Eclectus vs African Grey

For a while now I have had my heart set on getting an African Grey. Originally specifically a CAG. After posting some things on here and other forums I stopped caring whether I got a CAG or a TAG. Having given myself about a year to do all my research, buy all the necessity's, and save up enough money to actually buy the CAG/TAG, I have obviously done a lot of research on not only these types of birds but also others. Would anyone have any advice about the Eclectus versus the African Grey. I have a lady waiting for my answer on a female Eclectus right now pending the answer to a question and I will know that tomorrow as to whether I should give her the go ahead with it or not. All together she is going to cost me about nine hundred with shipping expenses. She is seven months old and I would be the first owner aside from the breeder.

I found this answer of Jenny very informative.

I have 3 eclectus parrots (and also breed my pair) and one african grey. We've had the african grey for over 10 years.
Having both types of birds for many many years, knowing A LOT of others that keep both types of birds, here's what I have to say on the matter.
African greys are generally one person birds. They pick one person in the house that they like and just tolerate anyone else. Our grey picked my husband even though I'm the one that takes care of him. He likes me well enough to allow me to feed him, clean his cage and pick him up. He won't allow me to cuddle with him, scratch his head and he will not let me play games with him..he gets grouchy at me. LOL He talks quite a bit...but on the downside of that for the first 5 years we had him, at 5:30-6 am every morning he started yelling for everyone in the house to get up. Not only that but for several years, if we didn't put his cage in a spot that he could see you when you walked out of the room..he'd sit and scream bloody murder until you came back..where as our eclectus will just come and find you. LOL
Greys are very smart and because of that can be a bit high strung if not kept constently entertained, as in all parrots, but more so in these guys.
Our eclectus...we have 2 females and a male. Our one female is about 7 years old and our male is 6..the other female we have is a baby of theirs we kept from a clutch a couple of years ago. They are actually quiet in comparison to most parrots and that's initially what attracts many people to them.
The female eclectus have a reputation for being temperamental after they hit maturity...but that, like all birds is part of growing up. You have to work through those stages and realize that birds are highly intelligent, sometimes finicky creatures and sometimes you get bit. They aren't like dogs that trust anyone that hands them a piece of food. You have to learn to read their moods, when they want handled and when it's a good time to leave them alone. The ONLY time I've seen an extremely overly aggressive eclectus parrot is one in a mating situation. I recommend to everyone that buys ekkies from me, if you want them to remain a perfect pet, don't pair them up. (but again...that's with most types of parrots) The females RARELY remain pet quality and the males get temperamental during mating and egg laying...although the rest of the time they revert right back to being good pets.
Male eclectus are a completely different creature all together. They are loving, affectionate, playful and outgoing. It doesn't matter who walks in our house, our male wants to know who they are. He'll fly and land and ANYONE. He likea attention from anyone...me, to my husband..our two boys and even a friend that comes over that he's never seen.
Although, he's mama's baby boy and everyone, including him, knows it. LOL
They also are EXCELLENT talkers. They can make male and female sounds..the higher voices and the lower. Our male ekkie actually talks MORE than our african grey, and it's just as clear sounding.
To anyone that says eclectus don't talk as well as african greys, I'm here to say..you are sorely mistaken. A perfect example of that is Riley the male eclectus published on youtube.

Should I buy an African Grey or Eclectus Parrot? - Yahoo! Answers

I must say wildheart has said it so well. I have had greys in my life for about 20 years and she describes the greys very well. While I have only had Tobi my male Eclectus for about 3 months and he is still very much a baby. His personality is already so much different then Echo my TAG.

Echo does not like anyone in our house except his flock with the exception of one of my daughters friends. For some reason Echo just loves her. When I have a friend over even if Echo knows them very well he will fluff up and would surely bite them if they got close enough to him. So far 2 of my friends have been bit.

Tobi is still so young so I can't really say how he will be in the next year or so but thus far he is very curious when people are over and very much a clown already.

As you probably know the diet is much more specialized with the Eclectus so that must be a consideration. It's in no way hard to mange his diet but it is definitely something to consider.

Tobi will also eat absolutely anything I give him but Echo is mister picky pants and I have to make anything I want him to try look like it is something I am eating and don't want to share with him. Then he can't stand it he has to have it.

What ever you do take your time. This female my be available right now but if you buy her just because she is currently available you might be taking on more them you had planned on. I read and researched about the Eclectus parrot for well over 2 years and had a baby I could of a while ago but I wasn't ready yet and neither was Tobi

Thank you both for your insight on this. The link you provided Wildheart was really good as well. Chris, you are definitely right on taking more time in this thought process. Although she is available now I am moving to AZ in May and do not know exactly how well a Parrot will fit in to my life style there. And from reading your posts and others, it sounds like I may even need to rethink the difference in a male versus a female. But in due time. Right now I believe it is better to do a lot more research. And spending time at the local pet store with the Conures (a bird that is too loud for me) is always fun.

Wildheart that was a amazing response. I wish i had known about this forum before i bought my Female SI Ekkie.

I was under the same delima between ekki and a Grey. I really wanted the male Ekkie but the breeder talked me into a female ekkie. I still feel that she was not selling the females so she tried to sell it to me. But besides the point now. We love our female ekkie(Rani). She will always stay with us no matter what. I want to give one advise though that do not go to the breeder feeling all exited and ready to buy. Thats what i did wrong. I would say go see the bird and wait for 24 hours to make a decision on how you liked that birds personality and how you like the breeder as well.

I had a conure and the breeder we got him from is absolutely amazing (Tango's Flock) vs my Ekkie breeder was a total Joke( Pretty Parrot). Both these breeders are in GA.

Wildheart do your female ekkies talk?



Thank you
chrisi

Rani said:

Wildheart that was a amazing response. I wish i had known about this forum before i bought my Female SI Ekkie.

I was under the same delima between ekki and a Grey. I really wanted the male Ekkie but the breeder talked me into a female ekkie. I still feel that she was not selling the females so she tried to sell it to me. But besides the point now. We love our female ekkie(Rani). She will always stay with us no matter what. I want to give one advise though that do not go to the breeder feeling all exited and ready to buy. Thats what i did wrong. I would say go see the bird and wait for 24 hours to make a decision on how you liked that birds personality and how you like the breeder as well.

I had a conure and the breeder we got him from is absolutely amazing (Tango's Flock) vs my Ekkie breeder was a total Joke( Pretty Parrot). Both these breeders are in GA.

Wildheart do your female ekkies talk?



Thank you
chrisi

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Thanks to all of you guys for your advice. I am actually going to look at a male Eclectus today. I know I cannot afford to buy him right now but I am going to check him out and if he is still there at the 1st of the month I am going to see about getting him. But I will definitely go in with the mind set that I am there to see the bird first and not to buy it at that moment. There are two Sun Conures at the pet store I go to all the time and I play with them every time I go in. The one I would not buy because he/she likes to bite a lot. I know that is something that can be worked on but I would definitely buy the one that is more calm before buying the one that is going to require a lot more training (not thinking about buying a conure). I will definitely check the birds personality out prior to buying. Thanks again for the advice.