Aratinga canicularis (Orange fronted conure)

[cor2210]

Hello

My name is Alicia, I am new here. I've spent many days reading this forum and learning a lot, but I register now because I hope you can help me out to decide which parrot is the best for me. I love cockatiels and green cheek conures and I have been many weeks trying to decide between them, but this morning I visited the website of a man who owns Aratinga Canicularis and I love them! Physically they are exactly what I like, besides I've read they are not noisy at all in comparison with other conures. I live in a very small apartment and have lots of neighbours.

Anyone has an Aratinga canicularis?? Can you describe them from an experienced point of view?

Which of the species that I like (cockatiels, GCC and Orange fronted conure) do you think is the most and the less noisy?

Thank you very much, and sorry for my misspellings and grammatical errors (english is not my first language)

[Pajarita]

I don't have or ever had had an orange-fronted but I have a peach-fronted which is very similar to them in looks and vocalizations and he can be pretty LOUD when he calls for his mate, a GCC that likes to ride my shoulder - he is a wild caught and doesn't trust me enough for that so he stays behind and, when I walk out of the room where he is, he screams an alarm call for her. GCCs can also be quite loud when they are alone so the problem for you will be when you are out at work because they are never supposed to be alone and, when they are, they can scream A LOT (this is called flock calls and, what they are doing is screaming loud to see if they can get a bird -or their human- to come and keep them company). Cockatiels, on the other hand, usually only scream when they are highly hormonal and have no mate so, if you get a pair and keep them the right way (no free-feeding the high protein food and at a solar schedule), they won't scream at all.

[marie83]

Same as pajarita I havent had this species but have had a peach fronted. From speaking to others im lead to believe they are very similar in personality and noise. Ours was pretty quiet (didnt vocalise much in the day) on the whole but I dont think this is the norm for the species, he screamed mainly at dusk and dawn and it was very very loud for such a tiny creature. Ollie our green cheek is quieter in volume- not by much though but screams much more frequently, even so i would still class him as a quiet bird, it does concern me that if anyone new was to move in then they might not like his noise- im back in aflat now. When i had the peach front we were living in a flat when we first took him in but were moving into a house thankfully. We did get a complaint sadly but the neighbours were ok once they knew we were moving soon so if they could just bare with us it wouldnt be for long.
I wouldnt have one in a flat again purely because it would be too much heartache and grossly unfair on the bird if anyone objected and forced us to rehome.

[cor2210]

Thanks for your answers I think I'm gonna discard the orange fronted, although it's supposed to be a bit smaller than the peach fronted so maybe is a bit less loud, but anyway looks like too problematic as for living in an apartment.

Do you think that if I get a couple of GCC they will be less noisy because of being together?

One more thing.. you both have GCC, do you think they particulary tend to be kind of agressive with other animals, like dogs? Because I have a poodle, and I've heard GCC go through a "biting or nipping phase" and I'm afraid my dog can get scared of the bird.

[Pajarita]

GCCs only get bitey when they are not spending enough time out of cage and with their owners. I've had 4, all of them rescues or rehomes and only 2 were bitey but they both stopped once they got enough time spent on me (they need hours and hours and hours of attention, much more than most other species). The one I have now is the sweetest thing! She can't wait to get on me and gives me kisses every time I say anything to her

[cor2210]

Finally I've decided to get a Cockatiel I will post photos when he/she's home!

[Wolf]

I hope that you don't mind, but I am going to recommend that you get two of them.

[Pajarita]

Yep, ditto, tiels do better when they have a companion. They are intensely flock oriented and been all alone is stressful to them.

[liz]

Cockatiels are special little parrots. They are never mean and only bite if they are scared or protecting their space. They can do anything a big parrot can do except get into big trouble.

They can talk with their little voices and the males sing beautifully. Even if you rescue an untouchable it will still cheer up your home.

I now have seven and only one came half tame. All are rescues but the last one who is a rehome from a loving person who had not enough time to work with her. The one I thought I would never tame is a 4 year old breeder girl. She loves what I give her so much that she is in the plate or on me before I can get my hand out.

I love each one and have learned the different little personalities.

You can't go wrong with cockatiels that you care for and love.

[cor2210]

Yes, I've been thinking of getting two, but I have decided to get only one and in a year or so get it a partner.

About the cage, I found a beautiful one which size is 56x43x67 cm (sorry I don't know about inches). Is that size enough?