What pet bird is right for me?

[Duckyfuz]

Alright, I know this first paragraph may not be what you want to hear, but please read all of it for your own good.

Okay, you know what? The bird you want does NOT exist. If you want all those good qualities, then you should get a stuffed toy instead. Birds ARE loud. They WILL get noisy sometime. And they're VERY social animals who need hours of attention, conversation, and entertainment each day. For some birds, going a few days without people and they'll become wild again. No bird can't be tamed. It's about the patience and time you put into it. Sure, some may be harder to tame than others, but if you put enough effort into it and handle your bird properly, they can all learn to trust you, even if they've had traumatic experiences in the past. And when you say canaries are "assholes" when it comes to handling, it's because softbills like finches and canaries just are NOT birds you interact with. You need to know all this before you get a bird. You need to prepare. Research. Study about all the different types. There are so many great sites on what birds make the best beginner birds. If you truly want a bird, I want to see that you're actually putting effort into this, and do not, NOT, just get "tired" of a bird and abandon it after a few months or a year or some time. It's not that I think you will definitely do this or anything, it's just that I've seen this happen SO often, and it really saddens me to see all those birds being ignored by their owners, put into adoptions, sold to others and pet stores, etc., and I hope you will never do that if you get a bird. You see, the thing is, when I ask new owners this question, they're always very confident in their choice, saying they've researched all they can, and they've wanted a bird for so long and so bad, and they will NEVER give up on their bird. And then, you know what? They do. Many of them who don't know what they're getting into DO give up after a few months or so, saying the bird is "not what they thought it would be", or "too much to handle", or "plain mean and won't listen to anything I command it to". Well, that is THEIR fault, not the bird's. So PLEASE research first, know what you're getting into, and think about their lifespan. Usually it's around 10-20 years, but if you get a conure or some other bird, they may even live to 30. Can you really handle that? I personally say parrots are actually more work than dogs. Dogs are really obedient, friendly with humans and domesticated animals, while birds are NOT and may become wild again. Dogs can entertain themselves for a while, but birds need you constantly by their side and can become extremely dependent. So you may consider getting a dog or cat if you want another animal.

Alright, thank you if you actually read all of that. Reading your wants, I know what bird fits you best. One thing I am VERY against: "A social bird that requires companions." Well, I'll tell you something, EVERY type of hookbill bird is social and needs a ton of attention, even the smaller ones need a few hours at least. They NEED companions. Not always as in another bird, but YOU. YOU are their companion, caretaker, parent, best friend, everything. So just know that every pet bird will be social.

I think a cockatiel would fit you best. A male cockatiel, specifically. Buy a HAND TAME cockatiel from a breeder or a pet store who gets their birds from a reputable breeder. That way, the bird will be friendly and interactive the moment you bring it home, and you won't have to spend months taming it yourself. If you want a pet that won't be afraid of you, be sure to get a hand raised and tame bird. Cockatiels are known for their calm and loving personality. They are great beginner birds, and they're much easier to care for than many other birds their size. They're technically medium sized, although many people say they're small birds (which is wrong). They come in many mutations (different colors and patterns breeders breed them to be), the normal grey cockatiel (the original), and also mutations like pied, lutino, cinnamon, whiteface, pearl, albino, and more. Male and female cockatiels have different personalities. Again, I suggest a male for you, but you may wanna look into a female too (I've owned many cockatiels and of both genders; both make excellent companions). The males are more vocal, which means they'll most likely learn to talk, sing, whistle songs, and such, but they're also much louder/noisier than females. They have an outgoing, bold personality, and are generally more energetic and playful. They learn tricks faster too. Females are more laid back, more cuddly and snuggly than males. Instead of playing a game or learning some new tricks with you, they just enjoy having scritches (you probably know what scritches mean) and like being petted, stroked, etc. But they CAN have egg laying problems later on, which is serious, so be careful and know what you're doing.

I still find cockatiels to be the best choice after owning many different species, but some other good birds for you include:

- Budgerigars or budgies for short (Budgies are really popular. They're small, cute and colorful. They can make loving pets if tame. They can talk and whistle and aren't loud, but can be chatty/chirping a lot. I find they don't have as deep a bond as some other parrots, but depends.)

- Small conure (NOT a big conure like a sun conure, I mean a small conure like a green cheek conure or maroon bellied conure. Small conures are really playful, energetic, loving, with big personalities. They're cuddly and can whistle. But they can be pretty noisy.)

- Parrotlets (Small, fluffy, colorful. Parrotlets can be a bit cheeky in personality. They are loving if tame and are similar to budgies but with a more bold personality.)

Good luck, and if you have any more questions, feel free to contact me at enderdragon52@yahoo.com. Remember, they are big responsibilities, and even if you get a budgie or cockatiel, these are commitments for the next 10-20 YEARS.