Thinking about getting a bird

[Snake_Eyes]

The two birds that I'm thinking about are a single or pair of Blackmasked/Eyering lovebird or a Blue crown Conure. One of the local petshops has a blue crown and I usually go in every couple days and talk to, one thing I've noticed is the the blue crown has a deeper sound to it unlike the screeching sound of the Sun Conure that's a cage over.

Does anyone have any personal experience with a Blue crown? Like how loud are they and how often do they scream. *I live in an apartment* Thanks.

 

[mybabyhasfangs]

If you live in an apartment, a blue crown is not for you. We had one for 3 years and I am suprised we are not deaf. Tate would scream for AT LEAST 2 hours a day. He would scream at his toys (which all birds do) he would scream if he was happy, he would scream if he was mad. They are just screamers. And it is loud, very loud. Making your ears ring loud. And not to bash pet stores, but I wouldn't buy a bird from a pet store. Too many diseases that can be spread around and most of the time they are not socialized correctly. Which is a case for disaster.

Now we have an congo african grey. And she is the sweetest, smartest, quiet bird. I searched for months for a good breeder. And read alot of behavior books. You want one that is well socialized and hand fed, and already weaned. And be prepared to cook for almost any parrot that you buy. I spend all day, once a month cooking for Syd and freezing the stuff. And it takes me about 10 min. in the AM to fix her breakfast and the same of an evening for her supper. I can give you the good, bad, and the ugly on having birds....LOL. But I love Syd, she is my best friend. She follows me around the house, she takes a shower with me, we cuddle, she is now starting to talk!!!! She knows when I have a bad day, she also demands attention or she will let you know she's mad by beaking you. But she is really quite, she whistles alot but that's about as loud as she gets. She does scream at her toys about once or twice a day, but that is normal and it's not the ear ringing scream of a conure. Stay away from too's and macaws also, they are LOUD birds also. Lori's are pretty cool little guys also, I want one of those someday, but their poo is like concrete. If you have any questions, PM me I will happy to try to answer them.

 

[WhyTeDraGon]

I have a budgie...great little bird. Just like a Conure but in a smaller body Except she's not very loud. She loves to have her head scratched, she'll fall asleep under my hand for hours, she gives kisses. She's very sweet.

I was considering a lovebird before I got her, but once I heard the sounds they make, I decided against it, lol. They're pretty loud too.

I believe it was a Quaker, or was it a Parrolet that doesnt make much noise? I forget. I dont know much about those 2 species, but I have heard about how quiet they are.

I DONT recommend a Conure, a lady down the street from me has a bunch of them in her garage, and they are VERY VERY loud. Though they make some interesting noises sometimes, lol.

 

[Varden]

I have a greenwing macaw, blue and gold macaw, orangewing amazon, sun conure, and a blue crown. If you live in an apartment, the blue crown is NOT for you. It is a natural instint for the conures to greet the day and put it to bed again. So at the very LEAST, you're going to get screaming twice a day and quite possibly more because they just plain like to scream. And unless you hear one in person, you won't believe just how loud they can be.

I also second that you should probably consider getting your bird from a local breeder. Breeders are also significantly cheaper than the pet stores, and a reputable one will hand feed and hand tame each and every one of his/her babies. Find a reputable breeder who does not force wean. An Ecclectic, which is the next bird I am going to get, is $999 at the pet store, but $400 from the breeder I located a half hour away.

 

[jojobear]

Step Away From the Conure...

I have raised and kept birds for almost 30 years and here is my 2 cents worth... Though conures are great birds they aren't the kind of birds you neighbors would apreciate. I loved my conures but no matter how cute they are they happen to be imo the noisiest birds on the face of the earth. That would also include the Quaker, though not a conure can scream just as loud a one. If you are wanting a bigger gid go with the African Grey they are not known for being screamers. If you are wanting a smaller bird go with a parrotlet, love bird or that all time great standard the cockatiel. The major drawback to an African grey or a cockatiel is they are dusty birds. These are just my opinions.

Joe

 

[Socrates]

You've received some awesome advice already, and I want to put in my 2 cents as well.

Listen to the other folks who've told you to stay away from conures if you're living in an apartment and neighbors are a concern. Heck, some people who have a house can't even deal with the screaming of conures. Do they all scream? Yes. Do they always scream? No. But when and if they do, it can be painful.

