Hi

[trafficgal]

Hi everyone I'm so glad I stumbled on this site I'm hoping to get alot of tips and information.

My husband and I want to get a bird (one that is interactive preferably that can talk) so I've started doing research we are leaning towards a cockatiel b/c friends are telling us that a big parrot woudl be dangerous around children down the line (we are trying to have kids)

I'm so excited to be joining the bird world!!

I am a horsback riding instructor I teach hunter jumpers and have alot fo beginners rightnow. :)
I own a 15yearold QH and a Bata fish

[catschair]

Welcome to BB! You will find lots of information on selecting a bird and socializing them once you get them home. Meanwhile, we would love to see pics of your horse and fish.

[Monica]

Welcome to BB!

Tiels generally do make great pets however there have been people who have owned medium to larger parrots and have had kids... If you are not used to caring for a bird, it would be best to start out smaller with something less demanding.... however, please choose a bird based on it's personality, not it's ability to speak...

[trafficgal]

I know not to pick a bird based on its speach b/c often even the birds that can speak dont right? so anyway I'm mostly interested in a bird that makes a good pet and companion! I'm willing to spend the time interacting with the bird and would love a "big" bird but as I said I'm not sure what I'm doing and Iv'e been told that the smaler birds are easyer to handle... Also I'm concerned b/c as much as I will love the bird a child will take the front seat and be most important so the bird (to be fair to him/her) must be compatable with children and not dandrous
Do cockatiels sing and chirp or is it they speak or shreak?

[Monica]

Most tiels sing or chirp, or may even learn to speak. However, some tiels have been known for having shreaking fests.

Thinking about it now though, I'm not sure a cockatiel would be a good fit... as I've heard a lot of people who have had concerns with cockatiel dust and new born infants...

Regardless, for now, and with the intention of having children in the future, I do believe that you ought to stick with a smaller species that is less demanding... although I've heard that poicephalus (meyers, jardines, red bellies) and pionus (any) do make pets! As do princess parrots!

[Lisa B]