Thinking about getting a bird

[Socrates]

Here is one website you can check out. Many breeders are more than happy to ship a bird to you for a reasonable price. Just get in touch with them, and if they are sincere, they'll answer each and every question you have.

I received my White-Bellied Caique from a great breeder in Lousiana (I'm in Jersey). I got her for a fantastic price, and she was just weaned and in terrific shape when she arrived at Newark airport.

Hopefully you'll find what you're looking for. If I hear or see anything in the meantime, I'll let you know.

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Wendy
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http://www.birdsnways.com/

 

[Socrates]

Ok, just found the other site I didn't remember earlier.

http://www.upatsix.com/

 

[mybabyhasfangs]

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.

You might think about a Timneh Grey if you can't afford a Congo. I was able to my congo for about $800, She put me through tons of questions to make sure Syd was going to a good home. Which any good breeder should do, so don't be offended if they do. I found Syd on Birdsnway. I was lucky to find her about 5 hours away from here. Somewhere on that site is a listing by State so you can find someone close, or shipping does work too! I wish you the best of luck in your bird adventure. I am always willing to talk birds!!!!

Christina

 

[EvanG]

Ive had a few birds and dealt with tons of them. A bird i did not see mentioned is the green cheek conure and other pyrrhura conures. They are VERY quiet birds, even their screaming cant overcome the noise of a tv or cd player. They are super affectionate but very mischievous. They are kind of small but excellent apartment birds. This i know cause i have one in an apartment right now!

Poicephalus parrots(senegals, meyers, jardines, red bellies and capes) are also very quiet and tend to get a little bigger. Their screams definitely have the capacity to be a bit louder but they are also very sweet. The senegal i had was very chattery, liked to whistle and make chirpy noises and only screamed every once in a while and it was not unbearable. The jardines ive interacted with have also been very quiet and get a good bit bigger than senegals. I should mention that the poicephalus genus has a tendency to freak out for no apparent reason. They can become suddenly aggressive to people they used to like but nowhere near the instant phobia cockatoos are known for.

Eclectus parrots are also very chill and very quiet. Their scream is shrill!! But they dont let it loose very often. They require special diets, though, and are prone to vitamin and calcium defiencies. Also they are hyperchromatic and cannot be fed colored pellets or anything like that or their feathers turn funky colors. Female eclectus are beautfiul but very dominant and go through phases of nesting aggression. It is said that males make better pets but the males seem to come under calcium defiecency and exhibit toe tapping and wing dropping more easily than females. For their size, they require huge cages but will become territorial of a playpen on top. Zinc poisoning is also a concern with these birds. The investment involved in these birds is huge as well.

Thats about all i have to say about that. Ill be glad to answer any other questions you have.

Evan

 

[Scylla]

Hey Wendy, Are you on the Caique@wingscc.com list? If not, it's a pretty active list with great people. I have a BH caique.

Conures ..... Do they ever SHUT UP??? uh yeah, when they're ASLEEP! They're incredibly loud. Deafening, ear-ringing, sharp pain through the head loud. I have mine for 27 years. Did I mention that they can be loud?

 

[Socrates]

Hey Wendy, Are you on the Caique@wingscc.com list? If not, it's a pretty active list with great people. I have a BH caique.

Conures ..... Do they ever SHUT UP??? uh yeah, when they're ASLEEP! They're incredibly loud. Deafening, ear-ringing, sharp pain through the head loud. I have mine for 27 years. Did I mention that they can be loud?

What? Huh? I can't hear you...must be your conure in the background making all that noise.

Kathy, thanks for the Caique email list. No, I'm not on it, but will certainly check into it now. Aren't they THE biggest clowns ever? My girl is just loaded with personality and energy, plays endlessly, cuddles, chases my Amazons and even my dogs.

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Wendy
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[OldHag]

Hey Wendy, Are you on the Caique@wingscc.com list? If not, it's a pretty active list with great people. I have a BH caique.

Conures ..... Do they ever SHUT UP??? uh yeah, when they're ASLEEP! They're incredibly loud. Deafening, ear-ringing, sharp pain through the head loud. I have mine for 27 years. Did I mention that they can be loud?

I tended a blue crown for a friend once... I think the name Conure Means SCREAMING ONE. It was very friendly....and screamed non stop.. Crazy things. It couldnt fly....i think it was too fat, but Im not sure. But it would climb down its perch, screaming all the while, waddle over to me, screaming, climb up my leg, screaming, and insist I scratch its neck while it excersized its vocal cords by....well.....screaming. Theyre really cute if you can get past the screams
I also had a cockatiel for 18yrs. He was pretty noisy too, but not the ear peircing horrors that blue crowns are. He would wake up at 2am and call the cat for about half an hour every night..... I love birds...If I had more time for one Id get another one.

