New to the forum - need advice on my first bird!

[tratledge]

Hi everyone,

I wanted to hop on an active form to hopefully get some advice from some expert bird owners like the lot of you. I've interacted with a few friends' birds for a few years now, and I think I'd really like to get one of my own. The mess and the caring needs don't bother or scare me one bit, and I actually find a bit of bird song and chirping in the house to be quite nice (though keep in mind, my friends do not own larger parrots who scream, so I'm looking to avoid a bird THAT vocal).

From my research thus far I know I'm looking for a medium sized parrot, but there's some stipulations I have to make sure I can give a bird the best home for who I am and my routines, and I'm getting some conflicting information. I'd gone to an exotic bird store earlier today and the experience just made me feel sad for the birds there - so I'm assuming I'd be looking at phoning up a breeder for the particular species I'm interested in.

I'm a 31 year old professional, and as such, I'm away from home during working hours - typically I'm out from around 10 am until 7 pmish. I typically go to bed around 1 am. Additionally, I'm also a musician that records at home. Before the obvious "well, you can't own a bird then," know that most of the stuff I do doesn't actually require quiet, until I'm ready for vocals on a song, and typically that only takes 4-6 hours. I was thinking that for the one time in 6 weeks or so (that's the average) that I need to record vocals, I can take my feathered friend on a field trip just for the day to a friend's house.

I'm after a bird that's:

- Personable - likes to be around you, sit on your shoulder, perch on your finger, and interact with you. Snuggling is optional, but I wouldn't mind being able to rub/scratch the back of its head and actually have the bird enjoy it

- Decent with visitors - I don't have visitors over often, but I'd like it if the bird was not stressed out by the occasional visitor. I also have a roommate! I can't own a bird that would strongly attach itself to ONLY one person and bite the other

- Not excessively noisy - I *do* live in a condo, so I have neighbors. A little noise is fine, screaming isn't.

- Can deal with the hours I have to work. I plan on having as much out of cage time for it as soon as I'm home. I won't be able to *constantly* interact with it, of course, but I'm guessing the bird would have at least 3 hours a day on average of heavy attention. Weekends, likely more.

- Doesn't mind my music. I don't compose or listen to it at excessive volumes, but if a bird is sensitive to music noise, probably not a good idea. Their cage will be in the living room, not my bedroom, however, which is where I'd compose, but I'd like it if the bird could feel comfortable in my room if it wanted to follow me through the house.

The species I've researched so far that I like are:

- Senegals
- Myers
- Caiques

That being said, I'm open to other suggestions. I'd really like to hear the opinions of those of you here on which bird might be best for me (again, knowing that there's wide variance in the species, I can only get a good recommendation, and that I understand).

Thanks for your input!

[cml]

Welcome to the forums! I am glad you've decided to register and ask some questions, and I will try to answer as good and truthfully as I can.

- Personable - likes to be around you, sit on your shoulder, perch on your finger, and interact with you. Snuggling is optional, but I wouldn't mind being able to rub/scratch the back of its head and actually have the bird enjoy it

This is very much down to the individual bird, but some species like scratches better than others. My amazon does, while my Pionus does not. Cockatoos are known to be cuddlebugs, but they have lots of other things that make them difficult to own. Macaws are also known to like scratches but are quite big. Conures also seem to love being scratched.

It's good that its not a demand from you though, as it will come down to the bird whether or not it likes that. Most birds LOVE to spend time with you and you will likely phase the issue with NOT wanting the bird on your shoulder all the time. This is something that you will need to work out early on.

- Can deal with the hours I have to work. I plan on having as much out of cage time for it as soon as I'm home. I won't be able to *constantly* interact with it, of course, but I'm guessing the bird would have at least 3 hours a day on average of heavy attention. Weekends, likely more.

I am sorry, but if you work from 10am to 7pm-ish, no bird will have a good home with you no matter how much you care for it and love it. Parrots are simply not hard-wired to be alone for 9 hours like that, everyday. I really cant reccommend you to get a bird . It's cruel to leave them alone for that long a time since they are flock animals. If you plan on being away for more than 4-5 hours a day, getting two parrots so they have company is much better. Be warned though, two parrots is a lot more than double the work.

- Decent with visitors - I don't have visitors over often, but I'd like it if the bird was not stressed out by the occasional visitor. I also have a roommate! I can't own a bird that would strongly attach itself to ONLY one person and bite the other

This all comes down to you properly training and socialising the bird. If one has problems with their bird, its almost always because of the owner rather than the bird.

- Not excessively noisy - I *do* live in a condo, so I have neighbors. A little noise is fine, screaming isn't.

All birds scream, at least time to time, sorry .

- Doesn't mind my music. I don't compose or listen to it at excessive volumes, but if a bird is sensitive to music noise, probably not a good idea. Their cage will be in the living room, not my bedroom, however, which is where I'd compose, but I'd like it if the bird could feel comfortable in my room if it wanted to follow me through the house.

Most parrots seem to enjoy music, we've had many threads on that topic here.

"well, you can't own a bird then," know that most of the stuff I do doesn't actually require quiet, until I'm ready for vocals on a song, and typically that only takes 4-6 hours. I was thinking that for the one time in 6 weeks or so (that's the average) that I need to record vocals, I can take my feathered friend on a field trip just for the day to a friend's house.

Good idea!

The species I've researched so far that I like are:
- Senegals
- Myers
- Caiques

If you want to generalise, senegals and meyers are species known to often become one-person birds, something you didnt want. They can also be quite aggressive. Caiques are noisy but clownish.
I'd say a Green Cheek Conure is likely a good match for you, but I would get two as it would be very cruel to have a bird alone everyday for 9 hours. GCC's are very sociable and funny, but they need company to be happy and well adjusted birds.

[Pajarita]

I agree with CML 100%. A pair of GCCs, maroon bellies, peach-fronts (all small and, for a parrot, pretty quiet birds) or a pair of hand-fed cockatiels seems to be what will work out best for you. Get them a super large flight cage, fit it with natural perches, toys, boings, etc and place it in front of a window where the sun shines in, good fresh food (you can't just free-feed them pellets, mind you, the smaller conures all need a lot of fruits, veggies and leafy greens but the tiels are easier to feed), good full spectrum on a timer (you will need it for the winter because they need to go to sleep with the sunset to keep their endocrine system healthy and that means earlier than you get home) and they will be quite content.

PS The GCCs love, love, love riding your shoulder and cuddling against your neck but, because you will need to get a bonded pair, you need to bond with them deeply or the male will bite you trying to protect the female from you.

[Harpmaker]

Welcome to the forum!

I agree with cml and Pajarita, except I always give Myer's parrots more credit (disclaimer-that's the bird I've got). However, any individual bird can be WAY off the species reputation. If you have a bird rescue in your area, please check with them rather than a breeder. They are usually invested in finding forever homes for their birds, and the best ones will help you find birds that already have the personality you need.

[Pajarita]

Meyers are great birds but some of them can be quite aggressive because of jealousy (same as Senegals). And a lone Meyers would not do well by himself so many hours...

[Harpmaker]

I must be lucky, because my little hen seems to like everyone, and I know it's nothing I did. Still, she's only 19 months old--plenty of time to have terrible twos. But Pajarita is correct about Meyer's not doing well alone. The books say they will amuse themselves with toys, but my experience is that a work day alone everyday would be WAY too much alone time.

[cockatiels15P]

Im not an expert but i think a pair of cockatiels would be good for you
They easily learn to whistle or talk and if it's a pair they will keep company to each other

[cml]

No reply Tratledge?