Best bird for a loving pet?(Michael please respond)

[Nir]

Budgies only do stuff for millet? Birds in general will only do something if theres something in it for them usually.
You see Michael asking his birds to do stuff and he doesn't treat them after so they must be doing it out of love? Nope they are doing it because they know they might get something good out of it. They may or may not love Michael- that is an entirely different debate but they do it because there is something they might get that they feel is worth having. Its called variable reinforcement.

Sorry but yes I do think your asking too much, you want a bird that loves you, will allow you to be affectionate with it and preferably talk. If you get a hand raised the probability is it will be all of these things but there is also a chance it may not be. What happens to the bird if it needs alot of taming to get it to be handlable by you? what if it never really bonds to you? Birds are not here to make their owners feel loved and validated.

I would forget the congo straight away, they need experienced owners as they are very sensitive compared with other species. Tbh I would do a hell of alot more research first. Read the desperate pleas for help from other parrot owners who bit off more than they can chew, then perhaps consider a species such as a cockatiel or another less demanding species (bare in mind they are all demanding though.)

i never said i want all those things from the start. I said that i want the potential to be there. As in if i wanted a bird that can be tamed, a finch would not be in my list. I don't expect them to be affectionate or anything right away. I will constantly spend time with him and earn it. Some birds are more affectionate then others, more allowed to be cuddled with then others, and more sociable and enjoys people interaction then others. Since i am unaware on which birds have a better chance on those things, that's why i opened this thread to find out. I of course have a general knowledge on some birds that i have researched but there is many more i haven't so i just wanted to see if anyone might have an idea of which bird might be right for me.

like i said i have unlimited time that i will be spending with the bird since i am home most of the times.

[Nir]

I do see some real problems with your expectations that I'm not sure you've thought through. I'm sure that is why you are seeking the opinions of others. I am glad that you are here seeking advice.

As far as the amount of attention goes...I think that you are asking for trouble if you want a bird, any bird, to get the amount you're describing. Here's what I see...a total screaming maniac! I'm serious! Or worse yet a biter. Any bird that gets that much attention will scream every single time you don't give it. Or, when you go to place it in its cage it will try to bite you. You need to be realistic here. A bird needs to learn that it is required to spend some time without you. It should be able to play independently either on a playstand or in its cage. There is absolutely no reason to make a bird so dependent on you that it can't be alone.

You live in an apartment, right? So any kind of larger bird will scream/vocalize at certain times of the day. The types of birds you mentioned being interested in aren't really suitable for an apartment in my opinion. Your neighbors most likely won't put up with the noise very long before they complain to you, or worse yet the apartment manager. By the way, have you discussed the pet bird policy for parrots? Some apartments will only allow smaller birds like budgies, cockatiels, canaries, finches, etc. It would be very sad if you got a bird only to find out that you can't have it because of a policy like that.

Personally, I think that you might want to reconsider getting a bird at all, or be more realistic in your need for a bird. I also think that you need to understand that there isn't a big difference between the motivation your budgie has for doing training and a parrot's motivation. All my parrots, without exception, are only motivated by rewards for training. They don't do it because they "love" me. They might do it once in awhile just to please me for attention, but they'd rather have a safflower seed.

Also, if you get a bird because you think that its personality is more based on the breed than on the individual bird then you're asking for trouble. For example, I have eight Senegals and ten Cockatiels. Each one of them has a unique and different personality. None of them is like the other just because they are Senegals, for example. Yes, the basic qualities are there, but if I got a Senegal based on somebody's opinion, especially if they only had one, then I would be sadly mistaken. Same goes for any bird. Don't base your decision on what you read about a specific type of parrot.

Honestly, and don't take offense to this because I mean it in a helpful way, I don't think that you should get another bird. Work with that Budgie. He will teach you all you need to know about how to be a great bird owner. If you can't handle him and his individual personality, then I don't believe it is in the best interest of another bird to be owned by you.

Great post and thanks for the long response.

