Parrotlets

[Julsiebean]

Tell me all you know about them. I've been considering one lately. I've read so much conflicting information on the web I'd like to hear real, first hand stories and experiences with those who have them in their flock. Thanks! I've spent time with an untame one, and hear they are very difficult to tame. Thoughts?

[kaylayuh]

I don't have a parrotlet, but I did consider one before I got my GCC. I did a lot of research on them, both google and calling breeders, and the consensus seems to be that they're like a much larger parrot in personality. They're interactive, fun, and seem to enjoy playing with toys. They don't seem to be as cuddly.

Another thing to take into consideration is the fact that they can be agressive. I ultimately decided not to get one because I was looking for a bird that could be left out with my budgies at the same time and pose relatively little threat to them. The breeders I spoke to told me that parrotlets can be cage territorial and agressive, even going after birds much larger than they are. I've also been told that you shouldn't house parrotlets together, which wouldn't be an issue with just one.

All in all, I think they're cute little birds that pack a lot of punch for their size. I would still like to own one some day, but right now wasn't the time for me. I haven't heard that they're hard to train, though, so I can't attest to that. But there are a couple parrotlet owners here that should be able to assist you further.

[GlassOnion]

I had one for a little while, and he was hyper! I know some people who find them annoying because they're so tiny but get into everything, which is dangerous for their own safety. Plets are also known for being quite aggressive and nippy especially when they reach maturity. I still think they're adorable though. Oh, they aren't really a hands-on bird and learning tricks can be done but not their strongest forte.

[patdbunny]

Hi there,

I've been breeding parrotlets for about the last 10 years. I have one for a pet right now. They are "large" bird personality birds. My Bubbles is a nut and not really snuggley. She's very territorial. If she were a large bird, she'd be hard to live with. But since she's the size of a termite, it's no big deal.

You can tell their personalities pretty early on. Bubbles was always not a snuggler and very piss-n-vinegar in attitude. I've raised babies that were calm little snuggy sweet hearts and the owners have reported they stayed pretty nice.

I would imagine they'd be hard to tame. I don't really know. I don't do the bird taming thing. I would think starting w/ an untame one you'd have a harder time determining what their innate personality is.

[Julsiebean]

Thanks for al lthe feedback so far!! P'lets are adorable and endearing to watch at my local bird store, I love their antics! The noise/chatter is sweet and tolerable. By tame I guess all I am looking for is not to get mauled when I try to get it in/out of the cage for play time. I loved the high energy of my budgies years ago, and P'lets are just so darn charming!

I would LOVE LOVE LOVE a GCC. I am however, worried of the calling back and forth a GCC would do with my Quaker. Juniper is "quiet" for a Quaker, and really only gets worked up when company comes over or if there is a big flurry of excitement. She gets worked up over my cockatiel too- but he is a loud, loud, loud showboat. I truly believe my husband is emotionally scarred from years of living with a screaming Jenday so I have to consider the calling a Quaker would do with a GCC or the double squawking that would occur. I know GCC's are quiet-ish, but I worry!

[kaylayuh]

My vote would be for a GCC, but I may be partial because I couldn't see myself without this little guy. His noise isn't as bad as some conures are. His calls aren't ear piercing, either. But because it's spring time and he's hormonal, he has been making a lot more noise. It's nothing too unbearable, but it is a noticable difference.

I chose the GCC over a parrotlet because parrotlets are more likely to be aggressive to another bird. I'm not sure how true that is, but the information did come from a breeder in the area. Over all, I think parrotlets are great birds, but not the cuddly bird I was looking for right now. If you're not looking for a cuddler, then a parrotlet would be great.

[Julsiebean]

I hope someone will give me some feedback on the calling between a QP and a GCC. If it were short lived and random, that would be fine. If it were constant and long, I think my husband would be utterly miserable. He doesn't mind what we have going now, so I guess I don't want the volume to change by like... A LOT. Some, but not A LOT.

[GlassOnion]

I know these for a fact about Quakers and GCC's.

GCC's are much quieter than Quakers.
Quakers have ear piercing screams.
Quakers are excellent talkers.
GCC's barely ever talk.
They are both known for being nippy.
GCC's and Quakers are both cuddly, but GCC's a bit more.

[Julsiebean]

I have a Quaker She is very cuddly, but has no where near an ear piercing scream. My male cockatiel is far louder then her. She isn't nippy, but I have been around some who are.

[patdbunny]

The calling and noise level thing's hard to predict. It's that change in your flock dynamics. Unknown until you add a new bird.

My personal opinion is, if you can't stand the type of noise generated by the bird as an individual, don't get it; just in case it turns into worst case senario and it's screaming all the time.

Also about the not snuggly thing - it's very individual. Like I said, I've had some that were super snuggly and stayed that way.

Biting - I have had ones that were super territorial and would bite the living crap out of you until you got it a few feet away from their cage; then they were fine and all lovey snuggly. Can you say "bi-polar"? But, again, they're so small they aren't likely to break the skin on an adult human.

Kaylayuh - Aggressive - Oh ya! I have two play pens pushed together that ends up being almost 6 ft long. Bubbles will take up an entire playpen for herself. The other birds are usually jendays, sun conures, and ringnecks - several times larger than Bubbles. They all run to the opposite corner. Bubbles doesn't actively go harass them, but she chases them away big time. She's too small to hurt them, but she'll literally "jump" on them and yells until they run away.