looking for right bird for me?

[happycat]

get a cat

Get both! lol jk. Ive heard cockatiels are sweet and pretty quiet though.

[Grey_Moon]

Hi there!

I am quite a bit older than you are now (I will be 21 in May) but I was about your age when I got my first parrot (a rescued 5 year old female timneh african grey). I say, think long and hard about your life and what it will be. Assuming you plan on the typical thing (high school, college, dating, marriage, travel...etc) it will be a tough thing to manage both a bird (which is basically like having a baby) and time constraints. It will be tough to balance social life and birdie demands, no one wants to be a shut-in at 12, 13, 14, 15 etc.

Also, believe me, its harder than you think to find a partner when you are young that will be as birdie-committed as you will be (and there is no guarantee your bird will tolerate versus attacking your partner). I have had a couple longterm relationships, a couple new homes (finding roommates when you have a parrot is tough!) and it has not been easy. Want to go out for dinner with some friends or go to the gym after class and birdie suddenly becomes a constraint. You end up either feeling resentful because you cannot live like your friends do or guilty because birdie is home alone.

Obviously I know you are young, but all this will come into play pretty soon.

With that, go small, say a budgie or lovie. Tiels are actually pretty needy.

[Shelby]

With that, go small, say a budgie or lovie. Tiels are actually pretty needy.

All birds are needy, even "throw-away" budgies. (Not saying I treat budgies like that, but most people see the $20 price tag and don't take them seriously.)

I know it may seem like a really long time until you are done with college and living on your own, but the time will fly by. Get a pet that's a less demanding, unless you are ABSOLUTELY SURE that your parents will be willing/able to give your bird the proper care when you go to college. Most colleges require freshmen to live in the dorms, and pets aren't allowed in dorms. So even if you plan on taking your bird to college, for at least a year into school it just won't be possible and you don't want your bird to become wild because it was stuffed in a closet after you left.

Maybe you should look into getting a same-sex pair of rats. You can train them cute tricks and on average they live 3-5 years so you won't have them anymore by the time you go to school.

[Cage Cleaner]

gl

[Indigo]

Birds are needy but I don't see any reason why a 12 year old cant take care of a bird successfully so long as they have their parents support. Now it is very true /without/ your parents support and understanding that birds require special care it won't work.
I'm 15, and foster two conures (Later more or less I work with an adoption agency.) My parents don't have any interest in the birds, but as long as I put fresh fruits and veggies on the shopping list they purchase them.
With this said i also wouldn't reccomend a bird to any of my friends, I have to vacuum once a day and replace water twice. They need out once a day or they revert back to being wild little buggers. Like I said I foster so I see birds getting abandoned for no good reason all the time. They aren't friendly with strangers (Sunny is particularly bad, I'm working with her on it though) and they take a lot of work a lot of teenagers and kids won't be able to provide.
I, however, don't think that no child should own a bird (I mean that would also be very hypocritical of me).
As for what type of bird I agree with most of the responses, do go to a rescue. Theyarw amazing and actually care about finding a bird that fits in with your family. I don't reccomend anything large, cockatiels, parrotlets, budgies are all great choices and birds.

[Grey_Moon]

Shelby, re-reading the final line of my post I realize I sound like a jerk

Of course all birds are needy, however, certain species are better able to deal with having less attention. A budgie will not self-destruct from being alone all day, an african grey, macaw, conure cockatoo etc. and in my opinion a tiel would.
Of course, any bird of any size deserves and needs a lot of time and attention, but some seem to adjust easier to having alone time.

[Shelby]

Shelby, re-reading the final line of my post I realize I sound like a jerk

I didn't take offense from your comments, and you seem to be a good "parront". I just wanted to set the record straight for people new to bird-keeping that might not otherwise realize *all* birds are needy. And yes, I agree, some birds require more social interaction than others to be happy.

[kiwitheparakeet]

You should get a lovebird. Preferably 2.

[Aloysius]

In response to the care/time/socializing I am fourteen and own a Quaker Parrot, and have no problem getting it out 4-6 hours a day. Now I realize that most young teenagers would not want to do that, but if you love your bird (and have a playset to let it play on for hours at a time) it isn't so difficult. I would recommend a Cockatiel, Lovebird or Green-cheeked Conure; the first two if you don't want to spend huge amounts of time caring for it, and the last one if you want a energetic, but not bouncing (or flying) off the wall. A lot of Cockatiels that I have met are almost overly calm, the Lovebirds are super energetic and kind of hard to keep in line, but the GCCs are mostly very acceptable. Anyway, my opinion.

[Shelby]

I am fourteen and own a Quaker Parrot, and have no problem getting it out 4-6 hours a day.

I'm going to be graduating high school in a few months, and the last two years have been SUPER hectic for me and all the teens my age that I know. What with homework, going to class, sports and/or practicing musical instruments, extra curricular things like community service, pursuing other interests (like tech school for many of my friends), working part-time, and cramming extra studying for SATs/ACTs, we barely have time to eat properly and get adequate sleep. Just something to think about if you are a preteen/early teen and thinking about getting a bird (or any pet, for that matter)... You will get exponentially busier during the next few years!