I dont know what parrot is right for me??

Question

Hi i am thinking of buying a parrot, always wanted one. Price doesnt matter.. I like the macaws as they are beautiful looking birds but heard they can be very aggressive towards guests, and dont talk alot.

The type of bird i'd like is one that i can easily teach to talk, and will favour me but also not be aggressive towards my family and friends. And one that if i had to leave it alone, it wouldnt be too much of a problem? So what do you think is the perfect parrot for me?

Answer 1

It all depends on how loud, aggressive, moody, pricey, long lived, and friendly that YOU can handle. I wouldn't recommend a macaw unless you can handle having a feathered four-year-old for 80+ years. But for a first time parrot you should get a quaker parrot. They are sweet and they are great talkers for a tiny price! Good luck!  

Answer 2

To be perfectly blunt, no one can answer this question.  It is impossible to reccommend the perfect parrot because each species has different selling points and each bird is an individual.  I'd gather up some books on parrots.  Parrots for Dummies or Birds for Dummies are both excellent, realistic views on what is required to keep avian companions.

Researching species is fairly easy to do on the internet but also keep in mind that many sites may not be completely reliable so make sure to check a few.  Avesint.com has some excellent information as will your local avian rescue organization.

As far as which species, any can be what you want and any can be a nightmare.  Personally I have an African Grey and cockatiel.  The grey is large, messy, talkative, and a feather picker.  She's also go quite the temper.  Never mean, just cranky.  The cockatiel on the other hand is very quiet, doesn't talk but also doesn't scream, loves people and will hang out with anyone.

Don't forget the bird will most likely outlive you so make all decisions carefully.  They are a lot of work and require a lot of resources but are very rewarding companions.

Good Luck.

Answer 3

Conures are aren't a bad choice, they can talk but also are playful. Macaws can be stand-offish sometimes. Cockatoos can be very affectionate and clingy but they live forever so be prepared for that.

Answer 4

macaws are lovely looking birds but i would recommend an african gray i know a few people that have got 1 they train easy and r really chatty birds. hope that helps

Answer 5

To know the parrot for you, you need to answer some questions.  For example:

Noise, on a scale of 1-10 how sensitive are you to noise?  A large cockatoo can be as loud as a jet engine.  A macaw can be heard by the man in the house across the street.  Conures have a high pitch screech.  If nosie is a problem, macaws, cockatoos, amazons, and some conures are not for you.

Bites, on a scale 1-10 how much pain can you tolerate.  Some people have had tendons and nerves severed by their macaws. Also a terrirtorial parrot is more likely to bite, and some birds become more aggressive at sexual maturity.

What about space? A macaw requires a huge cage, often around the size of 4 ft x 4ft. Playstands are often small play treets,t aht are about 2 ft x 2ft or more at the base.

Money is also a big part of aprrot ownership.  Larger parrot toys can cost 20-40 dollars a piece, and must constantly be replaced.  The cage is expensive too, and playstands, vet costs, and food isn't cheap.  The larger the bird the more expensive, but even small parots are expensive.

Talking is a great bonus when you own a parrot, but you shouldn't expect it to talk.  There are some Congo African Grey's that don't utter a word their entire life.  You can surely look into species more likely to talk,but it can never be  guaranteed.

Do you have to time?  These larger parrots can require 4-6 hours a day out of the cage.  Your schedule will play a big part in selecting a parrot.

Also some fo these larger parrots are very very very sensitive.  Can you handle a parrot that might chewor pluck its feathers because you went on a 3 day vacation?  If not, greys, cockatoos, or macaws are out of the question.

Based on what information you provided, here are my suggestions.  Cockatiels, lovebirds, smaller conures (Green cheeks and black caps), senegals, quakers, meyers parrots.  But do some reading, and look into different species, and closely related species and see what fits your answers to the questions above.  The perfect parrot is one you can provide for (money, space, time), and one you can live with (bites, noise).  It's also a parrot you can provide a forever home for.  Best of luck in your search.