I think i am being misunderstood. For example, i love my budgie, i actually got him very recently about a month ago and tamed him but i just think that there will be more of a connection with a bigger bird (something Michael mentioned). That was my reasoning into getting one. My expectations might be high but that doesn't mean i will be all sad and not care for the bird and just get rid of him if the expectations aren't met. And when i say affectionate and that i want him to love me.. all it will take for me to be happy is if i can touch his head pet him or if i open the door and he is happy to see me. Thats really it. if he comes to me randomly thats a bonus.

About the noise, i heard that congos (probably not going to get him), senegal , eclectus and few other medium sized birds were quiet enough for apartments? Perhaps i am wrong?

One thing i completely disagree with is the personality part. It is very true that i will be basing me buying the bird largely on what i know about the birds general personality and temperament. But there shouldn't be anything wrong with that. What else do i have to go by? If a bird is GENERALLY quieter and sociable i would rather gamble on that bird then if a bird was louder and less sociable. Of course i know that personalities within each bird breed varies but that should be obvious. I will just have to make a good educated guess on which birds general personality will be best and then when i go there i will probably spend some time with the batch they have to choose 1 that might be right for me. I ofcourse wont be basing my decision on just 1 persons opinion. This thread is just only a small portion of my research. I probably wont make a decision until couple months AT least if not more. Who knows.. like you said perhaps its better not to get a medium size bird for me. But i have to at least give it a try to do my research and find out if thats true or not. I love birds and it would be lame for me to just give up before even thinking it through.

[Nir]

What's your opinion on the best birds to have as a pet who will love you and love you.

Sounds like you really want a dog and not a parrot. That's totally fine, just don't make the mistake of trying to force a parrot to be a dog. Not gonna work out.

i really didnt mean love the way its being interpreted. I guess i chose the wrong word. I just want a bird who will like my company once in awhile.. Thats all i meant. If a bird wont enjoy my company ever then your probably right.

[Nir]

everyone's given you excellent advice,i hope you take it.i just have a question for you what about your budgie? does he want another bird in the house?i had my for a few years when an ex dropped off a at my house my loved having another bird around lucky for all of us.when the died my mourned him so when my boyfriend told me a woman was getting a divorce and giving away all the parrots her husband had bought her i foolishly went to her house and she gave us a my was happy but it turned into a 5 year nightmare for me the hated me and viscously attacked me the whole 5 years.fortunatly when i was pregnant with my son my aunt came over to help with the nursery and she and the fell in love with eachother so she took her home.when i would visit the would come over to me and give me kisses she was a totally different bird.
3 years later with an wanting another bird my cousin calls me to tell me she had a she didn't want anymore so i brought my over to introduce them and they hit it off so i took him home then after 2 years my died and my became very demanding but i wasn't going to get another but i gave in and convinced my boyfriend to buy me another .big mistake he hated me and being that he looked too much like my other he was too dangerous to have around the kids at my house that were used to the that adored kids so he had to go to a rescue who allowed me to meet and adopt my who loves all of us and we love her.sorry so long i just want you put alot of thought into what you want and what will be best for you and your .

thanks for the post. This does help. I didnt think of the implications of forest (my budgie) having another bigger bird to share me with. Not sure how they are going to react to eachother. Since they are differnet sized birds, i was not planning to keep them in the same cage. But this does give me something to think about.

[terri]

Ok let me tell you what my birds are like [I think thats what your asking] My lory is very smart plays alot likes to see me [is almost hyper] doesnt sit still [talks in phrases].My caiques are a blast[very similiar] love people ,food and play,play,play[they mimic sounds].My sun conure is surprisingly quiet,loving and a ham!![she may talk shes a baby].The hawkhead is the loudest[she sounds human so we think its funny]she talks the clearest,is most demanding but very affectionate[neat bird]My Rose breasted is very easy bird quiet,doesnt get into trouble,just likes to hang out with you.She says a few things [it sounds like my voice]can be a little bratty like most toos.My Sulpher crested loves my husband [affection is a big deal to her] she doesnt talk.My congo grey talks well loves food and wants attention on his terms [my harder one of the bunch] but he is the only one that we let eat dinner with us and my macaw I would say is the my closest companion all around great bird [she talks some] Im not pushing a Macaw Im just telling you shes great] My birds are very affectionate [I think because I make a big deal about them and love the to death] a schedule helps to.I dont think my bird species would be a next bird choice for you.But if you want to get a new bird great[I always like to see people trying to due the right thing about birds]Like you your asking questions.If you get another bird just please make them your first priority everyday maybe check into your smaller conures [go be around some] but be aware the can be nippy[have to be trained] and have loud moments.Good Luck

