Most/least independent birds?

[jonatron5]

Well after I graduate college I will hopefully be working full time, and if my dream of parrot companionship is to become true then I ideally need a bird that can handle being alone for 8-10 hours a day while I work.

I've heard umbrella cockatoos are some of the most needy birds and always have to be in your lap at all times . So that's out.

What about macaws?

African greys?

Idon't want a budgie or a parrokeet. Or anything small. I want something roughly analogous to a cat or dog. Something I can come home to set in my lap play with and let nap on me before I put him up for the night. Ideas?

[Pajarita]

I am sorry. I wish I could tell you otherwise but there is no such parrot. They are ALL highly social animals that were created by nature to be surrounded by a flock and live their entire lives with the same mate so none of the psittacines species does well on their own for hours and hours every day. You also cannot keep them up after dark so the 'playing with the bird after I get home from work like I would do with a dog thing' doesn't work, either. You will find that many people in birdsites will tell you this is not so, that their birds are alone for hours and they are fine, thank you very much! But then, these are usually the people that after having the bird for 8, 10, 15 years tell you that their bird started plucking, screaming, biting, etc and that they don't know why because 'nothing has changed' not realizing that it is precisely the fact that nothing did change that made the parrot start acting up that way!

Nature is a hard taskmaster. She makes her designs to work under very specific and exact conditions and although man, in his infinite arrogance, thinks he knows better, he doesn't.

[liz]

I have left mine for 8 hours at a time. They can identify my car before it gets in the driveway and start screaming. I get mugged coming through the door and they continue to scream and tell me off. Heck, they do that if I leave them for 2 hours and they have each other and the other critters so they are never really alone.

[Wolf]

That is part of the difference, Liz, they are never alone.
Due to many of the popular misconceptions concerning budgies I can understand your reservations with them, but they are not the only parakeet in the world, there are parakeets that are as big as my Grey and many that are nearly as large. All budgies are parakeets but not all parakeets are budgies. Did you know that there are more than 100 different species of parakeets and over 350 different species of parrots?
If you are looking for a parrot that can be fine with the amount of time alone that you mention then you will end up disappointed as there is no species of parrot that fits the bill, they all require that you have at least two of them preferably of the opposite sex and unrelated to them as well as being of the same species. this provides the most compatible bird for them to bond with and accept as a companion for while you are gone. There are several parrots that are generally more independent than others, but they still require they companionship of another parrot. However for the bond that you are expressing that you want, I am not sure that any of these will fit either, because you want to have a bird that will bond closely enough to you to want close contact with you when you are available. This requires a strong mate bond once they reach maturity.
Think about a relationship with a parrot to be on par with you finding the love of your life as it is that type of bonding that the bird gives and expects from you. It is always a two way street and they are intelligent and self aware enough to know the difference and you can't lie to them about it. Think about it and make a new list of what you want from a relationship with a parrot as well as what you have to offer to the bird that it would want.

[toshinobu]

How about taking your bird to the office???Is that an option?

My bird lives in my office, and its the best decision Ive made. He lives in the reception area with a big window which he can see outside. He gets quiet sleep time 8pm to 10am. My staff all can handle and social with him. My patients all pay attention to him. Whenever they leave, he would start screaming because he knows I am going to start writing report, and he wants to get out to bother me. We learn tricks and flight recall within the office. He listens to classical music, and my live violin performance... Somehow he doesn't enjoy my playing that much,vs the radio. Its a blast with him there..

[Pajarita]

The problem with birds in places like offices or stores is that they cannot be kept to a solar schedule which screws up their endocrine system and makes them overly-hormonal all year round (read: chronic sexual frustration and pain). They also cannot keep their natural daily biorhythms and that also puts stress on their bodies...

[liz]

Rambo was a "go go bird" before I got him. His human worked as a private service CNA. Since she had 10 hour shifts she just took him and his little Cockatiel friend with her to work. It should have messed him up. Instead all I have to say is go bye bye and Rambo looks for his carrier.

It worked for them. Myrtle on the other hand will hide if I say go bye bye.

[Wolf]

That might work if you take him with you to work and then bring him home with you as well. Otherwise you will need someone at home that will take care of him while you are gone and will probably have to take the back seat, as it were, with the birds bonding.