I was wondering what would be a good first parrot. Maybe one that won't bite me!!
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Sterling1113
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Hello, and welcome!
Feel free to browse the sections, did you have a species in mind?
You can also use the "search" function and search key words to see if any of your questions have already been answered.
Based on the title of your thread though, I can tell you right now that unless you get VERY lucky, there isn't a specific type of parrot out there that will never bite.
Not trying to discourage you, more or less let you know.
Lots of good information on the forums already. Hope you enjoy your stay and find the answers to your questions!
Feel free to browse the sections, did you have a species in mind?
You can also use the "search" function and search key words to see if any of your questions have already been answered.
Based on the title of your thread though, I can tell you right now that unless you get VERY lucky, there isn't a specific type of parrot out there that will never bite.
Not trying to discourage you, more or less let you know.
Lots of good information on the forums already. Hope you enjoy your stay and find the answers to your questions!
- Dec 18, 2013
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Hey, Stephen. Yes, greys can bite hard enough for you to need some stitches. But a well socialized bird will be FAR less likely to do anything like that. You just have to work with them and learn to recognize their body language.
Most bites don't require stitches, though. Most are more along the lines of warning nips. Birds that draw blood are either frightened, angry, or haven't been bite pressure trained. But these are all things you can work with.
Most bites don't require stitches, though. Most are more along the lines of warning nips. Birds that draw blood are either frightened, angry, or haven't been bite pressure trained. But these are all things you can work with.
Sterling1113
New member
Keep in mind, parrots are NOT domesticated like cats and dogs. They have had years and years of breeding to domesticate them from the wild wolves that run the land.
Parrots up till the last, what, 30~ some years(?) were often caught from the wild and imported to be bred or kept as pets.
If you're looking at a bird like an african grey, I highly recommend you find a breeder/someone who has one(or a few) near you so you can be around them and get a "feel" for them. I've never been bitten by a grey, but with a beak like that I imagine it would be very possible to inflict a bite that requires stitches.(Though I'm not sure if they're capable of breaking bones, if they got you in the right place I'll bet your finger would be in quite a world of hurt.):20: Of course, that's chomping down with full force. Not every bite inflicted is a full-force bite. It very much depends on the bird, and WHY they were biting. Were they saying "Hey, I don't like that," and moving your hand away?(They don't have hands so they use their beak allot to manipulate the things around them)
Or were they saying "Hey! I puffed my feathers and pinned my eyes, I warned you not to touch me right now!" Which is usually the more painful bite.:52:
Parrots are wonderful companions, and you'll see people say that they got their bird and have never been bitten, but that is really not a common thing and is not something that I'd put in a "parrot ownership guidelines" book, or anywhere near one! Haha.:54:
My little guys(conures) can have a mean bite, but nothing that would require stitches. It just hurts! But, I love all my fids regardless, and I understand that if I get bit, it's because *I* did something, or I just wasn't reading their body language correctly. Most parrots aren't down right mean, or out to kill you, but it's a balance of respecting their space and reading their body language. Parrots are prey animals, and have an instinct to protect themselves, their "nest"(cage) and their food from predators(us). It just takes patience and trust building.
Ramble ramble ramble... Point is, if you REALLY want a parrot, it takes a ton of learning(you can never stop learning!) and lots of patience. Especially if you get a baby, because then you have to go through their first couple years of hormones, which can be the worst.
Edit: Anansi beat me to it while I was rambling away. Hehe.
Parrots up till the last, what, 30~ some years(?) were often caught from the wild and imported to be bred or kept as pets.
If you're looking at a bird like an african grey, I highly recommend you find a breeder/someone who has one(or a few) near you so you can be around them and get a "feel" for them. I've never been bitten by a grey, but with a beak like that I imagine it would be very possible to inflict a bite that requires stitches.(Though I'm not sure if they're capable of breaking bones, if they got you in the right place I'll bet your finger would be in quite a world of hurt.):20: Of course, that's chomping down with full force. Not every bite inflicted is a full-force bite. It very much depends on the bird, and WHY they were biting. Were they saying "Hey, I don't like that," and moving your hand away?(They don't have hands so they use their beak allot to manipulate the things around them)
Or were they saying "Hey! I puffed my feathers and pinned my eyes, I warned you not to touch me right now!" Which is usually the more painful bite.:52:
Parrots are wonderful companions, and you'll see people say that they got their bird and have never been bitten, but that is really not a common thing and is not something that I'd put in a "parrot ownership guidelines" book, or anywhere near one! Haha.:54:
My little guys(conures) can have a mean bite, but nothing that would require stitches. It just hurts! But, I love all my fids regardless, and I understand that if I get bit, it's because *I* did something, or I just wasn't reading their body language correctly. Most parrots aren't down right mean, or out to kill you, but it's a balance of respecting their space and reading their body language. Parrots are prey animals, and have an instinct to protect themselves, their "nest"(cage) and their food from predators(us). It just takes patience and trust building.
