• Welcome to Avian Avenue! To view our forum with less advertisments please register with us.
    Memberships are free and it will just take a moment. Click here

What species should I get?

Cucumber

Checking out the neighborhood
Joined
6/13/21
Messages
2
Hi! I'm new, so if this isn't in the right place, feel free to delete it or something.. I just wasn't sure which category this even belonged in, so I tried to play it safe by putting it in this more general area.

Anyway, now to get into the nitty gritty of things: I want to get some sort of parrot, but I don't know which species I want, or where I should be looking for information about said species. I'm not new to birds (or animals in general) and I understand the kind of commitment that parrots require - in fact, that's actually a big part of why I'm interested in getting one.

See, without getting too personal here, I am a hermit in the truest sense of the word. I don't have family, I don't have many friends, and I have no interest in pursuing romance and I don't plan on ever having any children. I like to be alone, but not completely isolated and I prefer the company of animals to people. In a few years, I'll be living (more or less) in the middle of nowhere and I've always been fascinated by parrots (especially african greys and amazons), so I figure... why not?

I won't have any neighbors around to take issue with the noise and even if I don't stay in such a rural area for my entire life, I don't see things ever changing much. I'm in a good financial situation and I've always been happily "antisocial", so the prospect of sharing my home with a very long lived companion appeals to me quite a lot and I'm not at all worried about having to potentially rehome due to changing circumstances.

But even though I'm pretty well off, I'm not experienced with larger birds and I don't know if //any// of them are a good choice - budgies, lovebirds, cockatiels and poultry are obviously not on the same level as an african grey or something, lol. I don't like the idea of "starter birds", though, so I don't want to be getting something I have absolutely no interest in with the hope of eventually getting something else entirely because 1) that's disrespectful to the "starter bird", they still need a lot of attention and upkeep and they deserve to be owned by someone that actually wants them, and 2) I don't think that's how that even works.

So I've compiled a list of sorts, of what I think I want in a bird and what I'm ok with. I'm obviously going to do a lot more research before I even think of buying/adopting any bird, but I'm going to use the answers I get here as a starting point.

- Long lived. 20-30 years minimum.

- Sociable (toward me, they don't need to like randos), outgoing, intelligent. I'd like a bird that's clever enough to easily grasp clicker training, and not so skittish/flock oriented as to be easily distracted the way budgies .etc. usually are. You know how with some of the smaller parrots they always seem to have this sense of "I am a lovebird" (or whatever) regardless of whether or not they have other birds to be with and no matter how much time one spends with them? That's what I mean by flock oriented. I've taught tricks to several of my little birds in the past and they do well, but they all found other birds (even random ones outside, lol!) more interesting than they found me.

- I don't care about talking ability or lack thereof.

- I like bigger, flashier birds, but I don't actually care about the size of the bird so long as they live for a decently long time and they usually like people (aka me, i am the people).

- I am fine with copious amounts of noise. They can scream all they like.

- I am mostly ok with, and actually kind of like the idea of, a bird that's moody/unpredictable. Now what I mean by this is that even though I've said I want the bird to be "sociable" and to "like people", among other things, that doesn't mean they have to be a sweet cuddly lovebug 24/7. Obviously I don't want a bird that's determined to maul me or something terrible like that, but mischievousness is fine and I'd actually prefer it if they had a mind of their own, even if that means my lovely pet might end up shrieking when I leave the room or nipping me because I didn't let them do something. So basically: outgoing, loud, feathered toddlers are great! But maybe they should be less intense of a feathered toddler than the sort of birds I'm interested in?

- Destructiveness is fine, but I'd like to build whichever bird I ultimately get an outdoor aviary to fly in when the weather is nice/warm, and it would be great if I didn't have to spend a fortune on the most durable materials known to man, lol. Not a deal breaker at all if I do have to, though. :p

- I work from home and have no social life, so I can spend the whole day with the bird. So they can be very needy.

Help me, people. :(
 

Zara

♥❀Livin´ in Lovebird Land❀☼
Super Moderator
Avenue Veteran
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Avenue Concierge
Joined
1/8/18
Messages
31,364
Location
Reino de España
Welcome to the Avenue ! 1.welcome signs.gif

A very big decision :) Are there any shelters near you to visit? To meet some birds, listen to their noises, etc.

I will say, you are right about ¨starter birds¨, they don´t exist. The bird you get should be the bird you have researched about and decided on, no matter what the species.
Another thing to consider is if there will be a vet available to you in the rural area.

