Good starter birds?

[happycat]

Well Im wondering what are some good starter birds, and if GCCs are good starter birds. Well I know most people dont consider them to be great starter birds but I saw some at petco and i really like them. They are so cute! Also they look pretty entertaining and cuddly. Here are some parrots and what i like better and worst about them:

Green cheeked conures:
Like:
Personally I think they are the cutest out of these.
Cuddly
Sweet
Like to be held a lot
Dont like:
Can be loud
Can be nippy
Can be demanding

Parrotlet
like:Cute
entertaining
Big parrots in little parrot bodys
Small so I can get a small cage
Dont like:
They arent as cuddly as the other two
I personally like the size of the other two better then parrotlets (so a little TOO small)
Can be bossy
Can be mean to other animals and parrots
Can be nippy (but they have small beaks so thats good)

Cockatiel
Like:Sweet
Cuddly
Like to be held a lot
Arent loud
good beginner bird'
Dont like:
Dusty
Dont live as long as most parrots
(and i know this dosent matter but I dont LOVE the look of most)

Who has these parrots and what do you think of them (what are there traits?)
(also very weird question but um,what do parrots feel like? XD (Soft or weird) Also,what does it mean, dusty?) Oh and also, anyone know the price of these? (not at a pet store probably)
Thanks

[Polarn]

the only one out of these I do have is a cockatiel, while I personally never really liked smaller birds this little fella, and the budgie kind of grew on me while I had them in my care for replacement, hence the adoption of them, well that and the combination of them beeing of considerable age so hard to find homes for).Anyways neither of them is really less bird than my amazon, although I got to admit I probably spend more time with the amazon but thats more so becouse he is seeking the attention while the other two are contempt following me around when their out since their not really tame yet and doesnt really trust me that much, they occationally come land on my shoulder and more often than not steps up, but these are birds that has been caged for a looong time and never really socialized, so I am expecting things to go slightly slower than with my young amazon.

Now since you asked about the cockatiel, I find them naturally curious, most birds are but for some reason cockatiels seems more curious than most, even my one that doesnt allow any touching etc yet still has the need to be nearby, if I'm watching TV he sits on a wallmounted perch next to the sofa(sometimes on the back of it). On the other hand i've always thought their cute, although never thought of em to be birds for me, simply becouse of their small size, im a big fella and am afraid ill crush that little thing . About dusty, yeah they do dust some, but regular vacuuming is good over here atleast, if youre gonan keep a flock of them you might want to add an aircleaner, but that goes for most birds really. I havn't really looked into the lifespan of the other two alternatives you posted, however I do consider their lifespan long enough to never be seen as beginner birds, mostly becouse im not really to fond of that term... since it somewhat implies that it is a bird you would get to get used to having a bird around and then replace it. However it is a quite easy bird to handle, the bites, if youre bit, is not that bad. their quite social, kind of like a miniature cockatoo, well thats basically what they are. The social bit also means they quite easily gets boored if your not around alot, also true for most birds tho.
I've found mine quite easy to train, as long as it requires no touching. but wave, turn around,target and step up was aquired within a few days, millet spray works wonders...

I dont know really, the choice of a bird has a lot to do with the specific owner, and if you consider a cockatiel to be too ugly to look at I would never recomend you to get one. However for a bird of that size I consider them a really pleasent bird to have around. Then again nothing beats the feeling of love at first sight... preferebly by the bird tho, atleast if your looking at already tamed/hand raised/adoptions etc. if a bird really likes you chances are you will like that bird instantly as well. So I'd recomend you to go visit birds you actually can interact with somewhere (if there is such a place you can visit).

[GlassOnion]

I really don't commend the use of a the word, 'starter bird'. It implies that you start with a bird and then move on to something better/bigger. Cockatiels who are known to be the most popular 'starter birds' can live over 25yrs, and too many of them are in rescues, classifieds, etc because people see them as a bird for experience, then trade them for something else. That being said, you really can't go wrong with a cockatiel. Mine is a 5yr old rehome and I love him to death!

[marie83]

I can't comment on the parrotlet because I've never been around one but I have both cockatiels and a green cheeked.

Cockatiels are pretty laid back in their personality, they can be cuddly, smart enough to learn tricks and less prone to extreme behavioural problems but thats not to say it cannot happen because it does if they are not treated correctly. They do have times when they are loud but they are not constantly loud in my experience. I would say my GCC is equally loud, its just a different type of noise. All the 'tiels I've had are not as bold and demanding as my GCC but thats not to say they are boring and don't take well to new experiences because they do. Price wise they are alot cheaper than the Green cheeks. When they are described as dusty it means their feathers are coated with a powder which helps keep them clean, you will find your house will need dusting more often than if you had a GCC but giving the bird regular baths will keep the dust levels down. Cockatiels still need training, a big cage, time out their cage, toys etc just the same as any other bird. Cockatiels can live a long time, certainly up to 20+ years.

I think a Green cheeked conure could perhaps make a good first bird for some people but for most I would say no. Ollie was certainly a challenge and I do have experience with other birds and conures, he still has his moments now despite all the training done with him. I would say that you need alot of confidence with them and must never allow yourself to be intimidated by them or their bites and do as much research as possible, not just regarding what size cage to get and what diet to feed but into potential problems such as how to deal with biting etc. Although any birds mood can change at any moment I've found with the Green Cheeks they tend to give alot less warning and are harder to 'read' than the other birds I've kept. One minute they will be happily having their head scratched and next thing you know you've been bitten again. They can also be very clingy, Ollie constantly wants attention when out his cage and most other owners I've spoken to say the same. The other birds I've had were all happy to sit on my shoulder while I work on the computer or do other things, whereas most of the time ollie will be climbing all over, pushing his head into my hands and giving a nip if I ignore him for too long, this is the same regardless of if I give him plenty of attention first or not. Whatever attention he gets he always wants more.

Out of the two species I would definitely advise you to go for the 'tiel -or the parrotlet if further reseach suggests they are ok.

[cknowles]

I don't have anything to cover from what other people said, except price. Gcc-normal mutation is 150 and the other colors go up from there. Cockatiels-100, and parrotlet-about100-150.