[Nir]

Ok let me tell you what my birds are like [I think thats what your asking] My lory is very smart plays alot likes to see me [is almost hyper] doesnt sit still [talks in phrases].My caiques are a blast[very similiar] love people ,food and play,play,play[they mimic sounds].My sun conure is surprisingly quiet,loving and a ham!![she may talk shes a baby].The hawkhead is the loudest[she sounds human so we think its funny]she talks the clearest,is most demanding but very affectionate[neat bird]My Rose breasted is very easy bird quiet,doesnt get into trouble,just likes to hang out with you.She says a few things [it sounds like my voice]can be a little bratty like most toos.My Sulpher crested loves my husband [affection is a big deal to her] she doesnt talk.My congo grey talks well loves food and wants attention on his terms [my harder one of the bunch] but he is the only one that we let eat dinner with us and my macaw I would say is the my closest companion all around great bird [she talks some] Im not pushing a Macaw Im just telling you shes great] My birds are very affectionate [I think because I make a big deal about them and love the to death] a schedule helps to.I dont think my bird species would be a next bird choice for you.But if you want to get a new bird great[I always like to see people trying to due the right thing about birds]Like you your asking questions.If you get another bird just please make them your first priority everyday maybe check into your smaller conures [go be around some] but be aware the can be nippy[have to be trained] and have loud moments.Good Luck

Thanks for the reply. This is very helpful since in your experience with all those birds you prefer a macaw.

I think from what I gathered so far that a Senegal might be the best fit so far but not sure. Still researching but more replies will help.

[Grey_Moon]

I am mum to a rescued TAG, and love her to bits---HOWEVER.

I try very hard to avoid calling Jacko (the TAG) a 'pet' and try very hard to treat her as an individual, a sentient being that is not my possession, my subservient or my pet or plaything.
She is much closer to a child than any 'pet'. She is a companion to me and our relationship is much like any long-term relationship of two highly self-directed individuals who live together.

We both want different things and have our own personalities, needs and methods of operations. Sometimes these don't mesh and our relationship has ups and downs. Sometimes all that keeps us going is the commitment I made to her.

All of these large parrots in particular (you get any larger than a conure to me and it starts being a large parrot) are much more like children. It is not a guarantee that your bird will be anything like the 'species' description or that it will like you, or even if it likes you that it will like you all the time.

I think the biggest thing here you're underestimating is time and the level of involvement. Can you for the next 50 years drag your butt out of bed at 6 AM (or earlier) rain or shine, sickness or health to prep breakfast (plain pellets/seeds NOT going to cut it---particularly if you've got an eclectus or like me a bird with sensitivities), then bathe you both, and be prepared for a toddler and being a parent? As we all know--parents of young kids DO NOT, unless hell freezes over---get a chance to sleep in. They do a lot of clean-up, and supervising and their needs no longer come first. You have $50 dollars to spend---you want a new shirt, but the bird needs new toys---then it sucks to be you because you're not getting that shirt.

If you can handle being a parent, go ahead and rescue a larger bird (btw---if you know anything about larger birds you should know better than to support their breeding---and babies don't stay sweet unassertive babies either way). If that scares you, than you're looking for a pet, so get a dog or cat.

Not trying to be a jerk, just telling it as it is---Jacko's been with me for seven years (since I was 14---first mistake right there!) I love her dearly, but I sometimes do wish I could live the average life of a 21 year old in college and I give and gave up a lot to honor the commitment I made to her. Is she rewarding? Absolutely! But---it doesn't come for free.

OH YEAH---and not much of a biter isn't going to happen---you WILL get bitten. Talking is up to the bird---my grey doesn't talk.