Have a look at this link; Avian Avenue Parrot Forum
There a ¨Good bad and ugly¨ for most species in their respective forums. Maybe that will help you find a starting point.
 

Lady Jane

Ripping up the road
Avenue Veteran
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
8/25/12
Messages
26,569
Location
Maryland
Real Name
Dianne
If you are in the middle of nowhere that is not good for a bird unless there is a vet that is willing to treat birds. Avian certified vets are spread thin in the US. After reading your post i think i know the perfect species for you. African greys prefer one owner, dont necessarily need a flock. There is so much you can do together as the species needs to have their super intellect stimulated. They are long lived and truly a fun bird. They need extra calcium and do well on Harrisons pellets high potency. Will you be growing your own veggies? I am glad you joined us.
 

Hankmacaw

Ripping up the road
Avenue Veteran
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Avian Angel
Avenue Concierge
Joined
10/18/09
Messages
1,000,001
Location
Arizona
Real Name
Mary Lynn Skinner
I recommend any of the following; Amazon, African Grey or any of the macaws (large or small). I am very partial to the Greenwing macaws and have had three in the last 24 years.
 

AussieBird

Rollerblading along the road
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
7/23/20
Messages
4,650
Real Name
Call me AB
If you don’t mind a no-pet parrot, an Alexandrine?
 

The_Mayor

Sprinting down the street
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
9/3/20
Messages
518
Location
Washington, DC
Real Name
Martha
I didn't see that you mentioned if you're prone to allergies or have breathing troubles. If so, that might be something to factor in.
 

Destiny

Rollerblading along the road
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
6/6/20
Messages
2,088
Real Name
Destiny
I think you are an excellent candidate for adoption, so rather than suggestng a specific species, I would recommend checking out what parrots arw available in your local rescues. Adopting an adult parrot has many advantages. You will get to meet the bird and interact before you "buy". It also tends to be easier to form a stable lifelong bond with an adult. Babies are often cuddly and love their "parent" but when they hit sexual maturity, that relationship can change dramatically. With older parrots, you will know pretty much what to expect going in and only need to work with the seasonal hormone changes. And because many large parrot species live so long, there are many great adult parrots in need of loving homes.

I'd also mention that even if you do not adopt from a rescue, it might be a good idea to check out the rescues near you, so you can see if they are doing a good job. Since you live alone and don't have much family/friends, you will want a plan for where your parrot will go, in case something should happen to you, like a serious illness or accident ... or in case your parrot out lives you.

As Lady Jane mentioned, you will also want to shop around for a decent avian vet. If you are in a rural area, reaching one might require significant travel. Still, a good vet is priceless and worth the extra time. You might need two vets - one that can be reached quickly or after hours, during an emergency and an avian specialist who can be consulted for routine checkups and chronic conditions.
 

Shezbug

ASK ME FOR PICTURES OF MY MACAW!
Super Moderator
Avenue Veteran
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
4/28/18
Messages
25,822
Location
Vic, Australia
Real Name
Shez
Welcome to the Avenue :hiya:

Some great suggestions have been made already. My favourite birds are the B&G’s followed closely by the rest of the macaws so my obvious choice of suggestion for you would be a macaw lol.
 

Cucumber

Checking out the neighborhood
Joined
6/13/21
Messages
2
I wasn't expecting so many quick responses! Wow! You sure are a welcoming bunch, lol!

I don't know how to respond to people individually, but:

I did not consider the issue of finding an avian vet nearby, especially so far away from civilization so to speak, so I will definitely be looking into that before I move! In the event that there isn't one, is there anything I could do to keep the bird reasonably well looked after? By that I mean things like weighing them daily, learning how to do a very basic examination at home .etc. to hopefully catch illness early enough that life-or-death, needs-a-vet-IMMEDIATELY situations are less likely to happen.

Worse comes to worse, I'll move somewhere less remote or just not get a bird. It's gonna be a few years, so I've got time to figure this stuff out.

Yes, I'll be growing my own veggies! I have a garden where I currently live, too. Can greys have nettle leaves? They're very calcium rich. Kind of ouch-y, too, but that's nothing a little steaming can't fix if they aren't toxic. I grow a lot of obscure things like that for ME as it is, heh.

Are jerusalem artichokes/sunchokes safe for parrots? Not directing this one at anyone in particular. I actually looked this up awhile ago, but Dr Google couldn't tell me and I wasn't on any forums or anything at the time. They're a root vegetable, distantly related to sunflowers, and you can cook them kind of like potatoes but they're very fiber rich and good for diabetics. I grow a lot of them wherever I go, they kind of take over like weeds.

