Which bird is right for me????

[safarichick101]

I had my heart set on cockatiels, but now I also have it set on conures. Please help me pick out of the following list after I describe my situation.

I'm 13 and I go to school 7 hours a day.

I'm giving up athletics this year so there won't be anymore late night track meets, which lasted till 9 at night.

I'm in advanced classes (math and algebra 1).

I take irish dancing which may last 6 hours on sundays starting in January.

I would like a bird that is playful and sometimes cuddly. It would be great if it is calm and not known for being nippy. The occasional nip is ok because all birdies bite, but a daily nip wouldn't be much fun to deal with.

I'm prepared to spend 1 to 5 hours a day with the bird in the evenings. Expecting 3 is most often.

Both my parents work while I'm at school so the birdie has to be able to entertain itself while I'm at home.

I would like to own more birds one day, (not soon but later in life) like late HS or after college (depending on the bird) so this bird might have to be non aggressive.

Heres the list,

Green Cheeked Conure
Cockatiel
Lineolated Parakeet
Sun Conure (fell in love with one in the petstore, not buying it but still)
Goldie's lorikeet


All help would be appreciated, thanks. :)

[hsmoscout]

1. Green cheeks-known to be nippy!
2. Cockatiels-I was in a situation almost just like you, and that's what I decided on, and it was a great decision!!
3. linolated parakeet-sorry, I know nothing
4. Sun Conure-LOUD, LOUD, AND MORE LOUD!!! Don't be fooled by their noise level at the store
5. Goldies Lorikeet-Sorry, I don't know much, other than they can be veryu hard to find

BOTTOM LINE-I would go with a 'tiel!

[xafsmom]

You can't go wrong with a Cockatiel. There are gorgeous mutations (thought the normal coloring is pretty!) and the boys are accomplished whistlers and can speak quite well! They make exceptional companions, aren't known to be nippy (and really, not much of a beak there) and are loyal!

[Emmilyy]

I think out of the list you have us, that a GCC, or Teil would be the best birds for you. I've heard Linnies can be great little pets, too, but I dont have any experience with then. I would say GCC right away because i love those little guys, but they tend to nip alot and while thats something i can easily handle, it doesn't sound like something you want to deal with. I dont think teils are known for being nippy, so a teil would be good for you in that way - but i dont thin the average teil is known for being cuddly, like the average GCC is. I think whatever bird you choose you're going to have to compromise one of the traits you want in your bird.

Have you thought about getting a pair of birds? they could entertain each other while you're at school, and with some work you could probably get them to be friendly with you, too.

As for you wanting a non aggressive bird so you can get more birds in the future, thats a hard one. I dont think Cockateils are very aggressive, i've heard they're wimps. :P But with any bird you get, you can't guarantee that they'll accept or even like any new birds you get later on.

[hsmoscout]

As far as being non-aggressive, tiels are NOT aggressive! Be careful when getting another bird because if they get near your tiel, they can easily hurt the 'tiel!! When I get my green cheek, that's something I'll really have to watch for!

[RockysMom]

If you don't want nipping, don't get the conures! GCC are known for being nippy, and I have a sun who is nippy, but on top of everything he is very loud. An for being aggressive I don't know about the GCC, but my sun can be. He is not afraid of anything as far as other animals, he tries to attack my puppy all the time. He tries to say hey I'm the boss around here, so it has taken me a lot of training time to get him to realize he is not top dog! All the suns in general that I have ran across seem to have the same attitude as being very dominate. Don't get me wrong he is a wonderful bird and I love him to death, but your parents might not want a screaming bird in the house! His contact calls in the morning and evening can be ear piercing! I would go with the tiel, I hear they make great pets, not loud or nippy and they are pretty to! Good luck with your decision! :)

[loyallyroyal]

I honestly would go with a pair of linnies, that way they arent by themselves all day.

[safarichick101]

Originally Posted by loyallyroyal

I honestly would go with a pair of linnies, that way they arent by themselves all day.

Are they very tame when kept in pairs? I heard that if you have 2 birds they won't be as friendly. Is that different with linnies?

[Emmilyy]

Originally Posted by safarichick101

Are they very tame when kept in pairs? I heard that if you have 2 birds they won't be as friendly. Is that different with linnies?

They probably wouldn'y stay as tame - but with work you could keep them tame i bet. Plus, it would better for them to have company while you're at school .

[TooDusty]

I would go with a cockatiel, or maybe a male lovebird. I am totally biased on the lovebirds as I breed them but I find they fit into 90% of home situations and have so much personality. A Handfed DNA tested male will be a friendly, curious, cuddly bird for 10-15 years (females start out nicely, but can end up being nippy and territorial).