Amazons vs African Greys

Kiwi2010

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bexleyheath
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35 budgies, 2 indian ringnecks, 5 cockatiels and a baby kakariki :)
Hi Guys,
Well, I'm looking for a new companion, I made a VERY silly move by selling sky,
I am now looking for a new parrot, and am willing to do everything to make him happy!
Me and my family have decided to get either an african grey or an amazon.
I have 3 little sisters, our family is very dedicated towards parrots, so we have the right environment hopefully, We've had ringneck's before, never had a grey or amazon, we have once however taken care of a grey for a friend for 6 weeks,
He was very noisy, but also very loving, he had his moments when he wanted to stay in the cage, but I have never been bitten by one, Also, my friend has an amazon, he was very talkative and loving, so I am not sure which one to buy, which would be suitable for me?
Someone is always home, so they will get loads of attention!
Thanks :)
 
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Kiwi2010

Kiwi2010

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35 budgies, 2 indian ringnecks, 5 cockatiels and a baby kakariki :)
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Hi,
Well, I sold sky because he bit my dad on the shoulder and took a chunk out, made him bleed very badly, but I think it was silly, my parents sold him out of anger and they said they regret it, sky was not tame, but he was a great bird. My parents said that they will be responsible towards the birds we will buy.
Thanks
 

Spiritbird

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Please consider that most companion bird will at some time give a bite that breaks the skin. It is very rare that as a parrot guardian your skin is not bruised or bitten, especially when you have a larger Amazon or CAG.
 

SharonC

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If your parents were angry at a Budgie bite, it will be much worse with an Amazon. Amazons can be moody, and unpredictable. They are beautiful birds, and I love Fred(my Amazon)...but I expect whoever handles the bird will get bitten, and it will hurt much more than a budgie's bite. Amazons need patience, and respect, and even then, bites happen.

Have you considered a Linnie? You'll likely get bitten by a Linnie as well, in the beginning, but it's not nearly as painful as an Amazon bite. Hand raised Linnies are fairly predictable birds, and learn to love their people very much.
 

JawzX

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8 year-old second-hand Alexandrine Parakeet Buddy (aka Baby, aka Ms. Prissy Beak)
I'm gonna chime in here on the Amazon front, my girlfriend's Red Lored Amazon is a great bird, he loves to talk, loves an audience, is gregarious and has personality out his feathey butt... However, he has an attitude and bites when the mood stikes him, sometimes without warning.. Amazons can change moods in an instant and you are almost guaranteed to get bitten at some point, posibly HARD. If biting is a big concern an Amazon may not be the right choice.

I have no real experience with CAGs and TAGs, but they also have big strong beaks and an angry or frightened CAG could take a good chunk i'm sure...

for a larger bird experience, I'm a big fan of the Alexandrine parakeet. They are one of the least bite-inclined birds around, and although they don't tend to be as brainy as AGs, or quite as gregarious as Amazns, but they have great, stabil personalities, can be excellent talkers and are adventerous and love to play. Please remember, I am biased ;)
 

lisamarie973

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Maui - Male CAG (my baby) (Mom's babies) KiKi - Sun Conure, Fred & Wilma - Fisher Lovebirds, Gully,Sweetie,Baby - Cockatiels, Mork & Mindy - Zebra Finches Luna,Sky,Jilly - Budgies 16 Gouldian Finches
Hi Kiwi,

I can chime in on what it's like living with a CAG. My baby is 15 weeks old, so just a baby. He's been loved, snuggled, hand fed, talked to A LOT, sang to, danced for, and just plain spoiled as spoiled can be. AND YES, he is a GEM, however, even as a baby with LOTS of attention, he still will bite now and again. I wouldn't trade him, sell him, re home him for all the money in the world, but, I know that he is going to bite sometimes. In fact, with most birds, it comes with the territory. If your family decides to get a larger breed bird, maybe you could encourage them to do a little bit of research on which ever species interests them the most, so they're aware that these things CAN and WILL happen occasionally. Perhaps you could come up with a family plan as to how you'll handle the situation, once you're faced with it?? It's always a good idea to plan ahead for possible mishaps.

Just like us humans get cranky and maybe say things we don't mean to people we love and hurt them, birds get cranky too, except they don't have the verbal skills to express their frustrations, so, they bite. It doesn't mean they aren't remorseful, because I'm a FIRM believer that they certainly are. But just like us, they aren't perfect. So it's very important to forgive your bird, just as you would hope your loved one would forgive you, if you mistakenly hurt their feelings.
 

lisamarie973

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Maui - Male CAG (my baby) (Mom's babies) KiKi - Sun Conure, Fred & Wilma - Fisher Lovebirds, Gully,Sweetie,Baby - Cockatiels, Mork & Mindy - Zebra Finches Luna,Sky,Jilly - Budgies 16 Gouldian Finches
On a lighter note;

If I were to convince you one way or the other, I couldn't. LOL.. Each an Amazon as well as a Grey have so many wonderful things about them to offer into a family unit. Just as each of them have quirks that could be considered an issue to a family unit, depending on individual circumstances.

