Eclectus or B&G?

[MissAnnamarie]

I have been researching and bird proofing our house for months. We tore up the carpet and prepared a room for a bigger bird but have been unable to decide between an eclectus or a blue and gold macaw. No, we cannot go to an adoption facility as the closest one is 8 hours away and has maybe 3 birds. Which would you recommend and why? I can answer any question about situation, lifestyle etc. that is needed. Thank you so much! :40:

 

[charmedbyekkie]

Hmm, I think what might help is if you give some insight into what you expect from a parrot companion. BnGs and ekkies are very different birds.

 

[chris-md]

To help guide you we need to know everything about you, as you presciently note in your own post. Age, living arrangements, family situation/lack thereof, future plans, work life, everything.

 

[MissAnnamarie]

Hmm, I think what might help is if you give some insight into what you expect from a parrot companion. BnGs and ekkies are very different birds.

I'm looking for a more cuddly bird, one that will just snuggle up and watch TV with me and one that will be my companion for the rest of my life. I have all my time for them as I do online school at home. I'm okay with noise and mess and would love to be able to just talk with my bird and them talk back. I want one that would be more likely to like people, dogs, and other birds. I want an endearing, funny, playful, smart, loving, and affectionate bird.

 

[MissAnnamarie]

To help guide you we need to know everything about you, as you presciently note in your own post. Age, living arrangements, family situation/lack thereof, future plans, work life, everything.

I'm 17 and I graduated early, I am currently doing online college to get my generals and my vet tech degree and after that I will be working as a vet tech for awhile to save up to go back to school for a DVM degree. I stay home all day and the college I plan to go to to get my vet tech degree after generals allows large/loud birds. I live with my father and Ari, my shih-tzu who is 9 months old. I have had several birds throughout my life and know I am "ready" for a larger bird.

 

[Aratingettar]

I want an endearing, funny, playful, smart, loving, and affectionate bird.

Well... you've just perfectly described Conure's personality. Probably other species, too.



Regarding your original question.. You're 17, and your whole life is ahead of you. There will be zig-zags, pivots and other situations which you can't even imagine now. What I mean is, you're still years before your life schedule will even attempt to settle. So I'm just not sure if it's the right time for such a big commitment. A huge B&G is not easy to handle if you need to move out, or change the place you live. An Ekkie, although smaller than a macaw, is also by no means "portable".



I'd say, get a GCC if you need a bird companion. You'll get endearing, funny, playful, smart, loving, and affectionate bird that will be easier to handle than the bigger species. And later down the road, you'll be able to add your dream big bird.
But that's just my opinion. I'm sure others, more experienced people will kick-in.
In the meanwhile.... read, read, read. Similar questions have been posted many times before.

 

[ChristaNL]

My sentiments exactly.

I have a macaw and she *is* sometimes cute and cudly and sometimes you have to count your fingers afterwards to make sure they are still attached.
I was used to african greys and already spend loads of time with them, but this 1 1/4 kilo dictator is the neediest parrot I have ever met!
(Of course she went through some serious lifechanges and still has issues with a lot of them and is not a happy camper because of her sore wings etc.)

but...
a room for a bird somewhere else in the house?
Never a good idea (unless you go Birdman666 f.e. and have a complete flock in there).

An isolated macaw is a screaming macaw, and that goes for most solitary kept animals that really, really are DNAprogrammed to live and survive in groups, herds or flocks.

You are a young person, and probably not an "old-antie-sit-by-the-fire" so... go for a bird that is small enough to take places.

It is hard to transport a macaw, it is large and sometimes LOUD! so most places will not be happy to have one there, even if they are prepared to overlook a nice smaller senegal-sized one.
I know they may not seem as appealing, but go for pint-sized and go places together!

Take on this adventure called life with a birdy-companion that can come with you (almost) everywhere instead of being home-alone and probably not very happy about that.

 

[jousze]

Eclectus are not so cuddly, and macaws are difficult. Why not a *mini* macaw??


Jose

 

[SailBoat]

With your long term goal of becoming a DVM with a resting stop between now and then as a VT. Your life work experience is going to bring you in contact with a cross-section of possible pets, depending on the Vet Clinic(s) you are /will be working. Dog and Cat specialists are the most common with exotics and Avian's being rare unless you are in or near a larger City.

Check your on-line Vet Tech school to see if they offer courses in Avian care and take everything they offer. If not, ask for recommendations for others that do offer Avian specific courses. That assumes your wanting to be a CAV in addition to your DVM goal in life. You should be searching and visiting your local Vet Clinics looking for work. Better to start at the bottom and working up to a VT as your educational knowledge expands. Just showing up with your degree will likely get you a bit further, but a known individual will likely get the job.

The correct Parrot: As stated so very well above, your choices are very different. Your looking at a B&G implies that you are likely looking at a female Eclectus based on coloration. I would recommend that you visit both of their separate Forums and get a flavor for the differences and very specific diet requirements between these two Parrots.

Study time for a DVM at the college, plus classroom and lab time will draw deep into your available time. Parrots and limited time is never a good combination and your life is about to take a very wild ride.

