should i get a blue & gold macaw or an african grey?

[Babyrizzmuffin101_ohio]

hello everyone,
after the death of my last birds two years ago now i feel in the next year i will be ready for another (also depending on lifestyle factors.) and was wondering if an african grey or a BG macaw would suit me better so i will say a bit about what im looking for. I would love a silly and playful bird that i can train free flight and tricks/commands that just wants to be in my company and is very affectionate, for me the bigger the better. I know individuals vary but would also like a cuddly bird (i am willing to spend a lot)
let me know what you think!

 

[GaleriaGila]

Species type does indeed determine a lot, but, oh, birds can have such different personalities within the same species/class, etc. I have seen the best results when prospective owners can interact with individual birds in adance of purchase... see what chemistry emerges.
Good for you, for reaching out and researching.
Stick with us!

 

[Jexnell]

As mentioned the best way is to let the bird pick you.
When I got my Sun Conure Phoenix, he was one of 20 hatchling. Parakeets, Cockatiel, Quaker, Conures. I went there three days in a row and he was the only one to climb out to be with me all three days. He was not weaned yet so for another 7 weeks I went in daily to visit and build our bond. By time he came home we were already bonded and made the transition all that much easier.

 

[Babyrizzmuffin101_ohio]

Species type does indeed determine a lot, but, oh, birds can have such different personalities within the same species/class, etc. I have seen the best results when prospective owners can interact with individual birds in adance of purchase... see what chemistry emerges.
Good for you, for reaching out and researching.
Stick with us!

thank you for the advice i really appreciate it! at the moment the struggle for me is i cannot find a breeder other than big chain compaines who i know to aviod.

 

[Babyrizzmuffin101_ohio]

As mentioned the best way is to let the bird pick you.
When I got my Sun Conure Phoenix, he was one of 20 hatchling. Parakeets, Cockatiel, Quaker, Conures. I went there three days in a row and he was the only one to climb out to be with me all three days. He was not weaned yet so for another 7 weeks I went in daily to visit and build our bond. By time he came home we were already bonded and made the transition all that much easier.

View attachment 61744

pheonix is gorgeous!

 

[texsize]

From my point of view.
I would love to have a macaw but for 2 main points.

1 I don’t think I could become easy with that size of a beak.
You got to be able to “show no fear “ and I couldn’t do that.

2 space. My house is not big enough for a Mac to fly around in.

I love, love, love our African Grey Bella even though I am not her favorite person.

 

[chris-md]

From my point of view.
I would love to have a macaw but for 2 main points.

1 I don’t think I could become easy with that size of a beak.
You got to be able to “show no fear “ and I couldn’t do that..

You aren’t kidding! Parker, for the first time ever in a decade, just bit my face/cheek this morning pretty bad, as in grab big beak full, let go of my hand with his feet, and dangle for 6-7 seconds. Def leaving a scar but it’s not ripped, just bad indentations. I’ve been thinking all morning and even said to my partner “thank GOD I don’t have a cockatoo, Amazon, or macaw…this could have been much worse”.

 

[Macawdamia Nut]

From my point of view.
I would love to have a macaw but for 2 main points.

1 I don’t think I could become easy with that size of a beak.
You got to be able to “show no fear “ and I couldn’t do that.

2 space. My house is not big enough for a Mac to fly around in.

I love, love, love our African Grey Bella even though I am not her favorite person.

The reality is very different than your fears. I have owned my macaw for nearly 50 years and I can assure you that he is not flying around inside my very large house with double height ceilings. He didn’t get to his age by taking unnecessary chances! He does flight simulation on the side of his cage, but the only time he flies inside the house is when he accidentally loses his footing on an upstairs banister. Having to bank and turn and navigate a safe landing without hitting furniture, walls, or 2 story windows is a stressful situation for both of us! My macaw is a free-ranging waddler. He runs around the house and climbs and descends stairs, but he does not fly indoors by choice. You would need to live in an airplane hangar for that to take place!

