Can't decide which species is right for me

[Maltee]

My husband and I really want to get a bird, but we can't decide on a species. We've visited one breeder and a few pet stores and have been excited about everything from a Hahn's macaw, green cheek conure, pionus, caique, cockatiel, quaker, and poicephalus.

Every time, we've met a really sweet bird at the store/breeder, then I've gone home to research the species and been scared off.

The problem I'm having with researching these species online is that it seems for EVERY species there is a horror story. Some people love their GCCs and quakers and Hahn's, and other people say their bird is a monster who loves to rip the flesh from human arms. I can't know whether this is especially due to the species itself, or due to the owner and how the bird was raised. I know all parrots have the ability to become aggressive if not raised properly, but surely some species are more difficult than others?

I have some previous experience with birds. Growing up, my family had budgies and green-cheeked parakeets that I handled often. When I was older, my family got a Meyer's parrot. I took care of it the most and taught it tricks. Of course, I have been bitten by him, and he can be more aggressive in the spring, but never the kind of "I want to rip your face off" aggression I hear from some parrot owners. It is always predictable when he will bite, so I can usually avoid it. While the meyers obviously prefers my mom and is most affectionate toward her, it is generally friendly with everyone in the family. It talks, is very handle-able and has a great spunky personality. This is the kind of experience I'd like to have with my own parrot, but when I research which species to get I read these horror stories and get scared off. I kind of want to get something different from a Meyers, but maybe I should stick with poicephalus? (But hey, even the poicephalus have their own horror stories - Did I just luck out with a tame bird?)

I especially get scared when I hear "very aggressive" and "one person bird." The last thing I want is a bird that latches onto me and viciously attacks my husband, or vice versa. A breeder told me that you can avoid having a "one person bird" as long as the bird is socialized properly. Other people say that some species are "just that way" and will love one person and hate everyone else no matter what you do. Argh!

I'm stuck here because I can't figure out if a species is right for me. Can anyone give me a clue on a good bird for someone with (somewhat) limited experience? Or give me ideas for a more productive way to research species? Thanks!

[Michael]

Well it's really a bit of both. The good stories are true and so are the bad ones. It's all a question of which people are willing to share. The thing you must realize is that parrots are a wild animal and only as tame as the training you put in with them. However, no matter how much you do right, there may still be elements of their wildness that you may never overcome.

With any species, you will have to do a lot of taming, training, and socialization and with any species it will help a lot. However, there are certain characteristics of species that are specific to the species regardless of the training. Aggressiveness, friendliness, getting along with other birds, talkativeness, loudness, etc can often be species specific with small variations between individuals.

[Nir]

Is noise going to be an issue?

[terri]

Im going to say check into the caiques .I have 2 and got them at different times.There male and female.They are alot alike,I would say out of my 9 birds they are an all around great family pet.Downfall they go through a nipping stage[but I think alot of birds do]Heads up about them,they need a big wide cage,LOTS of toys,swings and foot toys.They are the best eaters of my bunch for being the smaller ones.They are very head strong.if you have them out and they have an idea that they want it their impossible. Put them on a realistic time schedule out with you and time on a playstand.Let them have consistent interaction with everyone to keep them social.

[Maltee]

Nir, yes for right now noise would be a concern because I'm in an apartment. I realize all birds make noise, but I've heard some species are more noisy than others. My Meyers seemed to be generally quiet and I'd probably want something of a similar noise level or volume.

terri, the caique I met was actually the bird I was most excited over. I met one in a bird store and fell in love. This little guy was playful, talkative, and cuddly. He would roll on his back and let you scratch his tummy. But after going home and researching it, I decided a caique probably wasn't for me. Out of all the species I read about, this seemed to be the one that bird owners consistently said was a difficult bird with a very aggressive side. Many described how their sweet little caique turned to "the dark side" after it reached sexual maturity. It also seemed like the few people who described their caique as cute and sweet had only had their bird for 2 years or less (so it obviously hadn't reached sexual maturity yet). I'm afraid that if I get one, I could end up with a little monster when it turns 3 years old and I'm not sure I'm experienced enough to deal with that.

I think I am leaning towards a quaker or a poicephalus. I've seen quakers recommended as a bird for the less experienced. They are described as bold and friendly, with their main fault being cage aggression. I don't know how they stand on noise though. The poicephalus are generally described as having an even temperment (for a parrot), and that seemed to be my experience with the Meyers. I'm interested in pionus, but one breeder I spoke to recommended against them, saying they're "not interested in people."

