First Bird

[parrotsareyay]

I'm looking for a good beginner bird (but budgies are excluded. I don't hate them, but i heard they needed someone to be with them all day and I don't want to get two as they will not bond to me as much as I want them to.

The thing is, I need a bird that does not bite TOO hard (between budgie and senegal parrot) or has a nippy reputation, can entertain itself for a while, no louder than an aritinga conure, and are very cuddly and would rather hangout as I give it scritches rather than going out and chewing my house to tooth picks.

I know this limits about a jillion species, but I am wondering if there actually is a beginner bird that can fulfill these expectations.

[Saerphe]

What you've heard about budgies (and probably lovebirds too for that matter) is a myth. One can entertain itself during the day while you're at work, as long as you give it attention when you get home. They're easy to train and don't have reputations for being nippy or destructive, and can learn huge vocabularies. Males are usually more friendly than females, but that's not always the case.

Otherwise, have you looked into cockatiels? If you have asthma or allergies then I wouldn't reccommend one (they're incredibly dusty), but they're generally very sweet and snuggly and aren't particularly known for being destructive. Obviously they'll need chew-up toys and whatnot in their cage, but as long as that need is filled, they probably won't chew on anything innappropriate.

[GlassOnion]

I would look into a Meyer's parrot or a lovebird. The Meyer's have a reputation for being milder in comparison to the Sennies and Lovies are known for being snuggly and tunnely. I would have suggested a GCC but the species is known for its nippiness.

I have both a Budgie and a Cockatiel, and none of them are too cuddly.

[parrotsareyay]

well, after much more research and thinking, would a crimson bellied conure fit as a first time bird? I stumbled upon them and all I heard were the good things, but what are the cons?

[zazanomore]

Conures can be a bit nippy at times.

My suggestion would be a red bellied parrot. Can entertain themselves all day and are little goof balls. Plus, they aren't loud.

[parrotsareyay]

im starting to get a good idea about species, but don't meyer's, red bellies and other pois go through nippy stages?

[GlassOnion]

ALL birds go through a bitchy, nippy stage when they hit puberty. Any bird can and will try to test his boundaries with his beak.

[parrotsareyay]

oooooohhhhhhhh.... thanks for clearing that up.
I'm getting an idea.... I think i will either choose a budgie or a meyer's parrot

oh, and thank you everyone for helping, i got more help from you guys than like three books i read, they never really talked about the questions i had

[GlassOnion]

We try to be helpful!

One thing you need to ask yourself is though, WHAT you want out of this relationship with a bird.

For example, you will not be able to "play" with a Budgie, like you would with a Conure.

Budgies will enjoy being on you and flying around, but even a tame one wouldn't be too snuggly or very physical at all.

Conures generally act like toddlers and want to wrestle with you using their little feet, and hang off of your fingers like a monkey. Goofing around and rolling around on their backs is a second nature for Conures. They are much like puppies who just want to have fun. They are also extremely cuddly.

Poicephalus parrots in my experience, seem much more reserved and dignified in their actions. They too, are often playful and acrobatic, but to me, seem more like cats than dogs. Pois tend to be more cautious than a Conure.

[parrotsareyay]

well... I DO like a good snuggle with a bird..... but I would probably need to try out what whether a conure or a poi would be more of a handful... i mean, i AM a bit of a whimp when it comes to biting...