Diggly

Right heres the thing.

Me and my bf are going to buy a type of parrot but I keep reading conflicting accounts on different parrots. I have 6 budgies in an aviary outside which I have had for 2 years and before that they were inside with me so I am experienced with birds!

I was thinking of a sun or green cheeked conure, I have also read up on caiques and meyers.

I know there is no perfect bird but I need one that can entertain itself for 6 hours in the day while my bf is at work (he gets home at 3:30 an I get home at 5:30) The other "problem" (well its not really a problem) is I know some species put themselves to bed at certain times so I would love a bird that I can train in the evenings and all day sat and sun.

Thanks in advance .

bolivianbaby

I've had conures in the past and we currently have two budgies (parakeets). If you're looking at parrots, conures are great! However, the sun conure is very noisy, so if you're looking for a quiet bird, they don't qualify. I had a green cheeked conure and she was great. Quiet (for a conure), playful, a little dominant, but she was a rescue.

Hope this helps!

Diggly

I am not that worried about a quiet bird, I think if animals are quiet then something is wrong lol. I am angling more towards conures. Lets see photos of your parakeets

I even worry when my fish are sleepy .

bolivianbaby

My brother took some fabulous pics of our birds and my mother's birds playing together. I'm trying to find them now. When I do, I'll post them

lorabell

hey there...if I can help let me know.....I've been into birds for over 30 years...owned a bird store..for a number of years(we did hand raised babies)..and I am currently owned by 13 ......I currently have 3 conures ,amazons,cockatoos,macaws,hawk head, congo grey, quaker, and a yellow bellied caique......i think i got everybody....

Diggly

Wow I would really value your help.

personally what would you reccomend as a step up from a parakeet?

I am not scared of a challenge but I dont want to get a bird that may need an experienced bird owner and end up depressed. The most important thing is for it to keep itself amused while me and my partner are at work, though my partners parents are in all day so if need be they could drop in and play with it every now and then.

Second thing is a bird that wont just bond with 1 person, firstly as I want it to bond with me and my partner (I know eventually all birds bond with 1 person over others).

The bird will have free run of my room when I am home aswell as all my attention, but while I am at work will have to be in a cage to make sure it cant electrocute itself or injure itself. What cages would you reccomend? and what toys? again I know every bird is different.

I look forward to your reply!!

lorabell

ok...lots of stuff!!!...lol...and good your researching.....first....r u able to purchase hand raised birds...that helps tremendously..one of my most important rules with birds is to be very flexable,and when they r brand new,dont give them any more attention than they will be recieving 2 years from now...that is one of the largest mistakes that people make...because lets face it...We all do this...play with the baby like crazy ...then fall back into our routines and the poor little bird is "like what happened" where did they go....thats when problems start(i.e...plucking,screaming, ect)...try to do some reading also on negative attention...biggie for birds..U CAN NOT DISAPLINE a bird, ..in my years I have found that when one of my babies does something I dnt like ignoring goes way further that even a simple no(one of the best ways to train a bird..even for tricks is to make a big deal about it and even use a reward)...When I had my store I really tried to explain to people that a bird will FIT into Your lifestyle...dont change your ways....they will adjust,and if theyre not overly spoiled they will entertain themselves when your not there.(they love all kinds of toys)
As far as bonding both of u have to make a constant effort...we become their flock(family)..with most birds as long as u both continually hold the bird it should stay that way(of course there are exceptions)..they still may favor one
over the other but u should both be able to hold the bird ..THEY such intellignet animals and absolutely love being a part of the family!!!!dont get all stressed u will make a wonderful bird parent....one little thing ..I think the larger the bird the sweeter they are...lol...lol...the door ia really wide open as far as choice...do a little more research...maybe u want something with just a little more talking ability..not that that is important...I also have blue crown conure...its hes an awesome talker and just alittle larger that the suns,...please any way I can help u just let me know...I also am a firm believer of peole food for my birds...my 19 year old grey HAS NEVER eaten commercial bird food in his life!!! Im very proud of that...I have tons of birdy recipes also.....

Fishies-for-me

I have a budgie and a parrotlet... The parrotlet is a quiet ( volume wise) happy little fella. He is however more attached to me than anyone else. They are a fantastic bird for someone that has only a few hours a day to interact as they will keep themselves occupied while you are gone. As long as the cage is large enough and there are toys to play with and chew. I feed a mix of budgie seed and canary/finch pellets. ( the pellets are the same formula as budgie pellets only smaller...my birds prefer the smaller ones). I give them cooked beak appetit , rice, fresh and frozen( thawed) veggies, and sproutes seeds beans and grains every day. As far as a cage goes for any small to medium bird I recommend the HQ flight cage...it is 32W x 21D x 35H..plus it has a stand included. I have 2 of them..one for each bird. I paid $135 for them online and I love these cages...good luck finding the bird for you and your family.

Diggly

Yeah I have read that they take telling off as a positive (for the bird as they see it as getting attention) and it can excite them and to just ignore them for the best results lol.

I have been researching for about a year but havent managed to narrow the list down far enough lol. I spend about 90% of my time in my room with my partner as it is massive, we have a sofa, a huge bed, tv everything in there so the bird will always be around us .

There is a specialist bird shop nearby which does sell hand reared birds but I wil try and find a local breeder where I can get a feel for the environment they are brought up in too . I know these birds live upto 30 years and I am well prepared for the commitment!

