Cuddly/Clingy? Or Independent? What's the Best Bird Personality for You?

[PlaxMacaws]

If you could have only one companion parrot, would you prefer a cuddly/clingy one who adores as much close contact from you as he/she can possibly obtain? Or would you choose an independent bird who more often than not prefers to occupy him/herself irrespective of your near presence?

[Dragonlady2]

Interesting question. I have both. The independent ones can be left alone/not paid attention to for a while and they manage and don't get into a snit. I can get other things done with them.
The clingy ones require individual attention and can induce a fair amount of guilt in me if I don't give them enough time. However, I have a different, closer, more satisfying relationship with them. Although I can't "handle" Joey, he loves sitting on my shoulder with his beak against my cheek. I make it a point to sit and play games on my iPad for at least 30 minutes to an hour with him on my shoulder watching. It is the only time he is totally quiet. He accepts kisses on his beak but is flighty if my hands come near. If he doesn't get his daily dose of shoulder time, he is downright miserable.

What are you birds like Tony? I heard macs are considered mushmacs?

[PlaxMacaws]

Interesting question. I have both. The independent ones can be left alone/not paid attention to for a while and they manage and don't get into a snit. I can get other things done with them.
The clingy ones require individual attention and can induce a fair amount of guilt in me if I don't give them enough time. However, I have a different, closer, more satisfying relationship with them. Although I can't "handle" Joey, he loves sitting on my shoulder with his beak against my cheek. I make it a point to sit and play games on my iPad for at least 30 minutes to an hour with him on my shoulder watching. It is the only time he is totally quiet. He accepts kisses on his beak but is flighty if my hands come near. If he doesn't get his daily dose of shoulder time, he is downright miserable.Hmm, I wonder why Joey has an issue with hands to such a degree? Do you know what his past was like?


What are you birds like Tony? I heard macs are considered mushmacs?Well, Zaf is a total cuddle buddy. He's incredibly clingy and he practically lives on my shoulder. Jack is a wonderful shoulder bird as well. When he has his way he'll just sit up there forever. He's not so cuddly, but he's still very touchable. Maynard and Salsa both like shoulder time as well. But if I want to keep my ears and other upper features intact I need to be alert when either of them have access to my head ;)

[Quakerella]

All my birds are completely different as well.

Opal, my blue quaker, loves to be handled and is so very cuddly.

Ramsay, my IRN is just plain clingy, physically. He is not much for being petted, but he will cling to your back, your leg, your arm. Anywhere he can hold on to while you are walking by him. It is hilarious walking around the house with a green IRN attached to your behind. I have to always be aware when he is out because he doesn't move and you can forget he is on you.

Yoshi, my green quaker is cuddly with my husband, but with me he just likes to make a nest out of my hair.

My cockatiels are very cuddly, and will sit with me for hours, but Jazzy is the cuddliest. She just nestles in my neck and will fall asleep.

[Dragonlady2]

I think that that Joey's issue with hands is more species specific. Barrabands are usually aviary birds. As well, he almost died due to bad handfeeding formula and I think it has left him with some neurological issues. Most of the time he is what I would call wild-eyed. He acts very hyperactive, always moving, always making noise. The handfeeder was having issues with a number of birds dying from the handfeeding formula during that time, so I doubt there was much time for socializing. She gave him to me for nothing and only charged $175 for his brother. I took them both because I love Barrabands.

I can't imagine the weight of carrying around a bird as big as Zaf. Will he fly to you or do you have to pick him up to get him on your shoulder? Joey is so light and agile he flies off and on whenever he wants.

[Dragonlady2]

Rosalyn, you are lucky your husband has the birds sit with him. Unfortunately, mine has gotten bitten a couple of times and is basically scared of them. Pepper, my CBC, will line up over my husband on whatever he can find and poop on him. We had a fosterson that liked the birds and consequently they like being with him.
Sometimes the status of cuddliest has to do with the reaction of the person interacting with the bird.jmo

[PlaxMacaws]

I think that that Joey's issue with hands is more species specific. Barrabands are usually aviary birds. As well, he almost died due to bad handfeeding formula and I think it has left him with some neurological issues. Most of the time he is what I would call wild-eyed. He acts very hyperactive, always moving, always making noise. The handfeeder was having issues with a number of birds dying from the handfeeding formula during that time, so I doubt there was much time for socializing. She gave him to me for nothing and only charged $175 for his brother. I took them both because I love Barrabands.Intersting theory that it may be more species-specific than anything else. Sorry to hear about the bad formula issue :(


I can't imagine the weight of carrying around a bird as big as Zaf. Will he fly to you or do you have to pick him up to get him on your shoulder? Joey is so light and agile he flies off and on whenever he wants.Much of the time I actually forget Zaf is on my shoulder... that's how relaxed and contented he is there. He can fly and he will fly to me on occasion. But he typically prefers walking or climbing over to me.

