First bird.

[Jynxie]

I would like to get my first bird.

I actually used to be pretty scared of birds, until I met a sweet yellow/green amazon - that looked like this guy ... He crawled on me when I was standing near the cage and and I'm pretty hooked now but I want to do more research before I jump into anything.

I've been checking out some species and I like the conures and of course the yellow headed amazon guys.

I live in an apartment, but I don't think noise will be too big of an issue (I may be wrong, you guys would know more then I would - but I still don't want a bird that will scream all hours of the day ... if that is possible).

I also have a dog, snake and a bunny - but they wouldn't come into direct contact.
But are these any air born diseases that can be pasted between them?

Also I have heard sun conures are screamers from looking at a few threads on here, are all conures like that?

I want something around the same size of the conures/amazon, I also love the colours.
Likes to sit on shoulders.
I don't need a bird that could talk - but that would be pretty neat since I would love to teach it some words.
I also would like to stay away from aggressive birds as well.

Also, would it be better to get a male as my first bird so I won't run into any egg problems?

Thanks!
Looking forward to responses.

[Michael]

If you're scared of parrots... just because you had a brief pleasant interaction with one should not convince you to get one. Even really sweet/tame parrots can become vicious from time to time (whether it's hormonal, defensive, experimental, bad day, whatever). Then there's the fact that they may behave at the store or the first week you have them and it all turns around. Guarantee this is a big problem. Just go back through loads of intros from new parrot owners who complain the parrot was golden for the first couple days (basically while it was scared and getting used to things) and then owning them thereafter.

Confidence and knowledge are two major factors in handling a parrot with success (besides training and all other things you can do with it). The fact is, if you give a strong and/or aggressive parrot the notion that you're scared of it... it will totally take advantage of that. This could mean tons of biting or it could just mean avoiding you and walking away from your hand. It can manifest itself in different ways but none in your favor.

Both Amazons and Sun Conures have a lot of potential for being bold/aggressive. Especially the Amazons. You gotta have a tough personality to be able to take that, ignore it, and not let the bird take advantage (without doing something that will scare it and hate you). It's definitely easier for people to have more confidence with smaller birds because the bites are less frightening and less painful. I bet an Amazon can have you completely change your mind about ever touching it again in just 3 bites.

Some people really can handle the noise without losing their sanity. However, there is a huge difference between hearing a couple shrieks at the store and the parrot learning the most aggravating possible sound and playing it back over and over non stop all day long every day. Generally the solution is having an isolated room and letting it get it over with.

Not necessarily a recommendation but just food for thought: a Senegal parrot is quiet (for a parrot) and can usually learn to be very nice to the owner (when bought as a baby). They can become very aggressive towards others (and sometimes turn on the owner) but this isn't until after the first year which gives sufficient time to build a relationship and confidence.

Actually my recommendation to you is to go to a bird store and get yourself bit by different kinds and think about it again. If you get a few and think it's not so bad, that you can totally handle that without withdrawing, becoming scared, or taking it out on the bird... you've probably found a species you can look into. However, if you can't handle that... just picture what it would be like when that happens over and over again? You just wouldn't have the right confidence to handle the bird in the way that reduces biting. You'd inadvertently encourage more of it. This is one of the reasons I opted out of getting a Grey Parrot. Ironically got a Cape Parrot with a bigger beak instead.

[Adze]

Get a tiel

[Jynxie]

Thank you for your response and I do appreciate the reality check.
I really don't want to be afraid of birds, and I wouldn't really say afraid - just nervous.

I did visit some of the birds at the pet store today (I wouldn't be buying them there, but I wanted to interact with the birds and as you said build confidence).
I did get nipped and even bitten pretty hard by one bird and I actually am feeling a lot better with them, and the nips/bites aren't too bad.

I'm actually not really nervous about being bitten at all really.
When I was a young kid my family had ferrets and the female was always a biter, so I am not worried about the pain of bites. I also have been bitten by my ball python once, again it hurt - but It didn't make me not want to handle the animal.

