What kind of parrot should I get?

[godsandmen]

Hello everyone! I just joined this board.

I want to get a parrot, but I'm not sure what kind of parrot to get. I thought maybe you could help me out.

There's a few things to take into consideration:

- I live alone, so it would have to be a breed that can handle being alone during the day.

- I live in an apartment, so loudness is a factor. That might not be as much of a factor as you might think though. Since I live in the lower half of a duplex, there are no common walls between me and the other renters like there would be in an apartment complex. It's an old house and it's built like a tank, so it's not like the walls are paper thin. I rarely hear any noise coming from the upstairs unit, and I assume they don't hear much coming from mine either.

- Preferable the bird should be a decent talker and be affectionate. I like birds that are cuddly and interactive and like to be preened.

I've been researching the different breeds a little bit online, but it seems like there are lots of contradictory information between the different websites. That just makes the whole task more confusing.

I'm thinking maybe an eclectus. What do you suggest?

Thanks in advance for your input.

[Sharona]

Well that is funny cause i was thinking an Eclectus!
Not that I am any expert though by any means!
I have only got into birds in the last 8 months!
I know one person who owns one & they said they can be noisy also!
I suppose we all can be noisy at times!
I feel it comes down to how you bring it up & i personally would only buy a hand reared baby!
I have just bought a baby sun conure 3 weeks ago.
My husband & i plan on travelling around Australia very soon, i was worried that she would be too noisy!
Well so far, she has been the perfect little bird, & so very sweet funny!
She is only noisy when she comes back inside after being on a walk or when she goes in her cage & i shut the door, cause i am going out! ( Even then she only does a few loud sqeals or five!) lol
I feel she will be fine in caravan parks ............That is if she stays the way she is now?
I think she will!
Good luck keep googling, talking & asking questions.
Kind Regards Sharon
P.s Welcome i only joined the other day also!

[WhiteRaven]

An Eclectus may be an alright choice. They can be loud, but are generally not as loud as other parrots. Be sure not to encourage any screaming problems. Ignore all screaming and reward good behaviour. :) They are fantastic talkers and will happily interact with you (especially males) but are not as cuddly as some. They are very intelligent birds.

I was also thinking a quaker parrot. They are medium noise birds. Quaker owners can probably tell you but I think they are cuddly birds. They are also the best talkers of the small parrots.

However, note that not all birds will talk, even if the species has a reputation for doing so. The bird will need plenty of toys during the day and should still be able to spend time with you daily. :)
Any bird you are interested in, I reccomend you meet some of that species in person, interact with them, listen to them scream. See if they are the right bird for you.

[Joel]

I would not suggest you getting an Ekkie if living in an apt., townhouse, condo, etc..... They can be EXTREMELY loud but often that does not show up until they are a few yrs. old, in my experience anyway. There are always exceptions to the rule, I am talking in general. One of mine was on my shoulder the other day, I know that is a no-no but tell that to the bird - lol. He let out a yell, call, scream, whatever you want to call it, but it almost blew out my eardrum. Loudest noise I have ever personally heard from a bird and I have even had a Moluccan before.

Really depends on the bird, not the species in general. If you want a talker, I would suggest an African Grey Congo. But with them you have a dust problem and usually they turn out to be "one-person-birds". They are kinda hyper also.

I personally would recommend a White Bellied Caique if you want playfulness but they are not known to be very good talkers. I would advise getting 2 though, not one, so when you are not home, they have each other to play with besides their toys. Usually they are not loud, but again there are exceptions. I suggest not to clip them but safety proof your place while they are out and never leave unattended.

Meyers are cute & somewhat cuddly and very quiet as a rule but not very good talkers. I highly recommend them and again, I personally suggest 2.

Goffins Cockatoos are another of my new favorites. Can be loud if not trained right but really cuddly. Can talk pretty good but in my experience nowhere as good as a Congo grey.

