Can't decide on a parrot (grey, too, etc.) -- Help please!

So for awhile I've been juggling between getting an African Grey, a Cape/Un-cape Parrot (aka, Grey Headed Parrot), a Rose-Breasted Cockatoo, or a Goffin's Cockatoo. I've mildly looked into a few others, but those have been my main focus. Finally, I had decided on a RB2 and began focusing all of my research on them, but to my dismay, I learned that they are not at all cuddly and they are actually very nippy and stand-offish. So now I am back to square one and need some help!

I am a stay-at-home mom, so I'm almost always around home excepting for a few hours here and there when I'm taxi-ing kids. I want a bird around the size of a CAG, RB2, etc. I know that all birds will bite if their buttons are pushed wrong, but generally speaking, I want more of a docile bird that is not exceptionally aggressive. I want to be able to cuddle sometimes, but it is not necessary to have a "lap dog" if you know what I mean. I'd like a bird that would be open to harness training (aka, one who doesn't have a "no-touchy" disposition). Speaking isn't an end-all requirement, but to be honest, I'd love to have a talking bird. And some noise isn't a problem, but I don't want screeching that can be heard a block away. And I definately want a bird who would be happy to be in on the family action, kids and adults alike; a buddy for inside, outside, and road trips. Currently I have 2 GCCs who are absolutely adorable and fun, but I'd like a medium/large parrot to add to the flock. Any suggestions? Experiences?

I too just spent months searching. I have 3 kids and was a little concered with an Amazon or Grey being more towards 1 person birds and I wasnt wanting anything bigger than that. Im not a Too person really. I did tons of research and it came down to an Alexandrine Parakeet. They are gorgeous and only slightly smaller than an CAG or Amazon however they have very long tails ( need a bigger cage than u would think for their size ). They also are excellent talkers and they dont bond with one mate for life like most birds. So to me this seemed like all the things I was looking for. However as with all birds if they talk and who they like is up to them...lol. They're also not lap birds like Too's but do like interacting and being with their flock. My Alex is 7 months and I adore him/her to death. Also, Alex males and females look different when the male matures around 3 yrs. Good luck and I hope you find the right bird for you and your Family.

It is not easy to choose among all lovely birds. I have a DYHA and could not thinking of another bird. This stage your are in take some time and it is important to take the nessesary time so it will be right from the beginning. I wish you good luck

We all have our favorites. I'm a Grey person. I love my Ruby and she's such a sweetheart. She wants and needs my attention daily but isn't overly demanding. She was becoming a 1-person bird (mine) but we're working on that and she's becoming more accepting of my husband. That's the main thing I've noticed with Greys...making sure they're properly socialized and will be comfortable with more than 1 family member. It takes work and dedication, but once they understand that, it makes like so much better.

We also have a red-front macaw - a species that I also very highly recommend. She is much more playful than our CAG but can be a bit of a diva and will throw a tantrum from time to time. Jade loves attention and is very cuddly, but she doesn't want or need it constantly and will entertain herself.

We love our little Alexandrine, too. Max is much more stand-offish than our girls and only lets my husband pet him. He will come and sit on my shoulder from time to time - usually if he thinks he'll be getting a treat. And Max isn't a talker - yet. He's almost 3 and we've heard 1 word, 1 time. This isn't an issue for us since we didn't get him for that reason.

I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions.

When you know the differense between a grey and a too and know what you prefere then the dession komes natural

Finally, I had decided on a RB2 and began focusing all of my research on them, but to my dismay, I learned that they are not at all cuddly and they are actually very nippy and stand-offish. So now I am back to square one and need some help!

Have you actually gone and met an RB2 in person (by this I mean meeting one that is in a proper home thats meeting all the birds needs)? Or talked to people (esp. in this forum) with RB2s? I've met some quite lovely ones and from what I can tell from all the posts I've read on this forum concerning RB2s is that they are really lovely birds and very affectionate (not to mention their intelligence - did you see Rocky putting himself to bed?). If you read to much on TOOs then you'll find all kinds of bad things about every type (none of them will sound worth having), when in fact they are all awesome birds when in the right environment. A biting, un-affectionate Too is a product of its environment. Any TOO is a sensitive bird and is going to behave based on its surroundings. I wouldn't discount the RB2 until you have met them in person.

Molcan2 said:

Have you actually gone and met an RB2 in person (by this I mean meeting one that is in a proper home thats meeting all the birds needs)? Or talked to people (esp. in this forum) with RB2s? I've met some quite lovely ones and from what I can tell from all the posts I've read on this forum concerning RB2s is that they are really lovely birds and very affectionate (not to mention their intelligence - did you see Rocky putting himself to bed?). If you read to much on TOOs then you'll find all kinds of bad things about every type (none of them will sound worth having), when in fact they are all awesome birds when in the right environment. A biting, un-affectionate Too is a product of its environment. Any TOO is a sensitive bird and is going to behave based on its surroundings. I wouldn't discount the RB2 until you have met them in person.

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Actually, I have met some. I don't know anyone personally that owns them, so I have not met any in a home, but I have handled a few different ones in aviaries and in a pet store. The ones in the aviary were still babies, not yet weaned. One of them nipped incessantly (though that might have just been because he/she thought I was gonna feed it, lol) while the other in the aviary just chilled on my hand. In the pet store, the one I handled was SUPER cute, whistling and chattering softly, but got MAD whenever we tried to pet it, letting out a shriek and grabbing at fingers. It was a little older (6 months), but still very young. So I know I haven't had a lot of "meeting" experience, but the nippiness on top of what I've read has me worried. You are right though... there is a TON of info on cockatoos, and so it's really hard to make a decent judgment.

