Parrot Forums - TalkParrots banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

Conure or cockatiel

9K views 24 replies 3 participants last post by  dennisbro3112 
#1 ·
Hey so as you guys know, I'm new here. I don't have a cockatiel but was planning to get one. So I wanted an easy bird that is really cuddly/affectionate, and read that cockatiels are like that. But I also read that Conures are even more cuddly birds. So now I'm stuck with, cockatiel or conure or quaker? Quakers seem cool too. Which of these 3 is the most cuddly, easiest to tame? More brave and not as afraid of people? I already have budgies just to let you know. I really want a bird that will be more cuddly unlike budgies since they don't like to be petted etc. I know birds aren't like dogs and cats but like a bird I could keep on my shoulder and for it to enjoy it as well as me. I'm most likely gonna get the bird off of Craigslist which is already tame, but just in case I don't I want to know which is easier to tame and which is more cuddly. Thanks!
Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
 
#2 ·
Hi dennis welcome to the forum. :)

If you want a cuddly bird that wants to spend a lot of time hands on with you then I'd find a breeder in your area and go and meet them and see the birds they breed.

A lot of breeders will hand tame a chick at a few weeks of age and get the bird use to being hands on and comfortable around people. You will pay a few more dollars for a bird from a reputable breeder who hand tames their birds for their customers but you will have a bird that will come home and want to be your hand tame friend and play with you the day you bring it to your home.

Do your homework and shop around with breeders and see what they have.

Good luck.
 
#4 ·
It's hard to say which breed is more friendly, I know a girl who went out of her way to visit a breeder who had a conure chick every couple of days for a few months before she brought him home. He was her dream bird but she found after a couple of months he didn't really want to have much physical hands on interaction with her. He liked dancing with her and playing with toys with her but he wasn't really interested in her handling him. Odd... but all breeds can develop a personality over time so its hard to say exactly what you might end up with.

I do know you have to be there for the bird and show you care all the time. You have to put in the time and effort to keep that trust up with a physical hands on interaction or the bird will start to ignore you and your hands.

I've had cockatiels in the past that were really friendly and all about being hands on and learning to mimic speech and anything I said. They liked being in my hands when I turned on the tap so they could bath, they loved me blow drying them with the hair dryer. It was fun watching them so happy and excited while being around me all the time demanding my time.

One time I left my home one morning and a woman on the street said, "oh your bird likes to hang on your back and travel with you? How cute!"

I was shocked to find my cockatiel had jumped on my jacket as I was leaving the house and I had no idea. She hung on while I walked 2 blocks from home. She didn't fly away or freak out she just hung on while I did my thing. She had never been outside before and she wasn't clipped so she could have easily flown away but she was really into me so she trusted the situation and hung on. Lucky for me!!!!!! :eek:

I like tiels, they are funny little birds full of personality and spunk but I also know conures who are just as fun and full of personality as tiels.

So its hard to tell you which is the better bird. :biggrin5:
 
#7 ·
Hah I'm still stuck, it's not of choice which is easier to care for and I don't know, some say gcc can become mean and cockatiels aren't fond of being held so I don't know. I know I should just go look but what if the breeder doesn't have the opposite bird at the moment. It's so hard to choose.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
 
#8 ·
Hello, dennisbro3112, I finally decided to go with a GCC, and will be picking him up this afternoon! He is 10 weeks old, and was raised with a 7 year old boy handling him, so I'm excited to meet such a tolerant bird! Do keep us updated on what your choice is, and when you get your critter! I'll let you know how our first few days are together soon!
 

Attachments

#15 ·
Just think of the fun you will have watching your conure interact and socialize with your budgies. I always enjoyed introducing a new bird friend to the current birds I have had in my home.

You get to see the new birds excitement at seeing other birds in their midst, then watch the new bird wanting to hang out with the other birds or go in their cage steal their food or play with their toys and just hang out.

Its always fun to see this happen. :)
 
#19 ·
My little conure was pretty nippy early in the day yesterday, our first real day together, but just hours later, with a lot of cuddling and feeding and talking, she stopped biting completely. Although, she got cranky near bedtime, but my limited experience with birds says that they usually do. She's been bold and already clingy to me, ad will squawk and carry on if I leave the house, and complain and follow me if I leave the room. She's a love already, I don't care about the two blisters on my hand or the piece missing from my ear, lol <3
 
#22 ·
SWEET! She sounds like she is settling in well despite the odd nip here and there. I love when they call for you when you leave the room I have long noisy conversations with SPX when I leave the den. He owns me and wants me near him always. :lol:

I know I want to see pics of the new birdy so please share!
 
#23 ·
Thanks for the tips. I probably will give him some time to meet them but not for long. Birds are too smart, my birds were once introduced to my sisters budgies in another room and now everymorning I wake up too early from the chirps calling to the other ones. Their cage is right by my bedside and it is piercing! I plan to move them to another room and keep the conure in mine.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
 
#24 ·
I think the safest bet to keeping a hand tame bird tame, is to keep him in his own cage and allow him to have most of his time bonding with you. Do your budgies come out for a bit of free time? Playtime together out side of the cage is OK, they should stay bonded to you and enjoy time with their other flock mates. I'm no expert, I'm just going by different things I've read online.

Sunny, my new baby, is the sweetest bird I've ever met. she loves scratches under the chin and on the face and head, lets me rub her chest and under her wings, and one of her favorite things is "hugging" where I cup my hand around her back. She's nearly completely stopped biting, and all this was accomplished in just 3 days. I'm sure you're going to love your new baby, she's everything and more of what I was hoping!
 
#25 ·
Yeah I let them out for free time but they can't fly yet since their wings haven't grew back yet do they don't come out because they have nothing to do if they can get anywhere. Once their wings grow back I'm sure they will love exploring my room and house!

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top