Newbie - Please help us find a bird!!

[Monica]

I'll have to suggest bourkes, princess parrots or similar... handraised they are less nippy and bighty than many of the other parrots...

Bourkes are small, although they are between the size of a budgie and a cockatiel... come in colors such as the normals, pinks, blues, yellows, and even greens




Princess parrots are more medium sized, larger than a cockatiel but not by too much... they are also very mellow birds....





Just thinking about mellow birds less likely to nip (especially if handraised) and still be very friendly.... can't think of any others that might fit right now....

[Machelle]

uehling, I just have to say I am in awe. Not alot of people would have taken the advice like you have. Some would have been down right offended and I applaud you for letting all of the advice sink in and you TRULY thought about every word. I used to want a 'too ever since I saw Fred on Baretta. Just thought he was the most beautiful bird EVER! And he was. I still love looking at 'too's but after much research decided that it was more than I thought could handle and I didn't want to take the chance. Now, I DO have a hormonal amazon but he's not as bad as he could be. We work around it and amazons are alot easier to read than 'toos. I think you made the right decision taking Peanut back...for everyone involved. You have to think of the safety of your family and Peanut would not be happy if he had to be in a cage all of the time because he couldn't be trusted. Parakeets are WONDERFUL birds! I dont have any currently, but I used to and let me tell you.....there are some EXTRAORDINARY keets that own some of our members!! They are absolutely incredible little creatures!!!! Keep in mind that each species has their pros and cons, you just have to find the best fit. Like svolk said, they are wonderful, but they are small, i.e. more chance of injury. I, too, would LOVE for you to remain a member and keep us updated on whatever fid you do finally decide on. Bigger is not always necessarily better. My parents wanted a bigger to start with and I tried everything I could to get them to start with something smaller. Smaller birds tend to be more forgiving. Their first bird ended up being a nanday conure/sun conure hybrid and that little guy has SO MUCH personality!!! They literally ADORE HIM! And he talks up a storm too! Say's night night, Tazz a good boy, good morning, and all kids of stuff. and conures aren't really knows to be talkers. The point is, the right one will come along....Just like Tazz did to my folks. Keep your minds and hearts open and do lots of research. You'll be discovered by the right one and it will be true love. Definitely keep us updated, and I am so glad you are here!!

[Abby]

I'm really impressed that you've been so open to what was said. I'm sure you'll find the perfect companion to suit your family for where you're all at now. Maybe once the kids are much older you can revisit the idea of a 'too. Just maybe not a U2.

[felisdomesticus]

congratulations on making a good decision!

[TooLover]

As everyone has said, I know it was a hard decision and I applaud you for keeping the safety of your children foremost in your decision.
Please do stick around and let us know what bird you decide on.

[Cindy215]

Yes, ditto everyone else. Personally I'd recommend a canary. They do not come loaded with psychological baggage, they are truely domesticated (scientifically not meaning tame). They are happy in a nice roomy cage, have a great song and usually IF you follow the right recommendations with feeding and light you dont have health problems.

The reason I say this is (first, you mentioned it lol)..it will give your family a chance to actually care for the bird just like a larger one but the easiest kind. No guilt either about not having a companion they prefer their own cage. They play with small toys, love baths love fresh food and can even fly around IN A SAFE ROOM IF THAT"S YOUR BAG. No clipping is necessary with a canary of course so a nice roomy cage NOT The crappy ones they push on people. For flying left to right birds dont fly vertically.

IF after having a routine, feeding fresh prepared foods, shopping for the right food and reading about their needs, bathing, cleaning the cage, adjusting lighting and safety precautions...you think a parrot would fit in your lifestyle, then you can get one, no harm done. Better to know now than to make a 30-50 year commitment and regret it.

You can also see about foster care, not a permanent commitment and there are many nice birds in need. My second choice would be two budgies. I dont believe in one bird alone except for Canary, they are not wired that way. Birds are wired for constant companionship.

