What is the best type of bird for an inside pet for a child?

[thebritt]

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We have a parakeet, cockatiel, and a greencheek conure. The conure talks, says "I love you", "How ya doin", and some other short phrases. The cockatiel doesn't talk, but loves to imitate whistled songs. The parakeet is hilarious...she imitates the talking and the songs, but in a really tiny voice, and really fast, all blurred together, and sounds like she's on helium!

I'd recommend the parakeet or cockatiel as a first bird. When she gets older and decides human friends take priority over bird friends, these smaller birds seem to adjust well to hanging out with us old fogies. When my daughter is gone for a couple days (she'll be 18 in 3 days(!)), the conure really misses her, but the other two don't seem to mind.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

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Why not try a chicken? I know...I know...but Belgian Quail Antwerps are just so CUTE!!!!

I mean...LOOK AT THIS FACE!

(NOT my bird!)

 

[mom2chicksandpups]

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Why not try a chicken? I know...I know...but Belgian Quail Antwerps are just so CUTE!!!!

I mean...LOOK AT THIS FACE!
http://www.dabarn.net/quailp2.jpg

(NOT my bird!)

I tried to let her just claim some of my chickens and even offered to get a few for her own (any excuse to buy more), but she wouldn't go for that. She wants something that is different.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

But would you let her keep it inside the house???

 

[Sunny the Hippie Chick]

I would say parrakeet or cockatiel.. My friend had a parrakeet and it could say a few things.. She later got a cockatiel, it never said any thing.. Come to find out the cockatiel was a female. Females talk less we were all told.. So what ever bird you get, I would get a male.. Not sure if it is true or not. But the parrakeet was a male and it talked. It said pretty bird. Kitty kitty. A funny sounding I love you.. And its name, but I cant remember its name..

 

[mom2chicksandpups]

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I wouldn't let her keep a chicken inside. That's the problem, I guess. I would let her bring it in some, but it would have to go back out with the others eventually. We had one inside last night that was having trouble with walking. I will have to post a picture in a little while.

 

[Southernbelle]

Whatever breed you decide: spend a little more and get a hand-raised bird - they are super tame and friendly from the get-go.

I've had pet store parakeets that we tamed ourselves and taught to talk. They were very satisfying pets, but have a tendency to screech at times.

My favorite was a hand-raised Peach Faced Lovebird - oh was he sweet!

 

[mom2chicksandpups]

Here is my daughter "sleeping" on the couch with my injured chick. Of course, she is only playing possum. She was too excited about bringing the chicken inside to get any real sleep.

 

[redroosta]

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they can talk but they have to be trained just like a regular parrot..

they just learn slower than parrots. but if kept outside they mimic the sounds of native birds and stuff, cool pets really.

 

[Wifezilla]

I vote parakeet. They always seemed hardier than the cockatiels. And yes, they can talk, they just wont have a very large vocabulary.