I am usually very confident with animals - I am actually taking a career change to become a dog groomer. LOL.

I do appreciate the suggestion, I will check out the Senegal.
I will not be rushing into this at all - a lot of research will be done, it's probably one of the best things about getting a pet - other then the companionship.

[Saerphe]

If you don't mind having a bit of extra dust in your household, a cockatiel sounds like a great match for you. They're smaller, and quieter than other parrots, which would be great for your apartment, and they're very gentle and docile, which would be good for building up your confidence handling birds.

The only drawback I find with them is that they're powder birds, so they come with quite a bit of dust.

Another note, just be very careful to keep your snake and your bird from coming into contact. Even if the snake shows no interest in the bird, the bird still has a strong survival instinct, and seeing the snake could potentially scare it. Parrots are prey animals, and they're programmed to recognize potential predators, including snakes. Also be careful of your dog; they're more domestic than birds, but they still have a strong prey drive, and the fluttering of a bird could easily set it off. Just don't let them interact without close supervision, if they interact at all, and you should be able to prevent any accidents.

[liz]

Cockatiels are sweeties. Two of my males talk and all three sing. The females do their little tweety chirps. I know each ones voice. I know who is singing and who is chirping. They are really a joy.

That said, my Amazons don't bite. Rambo threatens too but only clamps down. Myrtle has hurt me twice but not on purpose. It was when she was in distress and I was helping her get out.

[Rokisha]

Since I currently live in an apartment I would have to suggest a senegal as well. Of course it's the only parrot i currently have experience with lol. My Senegal is pretty quiet for the most part, especially at night. She tends to settle down and sleep from about 9 pm to 9 or 10 am, taking a few naps here and there throughout the day. Of course like Michael mentioned earlier, you may have to worry about them copying something far more annoying then a squawk or scream. My Joe likes to beep like a dieing smoke detector or copy the police siren sounds. She only does this during the day though so its more amusing to my family and I then annoying lol. Of course she is the only animal we currently have so she gets plenty of attention and spoiling.

[Khaiqha]

Keep in mind that the more cuddly species - cockatoos, conures, and amazons, tend to be more aggressive as well. Really, cockatoos aren't fit for most people, and amazons go through a hormonal stage each year where they can get aggressive.

Probably the only species I hear about that doesn't have a bad rep about anything are pionus. If you're dedicated to getting a bird that is friendly and not overtly loud for a bird, I'd start there.

I'd also recommend handling as many birds as possible first. You may think you want something, and for all you know a budgie could steal your heart.

[Andromeda]

I live in an apartment, but I don't think noise will be too big of an issue (I may be wrong, you guys would know more then I would - but I still don't want a bird that will scream all hours of the day ... if that is possible).

If you live in an apartment a sun conure is completely out of the question. I lived in an apartment where one of my neighbors had a sun conure and I never even knew until I saw her walking outside with it one day, so yes, it's possible to keep one in an apartment, but that little guy was an exception for sure. The odds are very high that a sun conure would be loud enough to draw complaints from neighbors.

Ditto for other conures. They all have loud screams that are not appropriate for an apartment. The one exception is green cheek conures---but make no mistake, they have a loud conure scream, too. It's just not nearly as loud as other conures. My GCC lived in an apartment with me for a year and no one ever complained. His loud scream is restricted to when he's scared or unhappy, though, so he rarely screams.

My Senegal is pretty quiet for the most part ... you may have to worry about them copying something far more annoying then a squawk or scream. My Joe likes to beep like a dieing smoke detector or copy the police siren sounds.

This is so true. My brown-headed parrot (cousin of the Senegal) does the "low battery" smoke detector beep, the microwave timer, the oven timer, and my computer's booting sound. He actually picked up the smoke detector beep after hearing it for a period of only five minutes on one occasion. His "electric" noises sound just like the real thing with the exception that they are about 10 times as loud.

The noise doesn't really bother me too much but I can see how it could drive some people nuts. He doesn't do it too often, though. Daily, but not all day long.

[Rokisha]

Same with Joe... she does it daily but not all day long.