The cage requires a significant amount of space in most homes. Every time I shopped for a home I had to consider where the massive macaw cage would go. *That* is the issue for most people.

As for the beak issue, I have never been bitten—and I do mean never— in almost 50 years. I was once seriously bitten by a Moluccan cockatoo owned by my brother’s girlfriend. Ouch! Glad it was not my bird!!!

 

[Babyrizzmuffin101_ohio]

From my point of view.
I would love to have a macaw but for 2 main points.

1 I don’t think I could become easy with that size of a beak.
You got to be able to “show no fear “ and I couldn’t do that.

2 space. My house is not big enough for a Mac to fly around in.

I love, love, love our African Grey Bella even though I am not her favorite person.

what is your african grey like?

 

[Babyrizzmuffin101_ohio]

You aren’t kidding! Parker, for the first time ever in a decade, just bit my face/cheek this morning pretty bad, as in grab big beak full, let go of my hand with his feet, and dangle for 6-7 seconds. Def leaving a scar but it’s not ripped, just bad indentations. I’ve been thinking all morning and even said to my partner “thank GOD I don’t have a cockatoo, Amazon, or macaw…this could have been much worse”.

i hope your okay!
i think the best way to avoid a bite is to look for frustrated body lanauge
( but you'll never know for amazons lol)

 

[Babyrizzmuffin101_ohio]

The reality is very different than your fears. I have owned my macaw for nearly 50 years and I can assure you that he is not flying around inside my very large house with double height ceilings. He didn’t get to his age by taking unnecessary chances! He does flight simulation on the side of his cage, but the only time he flies inside the house is when he accidentally loses his footing on an upstairs banister. Having to bank and turn and navigate a safe landing without hitting furniture, walls, or 2 story windows is a stressful situation for both of us! My macaw is a free-ranging waddler. He runs around the house and climbs and descends stairs, but he does not fly indoors by choice. You would need to live in an airplane hangar for that to take place!

The cage requires a significant amount of space in most homes. Every time I shopped for a home I had to consider where the massive macaw cage would go. *That* is the issue for most people.

As for the beak issue, I have never been bitten—and I do mean never— in almost 50 years. I was once seriously bitten by a Moluccan cockatoo owned by my brother’s girlfriend. Ouch! Glad it was not my bird!!!

how big is your macaw cage?

 

[Macawdamia Nut]

how big is your macaw cage?

76” tall x 45” wide x 30” deep. It weighs about 250-300 lbs. I built a portable ramp so I could roll it out of the house for big cleans. It is a monster!

Many years ago, I relocated to Boston with a new employer. As I was an executive-level employee, they made a lot of concessions for my bird. They put me up in corporate housing until I could find a house to buy. Unfortunately, they put me up in a 3rd floor apartment in a building from the 1800s. The cage could not fit up the stairs, so they had to remove the window and bring in a professional piano mover who constructed a pulley system to hoist the cage through the window. There was a crowd on the street watching the shenanigans! Luckily, my company footed the bill for that move! They were used to crazy stuff like moving pet horses and alpacas, but never a macaw’s huge cage!

 

[texsize]

what is your african grey like?

Bella is a great bird.
She gets along with all my family members.
She is bonded to my wife and she will only cuddle and accept scratches from her.
My son and I can both pick her up and carry her around or let her ride on a shoulder.
Not a typical one person bird.

She is fearful. She spooks easily.
Getting packages from Amazon . Can’t just bring in boxes.
We have to hide her (in the bathroom) to bring in large packages.

Her vocabulary is amazing.
She is a plucker and we rescued her in that condition.

 

[texsize]

You aren’t kidding! Parker, for the first time ever in a decade, just bit my face/cheek this morning pretty bad, as in grab big beak full, let go of my hand with his feet, and dangle for 6-7 seconds. Def leaving a scar but it’s not ripped, just bad indentations. I’ve been thinking all morning and even said to my partner “thank GOD I don’t have a cockatoo, Amazon, or macaw…this could have been much worse”.