[PlaxMacaws]

Pepper, my CBC, will line up over my husband on whatever he can find and poop on him.:th_loltears:

Likely not too funny for him, though.

[Quakerella]

Rosalyn, you are lucky your husband has the birds sit with him.
I am, my husband loves the birds and helps me socialize all the babies. He is wonderful with them.


The handfeeder was having issues with a number of birds dying from the handfeeding formula during that time, so I doubt there was much time for socializing.
I remember that Helena, baby birds were dying at an unbelievable rate. I believe it had something to do with too much vitamin D in the formula. I was lucky as it was not from the same manufacturer as the formula I use.


Much of the time I actually forget Zaf is on my shoulder... that's how relaxed and contented he is there. He can fly and he will fly to me on occasion. But he typically prefers walking or climbing over to me.
I think I would have an issue with Zaf on my shoulder. I am not very tall and would probably trip over his tail feathers.:pinkgrin:

[kendrafitz]

I would prefer something in between.

Rosie is extremely cuddly/clingy. While I enjoy the one on one interaction with her, she wants me all to herself all the time. Which can be problematic with a husband, 2 kids and 2 dogs.

That being said I don't think I would like a completely independent parrot. I would miss the sweetness of the cuddles and close relationship.

Which brings me to somewhere in between. :)


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[Quakerella]

I guess I never really did answer your question.

I agree with Kendra. I love having a cuddly companion who wants to spend time with me, but I also need time to do things that have to get done, without interruption.

[Lady]

I think I also want a good mix of both cuddly and independent. Lady is more independent and not cuddly but she sure has her way of telling me when she wants attention and head scratches :).

[Mare]

I prefer the cuddle buddy bird. Maybe this is why I stick with the cockatoo. It sounds like they aren't the only cuddlers out there, though!

[lolsavannahh]

That is one of the hardest questions to answer!

Having a Lovebird... and having had him since he was weaned this is just a tricky question! When I first got him he was not flighted and a baby so he was very clingy and I really loved it, but now that he is mature and flighted ( and very independant most days ) I think it may be better off that he is the way he is.. I like that he can choose to do what he wants to do and yeah I guess he could choose to cling to me all day but with him being a typical lovebird he doesn't, and he does his own thing on the other side of the room. Some days I really just want to pet and snuggle him and he doesn't want any of it which kinda makes me sad, but I think it's better than watching TV and having a bird biting your face off because you're not paying enough attention to it! LOL

[Macaw Lover]

Jody is more independent and not needing the hands on that much

Kalea, she is my cuddle bug. I don't like the word clingy but then thinking about it, seeing that she has started flying onto me, I am not too thrilled when she does that. I know she has good intentions, her just wanting to be with me, but after yesterday's incident, I was not happy with her. We were in the kitchen, her on her stand while I was making breakfast. Would have not been so bad but she decided to take off, the she turned right into my front, don't know if she hit with her foot into my face or was it just the wing, it hurt and made a mess while I was getting the Cream of Wheat into the bowl. A mess. If she had only waited another 60 seconds she could have been on me while I ate but instead she got put back into her condo.

Donovan can be a big cuddle but there are times that he does not want to come out of his condo and I don't push that matter much as I respect his beak toooo much.

[bill-e]

Nike has a good mix of clingy and independent. She's not all that cuddly but she has times where she enjoys being on or near me. As long as she cant hear us she is also fine with being alone in her cage all day and never seems to hold that against us. I'd say she's about 60/40 clingy/independent.

[Stephen12]

I have a canary. He is independent but I wish he was more clingy or cuddly.

[Lady]

Hey Stephen,

It sure would be nice to see a pic of your Canary..... What's h/her name?

[luckyandjenn]

Ha ha i think lucky is mostly cuddly and clingy some days it seems i cant get anythig done little 5 foot four me with my big ol mac trying to get house chores done must be funny to see lol thoe he has his days when he want to be left alone lol

[Casper's 2nd best friend]

I guess I never really did answer your question.

I agree with Kendra. I love having a cuddly companion who wants to spend time with me, but I also need time to do things that have to get done, without interruption.

Oh how true. Casper and I have an unwritten agreement that when he is on my shoulder we will not wake the other when they are asleep unless its really really important.

[Stephen12]

His name is Pat. I will definitely share a pic or two within a few days.