I personally own 2 Amazons (Yellow Nape & Double Yellow Head) and a White-Bellied Caique. I have yet to hear either of my Amazons scream. They use their mimicking ability to communicate with me and each other. It's hilarious to listen to them. They both talk up a storm, whistle, and make up their own sounds, none of which is unbearable. My Caique "can" get noisy at times, but is usually content just whistling and making clicking sounds. All of my birds are extremely affectionate, and none of them have the feather dust that you'll be faced with with cockatoos, cockatiels, and grays.

Here's a link to a picture of my birds....they're there somewhere.
http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?t=54176


Good luck in the search of a companion bird. It's a very rewarding experience. Please do make sure to read, read, and read about whatever bird you'll decide on. "mybabyhasfangs" has given you some awesome advice on the cooking (which I do as well). And please don't buy one out of impulse, as so many birds are already unwanted due to the owner's unability/unwillingness to care for them properly. And getting one from a reputable breeder is IMO the only way to go.

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Wendy
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[GootySapphire]

I am sorry but having worked/still working in pet stores, and seeing tons of birds over and over, some of this advice is a load of crock. Most of the birds suggested accept for the lovebirds and SOME cockatiels really, most of the other birds are TOO loud for an apartment. If you want a REAL apartment bird, which will remain quiet and has a great personality and or coloring. Check out a White Capped Pionus or maybe even another coloring of a Pionus. They are the BEST apartment birds you can buy...trust me on this. Research their info.

 

[Socrates]

I am sorry but having worked/still working in pet stores, and seeing tons of birds over and over, some of this advice is a load of crock. Most of the birds suggested accept for the lovebirds and SOME cockatiels really, most of the other birds are TOO loud for an apartment. If you want a REAL apartment bird, which will remain quiet and has a great personality and or coloring. Check out a White Capped Pionus or maybe even another coloring of a Pionus. They are the BEST apartment birds you can buy...trust me on this. Research their info.

Which advice was "a load of crock", I wonder? :? How many pet birds have you owned individually?

Birds in pet shops will almost always be much more vocal than a single bird at home. If one start screaming, most will chime in soon.

As for Pionus, you are absolutely right, they are wonderful birds. Quiet, beautiful, and long-lived, which doesn't mean you'll never hear a squak out of them though.

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Wendy
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[Snake_Eyes]

Thanks everybody for the comments, I figured the conure would be to loud but I was crossing my fingers with hope anyway. I'll look into the Pionus, If I decided to get a lovebird would it be better to keep them separately or in a pair? I've read mixed opinion's on which is better.

 

[arachnojunkie]

Might look into a Senegal Parrot also, highly intelligent and very quiet. Sweet birds.

 

[Socrates]

Thanks everybody for the comments, I figured the conure would be to loud but I was crossing my fingers with hope anyway. I'll look into the Pionus, If I decided to get a lovebird would it be better to keep them separately or in a pair? I've read mixed opinion's on which is better.

Snake_Eyes, all birds are flock animals and love company. Depending on how much time (quality time) you can devote to your bird, you can get one of any species, as long as you provide toys (switch them regularly) and allow the bird to spend as much time as possible outside the cage with you. Birds are very intelligent and love to interact with their people, especially when they were properly socialized at a young age. Unfortunately if you house 2 birds together, you take the chance that they will ultimately bond to each other more than to you, and will seek each other's company more than yours. That is not always necessarily a bad thing - again - it all depends on how much time you can spend with them.

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Wendy
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[WhyTeDraGon]

I am sorry but having worked/still working in pet stores, and seeing tons of birds over and over, some of this advice is a load of crock. Most of the birds suggested accept for the lovebirds and SOME cockatiels really, most of the other birds are TOO loud for an apartment. If you want a REAL apartment bird, which will remain quiet and has a great personality and or coloring. Check out a White Capped Pionus or maybe even another coloring of a Pionus. They are the BEST apartment birds you can buy...trust me on this. Research their info.

that's going a bit far to call our advice a load of crock. You basically stated exactly what we stated. Read up...you'll see where all of what you said has been stated. If you want your advice to be taken seriously...then dont critisize others for theirs.

