Amazon or African

[Banana1234]

I am a quadriplegic and I am interested in purchasing a bird. I pretty much narrowed it down to a blue fronted Amazon or an African grey. I'm very indecisive.. I love the colors and personality of the Amazon But the talking ability of the African has me up in arms.rely on others for my care and daily activities and would appreciate the knowledge of others to help me make this decision.

 

[noodles123]

Not all greys are talkers, so you could get a silent one with the the grey personality. They are smarter than most birds as well, but again, they can be SILENT.


Make sure you research A TON. They are like children...Talk to your care-takers and understand that greys tend to be "one-person" birds, which means that they may bond to the person who cleans their cage etc. Not certain, but likely.
Many birds are like this....They can be very fickle and all of you WILL be bitten. Not maybe, but 500% certain that blood will be drawn at some point if you own a bird. You cannot stop handling it after something like that, but many people get freaked out and then leave it in its cage...this creates a bigger problem.


I am not trying to discourage, I just want you to understand that birds are a bigger pain than any dog or cat and that many people are scared of birds. They NEED to be interacted with, whether or not they bite etc. There is no corner-cutting...It is a HUGE part of my day and a definite full-time commitment more than a child at times.

 

[wrench13]

I am going to qualify a statement from above. Unless ANY parrot is regularly interacted ( almost every day) with by all members of the family, they can easily become 1 person birds and if it ain't you ,well boo hoo, they are WILD ANIMALS and are way way way more work for the feeders and cleaners than any 5 dogs. I really do feel for your condition, but are your care givers ready for 50-60 years of parrot ? Plus the 2 you selected are not even close to being 'easy care' parrots ( no such thing actually). Blue fronts are one of the 'Hot 3' and thats temperment wise, and Greys are so intelegent they demand intlectual stimulation more like a 3=5 year old child. Where are you located? Maybe we can reach out to our members and find someone who will let you become a 'big brother/sister' to their parrot?

 

[Banana1234]

If that's the case what breed would you recommend?

 

[noodles123]

Birds are just terribly complicated mentally AND physically (even parakeets are terribly smart...smarter than dogs).


I would get a dog or cat or something, honestly.
Birds look pretty, and sound pretty, but when bored, they can tear out their own feathers and scream 24/7.
I love mine, but I have had to really change my life for her...
Things like regular household cleaning products kill birds...bleach, teflon (PTFE/PTFOA), ammonia, candles, pretty much anything with a scent....aerosols..gas, cigarettes...you name it.


They are REALLY hard pets to keep and keep well. I am not trying to sound like a jerk. I just think it's kind of like child-birth, where it's a gratifying yet intense pain with lots of complications and an even longer commitment...I can tell someone about it, but until they are in it/experiencing it, they won't necessarily understand, and even then, the smartest birds are stuck at the age of 2-4 FOREVER----some up to 100 years (on the older end of their life-spans)..At least kids grow out of it, cannot fly and do not have beaks....


We had a "crazy" and relatively "low-maintenance" parakeet growing up. We thought it was "easy" because we had NO IDEA what we were doing (I was very young and it was my sister's pet) ...We just assumed it was like a hamster or something.. they cost the same amount and were sold in the same store. Years later, I understand that this was very wrong and I would venture to say that anyone marketing birds as "low maintenance" or easy to care for is neglecting theirs terribly or trying to make a quick buck.

I still feel VERY guilty, as do my parents. It wasn't until years later that we learned how wrong we were, and that is not to say that the bird died a terrible death, it just lived a miserable life.

 

[itzjbean]

Have you considered a cockatiel?

If you've never owned a bird before, I would not suggest an Amazon or Grey! They are VERY tricky to keep happy and tame...

Cockatiels are (in my opinion) easy to train, stay friendly to the entire family (and strangers), easy to care for and are easy on the pocket book. They have so much personality too, even for small birds.

 

[ChristaNL]

Oh..and do remember these are basicly wild animals, so they have no inhibitions when it comes to going after the weak/defenseless one if so inclined.


Sorry to be blunt but you just don't buy a parrot for your own amusement - it's entering a partnership with a sentient being!
Make very sure you have more to offer than cage, food and water.
I have no idea how severly restricted you are- but unless you are surrounded by experienced birdpeople, just DONT.
Get a dog!
Most people understand/ can cope with the needs of "dog" with a few simple instructions, parrots are way more complicated and needy.


Wrench actually had a great suggestion (he usually does, no idea where it all comes from ).


