Choosing the next species...

[Animallover_84]

Hey!
I have two crazy caique boys (15 and 7), and I have been thinking about getting some more parrots in the future. Obviously, I am aware that my boys would likely attack any other parrot species and will keep them separate from one another. I am not sure exactly what it is that I am looking for, but here are some thoughts...

• Smaller, similar size or slightly larger than my boys (nothing bigger than say an Amazon or something like that).
• No dusty birds (as in feather dust/dander) - I have asthma and would like to avoid anything that might become a problem in the future.
• Funny, playful and personable would be preferred. I have caiques after all and feel like they suit me well.
• I am not sure if I am looking for something similarly high maintenance (as my boys) or something "easier" in therms of them demanding training, company and play etc. so I am open for suggestions either way (low and high maintenance birds).
• Would love if they would be slightly different in colors or if there are two very similar species that can live together and understand each other. In my country you have to (law) get two parrots (at least) and they should be of the same or of a very similar species (there are some exceptions, but I believe in giving all social species a friend). I have one Black headed, and one White bellied caique for example. Like to be able to easily tell the difference, and like that they look different.
• Not super loud. I live in an apartment, aka. I am sharing walls with neighbors. Also, I have quite sensitive ears, tinnitus etc. My boys (caiques) can be loud sometimes, but I am ok with their noise...would prefer if it would not be louder though. Amazon = way too loud, for example. So quieter or similar in loudness to caiques.
• No special dietary demands such as lories/lorikeets etc. I feel like it is complicated enough with veggies, fruits, nuts, seeds, soaked seeds/sprouts and so on. My boys get a variety of different fresh foods and TOPS pellets (I am looking into incorporating other things such as freeze-dried stuff, flowers etc. as well).
• Not necessary, but I prefer a shorter type tail (shorter feathers, such as the stocky build of a caique). Not a huge fan of tiny birds with super long, thin tail feathers. I love budgies, though, so there are exceptions... open for both types.

Some species that have crossed my mind:

• Budgies - always had a soft spot for these cuties.
• Lovebirds - specifically (I think) fischeri and personatus
• Green cheek conures
• Senegal and Meyers
• (Cape parrots - but I suspect they may be dusty?)
• (Mini/Hahns Macaw - but might be too loud?)
• Parrotlets
• Quaker parrot

I have looked into some more species, but can't remember all the species on the top of my head. Will be adding to my list when more comes to mind.

Any tips will be welcome. Thank you!
/Animallover_84

 

[sunnysmom]

Is there anywhere you can go to meet some of the species? They're all pretty different. I would worry about really small birds and the caiques, although I know you plan on keeping them separate- like the budgies and parrotlets. Lovies can also not do great with other species. I would maybe look at then conures and quakers.

 

[haze]

Poicephalus species or pionus sounds like they may fit your bill. They absolutely couldn’t be left unsupervised with the caiques though but I’m sure you know that. Those two parrot types are very similar in size to caiques and have short tails. Not dusty and generally considered to be “quieter” types of parrots. I would say find somewhere that you could meet a few species and see how you get along with them!

 

[Sparkles99]

Budgies are the best. Glad to see they’re on your list!

 

[Mockinbirdiva]

I would have to ask why you are looking to add any other bird to your home. Caiques are high energy birds so what is it they don’t give you enough as companion birds? Only asking because sometimes we just don’t know when enough… is enough and all we truly need. Their needs are more important.

 

[MnGuy]

I adopted my first Indian ringneck last fall and am completely in love with him and the species. He's playful, personable, and always has an upbeat attitude. While his calls can get loud if he wants to get my attention, he doesn't vocalize all day. He likes sitting on or with me, but is also independent and will fly around and hang out on the top of his cage. He is unusual in that he likes having his head scratched, but he's not overly needy.

I have a lot of allergies, and I'm surprised by how little dust and dander he produces. I wish more people talked about this, because I would have gone with this species sooner.

I have a grey and had a Meyer's for many years. As a kid, we had budgies and a cockatiel. The ringneck is far, far, far less messy than all of those species when it comes to dander.

I loved my Meyer's and she wasn't "dusty" in the way greys and cockatiels are, but when she was done preening herself she would shake off a very noticeable cloud of dust and dander into the air. My ringneck is not like this at all.

 

[Animallover_84]

Hello again, and thank you all for your input!

