What bird is right for me?

Question

Yeah I have a pretty active household! I have a 2 year old daughter and 2 small dogs under 15 lbs! But I work from home and have a lot of time to devote to my animals as well as daughter! Also I would like (but not required) a bird that "talks" but not screamers! I would love to have a bird! And i think the african grey is georgeous! And according to what i read about them it would be perfect! Also where could i get a good quality bird other than the local pet store?

Answer 1

For a first bird, I would reccomend getting a cockatiel or a budgie (parakeet). They both can talk, but also can scream if they decide that they want attention. They are not nearly as loud as a grey. I have three cockatiels, one talks and one talks every once in a while. They can whistle and sing wonderfully if you get a male. The females are very quiet normally.

Greys can be self destructive if they don't get enough attention. If you really want one of them, go find a breeder and learn to handle them and get used to them before you get one.

Answer 2

For your first bird I would start with something small. Getting into larger birds first isn't the answer. In order to properly care for the bird you really have to do a lot of research. There is so many larger birds that need to be re-homed due to the fast people get them and realize they can take care of them.

I haven't had any experience with an African Grey yet. From what I hear they are not that good with children.

I have 60 something birds from P-Lets to Cockatoos.

I would recommend a Green Cheek Conure. They are a little smaller than a Cockatiel, friendly, out going and fairly easy to keep. In our household we call them our little Velcro birds. My 4 and 5 year old boys each have one.

Cockatiels are also a good starter bird along with Budgies.

Whatever specie you decide on, do some research, talk to breeders and get one that was hand fed. Try and purchase the bird when it is young.

Getting a bird that needs to be re homed is good but the birds usually have issues. In my experience you really have to have some experience with birds.

Whatever bird you decide on getting don't leave the bird and your Daughter unattended.

Good luck.

Answer 3

If you truly want a talking bird--i would go with an Eclectus. They are very personable and sweet--as long as you handle them often. This is truly a companion bird! The males are a vibrant green and females are a rich red. The males have an easier tempermant. This bird requires a lot of room, a lot of time and fresh food daily as well as seeds. This parrot can live up to 50+ years so it is definitely a bird that needs to be socialized with the whole family. If you are not ready for a long time commitment--then perhaps you don't need a parrot. African Greys are great birds! I have one myself--however they are very emotional--sometimes --one person birds. And they need a great deal of stimulation to be challenged. They are also quite jumpy and don't like loud stressful enviroments. Rather than just looking at petstores..check out local breeders online or at birdshows in your area--i know the "morningstar exhibit" travels throughout TX all the time. Your best bet is finding a reputable breeder to get you a young parrot--6months or older to begin your journey. Whatever you choose--only time, love and patience will make it successfull. Birds --especially parrots are wonderful additions to any family! Good luck!

Answer 4

I know this is a bit long, but bear with me...
It's hard to find a parrot that's not a screamer. Even hand raised parrots and macaws will go through a period called 'sundowning' where they become very vocal in the evenings. If they do not get enough attention, they will start calling more often. Their calls can be heard for a mile, so imagine that inside your home.
That being said, I am the proud mommy to two macaws - a 30 year old Blue and Gold that I've had for 25 years (I got him from a friend that married a woman who was terrified of him) and a 5 year old Scarlet that I hand raised - and love them dearly. They have a large cage that the door is only closed on at night. They are otherwise loose all the time and even go outdoors with me - and I don't have poop all over my house. They also get along well with my 3 dogs and 4 cats.
Africans are probably the best talkers of the parrot world, but along with that intelligence comes a heap of needs. They need constant stimulation or they will start finding things to amuse themselves - usually destructive things.
If this is your first bird, you should consider starting with a smaller bird. Male cockatiels can become excellent talkers if given a lot of attention. These birds are also easier to find hand raised. They are easy to breed and can often be found at pet stores. Find a young one that was hand raised by a woman and he will be more likely to bond to you. A full set up (cost of bird and supplies) for them will usually be $150 - $200. They can live for 10-15 years.
The larger parrots are not so easy to find hand raised. If you are lucky enough to find a breeder in your area, consider stopping by and getting to know the birds before making any firm decision. Many pet stores will tell you their birds are hand raised, but I have found that - in most cases - they are all mysteriously 6 months old - and remain so for the months (or year +) that they stay on display in the store waiting to be sold. These birds that are tamed rather than hand reared can be unreliable and turn nasty at the drop of a hat. This can be very dangerous with small children around, as they are quite capable of biting hard enough to remove fingers. They are also very expensive with their full set-up ranging from around $1500 to $5000 (or even more for the more exotic macaws or cockatoos). They can live for 60-100 years, depending on the type, so are a lifelong commitment not only for you, but for your daughter as well.
Whatever you decide, I wish you well. Birds are wonderful companions.

Answer 5

I would also recommend a cockatiel, easy to raise and sweet and lovable and cheap Greys are a handful, do your research before purchasing. They are also expensive. I have had 2 pionus and I highly recommend them if you don't want a large screaming parrot. They are beautiful, sweet, good birds to be alone for reasonable stretches of time (Greys and other large parrots are almost like another child, they NEED to be out often), and they are not typically very loud. They are quieter birds and though they like to be scratched they are not cuddle bugs. They are also priced in the middle, anywhere to $500-$1000, where larger are usually $1000 and up. Pionus are called the "poor man's parrot". So it just depends on what kind of bird you want. But seriously research it before you adopt one because a bird is a pet that needs quite a bit of attention and you need to decide if you have the time to give the bird a good life and spend time with him/her. Good luck!

Answer 6

Well you want a bird who talks. You say you want a African Grey . A african grey is a great bird it can talk, and your daughter would love it. I think you should go to Ebay and type in African Grey. That way it is not in a local pet store.

Answer 7

i have a 9 year old african grey that i adopted when he was 7 weeks old, and he is a great pet, i wouldn't take a million dollars for him. (and i mean that literally) but at the same time, you need to know what a handful greys are. they are VERY destructive. i call my grey, woody, the flying chainsaw. he has cost me thousands in damages over the last 9 years. greys love to chew, and they especially love to chew what they're not supposed to. carpet, cell phones, computer wires, you get the idea. they are great talkers IF they are happy and healthy. woody knows well over 500 words, and speaks in complete sentences. he thrives because he gets plenty of love and attention. if you buy a grey, leave him in his cage 24/7 and just expect him to entertain you, you'll have an unhappy bird who doesn't talk and who will probably pluck his feathers out. so the question is, how much of a commitment are you willing to make for a new family member? if you have plenty of love, patience, and respect to give to this intelligent, complex creature, then an african grey will bring so much joy and laughter into your house you can't imagine. but if you just want a low maintenance talking bird to just look pretty and entertain your family, do yourself and the bird a favor, and pass.

Answer 8

african greys are wonderful birds, however it is quite possible that they can live longer than you. make sure you know you want to make a commitment for that long!! however, for a first timer, i recommend starting out with a smaller bird, such as a parakeet (aka budgie). they talk really well when you talk with them a lot and train them. also, make sure that you dogs are well trained... even small ones have the ability to try and attack other living things in their territory. also, one last point: you are right that you shouldn't get a bird from the pet store, since they are sometimes sick, stressed, etc. i believe you should get a bird from a breeder, such as me!, or from a pet store that only sells birds.

Answer 9

Sorry, but I don't think that with such a busy household you should get any other animals. It is cruel to keep a bird in a cage. Given the choice, would it rather be in a cage or flying around in the wild? Given the choice, would you rather be allowed to roam wherever you want or shut in a room all your life?

Even if you let it out, it would not be hygienic to let it fly around the house pooing everywhere, especially if you have a 2 year old daughter. In fact, bird poo can be very dangerous to a young child.

Please reconsider your options.

Answer 10

If you don't want a "screamer" then I recommend you avoid all types of Conures. Although they can be affectionate (Mine lays on his back on my wife's chest) he screams. Normally when he thinks he needs new food, but they are known to be a bit louder than other birds. Oh, bear in mind that if well cared for a bird may live for decades. Our Conure, Fred, is 15 and will probably live about 50 more years.