Borrow a bird/ be a birdsitter for someone who works during the day - so you have a dayjob as parrotentertainer.
Remember that parrots need to be handled a lot (and frequent - like every day a few times) to remain 'tame and friendly' as wel as have a serious amount of interaction on different levels.
They need to get out and about for their wellbeing (physical as wel as mental/ emotional).

 

[lplummer52]

Parakeets and Cockatiels will bring you so much joy and will not be hard for your or your bird’s caretakers. Some parakeets are excellent talkers, but cocktails are really the sweetest, most cuddly birds. All parrots bite, but a parakeet or cockatiel bites are easier to take. You’ll need to spend lots of time with your bird to tame it and keep it tame. And you will be responsible for teaching your caregivers how to feed and clean it’s cage and surroundings. All birds are very messy and the bigger the bird, the bigger the mess. Think long and hard about this, and keep in touch!

 

[Kiwibird]

Welcome. You are certainly in a fairly unique situation, but I would imagine you have done your research first before considering pursuing this. Will this be your first bird and/or the first bird your caretaker(s) have ever had before? If so, is everyone on board with the extra level of attention, mess, noise, potential to bite and/or destroy things a larger parrot will bring? Since you will need help caring for the bird, it is important all parties involved have a clear picture of what kind of trouble they're getting into My advice below is going off the assumption that you and your caretakers have already taken the difficulty of keeping a parrot in mind and are in agreement on how it could work for you/those who help you.

Something I might suggest is visiting a parrot rescue organization or a store that sells older parrots, ones who are already past puberty and sexually mature. Keep an open mind regarding species because the right bird may not be what you expected! The reason being parrots can be exceptionally challenging when they hit puberty (at 4-6 years old for larger parrots) and their personalities can change dramatically from who they were as juveniles. Looking for an adult bird who likes you and you feel a connection with will be very important IMO. I myself am partial to amazons, but they are not known for being cuddly birds. That said, they can be amazing companions and you'll know if an amazon does or does not like you. Amazons love attention (not necessarily in the form of petting though) and are prone to becoming defensive over their chosen person. Their annual breeding season can make them rather aggressive for a few weeks a year, especially the males (though virtually all parrots go through this, just not as 'bad' as amazons seem to get it). Having others handle and interact with a bird as often as possible is a good way to keep them well socialized. Paying close attention to body language and respecting them is how you avoid bites. Amazons don't typically bite without fair warning. I don't know as much about African grays. To my understanding they are more sensitive and shy birds thus more prone to behavioral issues such as plucking. They are also crazy intelligent and grow bored easily. It is important for them to constantly have things to do, such as foraging or puzzle toys. You may also wish to consider other birds as well, such as budgies, cockatiels or conures too. Really, try to keep an open mind and look for the bird who chooses you! Also, keep in mind the smaller the bird the smaller the mess, noise, bites etc... but the need for daily interaction and daily fresh produce in the diet will always be there from budgies to macaws.

 

[GaleriaGila]

Welcome.

All REALLY GOOD considerations above. All.

I will only add that I might hope you look into adopting/rescuing a grown bird whose personality if already somewhat established. An avian vet might recommend a good bird rescue/rehab/shelter facility. If you do get a bird, you'll want a good avan vet on hand anyway.
http://www.aav.org/search/custom.asp?id=1803
Regular vets often "wing it" with birds, although some are very helpful.

Good for you, for reaching out!

 

[Tami2]

Hello Banana1234 & Welcome.
I’m glad you’ve joined us.

You’ve already gotten some excellent feedback.
I hope you will go through the many forums here to get better educated.

I am a 1st time parrot owner. I researched for years and lurked around parrot websites prior to getting my Grey. I bought many books on African Greys and watched a ton of You Tube videos, as well as asked many questions of parrot owners etc... I wanted to make sure I was ready and wasn’t going to screw it up.
I also had dogs and cats my entire life. (So much easier for sure)
Let me tell you, even after all of my preparation, I had no idea of the work involved until he was home. He tried to attack and bite me every chance he got for well over a month.

If you’ve got the time, desire, patience and understanding involve in this huge endeavor than by all means go for it.
But, be aware it’s a lot of work. Here is a link on African Greys well worth the read IMHO.
http://www.parrotforums.com/congo-timneh-greys/59366-cag-101-a.html

My final 3 were, Amazon, Grey and Cockatoo. I believe, I made the right choice for my family. I hope you do as well.

Best of luck and please keep us posted.

 

[SailBoat]

Welcome to Parrot Forums!