Ramble ramble ramble... Point is, if you REALLY want a parrot, it takes a ton of learning(you can never stop learning!) and lots of patience. Especially if you get a baby, because then you have to go through their first couple years of hormones, which can be the worst.
Edit: Anansi beat me to it while I was rambling away. Hehe.
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Kakapo
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Thankyou sterling an anansi that information is extremely helpful. I guess I'm going to have to do a lot of research on different species of parrots. I assume different species will have different behaviours an smaller beaks so can't bite my finger off. I always thought a parrot would be so easy to keep. I feed it clean it it will sit on its perch an be happy. I'm getting the impression there actually very sensitive an they will need a lot of attention an care. I've never handled a bird before except a robin which was injured by a cat. That was fine just stayed in my hand.
Sterling1113
New member
Oh, yes. Parrots are one of the more delicate to own as pets.(Though some are quite hardy, especially some that end up in shelters that have endured years of bad diet/living conditions.)
They need lots of room, attention, plenty of toys, different perches, and a wide variety of food daily.(Fruits, veggies, cooked foods..)
Definitely not a pet you can give a bowl of sunflower seeds to and they'll be happy.
If their needs aren't being met, they can be mean, loud, even pluck their own feathers out!! It's really awful to see a bird so unhappy that they mutilate themselves. Very prone to stress.
Take your time, spend time on the forums and around people who have parrots. Experience is the best teacher.
They need lots of room, attention, plenty of toys, different perches, and a wide variety of food daily.(Fruits, veggies, cooked foods..)
Definitely not a pet you can give a bowl of sunflower seeds to and they'll be happy.
If their needs aren't being met, they can be mean, loud, even pluck their own feathers out!! It's really awful to see a bird so unhappy that they mutilate themselves. Very prone to stress.
Take your time, spend time on the forums and around people who have parrots. Experience is the best teacher.
GW.Joe
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- Nov 26, 2013
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Hi Stephen, Welcome !!
I have had parrots of all sizes including Macaws my whole life and never required stitches.
Besides the great advice about why they can nip that Anansi gave you (either frightened, angry, or haven't been bite pressure trained. But these are all things you can work with)
Most people feel the parrot needs to know you are the boss, like a 5 year old CHILD, they need boundaries
The first two questions are:
Why do you want a parrot?
Do you have time you can spend with the parrot?
They are VERY addictive Some people love their parrots more than HUMANS !!
Watch a ton of YouTube video !!
Joe
I have had parrots of all sizes including Macaws my whole life and never required stitches.
Besides the great advice about why they can nip that Anansi gave you (either frightened, angry, or haven't been bite pressure trained. But these are all things you can work with)
Most people feel the parrot needs to know you are the boss, like a 5 year old CHILD, they need boundaries
The first two questions are:
Why do you want a parrot?
Do you have time you can spend with the parrot?
They are VERY addictive
Some people love their parrots more than HUMANS !!Watch a ton of YouTube video !!
Joe
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Kakapo
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An also do parrots show affection or is it not like that with birds. What kind of relationship do you have if that's makes sense. I know it's not going to be the same as a bond you have with a dog. Maybe having a parrot is a bit like having a cat it's kind of one way if that makes sense
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I am so happy that you are doing research before getting a parrot. I can honestly say that my birds are a lot of work with the cooking for them, cleaning, chopping fruits and veggies, and the hours spent with them so they can be out of their cage. They are much more work than any of my other pets, and it is good if you are prepared for that. A parrot is in a lot of cases a lifetime commitment.