I live in Australia so Galahs are common in the wild and in homes, but to be honest they don't make FANTASTIC pets... I don't think one will give you what you are looking for. They can be very 1-person birds and grumpy, they do have sweet moments but mostly moody and independent. They are also LOUD, galahs and cockatoos screams are so loud they can rattle your house walls, it can't be described unless you've experienced it, lol. We have flocks that fly over our house of sulphur and black cockatoos and they are so insanely loud. I can't imagine having it in the house.

To be honest, I think if you got a male Eclectus you'd be pretty happy. They are sweet, cuddly, medium size, don't scream very much, have voices like Amazon parrots and are great talkers and are less prone to being 1-person birds. If you make sure your kids play with it lots and have it around the whole family it will become super sociable. I think you should research them a bit more before taking my word for it but I think they could be the exact bird you are looking for. Just make sure you get a boy... People and websites may tell you the girls make just as good pets but the "myth" wasn't started for a reason. I personally think girls are prettier but they are super moody. I have been around a bunch of ekkies and have had my own, and boys definitely make the best pets.

Also... I'd just like to add, it's how you raise your parrot that will determine it's personality in the end. Of course it helps to start off with a bird that is known for being nice, but if you raise your bird in a loving home it's going to be a loving pet.

I know a lot of people will not agree with me but birds need to be treated like you would a new puppy; socialise it, give it a time out if it is naughty, set rules and make sure it knows acceptable behaviour, don't spoil it rotten or you will have a nightmare pet when it grows up.

Too often people treat their birds like little feathered gods, and they wonder why there bird only likes them. Birds scream, it's fun and how they communicate, but you need to teach your parrot what is acceptable and what is unacceptable screeching. There is nothing wrong with putting a bird that is screaming non-stop in it's cage for a few minutes until it stops, or even covering it. I did this with my lorikeet and nanday conure and they learnt quickly. They are not scared or unhappy because of it, they are loved and happy. Some of the most happy and sociable birds I know.

So my advice is don't put your bird on a pedestal, it doesn't work.

I agree that a male eclectus may be a good choice for her but in my limited experience eclectus aren't as cuddly as the toos. And she would IMO need to get a younger bird so that the kids are just normal to the bird.

I actually never even considered an eclectus, but I think I'll do a little research on them. I agree that they are very beautiful, but I don't know much about their personalities. Do they tend to be one person birds a lot? Are they very moody or stand-offish? We need a buddy that wants to be part of the action in the family.

Pim said:

I live in Australia so Galahs are common in the wild and in homes, but to be honest they don't make FANTASTIC pets... I don't think one will give you what you are looking for. They can be very 1-person birds and grumpy, they do have sweet moments but mostly moody and independent. They are also LOUD, galahs and cockatoos screams are so loud they can rattle your house walls, it can't be described unless you've experienced it, lol. We have flocks that fly over our house of sulphur and black cockatoos and they are so insanely loud. I can't imagine having it in the house.

To be honest, I think if you got a male Eclectus you'd be pretty happy. They are sweet, cuddly, medium size, don't scream very much, have voices like Amazon parrots and are great talkers and are less prone to being 1-person birds. If you make sure your kids play with it lots and have it around the whole family it will become super sociable. I think you should research them a bit more before taking my word for it but I think they could be the exact bird you are looking for. Just make sure you get a boy... People and websites may tell you the girls make just as good pets but the "myth" wasn't started for a reason. I personally think girls are prettier but they are super moody. I have been around a bunch of ekkies and have had my own, and boys definitely make the best pets.

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I would agree with a male Eclectus, if it weren't for the young children. Male Eclectus's don't like a lot of activity. They like a more peaceful quiet sorroundings. I have only seen a couple of Eclectus parrots other than the one I just adopted last week and none of them were cuddly my any stretch. Even the one I adaopted, which came from a loving home and was hand fed doesn't like to be petted, you can pick him up, but if you try petting him, he will get a little nippy, not bitting, just pinchy enough to let you know to stop what ever it is your doing. The previous owners told me before hand that he didn't like to be petted and she was right about that.

Also, I hope you realize, which I assume you do since you have conures that birds do and will BITE. The bigger the bird that bigger the beak and the harder the bite. I don't know what ages your children are, but I hope you what ever bird you decide on, you get a hand fed baby bird from a reputable breeder that is used to be handled and hopefully well socialized BEFORE you get him. Cockatoo's have NASTY, NASTY bites and are usually one person birds unless they have been really socialized well from a young age. Do yourself a favor, go onto You Tube and type in Biting birds, there are a few videos of people who have gotten bit by birds, one in particular was of a fellow who got bit on his eyebrow by his TAME Cockatoo, it required stitches and looked NASTY. Also, Cockatoo's are noisy LOUD birds, even Eclectus's have this hi pitched screech that is ear piercing and they can do it quite a few times a day, not just once or twice.

Good luck with your decision, but I would think twice.

I had a Rosebreasted cockatoo & it was not cuddly & it was nippy. It was also loud.
I didn't have it for very long.