Hello, World

[Arshia]

I don't have a bird. I've never owned a bird. The most experience with birds I've had is gazing wondrously at the 'tiels at my local Petsmart since I was 10.

But I absolutely ADORE the birds! Birds have been my favorite animal, and I would LOVE to buy one soon - maybe when I move out. I've done a lot of "research" (if you consider looking through google's articles for tirelessly about the many bird species and even watching some of Chet Womack courses 'research') and would say that I know equal to if not more about parrots than a good bit of parrot owners.

I'm 17, just so you know - couldn't manage to fit that elsewhere so might as well make it obtrusive.

But that's the thing - I'm 17! Meaning next year, I'll be going to college! And guess what? The college I'll be going to allows birds up to .5 lbs in the dorms (with the consent of the roommates - I'll just remain hopeful about that part). My parents may have never allowed one, but now, I'll have the opportunity of getting one myself!

I've already gotten a bit into this post by now, and guess I'll be turning it into the question that I wanted to ask in another section of the forum (forgive me if this doesn't fit in this section).

My first question: When bird-people say things like "*blank* is not a good first bird", does that mean someone should have to work their way up to U2s from budgies? Meaning no one can just have a good sized macaw without having a budgie first? Wouldn't the years of reading posts in forums such as these and watching videos (youtube's a good source...right?) be an Okay substitute for actual experience with a bird? Or am I coming off as an impulsive buyer that should first own a budgie...

My second question: As I've mentioned earlier, I'll be getting a small parrot Help me narrow it down to the species -if you deem me fit of owning a parrot. I just wanted to say that I'll have a lot of time as I won't have a job and should have 5+ hours a day to spend with a flock member


What species of parrot would you say would fit the following criteria?
(note that price isn't a criterion - I should be getting 20K a year from the school - even after living expenses, tuition, and books - from scholarships)

1. Large, but under 0.5 lbs (for some reason, I find that smaller parrots (budgies) don't have the same appeal)

2. Colorful Head (I'm not an impulsive buyer - I promise!) It's just that there's something that turns me off by the dull greenish blackish color of many of the poicephalus species' heads. I know I shouldn't buy based on looks, but hey - what are you going to do... And this isn't too extreme - I'm not going for a rainbow lorikeet, but this isn't anything a pineapple GCC won't satisfy. (A regular GCC fails this test, I'm afraid) So as a rule of thumb - if the head isn't dark green or black, I'd accept it (it's the head where I really dislike the darker color to be)

3. Flight Ability. I'm not going to clip, because hopefully I'll be able to recall train the parrot. This seems to me the most useful trick and though I'm not going to fly it outdoors without a harness (at least not yet, perhaps free flight will come with time and experience ), I'd rather not have a stockier caique-like parrot that won't fly.

4. Loudness. Although I immediately would favor one of the more colorful conures (sun/jenday - i forget the artagia-dsjf;lkj word) I've heard they can be as loud as a too. So if there are any quieter species that come to mind - those would be preferable. But this criterion poses another question:
(I can't indent so I'll use ellipses for organization)
..................I've seen many training routines that will train a parrot to be less loud. I know this ..................won't get rid of the sound completely - but how effective will these little stratagems ..................be? I've read of people training their parrot to ring a bell rather than shriek to get ..................attention, turning around for ~5ish seconds as a quasi-punishment, and some other ..................routines like that. Would that be enough to sufficiently lower the volume of suns or ..................jendays for apartment/dorm living? Anyway, if not, I'm fine with a pineapple GCC etc.

5. Cuddlyness. So pionuses would definitely lose some points in this category I'm guessing. I'm not asking for a U2, but I'd rather not have a phobic, introverted parrot.

What I've been considering:
1. Pineapple GCCs
2. Suns/Jendays -if their volume issue can be overcome *hopeful-face*
3. Cockatiels - (I kinda feel like they are more on the boring side, and would much rather have a GCC)
4. Pionus (goldencockatoo - where I plan to get the parrot - doesn't sell them. somewhere else maybe? also, not as 'cuddly' as I would have hoped)
5. WB Caique (not BHC). I'm pretty bent on the bird having to fly/recall - but maybe that can be overcome somehow?
6. Lorikeet. I've heard these get a little on the loud side, and messy too. So probably not, but I'll just put it out there in case someone can provide contrary information. Plus, I really like how the rainbow lories look.
7. Quaker. I haven't read much on them, but if someone will provide some info?
8. Senegal. Gah - if it weren't for the ugly plumage, these'd be perfect!
9. Red Bellied. These are hard to find. Their colors -just- pass for me, but goldencockatoo doesn't carry them Maybe I'll find another reputable dealer if people recommend them enough though

