I need help choosing the right species for me!

[Anastasiah]

Hi there,

I'm new to the forums and you can call me Ana I know this is a common topic, but I really do need help! I have grown up with lovebirds, taken care of a Galah (Rose-breasted Cockatoo) for a friend for a couple of months, and am constantly around my boyfriends female Congo African Grey. So, I have been around many parrots and I am not afraid of them. I have a German Shepherd and I love her to death and am capable of taking care of difficult, demanding pets. I love birds and would like a new friend

I have slept in my whole life and think its time for a change and I would like a natural alarm clock , so the waking up early will not bother me. I am thinking to either go small and simple or go all out and get an amazing medium-large size bird.

-I would love a cuddly bird, but not an absolute must (if I find I like a Grey or something..)
-noise is not exactly an issue, but I don't think I can tolerate a bird known for screaming
-should be able to tolerate the female grey, don't want any huge feuds. they don't need to be on same perch or anything. is it that two females cant get along or female/male grey...?
-would be wonderful it he/she could learn to talk, but is also not a must
-I would love a funny parrot, a "ham"
-jealousy wouldn't be good, I am in a committed relationship and Max and his parrot aren't going anywhere :p

Thoughts so far:

Small-
Cockatiel, GCC
Medium-
Poicephalus Parrots
Med/Large-
Blue-fronted Amazon, Timneh AG over congo (personally I like the look better)

Suggestions are what I'm looking for if I missed something and please enlighten me!

[Khaiqha]

Do you and your boyfriend live together? If not, you're going to have to do a lot of socialization with a new bird to get it used to him and his bird. Any species can easily become jealous of other birds.

From your description, it seems like a TAG is more in line with what you're looking for (less likely to scream, more likely to get along with a CAG).

I would also just recommend you try and see as many birds in person as possible. My dream birds since I was a child have been a Grey first and a Sun Conure second, and yet I ended up with a ringneck and am about to get an Alexandrine. What you want and what bird captures your heart aren't always the same.

[Grey_Moon]

I am going to fervently recommend AGAINST the cockatiel and the GCC for their own safety!
This is because of your dog and your bf's CAG---both are dangerous to these little guys. Dogs are more triggered by small fluttery birds and AG's in general are jealous and a little bird is in trouble from an angry jealous AG beak.

Anyone who knows me well knows that I was mum to one point at a cockatiel named Sully who I love dearly. He was rehomed last August after I placed him in a rescue---I did so for his own health and safety. My TAG was hellbent on killing him--and would terrorize him, she bit both feet causing permanent nerve damage, ripped out his tailfeathers and a toenail. She was upset and jealous and plucked like mad. It is not a situation (especially since your bf's CAG is older and established) I would endorse ever again.

AG's in general are jealous birds who are one-species flock birds and thus keenly aware of 'difference'. Thus, it is not a guarantee that the CAG will accept a TAG in particular, or any other birds. The larger Poi's would be an idea however the same jealousy is an issue, the amazon is too loud for anything but a permanently detached home. As the New World birds tend to be less jealous and more flexible I would like into Pionus if I were you. They're quiet.

Unfortunately, AG's are not known to be hams or funny birds, neither are pionus. But conures and amazons are too loud or too small---and so, poi's might be best.

So unfortunately I don't think a singular species will meet all your requirements.

[naomi]

hi hi,
i have a CAG too and he is very jealous bird.i dont think he accept my goffin add to his flock if he can say it.i cant even near get my other birds if he realize it.he also show his unhappy feeling by bite me which he never done this before.he is become bit mellow after the new bird come.
how old is your boyfiend's CAG?do u ever experience how they can be agresive?when i handle my goffin near him,constantly he bite my hand and cause serious bleed.

ah ya CAG can kill cockatiel in a minute.one day i saw my CAG jump and climb my tiel cage and almost bite his neck.i was so lucky that day i realize this happening if not my tiel already RIP.thats why i buy new tiel for my tiel's company so he dsnt really depend on me for attention.
amazon in other hand very very loud and they are known for jealous agression as well.

my opinion,from the bird list that u give i would recommend TAG/CAG.like what grey moon say,there is no guaranty they will get along with each other---but at least CAG with CAG will not cause very scary damage if they fight compare with tiel/gcc.

[terri]

Caiques !!!!

[Pomlover2586]

I second Caiques. They are smaller like conures- but have the a very playful nature. Not sure about introducing one to a Grey though- perhaps someone on here ca give you more advice on that.

[terri]

I have a grey.i wouldnt take a chance on having them out together.[They can have their cages next to each other though.

[Shelby]

I've heard Michael say that poicephalus can get jealous of other birds in a home, even another poi. I don't think it would turn out very good if you introduced a jealous species to another jealous species!

[sophiajp123]

Hey! I think for your small catagorie you can add a parrotlet or a jenday conure. My friend had a jenday conure and she was really really funny. I have a parrotlet and his could be on the olympic gymnastics team! (hehe) Blu(my parrotlet) will be able to learn to talk with time and will soon be learning tricks. Parrotlets do not scream but chirp. The chirp ranges in noise, but will never reach a scream. Jenday conures are masters at tricks and pretty good with talking. Also, they can be louder than the parrotlet. (Jenday conures are about the same size as a gcc and parrotlets are 7 inches at the max and are similar to lovebirds but the smallest breed of parrot)