Thank-you for reaching out regarding this subject. Your World presents considerations that are difference and as a result adds complications. As others have stated, your caregivers are a major part of the consideration. In addition, it is not uncommon for you to experience an on going turn-over in staff. You will be faced with the reality that some people for unknown reasons will be rejected by your Parrot and as stated by others your Parrot may fall head over claws of one of your Staff.

Take a look at the Amazon Forum and at the top of that Forum are two Threads that are high-lighted in light blue. One brings the need to understand Amazon body language and the other (I Love Amazons - ...) is a huge Thread that has over 30 segments of loving and living with Amazon (also supports other Parrots).

 

[Tami2]

Good Morning Banana1234,

Many have pointed out the work involved and discussing this extra work with your staff of caregivers.
Are you planning on increasing their pay by adding more work to their job description? Do any of them own parrots?
I’m sure it can be done as long as you’re open to and really understanding all the ramifications of the big picture. It truly is parallel to caring for a young child.

I don’t want to discourage you as I know how much joy a companion bird brings. However, the reason you are getting some push back is b/c the statistics for birds getting neglected and re-homed etc... is very high. I also agree that rescuing an older bird might be the way to go.

After Levi and I finally created that bond my first thought was how wonderful a parrot would be for an older person living alone.
It’s like living w/ another person. However, it’s taking care of another person. (I know I am repeating myself and maybe this is exactly why you want one and I get that.)
But trust me when I say they are nothing like having a dog or cat.

We just want to make sure you (and your staff) truly understand the commitment before embarking on this journey.

 

[bigfellasdad]

My CAG has never bitten me any more than a little nip, so its not a given. She HAS bitten pretty much everybody else that has come in contact with her. CAGs arevery intelligent, and with that comes a very high level of being stubborn..... If she doesnt want to do something she will fly (fully flighted bird) to a cupboard top and stay there until i climb and bring her down. Very demanding from that perspective.


I absolutely adhore my CAG but im not convinced it would be the right choice for you. I do believe a bird can be a fantastic companion though so dont let my thoughts put you off.


If you have a bird rescue around your area, would you have the option of going with your carer and go and spend some time with them, just so that you can make your own decisions on whether it is first feasible for you and then hopefully the breed of bird you would like?



I really do wish you luck

 

[Scott]

Welcome to the forums and kudos for researching!

You have one potential advantage of time available to acclimate your new companion. As others have stated, birds have unique characteristics and needs. Many of the worst behaviors are somewhat attributable to a lack of time due to work considerations.

If your caretakers are amenable to assisting, you'll be able to devote yourself to bonding and perhaps forming a lifelong relationship. Best advice is to visit venues that enable you to have repeated close contact with potential choices. Rescues, breeders, and some large pet stores that specialize in birds are great options.

Amazons and Greys are quite enigmatic and each species has challenges. Unless your heart is set, might wish to consider some smaller and possibly more mellow choices - the suggestion of a cockatiel is excellent. Good luck, please keep us updated and ask any questions as the process unfolds!

 

[Boozieshome]

There has been so much good advice. I will say only one thing: Sometimes birds bite. I have 3, an amazon and 2 cockatoos. The Amazon has chosen me completely, and will nip, but never bites me out of anger. The cockatoos, well, one of them is a borderline schizophrenic and will love and bite me in alternating minutes. The other... well, sometimes she just flares up. I have to put up a hand to keep her from biting me. It's rare, but if I couldn't defend myself by simply putting my palm towards her, I don't know what damage she could do. She has a huge beak. I am currently bleeding from one of them. Not his fault, I screwed up and he got mad. I love him anyway, but I can quickly remove him when it happens, and it WILL happen.

That said, if you can provide a safe and loving home, and you feel up to it, get yourself a safe bird for you. They are a challenge, but they are worth it.

 

[Laurasea]

This information is so important for all first time parrot parrents...I wish everyone would fo the research you are doing, before bringing home a pet parrot. They are so very intelligent, science has now agreed they are on order of a primate in their intelligence. And they make individual choices on whome to bond with. I believe all dreams are possible. Whomever mentioned becoming active in a parrot rescue was genius! Spending time speaking and interacting with these poor souls would be do beneficial to them, and perhaps meet your needs for parrot love.

 

[Banana1234]

Thank you for all of your information and input. I decided to go with a blue fronted Amazon. So far so good. He is so friendly and tame.

 

[Scott]

Congratulations, the first two weeks or so are generally a "honeymoon" period. We're here to help with questions or concerns as needed! Do you have any idea of age?

 

[Tami2]

Congratulations indeed. :smile049:
Very exciting!!
Best of luck & please keep us posted.

Here’s another very important link.
http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html