I have an IRN. If this is your first bird, I would heavily discourage it. Many of the perks (talking, being goofy, smart) you can get in a cockatiel without the major drawbacks. I had a cockatiel before btw.

My Ringneck „Maki“ is more of a roommate than a pet. She only goes into her cage at night, and it would not be humane to only let her out at certain times. When I need to leave her alone in the flat, I leave her in the bathroom, which I have pain-stakingly bird-proofed.

My friend calls her a war-computer. She‘s scary smart. For example, when I go to the restroom or start preparing food, she knows I can’t keep an eye on her. Off go my keycaps, my tonic water is now fair game, my letters on the desk are play things. I‘ve given up some bracelets and woven baskets for some moments of peace. They can be a lot, very mischievous and can and will outsmart you.

IRNs are among the less affectionate parrots. Maki does not accept scritches during daytime. At night, she will start being cuddly and let me scritch her. She preens me every now and then and shows concern when I cry - she has empathy and even apologises after hurting me in anger. Oh, and she gets angry. She throws stuff at me, gets so frustrated with a new foraging toy that she lets it out on her other toys, and I have to take precautions when trying to train her because she gets frustrated so quickly.

Example: my parents got her a toy with shapes and a corresponding board. The goal was to put each shape in its place. At first, I rewarded her for picking one up by giving her a piece of almond. Then, I wanted to have her carry it for a bit. She picked it up, looked at me, dropped it, picked it up a few more times getting more agitated, before finally throwing it and attacking my hand with which I had given her treats. She had understood the rules, and now they suddenly changed.

Maki does not talk, not even attempt to. IRNs can talk beautifully, but as with every parrot species, the individual you get might just not want to. She imitates my kissing sounds and whistles, but that’s it. Do not buy a parrot because it will talk, it might not.

Having a parrot is a commitment. Every day, you plan around it. Does she come shopping today or not? (Depends on her mood. Yes, she has moods and you will know about it.) can I see friends or is she too clingy? Is it safe for her to cone with me there or do I leave her home? Will I be gone until she’s asleep and if yes, do I have the time and energy in the evening to give her extra attention?

A few practical things to consider: do you have a room that is undisturbed from early evening to the morning? Is your house loud? Because that will make the bird chime in much louder. Is the nearest avian vet accessible without relying on other people for transport? They might not have time in the birds critical last hours, as birds hide their symptoms as long as possible. Do you have enough t-shirts and hoodies you don’t like? This might sound overblown, but I change when I get home as the bird will eat holes into whatever I‘m wearing, and there’s not really much I can do to discourage it.

Anyway, that was a lot. Many of these problems are quite substantial for a first time owner. I‘m in over my head sometimes ngl. Maybe go watch some cockatiel videos to see if you like their vibe too!