Newbie thinking about getting a parrot/macaw

Dtlwheels

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Dec 8, 2013
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Turquoise Green Cheeked Conure, CJ; Crimson Bellied Conure, Rossa
Hi, I am thinking about getting a parrot in the next couple to several months and was wondering what I should get as a first bird. The main concerns I have seen from my research is that the need a lot of social interaction( not a problem, I am home a lot), avian vet, what to do if/when they outlive you and that like any semi wild animal, it's not a question of if, but when you get bit.:) Are there any more major concerns? I am thinking about either a blue and gold or a scarlet macaw but am willing to take suggestions on others. I don't really want anything smaller than a cockatiel. I will be using a cage because I am in a wheelchair and cannot climb to get him/her down from a high place. That said, what size cage do I need for a macaw? Do males or females have more hormonal aggression? I am also considering getting a chameleon. For anybody with experience with them, which would you suggest? Thanks in advance.
 

TessieB

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Nov 3, 2013
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1 Blue Front Amazon, 1 Yellow Head Amazon, 4 Cockatiels, 2 Parakeets
HI! While large birds are impressive don't knock the smaller ones. Sun Conures are lovely to look at and be around. Yeah, I know they are small, but they have delightful personalities when properly socialized. They are noisy but most birds are.

Welcome to the forum~!
 
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Dtlwheels

Dtlwheels

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Yea, I wouldn't mind one of those. I guess what I think of as a "parakeet" is a budgie.
 

Mattroma

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Oct 22, 2013
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Lemon and Blueberry Budgies
most people will tell you the best cage for a Macaw is no cage, not an option for everyone. That being said, bigger is always better. Just a caution macaws can scale to the top of their cage in a blink of an eye, and reaching them on top of a large cage can be a challenge.
As for a blue & gold vs a scarlet you will read and hear stories about Scarlets being a bit unpredictable and almost crazy. while B&G tend to have sweeter reputation. I don't have any first hand experience with a scarlet to say the reputation is deserved, but when you hear enough stories you can't help but believe them.
 
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Dtlwheels

Dtlwheels

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Turquoise Green Cheeked Conure, CJ; Crimson Bellied Conure, Rossa
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How long do sun conures live? Are they likely to outlive me at 30?
 
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Dtlwheels

Dtlwheels

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Reversing a learned word

I was just thinking, is there any way to get a parrot to STOP saying words if it learns to cuss?
 

gizzygirl

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Jul 23, 2013
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Ayla, Jondalar (tiels), Lucy ( BG macaw), Phoenix (Camilla macaw), n Gizmo, Annie (Goffin toos)
They will poop, massively, destroy $30-$80 toys within minutes/hours, drive you crazy at times with how loud they get (especially when they see flocks of birds flying to your yard), throw their expensive food out just so they can watch you sweep it up, some will aim their poop out of their cage to hit something, and macaws are totally worth it all!!! Just make sure they are right for you. Lol
 

Maria_Metropolis

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Nov 12, 2013
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White Face Cinnamon Pearl Pied Cockatiel - "Muffin"

Hatch Date: October 4th, 2013
RIP July 4, 2014
Maybe start with a smaller bird. I wouldn't advise a large macaw for a newbie parrot owner. However, I know some people do well with a first time large macaw, but it's just something I would caution about.
 

Featheredsamurai

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Aug 24, 2011
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African Greg
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Because you are in a wheel chair a macaw cage may be a challenge, macaw cages are often taller than most people, a medium sized parrot able to be in a smaller cage may be more convinient.

Mini-macaws, amazons, eclectus, hawk heads, small cockatoos, vasa parrots, african greys, and many other amazing parrots. Big isn't always better, I used to always want a macaw. But having medium/large sized parrots is awesome, I love this size range so much! Keep in mind they still do need large cages(my galahs cage is 36wide,27"deep, 68"tall).
 
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Maria_Metropolis

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White Face Cinnamon Pearl Pied Cockatiel - "Muffin"

Hatch Date: October 4th, 2013
RIP July 4, 2014
Cockatiels are awesome. Such awesome birds, and they're actually mini Cockatoos. All that love, personality and affection in a small package.
 

GaryBV

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Nov 2, 2013
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Pacific Parrotlets - green Beanieboy and blue Skya;
Fischer Lovebirds - Mariposa and Papillon
Hi Dt - welcome to the forums :) I see two issues you may want to consider that I don't believe you mentioned or anybody else did (if I'm mistaken, sorry). The first is NOISE, the parrot family is a LOUD one, so depending on who you live with, where you live and how close your neighbors are, you might want to consider that. The other thing is MESS, the parrot family is MESSY and I'm not talking just about their cage, but the whole area around it. It's just how it is lol. I did see you mentioned Sun Conures which I think are strikingly beautiful, but as beautiful as they are they are about the loudest parrots as well. There are a lot of knowledgeable people on the forum so I'm sure you will get a lot of good advice. Welcome again :)
 
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Featheredsamurai

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Ah yes, they do make a huge mess! And some species are very dusty(powder down), if you have bad allergies or asthma a powder down parrot may be a species to avoid. Macaws are not powder down.
 
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Dtlwheels

Dtlwheels

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What kind of parrots are powder down?
 

Featheredsamurai

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White cockatoos, cockatiels, and African Greys are all extremely dusty. The black cockatoos, and the galah cockatoo aren't as dusty as the white 'toos.

Daily baths/misting a can lessen the dust
 
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Dtlwheels

Dtlwheels

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Thank you. I'm thinking of more of a parrot/Mac/mini-Mac than a 'tiel or 'too. Are there any dusty ones besides the Grey? BTW, why are they dusty?
 

Maria_Metropolis

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White Face Cinnamon Pearl Pied Cockatiel - "Muffin"

Hatch Date: October 4th, 2013
RIP July 4, 2014
Thank you. I'm thinking of more of a parrot/Mac/mini-Mac than a 'tiel or 'too. Are there any dusty ones besides the Grey? BTW, why are they dusty?

The dust is part of the keratin sheeth that protects their feathers as they're growing in, and it also helps condition the feathers, along with a preening gland at the top of the tail.

Mini macaws can be loud as well. Some can also be nippy, but again, it depends on how well you properly train and socialize them. One has to be careful of not being a "mate" to the bird, but rather a friend. They're wild animals and they clearly have their mating behavior still intact, especially once they reach puberty.

Cockatiels and Cockatoos are parrots. Not all parrots are large. Even small Budgies are still part of the parrot family.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/parrot
 
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Dtlwheels

Dtlwheels

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Turquoise Green Cheeked Conure, CJ; Crimson Bellied Conure, Rossa
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Cockatiels and Cockatoos are parrots. Not all parrots are large. Even small Budgies are still part of the parrot family.

Parrot | Define Parrot at Dictionary.com

True, and I knew someone would nail me on that as soon as I posted it :). What I meant was something I think 99% of none aviculture people could look at and know it was part of the parrot family. That includes me before I did research. I might have heard that the cockatoo was, but I had no idea that the cockatiel and budgie were. I actually vaguely remember hearing once that 'tiels and 'toos were completely different, unrelated birds.
 

Featheredsamurai

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Cockatoos and lorikeets are not considered true parrots, last time I checked they were each in their own parrot like sub family. But keep in mind scientist are often bickering over this and changing it around.

Not sure why so many people think budgies aren't parrots, they totally are. Also some other awesome parakeets, like the large alexandrine and the stunning derbyan.
 

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