellas equire a special sort of person to care for them. There are people who go for a big too as their first bird and make a success of it, but the number that end up in rescues because their owners couldn't cope with them is heartbreaking. The smaller too species - galahs, corellas, Goffins etc - are generally considered easier to handle if you're really drawn towards cockatoos.

 

[Elisa]

Thanks! I realize there is no such thing as a perfect parrot, but I wanted to start with a list of "would like" attributes and narrow it down from there. If a parrot wouldn't work well in a loud and busy environment, for example, it would be good to know before I invest all of this time and energy into looking at a certain species. If there were any others besides what I listed that would possibly be a good fit, I'm always open for suggestion. I want to be able to provide the best home for my feathered friend as I can, and I really don't want to give it a bad environment because I can't handle it.

I have only found 1 place near, sort of, me that does rescues. I'll definitely see if I can go meet some different birds to get a feel for them. I've had some experience with friends' birds, but haven't owned any myself besides cockatiels and parakeets.

 

[MyFlock]

You might do well with a Jenday or Sun conure as long as you don't mind loud, since your evironmenment is loud and busy it sounds like a good fit. I think they are less nippy than your Green cheeks. All birds will take off flying outside when given half a chance which is how so many get lost, I wouldn't count on any bird to sit outside with you fully flighted without flying off never to be seen again.

 

[Birdman666]

GOING DOWN YOUR LIST:

Things I'm looking for in a bird:

-Personality
THAT WOULD BE MOST OF THEM.

-Friendly
DEPENDS ON HOW THEY WERE RAISED.

-Playful
THAT SAYS CONURE TO ME.

-Easy-ish to train and handle
THAT ALSO SAYS CONURE TO ME.

-Is okay with other members of the family interacting with it, and wants to be a part of the family
THIS SAYS CONURE IF PROPERLY SOCIALIZED.

-Not too nippy(some nips okay)
DEPENDS ON THE BIRD.

-Loud is ok
THAT ALSO SAYS CONURE.

-Is ok with lots of commotion and noise
THAT'S MOST OF THEM REALLY.

-Not too destructive when given enough stimulation
KEEP THEM AWAY FROM OBJECTS YOU DON'T WANT CHEWED.

-Is okay with being away from its family if we go on vacation for a week or so(but definitely having a daily bird sitter)
MOST BIRDS CAN BE BOARDED, BUT THEY HATE IT.


-Can go outside and sit on the patio without flying away while we're out there
THAT DEPENDS ON HOW WELL YOU TRAIN IT.

-Is okay with other birds
THAT DEPENDS ON THE BIRD, AND HOW WELL YOU SOCIALIZE IT.

I'd also like to consider adopting a rescue bird, but I don't have much experience correcting bad behaviors.
NOT TO BE EVIL - BUT YOU'LL GET EXPERIENCE IN A HURRY...

Some birds I've considered:

Caique, CAN BE NIPPY/AGGRESSIVE WITH CHILDREN.

Eclectus, NOT BIG ON THE TOUCHIE FEELIE STUFF/DIET SENSITIVE

Hahn's Macaw, FUN LITTLE BIRDS, GOOD CHOICE, BUT AGAIN, CAN SOMETIMES BE NIPPY WITH CHILDREN.

Greenwing or Blue and Gold Macaw. NO ONE LOVES BIG MACS MORE THAN ME... BUT I WOULD ADVISE YOU TO GET EXPERIENCE HANDLING THEM BEFORE BRINGING ONE INTO YOUR HOME. NOT AN UBER DOCILE BABY, EITHER. DEAL WITH AN ADULT... TO MAKE SURE YOU CAN FIRST! (OH, AND ABOUT THAT CAT THING?! A CAT IS GENERALLY A SPORT TO A MACAW... I WOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT THE CAT GOING AFTER THE BIRD, BUT THE BIRD WILL GENERALLY GO AFTER THE CAT.)

Mollucan Cockatoo, but I don't know if I would have enough experience to handle their tudes.

M2's ARE NOT SO MUCH MOODY AS THEY ARE THE ABSOLUTE NEEDIEST OF THE BUNCH... AND 7 OUT OF EVERY 10 END UP DESPERATELY UNHAPPY AND PLUCKERS... THEY ARE THE HIGHEST OF THE HIGH MAINTENANCE... SO NOT THE BEST CHOICE.

 

[chris-md]

What about a Patagonian conure? Largest of the conures, so you get the size of a medium parrot with the playful conure personality, and best speakers of the conures.