 

[Snake_Eyes]

Ive had a few birds and dealt with tons of them. A bird i did not see mentioned is the green cheek conure and other pyrrhura conures. They are VERY quiet birds, even their screaming cant overcome the noise of a tv or cd player. They are super affectionate but very mischievous. They are kind of small but excellent apartment birds. This i know cause i have one in an apartment right now!

Poicephalus parrots(senegals, meyers, jardines, red bellies and capes) are also very quiet and tend to get a little bigger. Their screams definitely have the capacity to be a bit louder but they are also very sweet. The senegal i had was very chattery, liked to whistle and make chirpy noises and only screamed every once in a while and it was not unbearable. The jardines ive interacted with have also been very quiet and get a good bit bigger than senegals. I should mention that the poicephalus genus has a tendency to freak out for no apparent reason. They can become suddenly aggressive to people they used to like but nowhere near the instant phobia cockatoos are known for.

Eclectus parrots are also very chill and very quiet. Their scream is shrill!! But they dont let it loose very often. They require special diets, though, and are prone to vitamin and calcium defiencies. Also they are hyperchromatic and cannot be fed colored pellets or anything like that or their feathers turn funky colors. Female eclectus are beautfiul but very dominant and go through phases of nesting aggression. It is said that males make better pets but the males seem to come under calcium defiecency and exhibit toe tapping and wing dropping more easily than females. For their size, they require huge cages but will become territorial of a playpen on top. Zinc poisoning is also a concern with these birds. The investment involved in these birds is huge as well.

Thats about all i have to say about that. Ill be glad to answer any other questions you have.

Evan

The place (Petco) that has the Blue crown also has a Green cheek that was next to it for IMO a very decent price ($229) which seems to be about $300 dollars cheaper than every other Conure that I've seen. I initially inquired about that one but the girl that worked there said it was louder than the Blue crown although nowhere near the loudness of a Sun, so I pretty much ruled that one out.

 

[Cirith Ungol]

Sorry for the highjacking, but I'd just like to throw in a question or two:

Can a bird become stressed because there's also a cat and a few snakes in the same flat?

 

[Immortal_sin]

I will echo the loudness factor of the conure. We rescued a Nanday this summer, and he just now today went to a 'real' rescue facility. The rescue woman is fantastic, and I'll throw in my .02 about adopting a rescue bird, as opposed to buying one from a pet store. Check out rescue operations in your area. The rescue facility I placed the conure in is VERY picky about placing birds in the appropriate home. She has a 100 question test that all prospective homes are given. You have to also visit with the bird at HER place before adopting, and of course, the bird HAS to bond with you or you don't adopt it.
In talking to her today, she recommends caiques and senegals as good starter birds. They are not so loud, and very affectionate. She says also that caiques will bond with all the family members, as opposed to possibly not taking a liking to someone in your family.

 

[EvanG]

Theres no way a green cheek is louder than a blue by any means, they just dont have the capacity, their screaming is very quiet, much less annoying than a cockatiels and they just dont do it that much. For a playful, energetic apartment bird, you cant really go wrong with a green cheek. Just my opinion, you should really try to find a bird that you click with.

Evan

 

[Socrates]

I strongly agree with Evan. Green Cheeks are "Pyrrhuras", and IME can't be compared to "Aratingas" (for example Sun Conures, Jendays, Mitred, Blue Crowns, etc.). Their voices are much quieter, they vocalize much less frequently, and are therefore great apartment birds.

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Wendy
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[mybabyhasfangs]

Can a bird become stressed because there's also a cat and a few snakes in the same flat?

Sydney, my congo grey, rules the roost....LOL. We have 2 cats, a dog, T's, and snakes. She can't see the snakes that often but they don't seem to bother her. The cats are scared of her. They will move out of her way 100% of the time. The dog is also scared of her and so are 99% of vistors...LOL. Respect of the beak, is what I call it. Of course this is my bird with my cats too. Sydney was raised in a house (the breeder) with dogs, kids, and a household almost like mine, CRAZY! Which was one of the things I looked for in a breeder. I didn't want her to be raised by grandmas who had no kids, vistors, pets etc then come to my house with little ones, dogs, cats etc and freak out. Not that birds can't learn to accept things but IMO it makes things easier on everyone if they are raised that way.

Both cats were here before Sydney also. It depends alot on the bird and the cats IMO.

Christina


PS Snake eyes have you found anything else out yet??? I've been wondering about ya.