Newbie needing advice!

Hi everyone.
I am still in the researching stage, and would love any advice I can get!
I have grown up with birds all my life, and haven't had one for a while now, and cant resist any longer! I am a stay at home mum of 5, my husband works nights so we are both at home with our pre schooler everyday and night. I had always wanted a cockatoo, but after researching I found (correct me if i'm wrong) that they are VERY clingy to one particular person, and not so great with others, and are among one of the loudest and can screech for hours, and are also poor talkers. I know everything depends on how much effort you put into it, and every bird is different. So then I looked into amazons. Who I read, are still loud, but not as loud, and you can diret the screeching into singing, talking ect. Are obviously smaller, and are great talkers! But i'm stuck between yellow naped, blue fronted and yellow crown. Cooud anyone tell me the differences please, as in some places I have read that yellow naped are far better talkers, but then I spoke to a breeder who said that that is not the case. I have searched and searched, and cant seem to find any yellow naped breeders anywhere in the uk. I found one in the isle of wight, and one in Devon. And they are just too far to travel back with a baby bird I cant seem to find any really useful directory for england at all! which is now making me think I would have to go for a blue front as I have a number of breeders for those. But because of the talking ability i was more swayed to the yellow naped! Please help!

Cockatoos can make excellent companions if socialized correctly. In fact, I've gone up to *many* cockatoos that I've never met before and most happily accepted physical interaction with me! Amazons have been the complete opposite! Not many have enjoyed interaction with strangers!

Cockatoos are dusty birds, however, and that could be an issue with anyone who has asthma or sinus/breathing problems, and some people are allergic to bird dander.


Now when you say "amazons are smaller" - compared to what species of cockatoos? Galahs? Goffins? Ducorps? Bare eyeds? Umbrellas? Molluccans? And what amazon species? Green Cheeks? Lilac Crowns? Blue Fronts? Yellow Napes? Orange Wings? There are so many different species! And, interestingly enough, when it comes to cockatoos and amazons, the larger species in both are considered to be some of the most difficult pets to handle! And the smaller species, in both, are considered better pets! But, it's the larger species that tend to be more popular!


My suggestion would be to go to Youtube and look at the variety of species you are interested in! If you can, find local breeders and see if they would allow you to interact with any of their birds... or find pet/bird stores that allow you to interact with birds... or any rescues/sanctuaries that would allow you to do the same! Maybe instead of picking the bird, the bird will pick you?

Ok great, thankyou x