What to get next

Hello everyone, I am new here. I already have a blue quaker and a green cheek conure. They are wonderful birds. My quaker talks pretty good and has even taught my conure to talk. Now we want an excellent talker. We are considering a Eclectus (maybe spelled wrong), a Yellow Nape Amazon or possibly an African Grey. I have read and heard good and bad about each. A friend of mine had an African Grey growing up and he was mean and practically plucked out all of his feathers. Which could be because he never got any attention. But I don't want to judge the Grey just on that one. We started out with the conure because I wanted to start small. Now I am ok with bigger birds. It is only my husband and I and don't want a breed that is known to pick one of us and become aggressive with the other. I know birds tend to pick one companion which ours have but they are not aggressive with the other. I have handled all 3 of these recently but just don't know what to do. Any advice would be great.

The African Grey is the best breed for talking. Then I would say the Amazon

Thanks for the advice. I am so torn. From what I have read the eclectus has a pretty strict diet. I was leaning more toward the yellow nape amazon. I also failed to mention that my husband and I both work so I would like a parrot that could entertain itself with toys or be social with my other two birds. We got the conure first and then the quaker (in separate cages of course) and they seem to really entertain each other. My conure Loki will play with toys all day long, my quaker Otis seems more lazy. We visited the pet shop where we got our other two and my husband loved the eclectus. They are all hand fed there and all the birds are very friendly. I just don't know what to do. I want a bird that is right fro both of us. Thanks again for your help!

Electuses are amazing and beautiful, but I heard that the females (red ones) are more aggressive. The amazons are amazing- my mommom owns 3 I help raise. But they are only 1-2 person birds. Gomez, our youngest only like my grandfather and I, Suzie only like my mommom and grandfather, and Benny only likes my cousin Chris and I. I would be leaning towards the Electus, even with their strict diet, just for personality's sake.

lokiNotis said:

Thanks for the advice. I am so torn. From what I have read the eclectus has a pretty strict diet. I was leaning more toward the yellow nape amazon. I also failed to mention that my husband and I both work so I would like a parrot that could entertain itself with toys or be social with my other two birds. We got the conure first and then the quaker (in separate cages of course) and they seem to really entertain each other. My conure Loki will play with toys all day long, my quaker Otis seems more lazy. We visited the pet shop where we got our other two and my husband loved the eclectus. They are all hand fed there and all the birds are very friendly. I just don't know what to do. I want a bird that is right fro both of us. Thanks again for your help!

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I probably wouldn't recommend an African Grey in that case. They are prone to feather plucking when left alone; and also the dust may be an issue for your other birds. (You'll need a good air filter)

If you're considering the Eclectus, check out Graham Taylor's site. In particular housing: The Eclectus Parrot - Graham Taylor (Australia) It's an important consideration, depending on where you live in the world.

Amazons from what I have seen are more forgiving of absences; but as with all birds, be aware of sexual maturity and bonding.

I read something recently that birds from different areas of the world shouldn't necessarily be housed together. It can cause respiratory problems. Something about powdery down feathers.