[Nir]

if noise is a concern then i say eliminate caique, macaw and possibly even quaker. then decide between poi, gcc and pionus. i am also stuck between gcc and poi (senegal).

[Polarn]

Well seeing how you mentioned you got excited about the tiel, I'd say that's a sweetheart to have around. It seems as if their problems reaching sexual maturity is a lot less than that of other birds. They also aren't too loud, mine has about the same noise level as my budgie, except when he imitates something louder, like my cellphone.

And I would actually recomend you to get a bird who has already gone through sexual maturity to avoid any personality differences in the bird as it matures, sure most birds tend to have a short honeymoon phase when they first move in, but they have long enough life's for it to be worth adopting a bird who is a bit older.

[marie83]

I would say too that a 'tiel is probably the least likely out of all of them to suffer and behaviour issues because they are pretty easy going. I've had several and the only problem I've had is they can be very shy, very nervous and quick to startle but that could be down to the fact that all mine have been rescued. You shouldn't have too many problems with a well socialised one but that doesn'y mean problems are impossible.

I would also rule out quakers and caiques, I looked extensively into both a while ago as I live in an apartment too and whilst there are stories of people who have quietish birds I decided it just wasn't worth the risk of leaving me and my other two homeless from any complaints we might get.....

The green cheeks... some say they are good for inexperienced owners but I am certainly glad mine wasn't my first bird, he went through a seriously nippy stage even though I'm fairly experienced with the littler parrots and had read alot about what to do. I hate to say it but at one point I did regret getting him although I would never have parted with him either. After a while we got through it and he is now a little gem most of the time- any bites I get I usually deserve lol. I might just add that the extended period of biting may be my partners fault for handling the situation wrong, had we both handled it the same it may have passed quicker. These conures are usually cuddlebugs and relatively brave, Ollie is scared of very little and if he is scared he usually gets over it in a few minutes. They are highly trainable but will just as quickly learn to train you. These guys are big birds in tiny bodies.

[Grey_Moon]

I'd also recommend going with an adult bird from a rescue.

First, because no one should be buying baby parrots IMO as these birds are NOT good 'pets' and suffer numerous behavioural issues due to their inability to fully adjust to captivity despite even 'good' captive care. Thus no one should support their captive breeding, especially as rescues and classified ads are overflowing with birds.
Second, because you'll have a better idea of the bird's personality and what you're in for.

Do not be fooled into thinking that by buying a handfed baby bird that you'll be avoiding all the problems and that the only reason rescue birds or rehomes have issues is because they were improperly socialized and raised---some is due to the nature of the beast.

Its the truth that most parrot species are pair-bonding, the ones that are not (the psittacula species ie ringnecks etc are an example) tend to be more aloof though and lacking that bonding quality most people want in a bird. Thus its natural and sort of hardwired for them to bond tightly to one person.
There will always be 'their person' who is preferred above all other people. The difference between that and a 'one person bird' is the degree of antisocial behaviour or aggression demonstrated to other people. Which is again, a bit of the luck of the draw.

You can teach a bird behaviours to manage the aggression and you can teach the hated person ways to redeem themselves/avoid being bitten but you can't truly prevent/extinguish it short of the favoured person leaving and never coming back or never doing anything positive with the bird again.

Its just one of those things.
The horror stories and the perfect angel best bird ever stories are both extreme ends of a scale, the vast majority of birds of any species are somewhere in the middle. BUT I always say prepare for the worst and hope you get the best. Don't go out expecting to get a bird like the wonderful anecdotes, just hope you get lucky with the bird you get.

I know you're saying but none of the species don't have terrible stories! Therein lies the truth. These *are* wild animals.

As far as species I'd scratch out the quaker and the caique no exceptions. Both are very shrill and piercing when they get going so if you're in an apartment...scratch that.
IMO I would consider the poicephalus, the pionus, or a linneolated parakeet or parrotlet.
I've never heard a green cheek make any noise so I can't comment either way. They could be an option.
The cockatiels are hit/miss---some are quiet but some flock call very loudly.

[Eurycerus]

Small comment on poicephalus noise levels:

They can be pretty quiet when they are content, such as when you're around but can yell very loudly, do not be mistaken into thinking they are quiet. If they choose to they can be very loud. Their call is not as loud as a conure of course, but just keep that in mind. Also by quiet I mean periods of silence yes, but also lots of chattering and peeping. So it's low level noise, not silence. At least that's my experience with my Senegal. However, I do live in an apartment and the lady below me has never complained although I can definitely hear her outside. It could be because the woman is older and has poor hearing. Who knows.