I do not have any allergies.

There are no rescues here that I know of, but there is a small pet store that I frequent for fish supplies and they actually have a resident cockatoo (not for sale, belongs to owner of store, they only sell fish and pet supplies) that likes to get VERY loud, so I have a good idea of what to expect in the noise department at least. I've interacted with him too, but I'm not his dad and he doesn't like me LOL, so admittedly it wasn't much.

I could certainly travel to a rescue if adopting from one, though. Also, are birds being rehomed on classifieds (craigslist or similar) an option, or is that too much of a gamble? Thoughts?

Also, thank you all for responding! I will look into all of your suggestions and resources.


 

Shezbug

ASK ME FOR PICTURES OF MY MACAW!
Super Moderator
Avenue Veteran
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
4/28/18
Messages
25,822
Location
Vic, Australia
Real Name
Shez
You’ll want to weigh regularly and know signs to look out for regardless of how far or close a vet may be. There are times you’ll need a vet regardless of what you know or can do so that is something that’s best to sort out sooner rather than later. Unfortunately Avian Vets are much rarer than dog and cat vets so many of us have to travel 2 or so hours one way (at least once a year for checkups) to see our birds vet. Many of us also gave checked out with closer regular vets if they’ll see our birds in emergency situations- many regular vets are pretty good with birds, especially if they see them frequently.
I haven’t heard anything about stinging nettles being dangerous but I’ve also never seen wild birds happily eating them so I’d certainly offer them cooked only.
I know nothing about artichokes as we don’t see them in my area too often- I’m almost certain some members here have used artichokes as a foraging tool- you might find something on that if you use the magnifying glass up the top of each page to do a search.

Edit: you might find this helpful…How-To Junction
 

Lady Jane

Ripping up the road
Avenue Veteran
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
8/25/12
Messages
26,569
Location
Maryland
Real Name
Dianne
The veggies you mention are unusual so each one can be looked up to see if safe. We worry about safety issues because birds can have accidents or get injured even from a toy. Its the unexpected illness or injury that will need a vet. Even a fish tank can be a safety concern. It is reflective and a bird can fly into the glass or if not covered land in the tank. It happens!

I wish you well in this venture. Please update us.
 

sunnysmom

Ripping up the road
Avenue Veteran
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
9/16/13
Messages
28,800
Location
Pennsylvania
Real Name
Michelle
You can find birds on Craigslist. You just have to be cautious it's not a scam. Also, I live in PA and there are a number of PA fb groups that let people list birds needing rehomed or say they are looking for a bird. Since the groups are usually moderated there's a bit of level of protection. There might be something similar wherever you live. Many rescues list on petfinder. You can check there too. Rescues vary on their adoption/distance requirements. I have a goffin cockatoo, and they are very smart, entertaining birds.
 

Sparkles99

Biking along the boulevard
Celebirdy of the Month
Mayor of the Avenue
Avenue Spotlight Award
Joined
8/9/20
Messages
6,315
Location
Ontario, Canada
If you want long lived birds then unfortunately budgies are out, as many don't live long it would seem. Disclaimer: I'm budgie biased. :xflove:

Lovebirds & cockatiels do live a long time though & are often up for rehoming. You may also want to consider a parrotlet. They live a long time.

I'm not sure what to say, because you said that you cared about size & then said you didn't. If you really don't, then you could consider some of these parrots, especially since you don't want to spend a fortune on an outside aviary. Many large parrots require very sturdy enclosures.

Another thing you may want to consider is bite potential. There's a pretty graphic thread on here somewhere of parrot bites.
 

Pat H

Rollerblading along the road
Joined
9/27/19
Messages
2,396
Location
Apple River, IL
Real Name
Pat
Since you will not have a problem w/ noise, you might consider a cockatoo. Our Umbrella is only noisy occasionally [if we go outside and she sees us thru the window, or if she heard the car arrive back home, and we delayed on coming in]!
Sociable, but can adapt to those in the family-- tho I apparently needed more 'training' than my husband-- in her eyes, he is [almost] without fault, but I need to adapt to her rules! She came into our lives from a rescue, at the ripe young age of 13, after her 'family' passed away.
Toys-- she loves the rope toys, so we keep her supplied. She likes to 'clack' things... so have metal [indestructable but safe materials] items attached together for her to rattle and bang.
She is our baby!
 
Top