Potential Parrotlet Mom

[Bird Mom]

I have been researching birds suitable for an apartment and found that the parrotlet would be perfect. I currently have 1 husband and 1 canary. Since my husband is 85 and in failing health, I know that I am going to lose him within the next couple of years. I am 63 years young, in reasonable health except for fibromyalgia.

One of the things I read on the internet is that parrotlets must be dealt with like a 2 year old child as far as discipline, time out in a small cage go. This bothers me a little as I do not consider myself a strong disciplinarian. We had two cockatiels for about 7 years, but they were noisy. When we moved from our mobile home in Denver to an apartment in North Dakota to be near my family, the bird's screaming got on my husband's nerves and were just too loud for the apartment. Other than the screaming, they were lovely pets very well socialized and loved to be hanging out on us. They went back to Denver with friends, placed in my friend's brother's home, and reside with an 11 year old boy where they bully the family cat and make sure that Steven does his homework.

Will a parrotlet work for me? I know when I am alone I will want a little bird hanging out on me. Sunny will sit on our hands in his cage but we have never tried to take him out. He loves to sit on a hand and "attack" that big thing called a thumb!

With the fibromyalgia, I have decreased energy levels and increased pain and fatigue. Caring for Sunny is no problem and I could manage another cage, cleaning on alternate days. I have met one parrotlet and he was a little charmer. I have been printing out information on the birds and have located a breeder in Minnesota who will ship or possibly I can fly there to pick up a bird. I cannot bear the thought of coming into an empty apartment except for a canary to talk to, although I love Sunny dearly and he will always have a home with me.

Your thoughts, please. Sorry this is so long.

[Monica]

I'd reccomend for you to research grass parakeets... Parrotlets are lovely birds, however they are very energetic and need quite a bit of handling. They can be noisy with toys, and have constant chattering, so I myself don't recommend a p-let for an apartment home, or someone who cannot stand high-peirced calls. They usually go around $200 for a handraised p-let (just so you know). Someone else may have a different opinion on this, though...

Grass parakeets however are like finches, very quiet with their chirps, though they come in an arrange of colors. Bourkes usually tend to be the cheapest, with others such as scarlet chesteds and turquoisines being more. Grass keets usually range in price from $25 to $200, though mutations and the type of keet can change the amount around some... They do need a larger cage than what would be normal for their size (say, a cage that a cockatiel could fit in comfortably, atleast) as they are quite flighty, though can also be content with sitting on your shoulder.

[Crebain]

My parrotlet is not at all noisy. Also, he "naps" on and off during the day, and his battling with his toys is far from constant.

I don't know diddly about grass 'keets, just saying my bird would not be a problem for Bird Mom.

[natureboy]

Parrotlets in general are not loud to me that is,
They are no where near as loud as cockatiels.

If you are having one parrotlet you should be fine.
Its when you get more then one and they chatter with their cage mate or hear others in the room is when they start to chatter and call back in forth.

These usually work very well for people who live in small area's apartments condo's ect. But again it depends on your noise level what can you handle?

Do you have any local pet shops in your area? You might be bale to go see them in person and possibly hear their chirping. Take a look at this link.
it has some sound clips but agaon noise varies.
http://www.littletweet.com/parrotlets_green.html

[Rue]

...you might also want to give the Lineolated parakeets a look...still small, but with loads of personality...the ones I've seen haven't been loud...

[cant_have_just_one]

I live in an apartment and I have a tiel and a p'let. My tiel is definitely louder. The p'let is very quiet most of the time.