Nightmare Birds

There have been numerous threads about what everyone's dream birds would be, so I thought it would be interesting to see the opposite. Are there any birds you wouldn't want? Either a specific species or a general group?

Myself, I am not a fan of cockatoos. They can be fun and cuddly, and I enjoy playing with them, but I don't think I would want one full time. Sort of how many people talk about their grandchildren. I don't even really know why, just not the group for me.

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Most everyone knows that I'm an Amazon Snob, just love them!

My Nightmare Parrots: Although I have handled and cuddled the big TOO's. Those deep dark eyes just spook-me-out! I am very happy for those of you who have and love them. I know that it's just me and those deep dark eyes!

I'd never want a large macaw. They pick on me! And they're just too big. I like the little guys.

Nor eclectus. I remember being at a vet lecture and hearing just how difficult it is to keep them healthy, how many struggle with ABV, and that they rarely see them live more than 20 years. That to me is tragic. I don't think I could handle it. Or the all year round breeding season!

I absolutely hate the shriek the caique makes it makes me want to die in a fire.

Eversince my Maxie passed I find it hard to like the smaller types of parrot, conures and such. Just very painful to hold them , except sun conures. Max was a brotogeris parrot. Now this weekend I was fortunate to meet a little meyers parrot, who immedately stepped up ( i was told that was the onl time that day he did that ) and the sadness did not kick in for some reason. He was so gentle and happy to sniggle and take scratches. If I didnt have Salty already, I would have very much considered adopting this guy. But even still this meyers makes me realize how much i still miss my little Maxie. oh crap.. wet eyes again.

Great idea for a thread! I didn't think I was a macaw person, then I had a rare opportunity to hold a hyacinth, I want one. She was soooo sweet, I didn't want to give her back.

I worked for a vet and I can honestly say, very few animals intimidate me. Oh man, I'll probably regret this, it's really weird, the first two parrots I ever got to know belonged to my Aunt, they were Amazons, I couldn't stay away from them. I know two amazons, one belongs to a vet and stays in the office, the other lives in his owner's pet store, both of them are socialized and very friendly. I love visiting them but I would hesitate to hold them, I don't know why. I love seeing photos and hearing about them but I'm not sure I would be a good parront for one.

CDavis said:

I absolutely hate the shriek the caique makes it makes me want to die in a fire.

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😂😂😂

CherylCali

This is a great idea! Funny thing is, tons of birds that are now on my nightmare list used to be on my dream bird list [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]

Let me also say I'm sure there are INDIVIDUAL BIRDS in each of these groups that I could love deeply, but in general..

Hawk head parrots. I have met a few and they are SO COOL but everything I have read and experienced says they are usually major and VIOLENT one person birds. That won't work for me.

Large cockatoos. Their calls make me homicidal. And they are just a bit high maintenance for me. I honestly don't think myself or my family would adequately meet their needs. That said, I ADORE snuggling other people's cockatoos

Big Macs. Again, a noise, space, attention, and destruction issue. Not so much that they would be a nightmare as that I don't think we are best suited to make the life of a Big Mac all that it should be

Aratinga Conures. (Suns, jendays, etc). It's the call. I hate it. I'm babysitting two GCCs right now who mimic that call (they live with a sun and a jenday) and it makes me insane. They are stunning and adorable, and I don't want to live with them.

Lories and lorikeets. My eckies poop is bad enough; I don't even want to THINK about Lori poop!

And all of these used to be on my "dream bird" list.

My dream birds are now;
Mustache parakeet
Plum head parakeet
Black headed caique

(Watch, two years from now I will have learned better )


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All birds fascinate me but I'd have to say I'd steer away from Suns bc of the loud calls, large toos bc they are very complicated to keep healthy, but I have to say my opinion on macs has changed. I used to be so afraid of them but the more I know about them, the more I'd love the challenge someday. However, being this far away I'll probably just have to admire from afar!

Greys used to be my "nightmare" bird after a friend's bit me to the bone when we were young adults (not his fault; mine, for pushing his limits, which where strict, being a wild-caught guy). Now, life has given me the world's gentlest Grey. He has seemed to understand I needed his gentleness to get past my fear. Oh, he sometimes pinches me to communicate when I've have err'd but NOTHING like that bite I received so long ago and never a bite that draws blood even.

My nightmare birds now are cockatiels. I actually love them and had one for most of my childhood and into my early adulthood. Somehow, though, I developed a sound sensitivity to that particular noise they make, when NO other parrot seems to affect me the same way, even my abnormally loud Grey, a cockatoo, an amazon, and my lovebirds. Yep, I can't live with a cockatiel now. I enjoy spending time with my friends' 'tiels and really wish I could have one, but I just cringe when I hear that noise they make.