My birds also bring me so much joy that it makes the work completely worth it. All of my larger guys have bitten me at one time or another, and sometimes draw blood. When you have a parrot it is only a matter of time before you receive a bite.
You have come to the right place to find a wealth of information to help you make your decision
My birds also bring me so much joy that it makes the work completely worth it. All of my larger guys have bitten me at one time or another, and sometimes draw blood. When you have a parrot it is only a matter of time before you receive a bite.
You have come to the right place to find a wealth of information to help you make your decision
Sterling1113
New member
Parrots are all different. Some birds will appreciate your attention from afar, and while they want to be around you/talk to you, they don't really want the physical interaction(petting, cuddling, etc.) Grey's are known to be somewhat hands-off, but no two birds are the same.
Other birds will literally crawl in your lap and lay on their back for attention.
My green cheek likes to be with you, but prefers the company of my other conure.
The white eared conure will follow me around and ask to be petted/snuggle with my hand.
My pionus will crawl up to your shoulder and put his head down for scratches.
My eclectus doesn't like hands, at all, but he will chatter back and forth with you all day making his silly sounds.(And trust me, if you ignore him, he'll make himself heard!!)
It's really hard to compare a parrot to a dog or a cat. They're just so different in so many different ways.
Other birds will literally crawl in your lap and lay on their back for attention.
My green cheek likes to be with you, but prefers the company of my other conure.
The white eared conure will follow me around and ask to be petted/snuggle with my hand.
My pionus will crawl up to your shoulder and put his head down for scratches.
My eclectus doesn't like hands, at all, but he will chatter back and forth with you all day making his silly sounds.(And trust me, if you ignore him, he'll make himself heard!!)
It's really hard to compare a parrot to a dog or a cat. They're just so different in so many different ways.
GW.Joe
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Well it sounds like you have some time you could spend loving your bird
If you get a baby bird and handle it every day they learn to LOVE the cuddling, some birds are less "touchy feely" and some birds LOVE to cuddle more than others
I like slightly larger birds BUT even very small Parrots can be very loving
Here are two videos of my Parrotlet when she was a baby
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8z8Rt9rVqe8"]BEST Love Video EVER Baby Parrotlet from Bird Whisperer's Aviary / Ana's Parrots - YouTube[/ame]
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_IfyyTX8Es"]Can You Train a Parrotlet? YES ! Starting to Teach Her To "Roll Over", Off to a GREAT Start - YouTube[/ame]
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Kakapo
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I've learned so much allready about parrots. I'm going to do a lot more research an actually get some hands on experience as sterling said. I think then i will have a better idea if this is the right choice for me. I don't think I'd like to be bitten obviously i understand that is part of having a parrot now. I guess everybody has a different relationship with there parrot an parrots have there own personality which is really amazing
Sterling1113
New member
Many people will say that parrots need 12 hours of uninterrupted sleep. It mostly depends on your schedule though.
My fids probably get closer to 8-10 hours, but they nap throughout the day if they're tired. That's just the schedule they've always been used to.
My fids probably get closer to 8-10 hours, but they nap throughout the day if they're tired. That's just the schedule they've always been used to.
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I think this is GREAT that you're stopping to learn first before getting an animal which is foreign to you Any wild "exotic" pet is going to be MUCH different from a domestic one like a dog which was bred to live alongside humans.
There is a search button at the top of the website here to look at many past threads. Also browse the behavior and training categories and read the posts. This will give you further insight to how the parrot mind works, and what these creatures are really about!
Yes, they are sensitive creatures which take a whole different style (methods) of training than a domestic animal like a dog. Parrots are highly intelligent social creatures in the wild who form a strong bond with a mate. Many parrot species do this for life with the same partner. That behavior plus high intelligence tells you that they will emotionally bond to YOU once they know and trust you. Also high intelligence means they don't just sit there... They play with toys, and thrive on mental stimulation, which is to learn later down the road.
Read articles, books, this forum etc. about every aspect - behavior, training, diet, housing, etc.
Look to see if there is a specialty bird store near you that you can go into and interact with birds and ask questions. Good luck!
Edit: you say you want a bigger bird, but keep in mind the REASON you hear the 'bigger' ones are harder to care for is that they pretty much HAVE TO HAVE certain particular needs met on a routine basis. If they are lacking in any one area they WILL develop behavioral problems, (possibly screaming, biting, plucking, undesirable personality, med probs, etc).