Not sure how well an Eclectus would be. Many don't like a lot of commotion, preferring a tranquil house. I can only speak to the combination of reading and my guy. When I adopted him,he came from a house with 5 kids, and he plucked. It might come down to the individual personality of the bird, but I don't think my guy liked that busy a house, which is in line with what I've read. He's a lazy perch potato with a feline personality, happy to be around us most of the day without actually sitting on us. Opposite of a Velcro bird for sure. Sit around most of the day.

 

[Bandespresso]

One more vote for interacting with different species before making a decision! No matter what parrot you get, you need to put the time, effort, and love into your bird to have a well-socialized feathered friend. No species is guaranteed to have what you have listed and visa versa. I would suggest volunteering at a parrot rescue if you can! That would give you the interaction you're looking for, is a great way to judge the amount of work that goes into owning a larger bird, and is great for the rescue itself. Good luck

 

[Kyoto]

I knew that I wanted a green cheek conure after handling one at a friend's house and playing with a nippy one at the pet store. I fell in love with their sassy little personalities. I wouldn't trust my conure with kids, as she is very hyper and curious and beaky (but doesn't bite hard often). I have met others that were more laid back and easy going, but they all tend to go through a nippy phase.

Like you, I had cockatiels before my conure, and they are very different. However, a conure was a good choice for me. My girl is my best friend, my little buddy. She dazzles me with her intelligence and inquisitiveness every day, and she even has a good vocabulary (she is an exception as most conures aren't talkers).

That is my experience. I would never let her outside without caging her or harnessing her (thats a work in progress), but she does LOVE to go on adventures in her little birdy backpack.

Good luck deciding!

 

[Anansi]

Going to a rescue or an aviary and interacting with all the birds there is an excellent idea. I'm glad to hear you'll be exploring that option.

From personal experience, I've interacted quite a bit with conures and a few caiques, have actually owned a cockatiel, and currently own eclectus parrots.

Mark (Birdman666) is very much on point with his description of the birds you are considering. A conure really would likely be a good choice for you.

Ekkies do have the reputation for being largely hands off, but I've had 3 and every one has been a velcro bird. They might be the exceptions, but if so they are VERY notable ones. (One of Jolly's nicknames is the Face-hugger!) They enjoy being petted, but not to the extent that a conure, caique or macaw would.

I also have a very active household (2 boys, 4 and 7), which they've joined and readily accepted. Of course, I allow my ekkies an area of relative peace around their cages. (No lightsaber battles near the cages, thank you!) But I always work to raise birds who can adapt to changes in their environment.

And yes, ekkie diets do require a bit more work and consideration than most.

Cockatiels are also great choices, but as you already have experience with them you hardly need me to tell you that.

Please keep us updated with the process and eventually with whichever bird you finally choose. Good luck!

 

[Nakiska]

Oh how tough these decisions are! Trust me, I know, I currently have a splendid variety... 2 cockatiels (rescued) Charlie, my male tiel is the best talker in the house. I love tiels...they are right up there on the top of my favorites list.

I also have green Cheek, Franklin... He is our little dude. Attituuuude, little bird syndrome... BIG TIME! Acrobatic, busy, center of attention and a decent vocabulary for a green Cheek. People are shocked when they hear him talk. Love him!

Sunny...our adopted sun conure. He is Franklins polar opposite. LOUD! Sunny is the absolute loudest bird in our house. He does not speak any understandable words. He might think he does...as he repeats his made up word all the time. Hahaha!

He is also probably the most "needy" one of the house hold. He does cute things and has a certain charm about him. He gives kisses and dances, chews holes in my shirts and rips sequins or jewels off fancier shirts instantly! (I have to wear special sunny shirts) He is the most clingy of all my parrots, he will not stay on a play stand or self entertain the way my other birds do. He just has to be on me, the entire time he is out. The way he was raised I guess. I adore him don't get me wrong, I just had completely different expectations of a sun conure in general.

I also have recently adopted an Amazon and if you check out the Amazon forum here, you will see my many bragging posts about this very special girl...DeRita. She has definitely crowned my heart.

We also have a pigeon....ha-ha! Not what you are looking for, but WOW ours is a fun pet!

If you really have no clue what type of parrot you may want and you have the time and patience to meet different ones. My suggestion is to take your time and let one pick you.

Parrots are soo individual in their personalities. Some fit "the mold" many do not. They are sort of like a box of chocolates! Lolol

Good luck in your search! I know I didn't answer your questions because in my case, I couldn't pick just one ;-)

Toni