I'm enjoying reading about everyone's experiences.

Ooooh, love this thread!

Hard one for me. I could say amazons because I perceive them as unpredictable (the only birds I ever hear about that are actually flying at people's faces for the kill are amazons. Never hear a macaw do that!).

But I think it would be a cockatoo. I'm so incompatible with them on so many levels. The amount of direct attention they require is insane. I don't have that kind of time, nor do I have it in me to dedicate that amount of time to any pet.

I love them all ♡ I don't want to own them all though ! Once upon a time I thought small, GCC, parrotlet, cockatiel, budgegriar weren't really birds worth noting at all. Haha, then I got the smallest green cheek ever hatched and that solved my thinking problem. Shes 100% parrot. I'm smitten.

CherylCali

Cockatoos would top my list. Too high a potential to be an emotionally fragile bird who develops behavioral issues.

I'm also scared of smaller birds in the sense I'd be perpetually terrified of my clumsy self hurting it, especially teeny tiny feet like budgies and parrotlets have.

chris-md said:

Ooooh, love this thread!

Hard one for me. I could say amazons because I perceive them as unpredictable (the only birds I ever hear about that are actually flying at people's faces for the kill are amazons. Never hear a macaw do that!).

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I would say more misunderstood body language than unpredictable. They let you know in no uncertain terms they are unhappy! Usually an amazon attacking a face goes down somewhat like this:

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1XiT25JIXA"]Parrot Attacks and Bites Violinist: Amazing, Scary, Hilarious! - YouTube[/ame]

But I fully understand someone being afraid of having that kind of attack happen to them They kinda are the only species you hear about frequently launching arial attacks and some who hate one gender, a certain color clothing or hair style or glasses or hat or whatever can be really hard to train out of them.

My, my, my. My nightmare bird? He's taking his afternoon nap upstairs at the moment, which means I can steady my nerves enough to get on the computer and catch up on new threads. Good one here. :57:

This is my list of birds that I would like to meet but not own.
African grey of any sort
Cockatoo much like sailboat the eyes freak me out(oddly the hyacinths don't)
Mini macaws.
Anything smaller than a mini macaw: I have always been partial to large animals I've ridden large horses had large hunting dogs and now I Have 2 little conures and I'm always afraid I'm gonna break them.
Caiques their call makes me want to jump off a bridge
Suns there are a million of them at the pet store and they are never ever quiet
Scarlett macaw: I'm sure that they can be nice but I would much rather have a Greenwing

I find it so interesting that so many people are afraid of hurting the little guys. It makes sense, don't get me wrong. I grew up with budgies and handled baby budgies in the best. I have hand raised a GCC from the day she hatched, and 2 day 1 cockatiels. It's the big beaks that frighten me!


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For me, it's an irrational fear of the hot three amazons. The beaks of those amazons terrifies me more than the beak of any macaw, but a red-lored, lilac crowned, or mealy amazon turn me into a puddle and I've loved holding the few that I've met. Part of that is an exposure thing though, because many of the hot three type of species I've met have been difficult to handle for an amazon newbie such as myself.

I think cockatoos are great, but I don't think I could ever handle any of the large or small white ones. I've definitely found I prefer to see the eyes pin, and I think that's what gets me with cockatoos.

Other than that... I think a nightmare bird would also be a crow or raven. That long, sharp pointy beak makes me fear for my eyeballs.

While I enjoy pretty much all species of birds, there are definitely those that I would not like to own. Though I find their sense of drama hilarious, Cockatoos top the list, for many of the reasons already stated: too loud, too needy, too prone to behavioral issues.

Sun conures used to be on that list as well, due to their noisy reputation, until we adopted Jack from a local rescue. He's been one of the most wonderful - and generally quiet - birds that I have ever had. While he can be loud, he is not noisy.

Then there is my Meyer's - reputed to be a relatively quiet species - who Never. Shuts. Up. I'm not kidding, he even yammers in his sleep. So, sometimes you just never know.

SilverSage said:

I find it so interesting that so many people are afraid of hurting the little guys. It makes sense, don't get me wrong. I grew up with budgies and handled baby budgies in the best. I have hand raised a GCC from the day she hatched, and 2 day 1 cockatiels. It's the big beaks that frighten me!


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I would much rather get bitten than hurt the bird and I am a very large guy so it's kinda a rational fear.