Is there anywhere you can go to meet some of the species? They're all pretty different. I would worry about really small birds and the caiques, although I know you plan on keeping them separate- like the budgies and parrotlets. Lovies can also not do great with other species. I would maybe look at then conures and quakers.

We don't have rescues as such in my country; there are some dog and cat shelters, but other than that, nothing really. There are some kinds of "parrot-get-togethers" (for members of, say, a parrot club, if you will), but those are not exactly close to where I live. I will have to look into whether it would be possible to visit one of those at some point in the future. I was told that the oldest of my caiques attacked an Amazon parrot in the home where he was before landing in my home (he has sadly been rehomed quite a few times in his life), so there is no way I am going to let him be anywhere close to any other species than caiques. They will always be separated, in different rooms, out at different times, and so on (that is IF I decide to get any other birds at all). I’m only in the "thinking about it stage," and it took me a good 20 years (or so) to even decide on getting my caiques in the first place (so I am not in any rush).

Poicephalus species or pionus sounds like they may fit your bill. They absolutely couldn’t be left unsupervised with the caiques though but I’m sure you know that. Those two parrot types are very similar in size to caiques and have short tails. Not dusty and generally considered to be “quieter” types of parrots. I would say find somewhere that you could meet a few species and see how you get along with them!

We don't have rescues as such in my country; there are some dog and cat shelters, but other than that, nothing really. There are some kinds of "parrot-get-togethers" (for members of, say, a parrot club, if you will), but those are not exactly close to where I live. I will have to look into whether it would be possible to visit one of those at some point in the future. I was told that the oldest of my caiques attacked an Amazon parrot in the home where he was before landing in my home (he has sadly been rehomed quite a few times in his life), so there is no way I am going to let him be anywhere close to any other species than caiques. They will always be separated, in different rooms, out at different times, and so on (that is IF I decide to get any other birds at all). I’m only in the "thinking about it stage," and it took me a good 20 years (or so) to even decide on getting my caiques in the first place (so I am not in any rush).

Budgies are the best. Glad to see they’re on your list!

Yes, they are little cuties, and I feel very much overlooked, dismissed, and sadly treated as some sort of disposable thing rather than a living creature that also happens to be a parrot and as such a very smart animal. They have always been on my list; together with caiques, other species have come and gone throughout the years.

I would have to ask why you are looking to add any other bird to your home. Caiques are high energy birds so what is it they don’t give you enough as companion birds? Only asking because sometimes we just don’t know when enough… is enough and all we truly need. Their needs are more important.

I love my caiques, they are my crazy little buddies, and they are in no way lacking something as companions. All my animals and their needs come before everything else, and yes, I do have other animals. I love animals, and my animals are my world and my family. Furthermore, I'm considering (nothing is set in stone) getting more birds in the future because I simply love animals, and having different species of animals is part of who I am as a person. I have always had lots of different animals, and I would never get more animals than I could properly take care of. Like with everything in life, we all make different life choices. I love sharing my life with multiple different species of animals. Also, I feel like I could ask you (and like a million other people on here) the same thing, but I won't do that because I'm just going to assume it's because you want to (and because it fits your lifestyle).

I adopted my first Indian ringneck last fall and am completely in love with him and the species. He's playful, personable, and always has an upbeat attitude. While his calls can get loud if he wants to get my attention, he doesn't vocalize all day. He likes sitting on or with me, but is also independent and will fly around and hang out on the top of his cage. He is unusual in that he likes having his head scratched, but he's not overly needy.

I have a lot of allergies, and I'm surprised by how little dust and dander he produces. I wish more people talked about this, because I would have gone with this species sooner.

I have a grey and had a Meyer's for many years. As a kid, we had budgies and a cockatiel. The ringneck is far, far, far less messy than all of those species when it comes to dander.

I loved my Meyer's and she wasn't "dusty" in the way greys and cockatiels are, but when she was done preening herself she would shake off a very noticeable cloud of dust and dander into the air. My ringneck is not like this at all.

Finding information regarding how "dusty" or not different species are has not been the easiest, so that is very valuable information, thank you. Usually it says something about greys, cockatoos, and cockatiels, and on occasion the old world and the new world are mentioned, but I am sure it is not quite that simple. Things aren't usually quite that black and white; I’m sure there is a gray area in terms of varying degrees of dustiness.