Greys have a tendency to be a rather shy kind of bird (don't tell Mishka that, lol) they also are a bit nervous and it doesn't take much for them to lose trust in their humans. They require daily attention and a TON of socialization or they could become a bit neurotic.

Amazons, as stated by the folks here that live with them can be very tempermental, which can be so frustrating at times. Just when you think you've brought your relationship to a new level, the bird gets cranky, bites or withdraws, only to be Mr/Ms lovey dovey the next day all over again. It is an endless cycle and to live with an Amazon, you must realize that it is what it is and not let those off days discourage you too much.

That's why THIS forum is GREAT!! We all get to vent off our experiences with our birds each day and compare notes and realize, it's not necessarily anything WE did to our birds, but they're just having a day. OR Maybe it IS something we've done, they we never realized, but someone here helps us to realize what it could be.
It's also REALLY fun to share all the wonderful things about our birds with each other too!!! Because, lets face it, not ALL of our friends outside of here want to hear all about our FIDS all the time, right guys?? LOL

Kiwi, good luck honey. I hope for you and your family to make the best decision for yourselves and a new FID.
 
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Kiwi2010

Kiwi2010

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35 budgies, 2 indian ringnecks, 5 cockatiels and a baby kakariki :)
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Hi Guys :)
Thanks for the replies! Sky was a blue indian ringneck not a budgie lol, no worries, I should've made it clear, we believe that we can take care of a larger bird and if he happens to bite, we will do a more responsible option then to sell him or her, what would be best to do if a bird (Grey or Amazon) Bites you?
Thanks guys :)
 

Spiritbird

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Best option is to educate yourself on the nature of parrots and why they bite people. Learn to watch the body language for an impending bite. Do not shoulder a bird that bites or put you hands in the cage when the bird is in the cage.
 

Chaos_1.0

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I would suggest go to a bird store and just hold a bunch of different birds. If you are afraid of the bigger birds, then I would say not to get one. Fear of getting bit is a problem with a lot of people.

I have been bit by everything from a parakeet to a macaw. I have scars on my hand from a cockatoo. I personally don't fear getting bit, but you do have to respect them. I have known some really nice Amazons and some really, really mean greys.
 

mellykyitus

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Angel the blue and gold macaw, mimsy the lesser sulphur too, rocky the galah & willow the blue crowned conure.
the best thing to do is get a hand reared baby, that way you know the history and the chick is used to humans. although i'm a fan of adopting a bird from a rescue centre, i think they would take more patience to build up a relationship and if it didn't work out that would way to much stress for any re homed bird.
but remember ALL birds bite, especially when they mature and during spring. they have moods much the same as us, and if you're parents arn't on board and patient perhaps a bigger bird isn't for you, they live a LONG time.
greys and amazons have large beaks, and if you squeal when they bite (like most birds) they like the sound or reaction and learn to do it again. the best thing is not to react or know the signs and don't put yourself in that situation.
i have a hahns macaw, he has a smaller beak than a CAG or amazon, but he can still draw blood when he's in a mood! when he bites i simply put him on his perch and leave the room. he soon learnt that if he wants my attention - don't bite me!
maybe spend more time with your friends grey and amazon, and make sure you're parents stay calm if it gets tough. x
 

lordburrito

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Chilli, Scarlet Macaw
Now I am mean... I think you should get a canarian.... all the birds bite... hand fer or wild, iven the canarians!!!!???!!... hand fed usualy bite for fun or when they play with you (they bite each other in the wild... it's their "love game", and they play with us the same way..., so .... do not buy african grey or amazon... they all bite... they are just like us... moody... need lots of patience and love... dog or cat can also be an option for you... you can control their biting, but not with theeese birds... My amazon kissed me on my lips for more than 100 times... of 100... I got lip pierced for 10 timess... it was acually all 100% my foult (cause I didn't shave my beard and my amazon got spiked from my facial hair, and i had to get bitten at least 20 times to realize it)... but for you... not bitting must be.. so.. as I sad... try something else...
 

4theBirds

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4 Budgies, 4 Finches, Bindi (CAG), & Babu (TAG), AND 12 Dachshunds
Best option is to educate yourself on the nature of parrots and why they bite people. Learn to watch the body language for an impending bite. Do not shoulder a bird that bites or put you hands in the cage when the bird is in the cage.