 

[Laurasea]

I recommend a quaker, usually very good and prolific talkers, can be loud not loud like you neighbors will hear them but loud enough to compete with tv or conversation. They are very smart and social, they are a complex social Parrots in the wild, community building and living. They live for thirty years though, so if I day you don't have time for them they will suffer emotionally and pull out their feathers and mutilate their Bodies, and turn into screaming sad birds. Though that last bit applies to nearly all parrots. They still need a large cage and are very active very much into playing with toys. So positive social, talker, active, confident. Neg can talk or squak at a loud volume for eight hours straight..( not all of course) can not be left alone for hours in a cage will pluck and mutilate themselves if that's the case., Need a cage that is at least 34 inches long, 20 inches deep and fifty something high, need a lot if toys to chew destroy and play with.( Same as most parrots) live a long time and required the same time commitment during all thirty years if life, even when you have kids if your own

 

[MissAnnamarie]

but...
a room for a bird somewhere else in the house?
Never a good idea (unless you go Birdman666 f.e. and have a complete flock in there).

Oh good Lord no, I wouldn't just leave them in there, a lot of people just use rooms as a big cage, they'd only be there when they want to sleep or when they want to be in there.

 

[Laurasea]

Oops! Was going to edit then my phone died. When you go to vet school you will have to do clinics after classes finished, you will rotate through the large animals barn and can be up all night with colic I. Animals and you will rotate through the er emergency room, clinical pathology, surgery department ect.. this will be at night sometimes all night, and you will still be expected to go to your classes during the day, if you aren't also active in the various clubs and do internship, or volunteer, or do residency your prospects at a career job st the finish line will be slim, most ate required to graduate anyway. Even if you choose to do online vet tech program I'm pretty sure you have to get hands on experience in an internship or volunteering, if your program doesn't require that it will be difficult to get a good job. Now if you have any hobbies or social life and dating well your parrot won't have it's needs met, and that is neglect! I do not think this is the best time to get a companion that is as smart as a primate, and extremely social. Plus even while you take online courses a parrot can easily destroy your computer, shred papers, and scream loudly making concentration difficult. Also many significant others end up hateing or being hated by your parrot and it's demands. The best time to decide on a parrot is when you have your own home, and ate in your career...

 

[lplummer52]

Well, I have to agree Laurasea. Wait until you're on your own and your career is stable. If you can't wait, get a smaller parrot, like a Quaker or a Conure. They're just as smart, just as cuddly and just as talkative. And MUCH easier to take care of its needs. Don't get me wrong. They ALL require hours and hours of attention and handling to make a good companion. But if your situation changes, a smaller bird will be easier to take along.

 

[Owlet]

I wouldn't get an eclectus. I got mine when I was 17 (2 years ago) and it's been a serious roller coaster. Eclectus parrots are super unique parrots in dietary needs, social needs, and just pretty much anything. I have yet to see an older eclectus that doesn't pick at its feathers. I'm currently tearing my hair our trying to get my boy to stop again and just the last week I spend 400$ on toys and what not trying to find a solution. Today I spent another 30$ on stuff for his chop since eclectus parrots dont do well on most (or sometimes any) pellets. I'll probably have to spend another 30$ in the next week or so to vary up his chop so he doesn't get bored and start having impulsive behaviors (toe tapping, wing flapping, screaming for more food even though he has food in his bowl he just wants something else, etc)

Eclectus are probably the hardest birds to keep happy and healthy imo. Their diets are so complex and hard to get exactly right while continueing to keep it varied. The slightest misstep can result in muscle spasms (toe tapping / wing flapping) or feather mutilation. They're insanely intelligent birds and get bored fast so you have to have a constantly supply of new toys on hand. Male ekkies tend to have a problem with rapid beak growth regardless of how much they chew toys or rub their beaks on cement perches and what not. That's another 20-30$ every month or so for beak trims.

Baby eclectus can be cuddly, but once they hit maturity it is usually a hit or miss and they'll become relatively touch phobic and not enjoy being scratched.

There's honestly so much more but I'm gonna end my tired rambling here because I need to get ready for work.

 

[Laurasea]

While I agree with lPlummer52 agreeing with me lol do not get a quaker they are extremely intelligent and social and active! If you aren't spending hours s day every day interacting beith them they will be screams and tearing out their feathers, they can suffer from quaker mutilation syndrome, because they ate so very smart and highly social.

 

[chris-md]

I’m surprised nobody is latching onto the fact that this is a 17 year old facing still another 8-10 years of schooling. Now is not really a good time to be owning a parrot.

 

[jousze]

Yes I thought about it.
But anyway he’s gonna get the parrot if he wants so I’m not gonna tell him anything..
I’m 20, studying international business and I have time
For my amazon


Jose

 

[Laurasea]

Chirs MD I posted at noon, not a good time ect....I agree not a good time in a persons life to basically adiot a child....vet school and a parrot don't mix, I had friends in vet school who gave their parents their dogs and cats, just zero time , I mentioned you have to do overnights on clinic rotation in vet school...

 

[ChristaNL]

To be honest: I sort of zoomed out after "17 and have had many birds already" if you go through birds at that rate ...

None of my CAV's have parrots (I asked) because they just do not have the time for them, only vets with partners (who are non-vets) can afford to keep dogs or cats or livestock, but never something highly bonded and interactive.
Not to mention the risk of bringing diseases home with you etc.


Vet-techs are still mostly the maintenance ones ( cleaning the cages, monitoring feeding, medicate etc.) and manning the desk right? or is that something else?
In that case you have the same hours as a deskjob ..

 

[Brittany0208]

If I may ask, what draws you to these two species particularly?