 

[mybabyhasfangs]

that's going a bit far to call our advice a load of crock. You basically stated exactly what we stated. Read up...you'll see where all of what you said has been stated. If you want your advice to be taken seriously...then dont critisize others for theirs

I was thinking the exact same thing

Christina

 

[GootySapphire]

blah blah, some of those birds are notorious for being sqwuaky birds...I was suggesting since she lives in an APARTMENT she should go for the Pionus they ARE the number one apartment bird...yeah they make noise but its the most quiet noise ever, and its little to none. lovebirds can be quiet at times, but they chirp really loud when they want to, along with many parrots listed above. dont take my point as criticism and get your butt all bent out of shape over it. Reeeeeelaaaaaax.

 

[Snake_Eyes]

blah blah, some of those birds are notorious for being sqwuaky birds...I was suggesting since she lives in an APARTMENT she should go for the Pionus they ARE the number one apartment bird...yeah they make noise but its the most quiet noise ever, and its little to none. lovebirds can be quiet at times, but they chirp really loud when they want to, along with many parrots listed above. dont take my point as criticism and get your butt all bent out of shape over it. Reeeeeelaaaaaax.

I'm a he not a she.

 

[mybabyhasfangs]

Snake eyes,

I would like to say kudos to you for asking questions and doing research before buying a bird. Point of the matter is all birds make noise of some kind. IMO the determining factor is how loud their voices are. And each bird has it's own personality. I have talked to several macaw owners who say their macaws are really quiet birds, and have talked to some macaw owners who macaws cause them to use ear plugs. Bad thing about researching on the internet, alot of the web sites only tell you the good and maybe a hint of the bad. I sure wish someone would have told me the truth about conures before Tate came home. I did do research on them, but alot of it was half truths. My advice would be narrow it down to a few species and find someone (not a pet store) who has that type of bird and go visit for awhile, several times. I am partial to greys and will dispute anyone who says they are not great apartment birds. Now if you don't spend enough time with them or take care/raise them properly, any bird can go ape on you, pluck feathers, scream, etc etc. I have heard some stories of abused greys who were horrible, but after some TLC and the proper care, they became different birds. Sydney, my grey, would be the perfect apartment bird.
If you are thinking about a larger/medium bird check out this thread
http://parrottimes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5950

There is some good info on that site and the people are honest. Bird species are like T's everyone has a different opinion on them. And the bird world is a little more "touchy feelly" than the t world. Jason thinks all of the bird people are strange...LOL.
And one more thing about the cooking, you must cook and the bird must fling squash and bananas on your wall that harden into nasty little rocks....LOL.

Sorry this is so long winded. I love birds and wish everyone who has one a great experience with them. Sadly that isn't the case because they end up with the wrong bird for their situation.

Christina

 

[Nick_schembri]

The quitest bird I've ever owned would be my maximilian pionus. Great sweet bird too. loves to cuddle. I've heard that all pionus are affectionate and quiet. Lovebirds and conures are very loud. I've heard them ate the petstores (although my mynah can clearly beat them if they screamed all at once).

 

[WhyTeDraGon]

I am sorry but having worked/still working in pet stores, and seeing tons of birds over and over, some of this advice is a load of crock.

you dont call this criticism? And if you read up, like I stated, you'll see that everything you stated was already stated. So where is the "crock"?
You could just simply tell her your idea about the Pionus, rather than knocking everyone else's ideas along the way.

 

[GootySapphire]

you dont call this criticism? And if you read up, like I stated, you'll see that everything you stated was already stated. So where is the "crock"?
You could just simply tell her your idea about the Pionus, rather than knocking everyone else's ideas along the way.

everyones? uh, did you not read the part of my quote your copying.....I said SOME, meaning a FEW...because SOME of the birds posted ARE notorious for being loud, but like SOMEONE who knows what they are talking about, just posted they said it also depends on EACH INDIVIDUAL bird....some birds that may usually be loud you can maybe find one which isnt...but i wouldnt risk it. youre never going to know until you see it in a home environment by itself or with a few other birds if that. Pionus are seriously the most quiet small parrots you can find, and i gauruntee anyone who owns or has owned a pionus will agree they are prime for an apartment. dont get so bent out of shape over my comment and read so much into it.

 

[Snake_Eyes]

I really like African Grey's but they're a little out of my price range, probably the most I'd be able to spend would be $600. Last night I was doing quite a bit of research on pionus's and from what I read they seem to be great birds, my problem is where I'm from pet store's are about my only option for a place to buy one and I havn't ever see a pionus at either of them.

The only "specialty" birds that I ever see are conure's, African Grey's, Macaw's, Ringnecks, and a Plum headed parakeet which is really cool but to pricey.