Same thing happened to me with Bingo my Yellow nape.
He bit me full force on the face and was hanging off of my face while I was yelling. I thought I was going to see a flap of skin in the mirror and a trip to the E.R. In my future.
Turned out to be a lot of blood and a lump of a bruise that lasted about 10 days.

 

[Babyrizzmuffin101_ohio]

76” tall x 45” wide x 30” deep. It weighs about 250-300 lbs. I built a portable ramp so I could roll it out of the house for big cleans. It is a monster!

Many years ago, I relocated to Boston with a new employer. As I was an executive-level employee, they made a lot of concessions for my bird. They put me up in corporate housing until I could find a house to buy. Unfortunately, they put me up in a 3rd floor apartment in a building from the 1800s. The cage could not fit up the stairs, so they had to remove the window and bring in a professional piano mover who constructed a pulley system to hoist the cage through the window. There was a crowd on the street watching the shenanigans! Luckily, my company footed the bill for that move! They were used to crazy stuff like moving pet horses and alpacas, but never a macaw’s huge cage!

that is similar measurements to the cage i would want to get lol,
your bird sounds really awesome!

 

[Babyrizzmuffin101_ohio]

Bella is a great bird.
She gets along with all my family members.
She is bonded to my wife and she will only cuddle and accept scratches from her.
My son and I can both pick her up and carry her around or let her ride on a shoulder.
Not a typical one person bird.

She is fearful. She spooks easily.
Getting packages from Amazon . Can’t just bring in boxes.
We have to hide her (in the bathroom) to bring in large packages.

Her vocabulary is amazing.
She is a plucker and we rescued her in that condition.

bella seems like shes a great fit for your family and really sweet! (other than the packages lol)
would you say greys are often one person birds?

 

[Babyrizzmuffin101_ohio]

Same thing happened to me with Bingo my Yellow nape.
He bit me full force on the face and was hanging off of my face while I was yelling. I thought I was going to see a flap of skin in the mirror and a trip to the E.R. In my future.
Turned out to be a lot of blood and a lump of a bruise that lasted about 10 days.

OUCH

 

[texsize]

bella seems like shes a great fit for your family and really sweet! (other than the packages lol)
would you say greys are often one person birds?

I just can’t say.
I have only had the one Grey.
This is just about her got you anniversary for 8 years.
She was young when we adopted her but don’t know exact age.
I was told she was 8/9 months old.
I know now this could not have been true cuz I have watched the development of an African Grey of that age.
At that age they still have dark maroon in the tail feathers.
Bella had none.
But we had her for 2/3 years before she hit puberty so she was young.

I don’t know for sure if she picked us.
She was very happy to see us and wanted scratches from all of us when at the store.
So in that sense she picked us.
But she may have reached like that to everyone…. I don’t know.

 

[Babyrizzmuffin101_ohio]

I just can’t say.
I have only had the one Grey.
This is just about her got you anniversary for 8 years.
She was young when we adopted her but don’t know exact age.
I was told she was 8/9 months old.
I know now this could not have been true cuz I have watched the development of an African Grey of that age.
At that age they still have dark maroon in the tail feathers.
Bella had none.
But we had her for 2/3 years before she hit puberty so she was young.

I don’t know for sure if she picked us.
She was very happy to see us and wanted scratches from all of us when at the store.
So in that sense she picked us.
But she may have reached like that to everyone…. I don’t know.

would you say the puberty phase is difficult?

 

[texsize]

would you say the puberty phase is difficult?

The short answer is not too bad.
She did lay one egg mainly cuz we were letting her “make a nest” in the kitchen cupboard.
We don’t allow that anymore.

From what I have seen on YouTube male CAG’s are harder to deal with. They get really worked up trying to feed (regurgitate) and mate with you.
Our Bella does do a little regurgitation for my wife but not too much.

The only aggression with her is what I would call cage aggression. When I feed her she likes to play “catch the fingers “ and she means business.