/Animallover_84

 

[RosyBourke]

If you're interested in ones that aren't necessarily super into being handled, not cuddly, and are more pretty singing/noises and colors I really like the Rosellas. They are capable of being tame and I've heard of handfeed but they're very hard to find where I live so mine is not tame, I got him from a more abusive situation so I have not worked with him. I think he could be capable of sitting and hanging out but so far is not a "cuddly" bird. But so beautiful and sounds just like a rainforest in my house now.

 

[2fruitcaiq]

Food for thought: I have 4 GCC and thanks to their sassy personalities they actually attack my other birds! My 2 caiques ignore them but the conures will seek them out and go after them. We had a scuffle a while back where a conure decided to attack the caique (caique was minding its business inside its closed cage) and it resulted in the conure getting a nipped toe. Conure did not care! So perhaps be mindful of this with GCC's

 

[yellowtiki]

Hey!
I have two crazy caique boys (15 and 7), and I have been thinking about getting some more parrots in the future. Obviously, I am aware that my boys would likely attack any other parrot species and will keep them separate from one another. I am not sure exactly what it is that I am looking for, but here are some thoughts...

• Smaller, similar size or slightly larger than my boys (nothing bigger than say an Amazon or something like that).
• No dusty birds (as in feather dust/dander) - I have asthma and would like to avoid anything that might become a problem in the future.
• Funny, playful and personable would be preferred. I have caiques after all and feel like they suit me well.
• I am not sure if I am looking for something similarly high maintenance (as my boys) or something "easier" in therms of them demanding training, company and play etc. so I am open for suggestions either way (low and high maintenance birds).
• Would love if they would be slightly different in colors or if there are two very similar species that can live together and understand each other. In my country you have to (law) get two parrots (at least) and they should be of the same or of a very similar species (there are some exceptions, but I believe in giving all social species a friend). I have one Black headed, and one White bellied caique for example. Like to be able to easily tell the difference, and like that they look different.
• Not super loud. I live in an apartment, aka. I am sharing walls with neighbors. Also, I have quite sensitive ears, tinnitus etc. My boys (caiques) can be loud sometimes, but I am ok with their noise...would prefer if it would not be louder though. Amazon = way too loud, for example. So quieter or similar in loudness to caiques.
• No special dietary demands such as lories/lorikeets etc. I feel like it is complicated enough with veggies, fruits, nuts, seeds, soaked seeds/sprouts and so on. My boys get a variety of different fresh foods and TOPS pellets (I am looking into incorporating other things such as freeze-dried stuff, flowers etc. as well).
• Not necessary, but I prefer a shorter type tail (shorter feathers, such as the stocky build of a caique). Not a huge fan of tiny birds with super long, thin tail feathers. I love budgies, though, so there are exceptions... open for both types.

Some species that have crossed my mind:

• Budgies - always had a soft spot for these cuties.
• Lovebirds - specifically (I think) fischeri and personatus
• Green cheek conures
• Senegal and Meyers
• (Cape parrots - but I suspect they may be dusty?)
• (Mini/Hahns Macaw - but might be too loud?)
• Parrotlets
• Quaker parrot

I have looked into some more species, but can't remember all the species on the top of my head. Will be adding to my list when more comes to mind.

Any tips will be welcome. Thank you!
/Animallover_84

hi! maybe you should look into a kakariki. i have a sweet girl who is a busy body, not dusty, low volume, very polite and on the smaller side. she does have long feathers though but she’s so cute and rotund. i have 2 tiels and 2 budgies, however they have not interacted with my riki. i’m attaching a pic for reference. they come in many colors/mutations. i’ve seen yellow red front, blue, blue pied, etc etc.

 

[WikiWaz]

hi! maybe you should look into a kakariki. i have a sweet girl who is a busy body, not dusty, low volume, very polite and on the smaller side. she does have long feathers though but she’s so cute and rotund. i have 2 tiels and 2 budgies, however they have not interacted with my riki. i’m attaching a pic for reference. they come in many colors/mutations. i’ve seen yellow red front, blue, blue pied, etc etc.

Good option.

 

[tka]

This is an older thread and the original poster last logged onto the forum in July. I imagine that they've resolved their issue by now.

 

[Animallover_84]

This is an older thread and the original poster last logged onto the forum in July. I imagine that they've resolved their issue by now.

I don't log in that often, this is true...however, I still very much appreciate any input and tips regarding species. As I did write previously; it took me a good 20 + years before I finally decided on getting my caiques and I'm in no hurry regarding a potential second species. Thanks in advance.
/Animallover_84