Trying to choose a feathered friend

[Soven26]

Hello I live in Northern California. I have been looking at birdbreeders.com for a new feathered friend. We have a small airport that only lets the small passenger planes (dual propellers) land. I am including this to show it might be difficult for me to have a bird flown in. Anyhow, I live in an apartment I am presently trying to decide between the Brown Headed Parrot and the Pionus family. The apartment dose have quite time at 10:00. I am looking for the following:
1. More quieter bird
2. More family friendly (doesn't bond to one person and one person alone)
3. Good for a beginner/novice bird owner. wouldn't say I'm expert yet.
4. More affordable
5. If you know of a breeder either withing 3/4 hours of either Salem Oregon or Santa Rosa CA would be great.
4 hours one way I don't mind driving 8 hours back and forth from a family. Salem is about a 5/6 hour drive as is Santa Rosa. Having Uncles/Aunts I could bunk with for 2 nights would make it easier. So please lend a hand in what species I should get. I already have a reasonably sized cage that measures 32" Length 21" Width 35" tall with 1/2" bar spacing. Thank you again will keep an eye on this froum and respond when i can
Kyle
Edit: I was going to add 6. life expectancy for both the wife and I become attached to our pets but they both have decent life expectancy. Also I rather drive out and get it and drive back that way i can consistently talk softly to him/her on the road trip home. I feel its less stressful then a plane ride as well

[Michael]

Sounds to me like you are looking in the range of Cockatiel, Budgie, or Parrotlet with that description. I would not recommend any conures, poicephalus, caiques, or parrots over 150g in size. Everyone wants a "perfect parrot" but without looser criteria and the desire for a hole in the head, most parrots just aren't going to work out. Cockatiels are awesome family pets with the right care. If you are willing to travel to Phoenix, contact http://GingersParrots.org cause she can hook you up with a more friendly cockatiel than you'd ever get from a breeder. Since she has so many and knows their personalities, she gets to see the occasionally super friendly ones whereas with a store/breeder you don't quite know what you will get.

[Soven26]

Unfortunately I am allergic to teil (Grandparents had one) dander and Ive read the Budgie and parrolets don't have long life expectancy

[Megapixel]

Pacific parrotlets can live 15-20 years or more.
There's nothing short about that.

[Aphios]

Sounds like a green cheek conure would be perfect. Quiet, friendly, small and affordable. Will bond to a family and has a life expectancy of 30 years. The cage will probably be the most expensive factor. I have 2 conures and they are so easy to take care of and care for. They can be around 250 to 500 dollars. I actually got two conure for 250 plus cage, food and 100 dollars worth of toys. I realize this is rare, but there are some good deals out there. Even if they are second or third home birds they can be really easily trained and adjusted. I am 14 and have had no problem adjusting these birds to there 3rd home.

Hope you have fun finding and raising your new bird. Hi from my two conures

[Megapixel]

When noise is an issue, a conure is never a good choice. Even the not as noisy pyrrhura conures (green cheek, black capped, maroon bellied, etc) can often times be a nuisance to close neighbors. Yes, many conures are very quiet and would make a great choice, but the problem is that you NEVER KNOW how much noise a bird will make until you have the bird in your home and sometimes not until they've been in your home for quite a while.

My recommendation would be a pacific parrotlet or a peach-face lovebird.

[Soven26]

Thank you all for your responses, but with the cage dimensions I already have wouldnt it be a bit big for a lovebird/parrolet?

[Pajarita]

No, it would be adequate. When it comes to cages, there's really no such thing as 'too big' because, when it comes to birds that fly miles and miles every day in the wild, the bigger the better!

[Aphios]

I do agree with the fact that you never know how loud your bird will be till you get it, especially a conure. But there are solutions to this, get an older conure, around one to two years. The previous owners should be able to give you a general idea of their behavior. There are also ways to work with your bird to discourage it from being so loud. If you spend time with it each day, it should be happier and less prone to loudness. Also, if your conure is loud, you can channel its productivity into games, tricks, and talking.

Hope this helps.

[Soven26]

only Conure I delt with was a sun one and they are LOUD atleast in my opinon