Specialist bird recipe sounds good, I am a big believer that you get out of your pets what you put in, this goes for food and attention, my cat always got fresh fish and meat etc.

gremlin

I don't have personal experience with conures, although I would love to have a green cheeked one of these days. I have hand raised cockatiels and lovebirds. Of the two, cockatiels seem all around quieter and more cuddly while the lovebirds love to chatter and are more likely to play than to cuddle. Lovebirds will talk even in their sleep, I don't think they have an off button...although sometimes I was wishing for a mute button . Both will entertain themselves with toys and chewies. Cockatiels will often bond with one person, but can include multiple people in their flock. Both of the lovebirds I raised interact with everyone in their adopted family, although they tend to favor one person and will often go to that person if they can. A good way to teach them to go to both of you is to play a game...have some treats and let it walk between the two of you, each giving it a treat. You can actually teach it to come when you call it's name. My cockatiel was trained to fly to her cage from anywhere in the house.

TedsTank

lorabell...OMG where did you get a hawkshead?? Last chance I had to get one the guy was busted for illegal animals!!! We had a moluccan Cockatoo but I traded him out for a macaw, but unfortunatley we never collected.

Anyway.... back to the post...how about a cockateel?? they are really cool...and if ya wanted....easy to breed.

Diggly

I love cockatiels but I have owned them in the past and I really want something different. Though at this rate I already have MTS and an aviary (thinking of getting a second) so I will probably end up with some sort of animal sanctuary lol.

I just cant say no to animals.

bolivianbaby

The animal sanctuary is a great idea! A lot of people are getting rid of their animals right now, more than usual, because of the economy. You could save lives! That's always a good thing

Diggly

Well I did just finish my diploma in animal care.

I have managed to talk to bf into it so its just saving up for cages and things now .

I bought a bird from the local bird shop (lbs? ) which was clearly not being looked after and nursed her back to health. When I got her half of her beak had been pecked at by the other birds, she couldnt stand on a perch properly because her nails were so long and all she wanted to do was sleep! Now she is a totally different bird. Only problem is now when I go in they show me the ones who are in similar condition and I cant say no because I feel so sorry for them.

I would love an animal sanctuary lol Ill start the research now .

bolivianbaby

Congratulations on the rescue and rehabilitation! That was a WONDERFUL thing you did!

There are so many members here that have a lot of bird experience, so anything we can do to help, please let us know.

I saw your post on your new budgies! Congratulations! I'm going to have to take new pictures because I can't download the ones from my brother. His are set up on some photography link that I lost access to when I put them in "My Pictures" folder.

lorabell

..check out Kingscages.com..theyre here in the states..but I am positive they ship...they r one of the very best cages on the market..very very bird friendly and very very user friendly...Ive been using them for years,also check that u can also purchase cement perches...(for nails and beaks) Kings has everything...they even make an economy line of cages whch are awesome also...but u have to decide which bird first...lol...b4 u get the cage...then get the proper cage to fit the bird
lorabell...OMG where did you get a hawkshead?? Last chance I had to get one the guy was busted for illegal animals!!! We had a moluccan Cockatoo but I traded him out for a macaw, but unfortunatley we never collected.
lorabell...OMG where did you get a hawkshead?? Last chance I had to get one the guy was busted for illegal animals!!! We had a moluccan Cockatoo but I traded him out for a macaw, but unfortunatley we never collected.

lorabell...OMG where did you get a hawkshead?? Last chance I had to get one the guy was busted for illegal animals!!! We had a moluccan Cockatoo but I traded him out for a macaw, but unfortunatley we never collected

We had private breeders supplying our store...and...I still have very good contact with them...if u ever decide on one...!!!!!

Diggly

I will take pictures of my budgies if they sit still long enough!

I think we may be getting an african grey so I should probably start saving now lol, there was one in the bird shop today that we fell in love with.

I had a look at that site and I will see if they ship to the uk, if not I will try and find similar cages over here.

lorabell

Love greys...however and I dont want to sound hypacritical...I think theyre more than most a 1 person bird......but as I said b4.... THEYRE ARE ALWAYS EXCEPTIONS especially where birds are concerned...glad your moving up in size...how bout any amazons availablelike bluefront,yellownape,or double yellowhead? my oldest is a grey I love him death....but he is mine and thats it....lol...lol...another very awesome bird is a MALE ecletus....not really sure of your availability over there....I hope I didnt offend anything...just thinking long term and adulthood

Diggly

Of course you didnt offend . I know its a huge commitment and I would rather make a choice that is going to suit us and the bird! I am grateful for your input as I will probably be spending 90% of the time with the bird and my bf the other 10%. He loves animals but im the hands on trainer type person where he just watches lol (lazy man as usual )

I will take a look at the other birds you suggested and I really want to get my pure white budgie photo on here as she is too cute!

gremlin

When you are looking online at birds, you may want to check out Alex.

http://www.alexfoundation.org/alex_the_parrot.html

abc123d30

Birds are so cool. When I went to visit my dad in Seattle his business is right next to a bird store so I would sometimes go and check out the birds. They had some pretty facinating parrots, one of them sounded like an old lady laughing lol. It was pretty funny at first but got annoying after a while, so my advice: pick a bird that you won't get tired of listening to all the time.