Pardon the length, I'm not good at brevity. Hopefully Michael from kiliparrots would share some of his profound - if not a little inexorable - expertise

[Arshia]

With the risk of adding to length I just want to point out-
As much as it seems like I'm heavily - bent on buying a parrot, I'm not at all. 17 Years without a parrot, I can take a few more
Also, if I will, I'm leaning toward the Pineapple GCC

[marie83]

I haven't got time to reply to the whole post but you say you will be allowed birds with your roommates consent but what happens if they change their mind? or what happens if you get complaints from another room? Warning them a bird can be very noisy is quite different to actually having one screaming in the same room first thing in the morning.

What happens if you get a cocky idiot in the same room as you who doesn't want to know that he shouldn't spray deoderant/feed the bird chocolate etc?

Are you sure your going to have enough time for a bird? Depending on the course you are doing then it can be much much more demanding than school. The college course I'm doing at the moment is unlike anything I've ever done before with demands on my time. Plus you need time to socialise with your college mates.

Say all that goes well, what happens when you finish college? What if you can't find a job straight away, will your parents allow you to move back with bird in tow? If you don't go back to your parents then please be aware of how hard it is to find accommodation where pets are allowed.

Then what happens when you do get a job? your bird will be used to people nipping in and out the dorms all day (assuming the dorms are pretty near your college) now suddenly it's alone most of the day. This could cause major stress to him/her.

I do think you are better off waiting for a bird tbh but if you've got the questions above covered then I would say the green cheek (pinapples are the more expensive mutation) or the cockatiel would be best purely because they are quieter than most of the other species you have mentioned and you will need that to avoid complaints. Out of the two I would go with the cockatiel because they are more independant and laid back but will still form a close and cuddly bond. I know you think they are boring but I can assure you they are not, although they are less active and acrobatic than other species. Cockatiels have alot going for them in that they are quiet for a parrot species, easily trained, rarely suffer pychological problems, aren't ''nippy'' unless trained into the behaviour, can be very cuddly but can be pretty independant at the same time. They can be quite nervous if not hand raised and also prone to night frights.
Green cheeks are cuddly to the point of being annoying although they can be taught to be a bit more independant (very important to teach them this) they are happiest when being cuddled. They can also be pretty sensitive birds if starved of the attention they crave which is why teaching independance is important. Most green cheeks will go through a nippy stage they need to be trained out of. If your working on assignments be warned they will pinch your pens, chew on the edge of your work or whatever else makes them the center of attention again. They are very smart and pick up tricks fast. They are fairly quiet unless taught to scream but they do have their moments of noise. They are too brave for their own good so need to be kept out of trouble.


Whatever you decide i hope things work out.

[Arshia]

Very good - thank you. I think it was the room mate counterargument that did it, but you actually got me reconsidering this decision.

[laducockatiel]

Move into college, get to know your roommate and then, if you think it is suitable to get a bird (if you know that your roommate will respect that you have a bird and obviously not do anything harmful to the bird) then get a bird, but make sure the current situation for you is suitable to get your bird.

[Grey_Moon]

The roommate issue would be my concern as well...wouldn't want some drunken or self-entitled jerk to feed the little guy chocolate, febreeze the room or burn a nonstick pan.

[snickers]

arisha, I know you dont want to hear this, but I agree with the others. I would not trust anyone around my bird that you really dont even know. And I would foster or adopt. Look in your area when the time is right. So many people think they want a parrot until they have it for 5 years and then their tired of the mess, and then they give it away. Wait till the time is right and I would suggest you go with a budgie or a cockatiel as your first time parrot.

[laducockatiel]

arisha, I know you dont want to hear this, but I agree with the others. I would not trust anyone around my bird that you really dont even know. And I would foster or adopt. Look in your area when the time is right. So many people think they want a parrot until they have it for 5 years and then their tired of the mess, and then they give it away. Wait till the time is right and I would suggest you go with a budgie or a cockatiel as your first time parrot.

I wouldn't recommend a cockatiel in your situation, cos they make a lot of noise and scream etc, so your roommate would probably get annoyed and may even take their anger out on the bird. I dunno bout a budgie though.

[liz]

My cockatiels chirp, tweeter and sing. They greet me every time I go near them and they sing to me every morning and night. They are a joy.

[naomi]

i wouldnt recommend cockatiel also,they are noisy and they scream several times per day.they are not really loud but to be honest sometimes its really annoy me when my tiels over scream.
i never been around one but i heard senegals are quite and they are really nice bird.