Posted: 12/12/2012 7:49:35 PM EDT
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Anyone have parrots?
I'm heading stateside again in sep and am looking forward to getting another bird but I want a medium to large parrot that is sociable and good family bird. I'm considering a Cocatoo, African Grey or even a Macaw. I had a Spectacled Amazon from highschool till the time I had to PCS here and sadly had to give her away (A family member was going to care for her while I was here but assed out). My little girl was a rescue bird that was given to me, at the time NOBODY could get near her and it took a solid 6 months of working with her before she decided one night I was Hers and she'd be my best friend... but nobody could get close to her or touch her and Heaven help the cat or dog if I was petting one of them because the bird would put an end to it quick.  She was just starting to accept that my wife was part of the family when I had to leave her behind... It's been a while but I still feel guilty, she was like my first kid.
anyhow. I know Amazons can latch to one person African Grey's are supposed to be excellent talkers, are a manageable size and moderately loud. Macaws seem to be wonderful birds, just big and loud Cocatoos seem decent sized and playful but loud, not sure how they are with multiple family members. thoughts? hell just post pictures of your bird if you want. I'll get a couple of mine up later. |
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I have several birds and other various pets. My wife is a zoo keeper so it spills over to our house.
We have parakeets, an Alexandrine, an African Grey and a Blue and Gold Macaw We go the African Grey and the Blue and Gold after someone dropped them off on the front door to the zoo. The parakeets are the easiest to take care of but they don't speak. The Alexandrine is nice and does talk quite a bit. I like him the best because he is smaller and easier to take care of. The Blue and Gold is very big and very, very, very loud. We he screaches it is deafening inside the house. He is very distructive and will destroy everything if you don't keep any eye on him when he is out. It took him about 10 seconds to rip 15 keys off my keyboard. He talks but does not like me at all I cannot even pick him up without my wife there. The African Grey is by far the most intellagent. He know a lot of words and some trick. We have to keep a lock on the cage because he has figure out how to open it. He give use the most problems though. He is very social and when you leave the room he make alot of noise. When we go on vacation and our friend watches our house he pull out most of his feathers. |
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Look at my favorite birds, the white capped pionus. Increadibly socable, very smart, a size that is managable, quiet and can talk I had two and cannot say enough about this species of birds! looks about the size of my little Amazon! I'll take a look at those when I get ready to buy a bird too. thanks for the info everyone. I absolutely love Parrots. |
| Lots of good advice here. We had over 300 at one time as we ran a rescue and an aviary for several years. African greys are awesome birds, very intelligent and friendly to a point. We have one that can say anything he wants. My favorite of all time was my green wing, sweeter and more gentle than a blue and gold, but still loud and more expensive. No, no, no on a cockatoo, they are great till they mature, then they become a one person bird and can become aggressive toward everyone else. We took in more rescue cockatoos than all preggers combined. They are very smart and can easily escape from many cages. The suggestion of a pionus i(my favorite is a blue head) a good one, another good one is a Solomon island eclectus, male is usually sweeter, but not as beautiful as the red and blue female. As important as which breed its buying from the right breeder. You do not want a parent raised baby, you want a hand raised bird, it will much, much easier to handle without getting bitten and incorporate into your family. Be glad to help any way I can |
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OK, I have a different opinion on a cockatoo. They are very affectionate and require constant attention. Constant. I have 5 of them ranging from 6 months old to 33 years old. Hens will get "nesty" in the late winter. But get over it in a few weeks. Nothing with feathers will love you back like a cockatoo. But nothing will demand more of your attention than a cockatoo.  |
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We have a male Eclectus. He is an awesome bird. A good talker and whistler and very freindly and smart. But they do require alot of attention and they can be demanding or they will make you pay!
If you dont keep an eye on them they can get into mischief. But I think most parrots are like that. |
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We have a Timneh African Grey, she is our second Afircan Grey. Our first was a Congo and had a congenital disease and only lived to be 1.5 yrs old. Our Timneh is VERY attached to me and will allow some moderate attention from my fiance. She is a very needy girl, always wants to sit with us. Which is nice but can be annoying at times. When I leave her sight she freaks out. AGs are great pets. The Congo that we had would allow me to pet it whenever I wantes, our Timneh is more picking with the touching. Only when she allows it which isnt very often. But she will sit on my hand for hours if I allow her to.
Since we purchased our Timneh we have had contact with a couple Caiques at the local pet store. These birds are AMAZING, VERY VERY friendly and not too loud. They can say things but but as clear as other birds. They are smaller than AGs. The ones that we have interacted with will let you manhandle them. pick them up roll them over and rub their bellies. |
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Quoted:
We have a male Eclectus. He is an awesome bird. A good talker and whistler and very freindly and smart. But they do require alot of attention and they can be demanding or they will make you pay! If you dont keep an eye on them they can get into mischief. But I think most parrots are like that. We had one for a while. It was a very friendly bird. Very nice and would steep up on anyone. They say there not as noises as other birds. but he made some loud noises. stuck |
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I lived with a Yellow Naped Amazon for a couple of years. He was a very funny and affectionate bird. He was also bilingual. Easy bird to care for too. I would take him into the shower with me and perch him on the towel holder. He would sing like it was the best day of his life.
We had two Dobies and a Golden Retriever that knew the bird was the boss. He would climb down the bird cage and march across the living room floor between all of the dogs, climb up my pants leg, then my shirt, and finally perch on my shoulder and watch TV with us. The worst thing he did was learn sounds from the radio. One day there was a severe storm warning and he picked up that aweful alarm noise and it drove us crazy. ARRRRR ARRRRRR ARRRRRR Miss him a lot. |