To be clear, this is NOT to say little guys can have less care, it's just that if you aren't ON IT at all times with a big bird, the larger ones are much less forgiving and not as easy going as some smaller guys, and you can end up with "problems" in short order and find yourself in over your head if you aren't 110% dedicated to the strict needs of this animal who was never bred to serve humans. If that happens, the animal suffers, and you will to. Not to discourage you, just mentioning that it's much more complex than meets the eye.
Any wild "exotic" pet is going to be MUCH different from a domestic one like a dog which was bred to live alongside humans. There is a search button at the top of the website here to look at many past threads. Also browse the behavior and training categories and read the posts. This will give you further insight to how the parrot mind works, and what these creatures are really about!
Yes, they are sensitive creatures which take a whole different style (methods) of training than a domestic animal like a dog. Parrots are highly intelligent social creatures in the wild who form a strong bond with a mate. Many parrot species do this for life with the same partner. That behavior plus high intelligence tells you that they will emotionally bond to YOU once they know and trust you. Also high intelligence means they don't just sit there... They play with toys, and thrive on mental stimulation, which is to learn later down the road.
Read articles, books, this forum etc. about every aspect - behavior, training, diet, housing, etc.
Look to see if there is a specialty bird store near you that you can go into and interact with birds and ask questions. Good luck!
Edit: you say you want a bigger bird, but keep in mind the REASON you hear the 'bigger' ones are harder to care for is that they pretty much HAVE TO HAVE certain particular needs met on a routine basis. If they are lacking in any one area they WILL develop behavioral problems, (possibly screaming, biting, plucking, undesirable personality, med probs, etc).
To be clear, this is NOT to say little guys can have less care, it's just that if you aren't ON IT at all times with a big bird, the larger ones are much less forgiving and not as easy going as some smaller guys, and you can end up with "problems" in short order and find yourself in over your head if you aren't 110% dedicated to the strict needs of this animal who was never bred to serve humans. If that happens, the animal suffers, and you will to. Not to discourage you, just mentioning that it's much more complex than meets the eye.
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Allee
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Welcome and good luck to you! Sterling mentioned birds that aren't getting their needs met can be loud, she's right. I just want to mention that all birds flock call, it's their nature and even normal parrot calls are too much for some people. I've heard people say parakeets and cockatiels are too noisy. According to species, the noise can be anywhere from a pleasant chirp to a jet engine scream that can be heard a block away. If you happen to be sensitive to loud noises, a parrot may not be an ideal companion.
GW.Joe
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Yes, I like larger birds myself, my little Parrotlet bounces across my table like a Pogo Stick
My Amazon would walk across my table slowly and very calmI think larger parrots just have more mass and weight and they know it
My Amazon would never just jump off my shoulder, my Parrotlet thinks nothing of jumping off my shoulder
In addition to the good info Sterling is giving you, they seem to learn to live around your lifestyle, We are nite owls and my bird would sit on my shoulder when I work on the computer or watch TV, we set a timer and pass him to others in the family and let him take a poo / food / drink break every 20 mins or so
If we stay up till 2 AM and I get up early and peek under his cage cover he sleeps till 10 or 11 AM easy
keep in mind if you feel "you have always liked parrots" you most likely will fall in love with your bird and want to spend all your time with him/her
That's ok, you can take him/her with you lots of places, BUT keep in mind some of them live a VERY Long Time !! If you can't make a life long commitment PLEASE don't get one....
I am about to get what will most likely be my "last" bird (I am 55), one that is called "a gentle giant" a Green Wing Macaw, if my children were not "to the bone" parrot people, and have sworn to love the bird when I am gone, I would not get the bird....
Here is an example of the baby bird I am getting and then what he will grow into:
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmwhXakuWr4"]"Bella" Hand fed baby Green Wing Macaw - YouTube[/ame]
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGQEVC8vBNc"]Playing Ball with a Greenwing Macaw - YouTube[/ame]
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Kakapo
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Thankyou I'm going to give it maybe 6 months of research before i make a decision. I have seen a parrot breed that i think would be suitable for me green winged macaw. There said to have a good temperament compared to other macaws. That's what i read hopefully all goes well I'm guessing having them from a baby is better.
