Help in choosing

Hamada95

New member
May 5, 2011
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hello
I'm going to buy a parrot in this summer after 1 month so i would like to have a vote on which parrot i shall get
•Congo African grey
•Ducorps cockatoo
•Umbrella cockatoo
i have made alot and alot of researches on the 3 kinds so i know all of there responsibilities and stuff like how loud are they etc...
thanks for help ;)
 

mtdoramike

Supporting Member
Jan 18, 2011
3,987
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Mt. Dora Fl./central Fl.
Parrots
11 month old Senegal Parrot - 3 year old SI Eclectus
Yep, we know a little about the birds, but nothing about you. Like, how old are you, have you had any previous bird experience, do you live alone, if not then is this a family decision, are you an apartment dweller or have a house, are you a frequent traveller, or busy lifestyle? Also can you see where your life will be heading for the next 20 years or so, because the birds you have listed live a Long, Long time.

Ok Ok, I may have goteen a little carried away here, but these are the questions to ask yourself before deciding on any one species of bird or animal fo that matter. But a little back ground on you would be helpful. We might even recommend an entirely different bird for you depending on your lifestyle.
 
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Hamada95

New member
May 5, 2011
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  • Thread Starter
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Well iam 16 years old and having home studies so i don't go to school and iam not busy at all and i have cockatiels and budgies for long time i live with my family and all of them want a parrot
 

mtdoramike

Supporting Member
Jan 18, 2011
3,987
Media
4
4
Mt. Dora Fl./central Fl.
Parrots
11 month old Senegal Parrot - 3 year old SI Eclectus
Ok, thank you for sharing. Now, Cockatoo's are messy birds that throw off a lot of dander and dust. They are very clingy needy birds that are NOISY. Their screech or scream or squawk can pierce your ears. They are some of the loudest in the bird family and from what I have seen louder at times than a Macaw.

African Greys are a bit more quieter, but can be a bit more timid, some can be cuddlers, but some may not be. They aren't as needy as Cockatoo's, but they too throw off dander and dust, to the point some folks can't take it. They are very smart birds and pick up thing quite easily and can talk up a storm or vocalize even during the night time hours.

So either species would require a room all to it's self for sleeping purposes. Birds of this size can be quite expensive to own, it could run a few hundred dollars a month just in food, toys and supplements. Also, a minimum of $200.00 to $500.00 should be kept aside for those emergency vet visits because once a bird starts to show signs of illness, it's almost too late to help them. So it's a rushed trip to a vet or animal hospital.

Do you have an Avian vet near you?

African Grey's as well as Cockatoo's tend to be a one person bird, but this may be overcome with lots and lots of socialization with all family members. But you also have to look at if this is going to be your bird and you'll take it with you when you leave home, the bird may bond with someone else and not YOU.

But out of just the list that you provided, I would go with an African Grey as long as you have a relatively quiet house hold.

But since your family has no other bird experience than Cockatiels and Budgies, I would recommend the following birds as starter birds:

Conures like a Green Cheek Conure
Senegal Parrot, which are supposed to be a quieter bird
Myers parrot
Caique parrot

These birds may not be as exciting as a Cockatoo or African Grey, but if they bite, it will only be a pinch or possibly break the skin and bleed a little. If an African Grey or Cockatoo bites, they can not only break the skin, they can break a bone or bite off a little finger. ALL BIRDS BITE, no matter how tame you think they are, they can have an off day, or your not their favorite person pal that particular day or they get frightened when your interacting with them.

My point here is, this needs to be a family decision since your still living at home and when people buy or home a parrot, I hope they take into account that most live any where from 20-70 years and it is a life time commitment. So if you just happen to get that bird from H E double hockey sticks, you will have to deal with it or god forbid re-home the poor animal.

So I hope you show this post to the rest of your family before making a lifetime and life changing commitment. So everyone involved goes in with a better understanding of what their getting into.
 

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