[Kacey]

You may also want to look into brotogeris parrots. I have a canary winged parakeet, and did a lot of research before deciding on this species. I commend you for doing research before hand. For me, she's been a perfect bird. I also have a very sweet parrotlet. My canary winged parakeet is a smaller bird, around cockatiel sized. She talks and whistles and loves human interaction. She can be cuddly, though not often, but the species is known for being affectionate. She is not very loud either and she eats and plays with her feet like a larger parrot. What I love about her most is that she's learned tons of tricks already and is pottytrained all accomplished mostly through praise instead instead of food rewards. I think she's a special bird. Good luck with your decision!

[Kaicho]

Well, this is going to be somewhat of a long story... but it has it's purpose with parrots and your need to find one so badly.


I am a military veteran with PTSD and this is all due to the deployments to combat warzones. I finished my enlistment in 2009 which led to me living in Chicago and going to school...... but I needed something to help me cope with the changes from military to civilian life: a parrot that I could love & care for!

Growing up as a child I had a cockatiel named Chip who was amazing.... but my sisters allowed him to fly out the front door and it broke my heart. Now, as an adult I raised a cockatiel from it's 2nd week of life and has been all amazing for me personally..... and somehow led to a bigger flock.

After choosing a parrot for my own selfish reasons, I realized that I have actually provided an amazing life for the parrot as well. He has such a zest for life and enjoys just being here with me.... and also the flock that he influenced. Over time, I ended up acquiring a few other parrots that needed some love and someone who would give them a great life. All this happened because I wanted to help myself by having companions that actually wanted me around.

I've sacrificed a lot for a normal guy who's separated from the military, since I don't go out partying etc. My excuses often include "Sorry, I have to be back by 7pm to put my parrots to bed." or "I can't, I left the light on in my parrots room, they can't sleep w/it on." .... Yet it's worth it because it makes me care more about my birds.

I'll tell you what-- wanting a parrot who can do XX, and XX, and XX but still love you is just nuts. You have to just either love a parrot or not. This is regardless of whether they end up being a biter, a non-talker, a screamer, or whatever. Don't make a commitment if you can't keep it.... it cheapens your experience with the parrot but ruins the human-experience of the parrot even more.

[Nir]

Well, this is going to be somewhat of a long story... but it has it's purpose with parrots and your need to find one so badly.


I am a military veteran with PTSD and this is all due to the deployments to combat warzones. I finished my enlistment in 2009 which led to me living in Chicago and going to school...... but I needed something to help me cope with the changes from military to civilian life: a parrot that I could love & care for!

Growing up as a child I had a cockatiel named Chip who was amazing.... but my sisters allowed him to fly out the front door and it broke my heart. Now, as an adult I raised a cockatiel from it's 2nd week of life and has been all amazing for me personally..... and somehow led to a bigger flock.

After choosing a parrot for my own selfish reasons, I realized that I have actually provided an amazing life for the parrot as well. He has such a zest for life and enjoys just being here with me.... and also the flock that he influenced. Over time, I ended up acquiring a few other parrots that needed some love and someone who would give them a great life. All this happened because I wanted to help myself by having companions that actually wanted me around.

I've sacrificed a lot for a normal guy who's separated from the military, since I don't go out partying etc. My excuses often include "Sorry, I have to be back by 7pm to put my parrots to bed." or "I can't, I left the light on in my parrots room, they can't sleep w/it on." .... Yet it's worth it because it makes me care more about my birds.

I'll tell you what-- wanting a parrot who can do XX, and XX, and XX but still love you is just nuts. You have to just either love a parrot or not. This is regardless of whether they end up being a biter, a non-talker, a screamer, or whatever. Don't make a commitment if you can't keep it.... it cheapens your experience with the parrot but ruins the human-experience of the parrot even more.

thanks for replying and you do have a good story. i train mma (mixed martial arts) and i am very exausted everyday and thats also a reason i do want a bird so i can spend time with him and relax. your right though. and honestly i dont care if it talks or does anything else besides want me to be around him and like my company. Thats really all i want. A bird that will want to be my companion and want my company. If you dont mind me asking, which bird do you have?