Any parrot owners?

[shazier2000]

Originally Posted by chachi

Im glad you told me about your friend and the macaw. I am just researching now but I dont think I want a bird that is that powerful. I have an 8 yr old and shes the one that really wants a bird that talks. We almost got a parrotlet awhile back so that may be what I look into even though they dont talk. I have also been researching quaker parrots because they are smaller also. Whatever I get I will have to wait awhile because I first have to replace all my pans because they are teflon. Sso we need to do more research and preparing for a bird. I am so glad you posted though

Hi happy to help anytime. But honestly if this is your first parrot then do get one of the smaller ones.A macaw is not advised as a first parrot for anyone and certainly not for an 8yr old child, sorry i dont mean to put a downer on this for you but, you do need in my opinion exper.Would hate for you to get one and something bad happed.They start of really nice and sweet, there babies but if there not handled correctly from the word go,they can also be very dangerous as with most parrots.
They are fantastics birds in the right hands and as with any pet there is a pecking order, you are at the top, always. I also have a handreared cockatiel he is a darling, he was locked in a dark shed because he was to noisy he really tries to be the boss of me, yeh right little fellow you can try all you want lol My first parrot was an african grey,that being billy age 20wks when i got her,sold as a him until i found an egg a few yrs later lol
he was sold at 13wks and returned,reason was they didnt have the time to spend with her.
I was looking for a conure and i have to be honest i didnt do any research into parrots at all until after i bought billy, id had a budgie in the past and 1 finch when i was younger, the budgie I let my mother have and she always kept it in the kitchen,I had him in my lounge, it died a few mths later, we put it down to being old age, bet it wasnt though and i havent mentioned this to her, she would feel so guilty,all the pet shop told me was which seed to feed and to give calcium,nothing about diet and household products being dangerous ie:
teflon pans was never mentioned, paint, polish air fresheners, candles, fumes from bleach nothing and all of these i used and there are many other things that are not safe, then i got a double yellow head a few wks later again, from the same pet shop. I had to return it because when i got up the following morning it wasnt breathing right,I could hear it, i took it down to my local vet to have a listen, he advised I took it straight back.
they wouldnt refund my money but, i could swop for another parrot, i took mango, was told he was a she, wrong again i had him DNA sexed. Knowing what i know now mango was not a fully handreared grey, great pet shop, I would personally never again buy from a pet shop, some dont care who they sell to as long as they sell and make a profit. Maybe not all?I think a breeder is the best place and if poss a breeder that is recommended but if you are going to buy a baby, there is no guarantee that it will be an ex talker, I see this as a bonus. Also be aware if you buy from an ad that there are people out there that will sell there parrots because, of behavior problems and they cant handle them. Some probs are not easy to correct. Some will say they are the sweetest thing but they just dont have the time to spend with them Another good thing is when you decide which bird you want, join the groups there are so many people out there that will give some great advise, I did and i learnt so much.
really nice chatting to you, im dreadful when i get my talking head on, I write a book lol

[Susan123]

I'm a big bird lover, literally. I had a macaw, my baby Scotty. He is a blue and gold Macaw. I had to rehome him due to my health. I miss him so much. I also had a Tucumon Amazon. My sister has a Congo African Grey and mom has a blue headed conure. Both talk alot, but most talkative of course is the grey, he's the great mocker. He says so much, not in his voice, but the voice of the one that usually says it. He can sounds like her maltese' barking, sister coughing and so much more....MIL has a cockatoo and green cheeked conures...many more.

[BubblPopElectrc]

Originally Posted by SamiNFurbabies

What do you think of parrotlets?
I would like to get a bird (or two) and I'm torn between a pair of lovebirds or a parrotlet...
I've been told that GCC's are good....but I like smaller or bigger birds in different colors.

I really like them. I hear that they are quieter than lovebirds but Fern definitely isn't quiet. She goes nuts if you're in another room and she isn't with you. She was very nippy for the first several months but is much better now. She loves toy and uses every each of her very large cage.

I'd love a second one!

[francis53]

Well, besides my 7 dogs, I have 10 parrots. We have a blue and gold macaw, 2 african greys, a quaker, greencheek conure, an indian ringneck and 4 parrotlets.
since I have 4, my parrotlets are very noisey!! Mine are not tame since they are in pairs, and can be very nippy. My niece has one of my babies I handfed, though, and he is very bonded to her and is learning to say a few words.
My macaw and one of my greys are my talkers, they say quite a bit. Also the grey barks, screams like a macaw(that one is fun,lol) beeps like the microwave, the list goes on and on
Birds can make good pets, but they do need lots of attention to stay tame, I know I enjoy mine alot though, so its worth it.

[francis53]

Thought I would share some pics of my feathered kids
1. Sweet Pea (grey)
2. Blue (IRN)
3. Emma & Ziggy (quaker & GCC)
4. Bristol (b & g macaw)

[mizzwanned]

Originally Posted by francis53

Thought I would share some pics of my feathered kids
1. Sweet Pea (grey)
2. Blue (IRN)
3. Emma & Ziggy (quaker & GCC)
4. Bristol (b & g macaw)

They are all so pretty! I love the 2nd blue one, that color is gorgeous!

[wildcard]

We have a rescued Quaker named Rosco who is about 12 years old. We also have a Lesser Jardine named Envy who is 4 years old.

Rosco talks quite a bit, but all I am to him is his bird slave. He LOVES my husband, just adores him and behaves well for him. As for me, we have reached the point where when he bites me, he does not break skin anymore! He used to draw blood so I feel like we have progressed. My husband has very little interaction with the birds, but Rosco still loves him. Lots of birds are like that.

Envy is a sweetheart. She likes to meet new people. Jardines will talk, and she knows a few words, but she is best at mimicing sounds, even to the point when I open a closet she makes the noise of metal hangers screeching on the metal clothes pole. Kisses, microwave beeps, phones, belching, that's my Envy girl. She LOVES to dance and is the only one in the house that appreciates my singing. Jardines are usually pretty social birds, which is unusual for a parrot, and Envy is definitely social, she will go to anyone, anytime. She HATES the dogs, she has been known to chase them down the hallway, and I can't imagine the dogs would take that treatment for long, so for everyone's safety we keep them seperate. The first time one of our dog girls came in season one of my male dogs, cried and wailed, it was awful. Of course Envy picked that up in about 2 seconds, so I heard it from two sides of the house! Luckily that stopped after we got through that first heat cycle...

Not too long ago we were doing some painting in the house and so we boarded the birds for a few days at the vet. They stayed up front near reception, and within hours Envy was making the noise of their phone and Rosco was saying "yeah, yeah, uh uh, yeah, OK, thank you!" like he was carrying on one side of the phone conversation. They loved the attention they were getting for their little talent show, and continued it for a few days once they got home.