I hear Yellow Shouldered Amazons are coming into favor since their price has come down, it was really high before when they were rarer. They are supposed to have better dispositions than the other Amazons, from what I hear and quieter?

Most species have their good and not-so-good points. Do your research well and take a consensus, as you are doing in this thread. Many people only keep one or two or a few species of pet parrots. Some people keep many species. All have their own experiences. So in the end, it all boils down to how well you did your research and to the specific bird you buy and how you bring it up and train it. Learn behavior training also. Good luck.

[Jag]

If you want not so much noise, I'd suggest a Green Cheek Conure. Mine is very cuddly, but also nippy. She thinks she's a princess, and expects to be treated as such! I don't know why everyone else in my house thinks she's a brat! They don't have a reputation of being a good talker, but mine is, and has an impressive vocab. considering she's not even a year old! Her loudest scream (before being exposed to my other, louder birds) wasn't that loud. There are exceptions to every 'rule' with types of parrots. Someone already mentioned that even if a type a parrot is known to be a good talker, the bird you get may not be. If it's a big thing, then getting an older 'second hand' bird would be a safer bet... and you'd also know how loud that particular bird is.

Other important things to keep in mind...
Some birds have special diet requirements, some are known to have more issues with temperment, plucking, etc., the bigger the bird, the bigger the beak...so the bigger the bite (and ALL parrots bite!), they all require a good deal of attention and time, and are a long term commitment. It's very important (I think) to read as much as you can about HOW to interact with parrots, so you don't end up causing behavioral problems later. This would include bonding, housing more than one bird per cage.. and what could end up happening if you do house together or don't spend enough time with them. I don't think I'd ever recommend someone who is new to parrots to get 2 at the same time, especially if you live alone and you'd be the only caregiver for them. There is a wealth of information here, I think you could get the 'down and dirty' on just about any type of parrot without feeling like there's a lot of contradictions.
Oh, something I found out AFTER I got my first one... they are expensive as all heck to keep! LOL!! (Of course, if you don't buy half the toy section everytime you go to the petstore it helps!!)
Good luck... my fids are one of the BEST things that ever happened to me! I'm sure you'll find the perfect one for you, and fall in love!

[Astrid660]

- I live alone, so it would have to be a breed that can handle being alone during the day.

All birds are flock creatures, they live in large groups.. I don't believe many birds ever really adjust to being alone for a large portion of the day. Things like putting the radio/tv on can help, but if you're away for most of the day I'd almost suggest getting a pair so the bird could at least have a friend, even if the friend is housed separately.

- I live in an apartment, so loudness is a factor. That might not be as much of a factor as you might think though. Since I live in the lower half of a duplex, there are no common walls between me and the other renters like there would be in an apartment complex. It's an old house and it's built like a tank, so it's not like the walls are paper thin. I rarely hear any noise coming from the upstairs unit, and I assume they don't hear much coming from mine either.

all parrots will make noise at some point. All of mine (cockatiels to a Cockatoo) have their moments. There is no quiet species that is guaranteed to be quiet yet cuddly and interactive all the time. Such a species does not exist in my opinion... and putting expectations on a bird to act that way will probably lead to disappointment. However, I have known some quiet/cuddly individual birds, I think I'm trying to say, it has a lot to do with the individual bird. Keep doing the research, you will find it gets less complicated in time. Learning what you need to know in order to take proper care of a parrot is not going to happen overnight. It took me years to get to a point where I could identify most species and tell a bit about each one. and there is always (always!) more to learn. Also, if you go to a place where you can meet birds and handle them, you might find a particular bird that you really like and that likes you too.. Adopting a second home bird is the way to go in my opinion. There are many many birds out there that need loving homes and a second chance..

- Preferable the bird should be a decent talker and be affectionate. I like birds that are cuddly and interactive and like to be preened.

If you really want one that talks, get one that already talks. Otherwise you may be disappointed...and I'm sure many an african grey has been given up because the owner thought they would definitely talk and never did.

