Best Apartment birds?

[Pomlover2586]

We're going to look at some GCC this weekend......but everyone here seems to think GCC won't work in an apartment setting. What species of birds do work in an apartment? Can you describe their traits as well?

We're looking for something that is affectionate, but not "needy" to the point of self mutilation and fairly small- Jenday or Sun Conure size or smaller. DH doesn't ant a beak that is too large.

[brfussne]

I would suggest a Pionus. I was in the process of buying one but the deal fell through. They're quiet so very suitable for apartment living, and cuddly but independent so they are not velcro birds like Toos. I think they may be a bit bigger than a Sun Conure though.

[cml]

I would suggest a Pionus. I was in the process of buying one but the deal fell through. They're quiet so very suitable for apartment living, and cuddly but independent so they are not velcro birds like Toos. I think they may be a bit bigger than a Sun Conure though.

I too would reccomend a Pinous!

They are quiet, rarely makes any kind of screaming, and are affectionate birds. Ours also took taming quite easily, until we had a little accident which lessened his trust in us, and made him regress a little (but that is due to him being an aviary bird).
Now we are back up to scratching, targeting, flight recall and step up

They are amazing birds imo, probably one of the best birds suited as "pet"/companion birds.
A lot of people suggest poi's and they are great birds, but they can be a little aggressive, at least that is my experience with them. The pionus are much calmer.

I also have an amazon, and Stitch is an amazing bird and I love him to bits, but I wouldnt reccomend an amazon for appartment living I think (even if I live in an appartment and it works great, I think we got very lucky with Stitch who doesnt scream at all). He is also more feisty, and can nip sometimes to get his way (he thinks).

Leroy, our Pionus has only bitten me when I had to restrain him to stop a bleeding claw), he is amazing with that.

[Michael]

Poicephalus (mainly all but Cape but even Cape to an extent) have potential as apartment parrots. You still gotta research them specifically but these are characteristics I think make them suitable for living in apartments:

-Lower volume
-Less frequently vocal
-Little or no odor
-Relatively less mess than bigger parrots
-Can fly in smaller space (all but Cape)
-Bode well alone

The bode well alone part is for good and for bad. The good aspects are they are unlikely to feather pluck, can keep quiet/busy on their own when you're away, can be left (with care) during vacations without requiring a therapist, and they are less in need of other birds/humans than other species might be. However, the flip side is that they sometimes prefer being alone and don't mix well with additional parrots, pets, or humans. Be sure to consider long term because they live a long time. Don't get one because you live solo in an apartment now and want this kind of pet to later move to a house and "trade it in for a bigger parrot."

Here's a ton of info about Senegal Parrots:
viewtopic.php?f=12&t=348
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=768
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=1528
viewtopic.php?f=12&t=1061

[Khaiqha]

I have a ringneck, my roommate has a budgie and cockatiel, another roommate has a dog, and everything seems to work fine in our apartment. Here are some traits of our birds:

Ringneck
-Likes to always be in eyesight of at someone
-Makes a few loud calls at dawn and dusk (I sleep through them, and my neighbors don't hear it)
-I consider her cuddly, but I never had a conure or cockatoo to compare
-Is pretty independant, explores on her own, doesn't like to be alone but doesn't freak out about it
-Loves people, hates other animals

Cockatiel
-Always wants to be on someone's shoulder
-Doesn't like to be petted
-Isn't as loud as ringneck, but vocalizes way more often

Budgie
-Can be very loud when he's angry, otherwise quiet
-Likes to be in eyesight of people
-Only wants to be touched or held occasionly


Keep in mind all birds are individuals shaped by their training.Think about what you would do if you got a gcc that screamed often. Another species you might want to consider would be parrotlets.

[marie83]

Starting to sound like I have exceptionally quiet birds from what everyone says about green cheeks :S Or my perception of quiet is skewed. Asked the neighbours upstairs and downstairs and both say they rarely hear my birds and when they do its never for very long.

[Cage Cleaner]

Starting to sound like I have exceptionally quiet birds from what everyone says about green cheeks :S Or my perception of quiet is skewed. Asked the neighbours upstairs and downstairs and both say they rarely hear my birds and when they do its never for very long.

How old is your GCC?

[marie83]

2 years and 2 months.

[Grey_Moon]

The only ones you could safely have across-the-board (pionus, poicephalus etc are 'known' for being quiet in terms of infrequent vocalizing---but the pitch when they do does leave something to be desired so I dunno if it would be fail-proof---plus what happens if they learn the smoke alarm etc) would be a parrotlet. I'd suggest also possibly a linneolated parakeet---but mine learned the cockatiel alarm/flock call and was pretty loud.
Maybe a green-cheek conure too.

[fccontantino]

I have all my birds in an apartament.
The most quiet and with the best behave is the Pionus.
Cockatiels are also a good choice, but I think they are too small.


Regards,