So very torn... (Galah or no?)

[Muchi]

Decisions, eh?

I'm torn - I REALLY want to get a galah. It is my dream bird, and here in Perth (West Australia) I can get a sweet tame one for about $50. Problem is, I live in a town house with my mother, brother and my bf stays here nearly all the time. My landlord gave me permission to keep a bird, but under the condition that if the strata company had a problem with it I would have to get rid of it immediately. I don't want to bond the poor dear to me, and become bonded to it only to have it snatched away in the blink of an eye because my neighbours couldn't cope with the noise!
I'm not sure how much of a problem the noise would be - throughout the day here where I live, rainbow lorikeets, red wattlebirds, singing honeyeaters, new holland honeyeaters, magpies, crows, peewees and willy wagtails already make the place a noisy birdy palace. We do get wild galahs and corellas around sometimes too, but I'm still worried.
So I'm trying to work this out - there IS a chance that I could live happily ever after with my galah companion, but is it worth the risk?
I'm also wondering how realistic/logical it would be to get a cockatoo as a first fid, having only ever cared for one baby singing honeyeater before.
I've been told time and again that they're incredibly demanding birds to care for, but I doubt that would be an issue - I'm somewhat obsessed! When I was younger I promised myself I'd get a birdy friend before I hit 21, and I turned 20 this year.
I've asked my mother what she thought and she said to get the bird I wanted, saying she'd not complain about the noise. She's lived with my hyperactive brother for 18 years, she's used to noise!
While tallying the pros and cons I considered a smaller bird. I'm rather fond of lovebirds and princess parrots, but I don't know if they'd bond as well as a galah could. The only ones I've ever seen were aviary birds, terribly skittish and afraid of humans. Also, they're not my dream bird.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, I need help making this decision... and I've no one with bird experience to ask here, so I thought it was high-time to ask people who would. If you're a galah owner, it's a bonus, but all opinions will be hugely appreciated.

Cheers!
~Muchi!

[bthomas]

I say go for it! If you are up to the challenge and so is everyone else in the household then just do it! It would suck to have it taken away though because of your neighbors complaints' and idk how loud galahs are but i still say DO IT!

[SDavid]

"I've been told time and again that they're incredibly demanding birds to care for"

I have a galah and she's very sweet and gentle. Galah's are different from the White Cockatoos that most warnings apply to. Galah's are not big noise makers and not demanding at all. Although they do LOVE their head-scratches they don't scream for them. Same with attention. They may call you when you leave the room but you can barely hear them. Galah's are known to throw these "mini-fits" from time to time such as when something surprises or scares them. But, that doesn't uaually last long at all. Galah's are probably a good pet-bird choice if you live in an apartment imo.

My biggest worry in your case is the fact that you could be forced to rehome your bird at a moment's notice. That would be a heartbraking prospect for me. I would probably wait on getting a Galah or any bird that you may become very attached to for this reason. Either wait or maybe do more research and find out what times of the day are ok for the bird to make noise. Galah's aren't loud so you may never have to rehome. BUT find out what your rights are first. You don't want to be the victim of some rule that you didn't know about even if your bird is quiet. I mean, for instance, what constitutes "noise" to the strata company. How loud is your bird "allowed" to be, etc.

[Valo's Moirana]

i'd wait until you have your own place and are somewhat settled. it seems your main concern right now is the noise - i'm also thinking of changes in life that are about to come for you. and you're pretty much at the turning point - give it a year or 2 and you'll be in a different place, maybe without neighbors, and then go for it... JMO

[Courtzrocks]

Yeah we had a galah, she didnt bond to anyone but she was very nice (she was a wild rescue and couldnt fly). She wasnt as loud as people make out they are...or maybe im just tolerant. They are so cute but can be little buggers at times lol but so can any bird. Maybe if you get your neighbours used to her when you first get her they might not worry about the noise. I got my first bought by me bird at 20 (now lol). Well...I have 2 but I have had birds around me all my life. Princess parrots are so cute! I had one try feed Matches when she was little.

What is strata company? Maybe ask them first before getting one and if they say no to a galah maybe ask about a smaller bird. I have a green cheek conure and she isnt very loud except when she hears the lorikeets but its not deafening. She's smaller but so cute! She wasnt handraised so she is getting used to being handled but she is so sweet.

