Nanday Conure vs Eclectus Parrot?

Question

I am ready to commit and purchase a parrot for a pet.

I have always been interested in the intelligence & personalities of Ekkies (mother in law a breeder) but have just met a very cheeky Nanday Conure and i would like some advice from other eclectus & conure owners on the following to help me with my decision with what bird i should choose:

Health Problems

Temperament

Special Diet Requirements

Ease/Difficulty with Training

Money isn't an issue

Space isn't an issue

I have plenty of time & patience

but i also own a cat

Thanks

Answer 1

I don't have a nanday but I have a sun conure & eclectus parrot.

You need to read up on eclectus parrots. They're a very different parrot to other species & not something you can just buy for the intelligence, you need to think about things like their diet. Ekkies are a hardy healthy bird IF you have them on a good diet. They cannot eat fortified foods, pellets, preservatives, colours adatives etc..they need a soft fresh food diet. There's plenty of info here

www.eclectusparrots.net

A conure may be a little better choice to start with.

Answer 2

I have 3 ekkies, and a sun and a sunday conure. If your mother-in-law breeds then I am sure you are familiar with the daily maintenence of ekkie's.

Both species conures and eclectus are very intelligent. I swear my male eclectus is the smartest bird I have ever met though! He doesn't miss a beat of anything.

Conures are much lower maintenence birds. They are a breeze to take care of compared to ekkie's. Conure's and Ekkie's can both be prone to feather plucking. Usually due to lack of stimulation, diet related, change of environment, or environmental stressors.

Each bird is an individual they all have seperate personalities- even birds of the same species. I can tell you that my conures are much more nervous acting than my other species. My ekkie's are very curious and into everything. They like quiet households, even though they are not quiet birds.

The temperament of my conures is very clingy, loving and want to be near you all the time. The Ekkie's have to have constant stimulation- toys, playgyms, and human interaction.  I have no problems with my ekkie's biting unless they are scared or extrmely pissed off.

Eclectus are really fast learners and so are conures. I think they are both very easy to train. Eclectus can be a bit more stubborn and try to show themselves every once and a while.

Eclectus have to have a very special diet. They have to have 80% soft foods daily because of their extremely long digestive tract, they cannot survive on an all seed diet. We prepare them meals twice a day. Our conures get fresh food too (all of our birds do) but their mix is their main staple. I feed them Sunseed vita parrot, mixed with goldenfeast (south american blend) this is a human grade food that is mostly granola based with dried fruit and veggies and pasta. I add a very small amount of zupreem pellets.

Both are awesome species of birds- eclectus is going to be a larger commitment. Seeing that you have patience is a plus- your going to need it with any species!!!

Answer 3

I have a nanday conure and they are fairly easy to take care of.  The only issue is their screaming.  It's pretty loud.  The nanday conure is smaller than the eclectus, but I like the nanday's personality.  They can be quite disobedient at times.  I suggest the nanday.  

Here's a website to help determine if a nanday is right for you:

http://www.petco.com/caresheets/bird/Con...