Looking at my next bird

[Ivan_Jimenez]

Hello,

I am an English teacher here in Madrid, and I have one bird. A Lovebird. And I am in love with him. A couple years back I had an Eclectus that I absolutely adored. I have been spending the last couple of months looking at different types of birds and I am not sure what I should get. I saw a blue fronted Amazon the other day that I found had a huge personality and this is the first time I have considered an Amazon. But at the same time I was wanting to get a Macaw I have always loved them and when I was younger my parents had a military macaw for a short time as we were foster parents for many animals, and ever since then I have absolutely loved them. I was looking at a shamrock, but I was told that a blue and gold would be a better fit in the city as they are not quite as loud. There is a veterinary here that is incredible and they have a rose-breasted cockatoo and I was told for an apartment this would be a great bird to have because they don't make a lot of noise. I was told they don't talk much though, and I do want a bird that talks a little more. All in all, I have about another two months before I actually get another bird, and I was just wondering what the opinions of those on this forum were.

Attributes I am looking for:

- friendly, playful, loving
- talkative (preferably not a screamer
- A larger bird, colorful. Something about 500g or larger. Roughly.

Thanks a bunch. Looking forward to reading any responses and/or suggestions.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Hello Ivan, and welcome to the forum.

Macaws "can" be very loud. I have 2 of them, and even though none scream incessantly, when they do sound off, it's not pretty. How well do you know your neighbors? Would they be all right with the occasional squawk?

Amazon..oh yes, I LOVE my Amazons. I have 2 of them as well, none scream, and both are big and EXCELLENT talkers, full of personality to say the least.

I'm sure you'll be getting plenty of feedback and ideas thrown your way, but ultimately the decision will be yours to make. IMO you can't go wrong with neither.

 

[Ivan_Jimenez]

Well, I went to a bird store today. They had four B&G's and a Cockatoo, an African Grey, an Amazon, and a couple other types. I was in heaven!! Literally almost cried from happiness looking into the window not even having stepped into the store yet. I have made a decision down to two. The Greater Sulphur Cockatoo or the B&G. I was more attracted to the Cockatoo though. I had in mind what I wanted from the start with the perception of bird from everything I have read, but a book does not fully explain a bird personality. I feel it is like trying to put an award winning picture into words. You can try, but you only get a part of the essence. The more and more I see these birds, the more I realize that the birds I had ruled out, having never really spent time with them, are the birds I am even more attracted to. They're incredible. Two months from now I will have made a decision and will have my bird. But what will I end up with is the major question I have.

 

[Ivan_Jimenez]

Hello Ivan, and welcome to the forum.

Macaws "can" be very loud. I have 2 of them, and even though none scream incessantly, when they do sound off, it's not pretty. How well do you know your neighbors? Would they be all right with the occasional squawk?

Amazon..oh yes, I LOVE my Amazons. I have 2 of them as well, none scream, and both are big and EXCELLENT talkers, full of personality to say the least.

I'm sure you'll be getting plenty of feedback and ideas thrown your way, but ultimately the decision will be yours to make. IMO you can't go wrong with neither.

I do not know my neighbors all that great. But I cannot see it being a problem. Most people here are super nice and would love to see a bird around. Granted, I do not know how often they are here themselves. I am home just about all the time, and I have only seen them around a hand full of times. Mainly at three in the morning when they come home, or are running around screaming their heads off. XD

 

[JerseyWendy]

Did you have a chance of hearing the Greater Sulphur "sound off" while you were there? They can give a Macaw a run for their money.

 

[Ivan_Jimenez]

Did you have a chance of hearing the Greater Sulphur "sound off" while you were there? They can give a Macaw a run for their money.

I did not have the opportunity. It was about two that I was there. I am going to meet some more macaws and cockatoos tomorrow. super excited. After having discussed it with my friend, it looks like the Galah is a good option as well. I love the cockatoos' personalities. The macaws seemed a little more timid, but they were less than a year old.

 

[JerseyWendy]

I hope some cockatoo owners will chime in here, as I have no experience with them personally. I do know that cockatoos "can" be a challenge to keep happy.

I have 2 Macaws, and they are absolutely AWESOME! My Niko (B & G) is SUCH a clown, and he has quite the vocabulary, too.

Here, check out this video, Fargo the Macaw belongs to a very good friend of mine (she's on this forum), and he is INCREDIBLE, to say the least

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPwvPhBTNAI&feature=youtu.be"]Fargo the most amazing bird! - YouTube[/ame]

 

[chippy]

Before i got my IRN Pippin, I looked into a bird rescue and one of the things I was told by the lady who runs it is that Cockatoos are the most frequently rehomed parrot (in the part of the country, anyhow...I don't know about elsewhere) because too many people get them without realizing that they re HIGH maintenance birds...they can be loud, destructive and, if not properly cared for or not paid enough attention to, can self-mutilate terribly.

Personally, my only experience with them was when I was 18 working in a pet store...I was there for 6 months and in that time two 'Toos were returned to the store...

Please be very very sure before you choose a cockatoo (or whatever bird you choose)

 

[CaitlinBird]

Amazon. Reconsider the amazons. I love amazons!

If you are considering a cockatoo I honestly would not get one unless you plan on buying a large outdoor aviary with the bird. Cockatoos can have a LOT of energy and a cage with a couple play stands, I think, is not enough for the life of the bird. Birds need exercise too.

Also think about where you will be in life in the next 5, 10 and 20 years. Are you getting married? Graduating? Moving or having kids? Where will your bird be in the midst of all that? Jojo is the Moluccan Cockatoo I'm fostering and he is only 30 years old and has had at least five homes in his lifetime. I'm currently working with him to become more people friendly and to reduce his fear of stepping up. People have not been very gentle with him over the years. How would you feel if this was your bird I'm now rehabbing? Just a thought.

Reconsider the amazons! I want one of those giant mealy 'zons, they have a calmer personality and seem to have a more "domestic" personality.

 

[Ivan_Jimenez]

What would the opinions on the Galahs be?