[MissV]

Never get a parrot based on the talking factor. It drives me absolutely nut when the first thing someone asks me when I'm out with any of my fids is "Does he talk?"

Yes, many many parrots are good at imitating sounds and voice patterns, but that shouldn't be a deciding factor in getting one. Heck, I was told that Etty could say some things already and he's not said anything remotely relative to human word since I picked him up. But I honestly don't care. It means more to them to communicate to me in a their own language, and if anything, I should be the one immitating THEM! (And I do!)

I'm not mad, so please don't take it this way....I'm just trying to impart to you the understanding that you can never except any sort of parrot to talk, nor should you. Remember that a lot of times they're only doing it to get quick easy attention.. I know many birds that have only said "HELLO" or whatever human word they've learned when my back is turned!

As for quiet...one of the quietest of the conures is the Dusky Headed conure. I have one and she is practically inaudible at times. The only time she gets loud is when she's desperate for something or trying to compete with my sun (a futile game, really!)

[godsandmen]

Wow, thanks for all your feedback. Some great stuff there!

Talking isn't as big a deal to me as affection. It's a nice bonus, but it's not the big priority. I wish there was someplace I could go to look at and interact with different species, but the nearest pet store that sells parrots is 150 miles away (not that I would buy one from a pet store anyway. If I buy one, it'll be a hand-raised baby from a breeder.)

I'm going to keep reading up on the various species, and parrots in general. I'm in no hurry to decide. It's nice to have people like you who have experience with parrots to ask questions to though. I appreciate it!

[Jag]

Originally Posted by godsandmen

I wish there was someplace I could go to look at and interact with different species, but the nearest pet store that sells parrots is 150 miles away (not that I would buy one from a pet store anyway. If I buy one, it'll be a hand-raised baby from a breeder.)

I'm going to keep reading up on the various species, and parrots in general. I'm in no hurry to decide. It's nice to have people like you who have experience with parrots to ask questions to though. I appreciate it!

Where are you planning on looking for a parrot, then? If there are breeders around, how about contacting them and asking if you can come by and see the birds that they have to get an idea of their noise level and personality? That may be a good place to start. I don't think you'll get all the info. you'll need just by reading, you're going to need some face to face time with some of the different ones you're interested in. Even if you don't want to buy from them, you could still at least see them any interact with them a little. This may make it easier for you to make a decision!

[Lori~D]

I was going to say just about what Astrid said. Having many types I will tell you this. They thrive on company to talk to so TWO birds is best even if one is smaller or even not a friendly bird that you dont HAVE to divert your one on one time to (like a rescued Cockatiel maybe that needs a better cleaner home??) and My Macaws are BY FAR the quietest birds in the house. They might get very loud when they do call but some days not a sound over the "indoor voice". My Amazon is the noisiest little chatter box there is, constantly talking and laughing like a cartoon character (loudly sometimes). The Congo African greys go thru LOOong periods of noises and sounds that can be piercing and repetative if they are not talking human things. The Cockatoo (being a pretty quiet type) can get REEEEeeeaaally loud each day for about 20 minutes of screaming happy time. It will rattle your teeth loose. I have met loud Ekkies. Any bird will be quieter with Quiet company like a Tiel hen in the same room. My Pyhurra Conures (Green Cheeks) are very loud and annoying most days but they are a pair and outdoors for the summer - some can be very quiet. I have kept Caiques for a friend and her breeding pairs can be quite loud but Im not familiar with pets - her babies were quiet and so were her Panama Amazons , but they were young too. My birds now are all adults save for the Zon who is a Year old. What your neighbors may not want you to get is a Jenday, Sun, Or Nanaday Conure for sure but then I would not recommend any bird to an apartment dweller or anyone who rents unless they are DEDICATED to finding rentals for the next fifty years that allow pets. Finding a bird that mimics human speech should be the last consideration and only as Icing on the cake. Most that mimic well are also LOUD. Judging from all you said though and are dedicated....my Choice would be Timneh African Grey and friend.