In my view a parrot would make you always in guilt mode juggling time and fairness with your actual human life. Even a budgie or two you need to care for the same way, they're just quieter about their needs.

I know a Budgie with a record breaking vocab but the caretaker is ALWAYS with him. Pipsqueak you can google him Sherry wrote a book about him.

Thanks again for not taking offense and doing the best you could for everyone particuarly Peanut.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Machelle

uehling, I just have to say I am in awe. Not alot of people would have taken the advice like you have. Some would have been down right offended !

Its for this reason we as members need to be more ummm for lack of words how to describe it, makea point or concern known but not come across being rude to others.... Some members need to take this and try and bring it into there arsonal as it would help in alot of situations to bring in members and get them to want to learn from the rest of us rather than being turned off by some hasty comments... and it makes life on the board that much easier for everyone...

[uehling]

I'm thinking Keet's at least two (I've been reading, saying they like the company, probably two males)???

What is your view on a Parrotlet?

thanks!!

[Kevin]

Keets arn't bad for a starter bird for your kids but I seem to notice they arn't so hardy... cockatiels seem to be quite a bit more hardy as a pet... You could almost look into a quaker as well...

[Cindy215]

Well I have both. A bonded pair of keets I prefer one female and one male of all pairs. It's as nature intended. Not so much a challenge especially in a smaller species. No babies, you just swap the eggs IF they lay. Which they dont always anyway.

Now the Parrotlets LOL what a bird. BUT you have to expect an Amazon in a 28 gram body. I have a pair too. I had a single hen she was so lonely it was really sad. She fell in love with the male budgie and vice versa. It was bad someone was going to get hurt. SHE picked her mate (or he picked her actually he leaned on his cage bars for hours to be near her lol)....

Now one thing everyone agrees who lives with Parrotlets is they are VERY cranky without 11-12 hours sleep. So factor that in. They also can get cage protective or nippy you have to outsmart them with food bribes. Also the major cause of death is accidents. They are only 4 inches. 28 grams smallest bird like between a finch and canary. Not my favorite choice with kids in the house. I have to walk with my eyes on them all the time. ALOT of safety precautions like all birds but these are so small you have to do a bit more.

My hen flies like a bullet excellent targeting and she entertains herself all the time learning new things. But she had to relearn. I'd say she was well fledged. The male is regrowing and needs alot of attention or getting rides to his girl lol. I have an elaborate highway system of ropes for him lol. So he can get to the different staions I have around. I hung a boing from the ceiling he can climb and she can fly to.

They are much happier flighted they get too paranoid for no reason clipped in my experience. She's 100% dependable on recall to a small perch I hold, 85% to a vocal cue or my hand, and 100% to my terrycloth headband LOLOL (they love to shred).

Alot of fun but alot of worry. PLUS you cant get bloods drawn on them easily or frequently and cant give pellets they have kidney problems from them expecially mutations.

Two parrotlets are tricky they can fight you have to manage them at first and provide alot of room and dual everything. like food bowls. Or on BIG one. But I've never had a fight. I believe it is not uncommon for a serious injury though. But I'd never keep one alone. I saw with my hen how sad she was and how THRILLED and grateful after, like a different animal. She was not used to being alone either when i got her.

Here's my Photobucket of them if you'd like to see. I have one of Piper the hen making an amazing u-turn in a small space (something free fliers work to achieve it's hard to do).

http://s129.photobucket.com/albums/p213/piper215/

I like the idea of a male and female budgie. Mine came from the ASPCA and were sensory deprived it took them a month to relax and come out and fly around. But they are very grateful and fun to live with. AND very trainable.

Also the LInnies. They are sort of "humble" sweet and I think they are ground dwellers so you dont have to be as afraid of flying with them. Just the kids stepping on them lol. But flying they can at least move out of the way with warning. And beautiful. I'd get two of any, honestly. It relieves my guilt too and if anything ever happens to me, hopefully they will both live the same length of time and have each other.

I hope you enjoy your new search for the right companion for your family!Feel free to pm me if you want to know more about the parrotlets.