Help us choose

[kidsbird475]

My daughters (16 and 18) want a bird. We kind of have it narrowed down to cockatiels and conures. The kids want a warm and friendly bird. It doesn't have to talk but would be nice. I don't want a bird that will chew up everything in the house or that constantly makes noise. We've never had a bird before so this will all be new to us.

My youngest is somehow hung up on getting a green cheek conure or similar. I've heard conures make a lot of noise and chew everything. I've also heard female cockatiels are more cuddly than males but the males talk more.

I don't plan on spending more than $300 or so.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[spiritbird]

Hello and welcome to our forum. Do you think your daughters will take on the huge commitment of a pet bird? At this age things can change in their lives like college and boy friends. I used to have a GCC Conure for a while along with an African Grey. GCC think they are the boss bird and I found this out the hard way. The GCC harassed the Grey so much the grey bit the conure and managed to put a hole in the skull. After that incident I re homed the Conure. If a Conure is the only bird it may be different. Conures are usually more than $300 where I live but not by much.

I love Cockatiels. They are the sweetest birds and easily tamed. Not a good bird to have in a home with people that have allergies to dust.
May I suggest a male Cockatiel because females can and do get into excessive egg laying. Besides the males love to whistle and sing to you.

Best if you can find a breeder because they will be there for you after you bring the bird home for any questions or concerns. Good luck!

[The Pinkertons]

Welcome to PP! Conures can be noisy and nippy and all parrots have the potential to bite and tear up things if left unsupervised, with that being said, you have to consider the amount of time you are willing to commit to the bird. You have taken the first step in responsible companion bird ownership by joining this Forum. I encourage you before moving forward , to read through the many informative topics you will find here on Precisely Parrots to familiarize yourself with the care, diet, housing, on the different species you have in mind. Ask away if you have any questions, we're all here to help anyway we can.:grouphug:

[Penny]

If you are getting a bird for a 16 and 18-year-old you are likely getting a bird for you as well, but a bird is happiest with a flock anyways. Have the girls had much one on one experience with the birds? Have you had one on one experience with parrots? Maybe have them volunteer at a bird rescue and see how they handle the different personalities; you might even find the perfect companion there. If you do get them a bird, make sure it's one you love too. Both conures and cockatiels can be great pets, and which is better for you depends on if you like your birds a little sweeter (cockatiel) or a little sassier (conure). If you aren't personally excited about the idea of having a parrot pal~ I've always been a proponent of rats as pets for "transitional" teens if the parents aren't as into having pets themselves. They are affectionate, smart, social, super easy to train and independent in pairs and trios (same sex unless you want a BUNCH of rats) if the teen gets busy with life, and the lifespan is only a few years so you don't have to worry about arrangements at a dorm or whatnot.

[Casper's 2nd best friend]

Welcome to PP
I am not trying to put you off, just to make you aware of what you are getting into. Taking a bird into your home is a life changing experience. It is totally unfair to leave a bird in a cage 24 hours a day. They are born to fly and will be a lot happier if you give them that freedom for at least an hour a day. They need your company, they need to be kept clean and fed the correct diet for whatever type you get. They are social creatures and flock feeders so if at all possible they need to be in the same room as you when you eat so they can eat at the same time. The cage needs to be in a place where you spend most of your time but you need to cover it up so they can sleep whilst you are still around in the evening.
Its quite a learning curve but a very worthwhile experience. What your daughters learn about controlling a pet will stand them in good stead when they get a husband. :th_wink:
Keep in touch and we will give you all the help we can as you go on.

[kendrafitz]

Hi and welcome! I don't know much about the little guys. I have read that conures believe they are macaws. So I took that to mean a BIG personality - as Penny said, sassy. I have read cockatiels are sweet and easier going. Good luck in your adventures!

[mdg1109]

I am extremely new to birds so I cannot offer you advice on what to get. What I can suggest (besides joining this forum) because it has been extremely helpful is getting a book called Birds For Dummies. I know that whole series can be a bit annoying but this is the one book that I would recommend. It breaks the book down into how to start looking for the correct bird for you, the requirements of having a bird companion and the different species of birds.

Good luck!

[lolsavannahh]

Welcome to the forum! Like they said above I recommend doing extensive research on this, because it's not anything like a hamster! These are very intelligent animals that will live to be 20+ years old! For a first time bird owner I would suggest a cockatiel because they are a lot sweeter ( USUALLY ), and conures make not so pretty noises.. If noise is a huge issue though, then I would not get a parrot.. I have had ear shattering noises from even a budgie, so you need to expect that and prepare accordingly. They will be loud at inconvenient times, but if you think you are ready to handle that, here are a few tips on being a bird slave!:

( Disclaimer, if any of you on here find these websites I am pulling information from to be biased or untrue please tell me, I am just looking these up so it is easier for her to find these links and be more equipt! )

How big should the cage be?:
Bird cage size for a cockatiel ([Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks])

How much time should my bird be out of his/her cage?:
At least 3 hours a day is ideal ([Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks])

What kind of food should they eat?:
Pellets and fresh veggies is a must! ([Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks])

What are some basic things I should know?:
10 things you should know before getting a bird ([Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks])

Now, like they said up above it is a huge commitment, but it seems you guys are already on the right track! Joining this forum is a great step toward amazing parrot slavemenship, and will pay off! We don't mean to scare you away, but owning a bird can be tough and it has its ups and downs! Do your research and have fun!

[Mare]

Hi and Welcome, kidsbird! I've no experience with conures but know folks that have them and they can be very cuddley from what I hear. I have two cockatiels, a male and a female. Mine aren't hands on birds but I sure do enjoy them, sweet little personalities and the male is the singer. I would recommend a cockatiel that was hand raised if you want a bird that likes to hang out on you :)

[Sucre]

I've had cockatiels in the past, and currently have 3 conures.

Out of my 4 cockatiels, one was cuddly and friendly, talked non stop. He was very personable, loved to be wherever the action was. The other 3 were tame, but not overly excited about interacting with their humans. They can make a lot of noise, all parrots can and do.

We have 3 conures - a Sun, a black capped, and a yellow sided, ranging in age from 1 year to 3 months. They do make noise, but no more than my cockatiels did, and tone wise, less like nails on a chalkboard! My Sun conure is my oldest at 1 year, and she is a sweetheart. She loves to snuggle, and usually takes her snacks and goes straight down my shirt to eat them. The black capped is the most laid back of the bunch - he is content to perch on my husband's shoulder for hours. Believe it or not, my little hand raised 3 month old is my problem child. She starts fights with the older ones and can be pretty nippy at times, but she's still figuring things out. My Sun doesn't nip at all.

We also have lovebirds (definitely something to consider, although the females can be brats) and a parrotlet.

I think you're on the right track, going small. But be prepared - this may wind up being your bird, that's how I wound up with the cockatiels!

[kidsbird475]

Thanks for all the tips. We are still researching and now have even more to read before we jump in!!!

[The Pinkertons]

What's that saying...Knowledge is power, Congratulations to you for taking a responsible approach to companion avian ownership. :highfive:

[Casper's 2nd best friend]

We didn't want a parrot, we never even thought of getting a parrot... but, since he moved in with us life has been great fun. :)
This is very much contrary to my belief that we shouldn't keep birds in cages. So his cage is normally only shut at night, oh, and at meal times as there is nothing worse than a parrot landing beak first in the middle of your dinner.:pinkgrin: