Should I?

[Joseph]

Petting a bird anywhere apart from the head is intensely sexual for them. Birds who are friends will preen each other's heads. Birds who are mates will preen all over the body. Stroking under a bird's wings, their chest, and especially down their back or around the vent is basically the psittacine equivalent of making out or even having sex.

Having a bird who thinks you are its mate is unfair on your family. Your bird will see them as rivals for your affections, and will be more likely to be aggressive towards them in an attempt to drive them away. It is also incredibly unfair on the bird. Mated pairs are around each other 24/7. They preen each other, they forage together, they sleep next to each other, they fly almost touching wingtips. You simply cannot offer that level of companionship and understanding to a bird, because you are not a bird.

As such, you must limit yourself to headscratches only with a parrot. Even then, not all parrots enjoy being touched. There are a number on AA who have lived with their human flock for years without wanting to be pet. If you want a pet who you can reliably stroke, give headscratches to or cuddle, don't get a parrot.

I just don’t want my bird to be like a finch! Ok? I know not to touch the bird anywhere else! I asked a question and nobody answers. Just criticism! Good bye!

 

[sunnysmom]

I love tiels! Don’t get me wrong. It’s just there powder would not be good for me as I have asthma. If anybody wants to help me out on this it would be amazing.
I want a cuddly bird
I want my bird to be affectionate to everyone in the family (mostly me though
I don’t want a bird that gets sick all the time (although I’m fine with vet visits)
I want a bird that’s relatively fine with dogs

You're right. If you have asthma, it's best not to get a tiel- or a 'too or a grey. As for sickness- any bird can get sick- it's not species specific but it's best to avoid birds bred from "bird mills". And no bird should really be around any dog - out of it's cage. Maybe look into conures or one of the pis?

 

[Mizzely]

I just don’t want my bird to be like a finch! Ok? I know not to touch the bird anywhere else! I asked a question and nobody answers. Just criticism! Good bye!

No one has criticized you. We've all given you advice that often has been hard learned or is based on science. You expressed that you want a family pet and we are letting you know the best way to help ensure that happens. Birds sadly are not like cats and dogs, which is both amazing and infuriating depending on the situation

 

[Joseph]

No one has criticized you. We've all given you advice that often has been hard learned or is based on science. You expressed that you want a family pet and we are letting you know the best way to help ensure that happens. Birds sadly are not like cats and dogs, which is both amazing and infuriating depending on the situation

I’m sorry! It’s just by cuddle I want my bird to be able to be tamed come on my shoulder, step up, be pet on the head. Just little stuff like that.

 

[Joseph]

You're right. If you have asthma, it's best not to get a tiel- or a 'too or a grey. As for sickness- any bird can get sick- it's not species specific but it's best to avoid birds bred from "bird mills". And no bird should really be around any dog - out of it's cage. Maybe look into conures or one of the pis?

What I meant by sickness was that I heard tiels get sick more often than other birds. Didn’t ever fact check it I just heard it from one source.

 

[Ali]

I’m sorry! It’s just by cuddle I want my bird to be able to be tamed come on my shoulder, step up, be pet on the head. Just little stuff like that.

A linnie. Can't reccommend them more!

 

[tka]

I’m sorry! It’s just by cuddle I want my bird to be able to be tamed come on my shoulder, step up, be pet on the head. Just little stuff like that.

You'd be surprised how many people want a bird to sit on their lap and be snuggled like a puppy. It wasn't clear whether or not you knew that already.

Sitting on your shoulder and getting headscratches is much more realistic it very much depends on the individual bird, but you have a much better chance of having that kind of healthy interaction. It's a shame you can't have tiels because they often do enjoy hanging out with their humans like that.

 

[Joseph]

A linnie. Can't reccommend them more!

I’ve heard of them but never looked into them. Thanks for the suggestion