How very true. We've owned both Amazons and Grey. Paddy, our recectly deceased CAG., was mainly my wife's bird. He tolerated me, and enjoyed taking a swipe at my thumb on many occasions. He then would say "Bad Bird...Stop it...Ha - Ha -Ha " Misha, my Red Lored Amaizon would get cranky during the first part of his molt and nip when you tried to pick him up. You really need to get to know your bird and remember he's a bird, thinks like a bird and not a human. :)
 

solobaby

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my extreamly tame indian ringneck takes chunks out ouf my fingers at least once a week if not more but i know that its my own fault most of the time for not reading him correctly or expecting more then what he feels like and even when hi is just being a brat i dont blame him - parrots are not domestic animals and they live in flocks so its all about respect ,forgiveness and trust. they will bite it is part of how the comunicate.you either except it and don't let it upset you or you don't have a parrot. simple as that
 

Chaz12

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Yes, birds can bite hard. It is a defense, since they can't fly.. When I got Sassy home, she did not know me at all and it took time before I could handle her. Trust needs building. Sassy gets alot of attention but when she wants left alone, well I don't force her out of her cage. That is her decision.. Now Sassy has not broken my skin in years now. Had her for 6 years and it has been 5 years since I got bit.. She is a good pet but Amazons in general, are one or two people birds. They will not go to others, that they don't know. Sassy could live 70 years or longer. They are life time companions. She will fan her tail, open her eyes wide, fluff her feathers up when agitated.
 

oled

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South Sweden
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Ville a double yellow head Amazon
There will always be issue with a perrot, biting, screaming or other think.So the most important thing is that you love your perrot 85 % of the time and accept him remaing 15 %. It is not really abot a Zon or a CAG but what your feeling is about a certain bird.
 

thebirdnerd

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Whitefaced Pied Male Tiel- official greeter at the Rainbow Bridge, forever in our hearts,
Turquoise Mutation IRN,
Congo African Grey- please come home to us,
Blue mutation IRN
Having had both types of birds, I think an Amazon would be more prone to biting, especially when they get excited and/or hormonal..That being said, both are great birds but can behave very differently. I myself favor greys...However do your research! This is an animal that can live upwards of 50 years so make sure it is the right fit for you and your family..Good luck!
 

henpecked

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Jake YNA 1970,Kia Panama amazon1975, both i removed from nest and left siblings, Forever Home to,Stacie (YN hen),Mickie (RLA male),Blinkie (YNA hen),Kong (Panama hen),Rescue Zons;Nitro,Echo,Rocky,Rub
Well chaos said it all. Go and meet lots of birds. Find one that "clicks" with you. My "famous" saying.... personality is more important than parentage
 

god61021

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red rumped parakeet
I gotta chime in and say its not a matter of if the bird happens to bite but when. It WILL happen.
In my very limited experience you have to be willing to take a full force bite from the bird or you guys will never trust each other. (your afraid of getting hurt and stop opening the cage as much as you use to, the bird gets more desperate for attention of any kind and starts biting even more...... well you get the point.)
Originally after 2 or 3 failed attempts at owning a parrot I decided birds were too neurotic for me and I was afraid of them.
once I figured out that birds will bite no matter what I decided to only get smaller birds that dont cause quite so much damage with their bites.
my first small bird was a handraised budgie. he could be a real S.O.B when he wanted.
but I wasnt afraid of him and his bites didnt hurt me and he soon learned biting was useless and I was gonna get my way. He grew into an amazingly awesome bird. unfortunately I wasnt careful enough with cleaning supplies and he died (another lesson learned the hard way)
Ive now got an amazing red rumped parakeet who is probably the most gentle bird in the world and she even occasionally bites under the right (or wrong) circumstances.
but I ignore her threats and she gives up because she sees its useless.
another thing you need to consider which I feel is a much bigger issue then getting your thumb eaten by a bird is the screaming.
small birds are much easier to ignore when they are chirping at the top of their lungs
An upset (or bored) amazon or african grey could make you less popular with your neighbors.
so picture this - you dont want to get the bird out of the cage because you still havent gotten the stitches removed from last time. the bird decides that screaming at you is the way to change your mind. so now you have a house full of people who dont get any sleep, havent heard half of the movies they've tried to watch and soon start to hate the bird who doesnt understand what the problem is. so the bird starts thinking "maybe I just have too many feathers? I bet if I pull them all out things will get better." once that starts good luck selling that ugly thing! nope better off just getting a smaller bird. I hear parrotlets are alot like miniature amazons. just as neurotic but quieter and alot less dangerous.
Im making a lame attempt at being funny here but seriously, the above story is from my own personal experience and im serious when I say if your not willing to take a few hard bites from it, dont get it.
 

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