From Pennsylvania, USA

[styxx374]

Hi, my name is Jennifer, and at the moment I own two parakeets, Sunny and Stormy. Would love to "graduate" to a bigger bird at some point, but for the moment the keet shrieks and nips are enough for me.

[kaylayuh]

Hi and welcome to the forum, also from Pennsylvania! It doesn't seem like too many Pennsylvanians own parrots.

I also have two budgies; and trust me, once you graduate to a bigger bird, those little nips and chattering seem like nothing! I recently adopted a green cheek conure whose nips regularly draw blood, and I can't even feel the nips of the budgies anymore!

What kind of bigger parrot are you considering?

[styxx374]

Hi and welcome to the forum, also from Pennsylvania! It doesn't seem like too many Pennsylvanians own parrots.

I also have two budgies; and trust me, once you graduate to a bigger bird, those little nips and chattering seem like nothing! I recently adopted a green cheek conure whose nips regularly draw blood, and I can't even feel the nips of the budgies anymore!

What kind of bigger parrot are you considering?

Well, ideally, I'd love a Timneh Gray. But realistically, I'll probably start with something smaller - maybe a conure or eclectus.

[kaylayuh]

Conures are great little birds. I have no idea what I'd do without my Green Cheek.

[styxx374]

I love the sun conures, but I have heard that they are noisier than others.

[kaylayuh]

Yeah, the Aratinga conures are pretty loud. The Pyrrhura conures aren't so bad, but they can be a bit noisy sometimes.

[GlassOnion]

Welcome!

I wanted to say that, don't do the whole "start out with something easier....".
No birds are starter birds, and all birds require the same amount of attention, care, food, toys, cleaning etc. You might as well just research and research into your dream bird and just get it.

I did hear that greys are easier to own than people expected. A smaller bird may become more demanding and loud depending on the species and personality. If you want a timneh, research research research, then get it when the time is right.

The eclectus require a VERY special diet of almost all fresh foods. They are much harder to feed than most other birds and easily acquire health problems if you feed them wrong.
I would not recommend them unless you are willing to change dishes out of the cage several times a day with non pellet/non seed meals.
Also, they are about the same size or bigger than greys- so they aren't 'smaller' or easier.

[Kathleen]

Welcome to the parrot forum Jennifer! There are a couple of african grey parrot owners on our forum. Look around, there's plenty of information, and feel free to ask questions and post some pictures of your budgies (I love budgies). Enjoy!

[styxx374]

Welcome!

I wanted to say that, don't do the whole "start out with something easier....".
No birds are starter birds, and all birds require the same amount of attention, care, food, toys, cleaning etc. You might as well just research and research into your dream bird and just get it.

I never said I was starting out with "something easier." Most breeders won't let a person with no bird experience whatsoever take home a gray. Some may even say that my experience with budgies isn't enough experience to take on a gray.

[pchela]

Timneh Greys are a joy! I love mine to death! They tend to be less neurotic than the Congos but of course, each bird is different. But, I'd highly recommend a Timneh. You have bird experience... budgies count! Eclectus are beautiful but definitely more difficult to keep than a Timmy. So, there's my two cents. And welcome to the forum!