What Bird would you suggest

[trafficgal]

I'm copileing a list and then doing reasurch on different birds and then picking the one I want to start with.

I got a few tidbits of advice from the welcome forum but figured I'd post here in hopes of some more advice.

I'm married and trying to conceive so G-d willing there will be a baby at some point so I cant have a "mean" bird.
I work from 8-1 m-f and then I go to the horse farm most afternoons but I'd have time to come home between jobs and have some short playtime while I fixed lunch and straiten up.

I'm looking for a very interactive bird... I wanted a big bird but from what I'm reading they are more possessive of their owners and in my mind more likely to be threatened by a new baby. Just a note to add that once we have kids I still will spend lots of time playing with the bird. I know its bad to pick a bird on talking abilities but talking would be a plus though personality is most important to me.

Here is what I"ve looked into so far:

Cockatiel: Pro's interactive, speech ability, playfull Con's dander bad for baby?
Love Bird: Pro's Cute, interactive (but not as much as cockatiel) Con less speach ability, very small
Parakeet: haven't done to much reasurch on them yet, but they seem very similar to the love bird?

Are there any bigger parrots that are not "mean" and dont bite "bad" I'm going to try and get a hand raised bird so I figure that will help a bit but I dont want to get something that I cant handle. I know nothing about birds thats not to say I cant learn I train horses for goodness sake :) but I would never recommend someone get an off the track race horse as their first one. I have the opertunity to get a hand raised cockatiel from the owner fo the local birdfeed store. they will be ready to go in 3 weeks or so I'm going to go down and take a look as she wants me to interact with them a few times before I buy one.

ok so the floor is now open to all of you what do you suggest?

[Monica]

Actually, lovebirds may tend to be more interactive than tiels... but it certainly depends on each individual bird! Budgies aren't really like lovebirds...

I've already suggested the pionus, poi, and princess... I'll leave it to others to give suggestions now!

[GlendaNS]

I would get a Senegal. They are a big bird in a small body. Friendly and talk well.

[KitKappa]

Hi!
Cockatiels are my first birds
They are Kitsune and Kappa.
They are very sweet and it is very easy for me to tell their moods; their crests being a big help in judging their behavior. Body movement is easy to read, I think better then the smaller birds who just fly off like crazy (no offense to others) but their not all that fast zipping around like their butts on fire.
Their dander doesn't bother me at all and I am very sensitive to these sorta things ( I break out if their is too much dust ) & ( allergic to about every animal in the world 'cept birds, reptiles and fish ). I'm big on cleaning but no clean freak. But I really don't think it's a problem with a babe who's probably gunna have his or her own room ( congrats by the way )
I keep their cages in the dinning room area with my conure and it's very spacious. They will come out to the living room where their playgyms are and they are a hoot to watch and interact with.
Their big enough that you won't feel like your gunna squash them too, very gentle and friendly, cute vocalists, and quick to learn. They are cuddlers too, rubbing up against my neck and ear.
As far as my girls talking, no, but they are about eight months so who knows. Many say females don't talk but I've heard otherwise plus I don't really care if they do.
Hope you find the bird(s) of your dreams.

[swanwillow]

I personally don't like teils. I DO like budgies, but I picked other.
Why? I have kids too. I can tell you what NOT to get, but I have some better advice.

Go to google, and do a search for bird rescue. I have a soft spot for older birds, the big plus with them is that they have gotten over the growing up stages-the nipping stage, the hormonal stage, etc.

Just so you do realize, toddlers are VERY curious. Mine has gotten bitten a few times, and it is NOT THE BIRDS FAULT. Its mostly mine, for not watching him, and his, for not listening to 'no'.

but, that said.. Eclectus' are known to be okay around kids

This is Quana and Matthew, both my babies. Shes 4, I've had her for 2-3 weeks now.

One bird that I would recommend is a quaker. if they are legal where you live. They are a medium sized bird, can talk and are good at interacting with the family. Tendency to become cage aggressive, but that is a fairly easy issue to work around.

I liked my conure, but she was a little bity, and many of them are a little loud for a infant. That said, when your youngest is around 3, they can be good friendly birds. Mine was a green cheek, which isn't so loud as others.

Lovebirds-while they are cute and cuddly, there is so few that I've heard of being talkers... but, IME they are more interactive than a teil.

I don't know why you think most big birds are possessive of their owners.. it CAN happen, and I would NEVER recommend a cockatoo. African Greys aren't known to be too terribly bad, and neither are Amazons. My only thing is.. look at the picture I just posted of my child and my ekkie.. notice the size of the beak.
Hers is quite small. I would worry more about the baby being hurt by a bigger bird than anything else. But, working with a bigger bird daily, getting it used to others, and not letting it attach itself to one family member by having everyone feed it, water, and give care and playing will help alleviate some of that.

oh, and good luck. My favorite birds are ekkies and lorikeets-and unless you can handle a mess, no lorikeets, kay?

[trafficgal]

nope no quakers aloud here... the more resurch I do the more I really want a bigger bird... like a macaw.............................. I train horses so you'd think I could handle a bigger bird and the "problems" taht may arise I am not afraid to train I would just need guildence which I'm sure I can get from local bird ppl. as well as from you all! I'm looking into resucues though b/c my husband wont leap for a 1,000 bird lol

[pam311]

Budgies, males have can be quite the talkers. If you buy from a breeder who hand feeds then they can be very tame. I have a QP and she squawks like a rabid monkey in the jungle, but I think she's wonderful
Green Cheek Conures are very sweet not to loud and have some talking ability, Peach fronted Conures are good talkers and can be very comical, Parrotlets also are quieter that their larger cousins but have al the personality as the big guys.
All animals, including birds require long term comentment, up to 30 years. The good news is you dont have to pay for the wedding or college.

good luck in starting your family as well as your fid family

[Grillis]

My advice is a meyers parrot :) They are a good sice for small children they are very interactive and likes new people and they dont usually bite hard if they bite.

[birdlady49]

If you're planning to have a baby pretty soon, I recommend postphoning the purchase/adoption of ANY bird. You're going to have your hands full in preparing for the baby. It wouldn't be fair to a bird .... any bird.

[sweetpeaches]

i received a lovebird this year for my birthday. first bird ever. she's a hoot! since having her i've really been "reading up" on all parrots. for me personally, i think if i would get another bird it would be a caique or a teil. just remember though, all birds may bite.