Also there are the cockatiels, they are very underated birds, I love them so much they are (to me in my experience) the perfect bird. Anyway just my 2 cents. Let us know what happens. (P.S. Hello fellow Aussie)

[Muchi]

Thanks all for the positive replies! Hmn, now...

BThomas - Haha, thanks for the reinforcement here. XD I'm definitely not going to give up on this dream any time soon.

SDavid - Yeah, the rehoming prospect REALLY worries me. This would be an absolute deal-breaker usually, but I'm unsure because there's already so many local birds here I just don't think my neighbours would notice a galah! But that's what I THINK and there's no way to be sure until there's a galah here... As for my rights, my lease says 'no pets'... I asked for special permission to get a bird, and so the rules are already in place. Any bug/rodent problems caused by bird or seed is my responsibility to rectify.. Any damage caused by the bird is my responsibility... Cage has to be clean and tidy... All rules I am 100% fine with. It's just that rehoming thing. But as several people pointed out, most of these rules seem to be so the landlord can cover their bases, noting on worst-case-scenarios to make sure nothing goes wrong, or so they don't have to worry about it if something does. Thanks though, I'll probably be asking a LOT more questions.

Valo's Moirana - I do still live with my family, but my mother and I pay joint rent because we like living together. Okay, we don't own our place but we've no plans on moving any time soon... And I've got quite a steady job at a place I like. Okay, I don't own my own place but I don't honestly think I ever will. There was a major housing boom here and my own home is now impossibly out of reach in this city, but I love it too much to leave. I think I'm as settled and steady as I'm ever going to be! lol Thank you for your opinion however, I understand where you're coming from.

Courtzrocks - I've met a few galahs while I've been looking around. Their personalities are all so different, but the one I have my eye on is a real sweetheart. She doesn't talk much, seems really quiet (but maybe she was just in a quiet mood?) and she is the sweetest little cuddlebug. She snuggled up to my bf when he was giving her scritches and couldn't seem to get enough! So at least I know those two would get along!
As for strata company, TAN & TAN Lawyers and Barristers this link gives a pretty good definition. But basically it means I have to keep my neighbours in the set of units/townhouses etc. happy.
A Princess tried to feed matches? Cute! I've never been able to see much of a Princess' personality, as I said, I've only seen aviary birds. But I've been told they can make good companion birds.
Cockatiels are sweet, my friend has two little boys! She's been trying to convince me to get one too so they can have playdates lol.
Cheers for the two cents, and hello to you too, fellow Aussie :}

Hope I didn't miss anything out.

[Courtzrocks]

I hear ya, houses are so out of reach which sucks...my bf and I eventually want to buy one but its gonna have to be a good few years before that could happen.

[Muchi]

Originally Posted by Courtzrocks

I hear ya, houses are so out of reach which sucks...my bf and I eventually want to buy one but its gonna have to be a good few years before that could happen.

Yeah - and at the moment my bf doesn't have a job either... So I'm looking after us both! Good thing he seems to only eat bread. lol
Good luck to you and yours though! I've no idea what the cost of housing is like over there, but there are days I feel like I'll be renting for all my life.
There's always that lotto dream, though. Heh.

[Courtzrocks]

Yeah it sucks over here...cant find anything decent for under $400,000....sucks. I wanna move out kinda whoop whoop so i can have lotsa land for cheap.

[Ashling]

I think the only reason my neighbours don't complain about my lorikeets screams is that there are wild lorikeets around here every day! Also we have a rooster Medlock... and his son Hemlock now :/ ... who crow at ANY TIME on a 24 HOUR clock! (1 in the morn on a full moon... 6 on a sunday...)
My advice... make good friends with the neighbours! My right neighbour is a bird loving lady in a local bird watching club who adores Ashling and the sound of my roosters... on the other side lives my little sisters friend's family who we are very friendly with- plus we put up with their noisy children and they have budgies. Without those connections I'm sure we'd have been dobbed in earlier! I'd say make friends then GET YOU DREAM BIRD! After you first get him and he settles in and becomes friendly and charming, take him around to meet your new neighbourhood friends! They'll fall in love and there'll be no problems!
I love the sound galahs make... :D