Breeds and how you find them.

[Debbie26pet]

We are looking at parrots and breeds. I'm looking and lots of reading bit alot but they contradict themselves, the choices we have are. Amazon. African grey. Indian ring neck and alexendrine.
We have had a quaker parrot. (My daughter moved out and as he's hers. He gone to live with her, had him over 4yrs.)
We have seen a alexandrine he's 2 yrs old starting to say words.etc. but we've read that this breed likes one person and doesn't like to others in a family.
Can anyone give some advice. On this breed and the others we looking at.. thanks

 

[wrench13]

Hi and welcome. First, dogs have breeds, as any dog can mate with another dog and successfully have pups. All dogs are 1 species. Parrots have species, and its rare that 2 species could mate successfully, ie macaws with macaws is fine but say macaw with a amazon - aint happening.

So. Amazons. THe common ones are first, the 'hot' 3, Double yellow head, yellow nape and the blue front. These are the larger (but not the largest) Amazons. Smart, and can be LOUD. These guys can talk pretty well, some excellently, sing and whistle good, and some never talk at all. They are called the hot 3 because of their temperament, especially during mating season, when they lose their minds. A bite from these guys can be serious! Next, we have the mid size ones, Lilac crowned, orange cheeked, and the Mexican or red lored Amazons. About 2/3 the size of the hot 3, and comaritively milder disposition. some of them talk quite well, but are not known for it. Then we have the small amazons. Relatively rare in aviculture but worth the search are yellow fronted amazons, yellow crown, Panama and lastly the yellow shoulder Amazon.
THey can range over a wide variety of size, with the yellow shoulder being 1/2 to 1/3 the size of the hot 3. These guys are known for their mild disposition and liking the company of people. I have a yellow shoulder, Salty; he is very smart, talks well and knows over 40 tricks.

Amazons in general will pick a favorite person and depending on how they were socialized will be OK with other members of the family, especially if they give them treats and make the effort. THis is going to be true of any of the parrots you mentioned.

Amazons have the clearest body language of all parrots and if you know yours well, bites and nips are easily avoided. Amazons are not usually prone to plucking and barbering.

African Greys, as everyone knows, are the best talkers, though some Amazons are just as good. But not every Grey talks. Some like sounds better - like the phone, microwave or smoke detector sounds and some do both. They are very smart and super observant. A Grey is always watching. They can develop phobias and are timid by nature. Greys are one of the parrots that are prone to plucking and barbering if they are not given a stimulating environment, so lots of toys and puzzle type foraging opportunities are needed. Greys can be almost human in their interaction with humans, if they talk, often doing so in context with the situation. THey have a sense of humor. Not noted for being agressive normally, but a lot of that is up to how they are raised, handled and kept and of course during mating season all bets are off.

Indian Ringnecks and Alexandrines are very closely related, so much of this applies to both. They can learn to talk well, in that classic squeaky toy voice they have. The thing with these guys is they need daily interaction with their people in order to remain tame. Ringnecks are famous for going back to an almost wild state if not played with and interacting with humans, rather quickly too. IT take a while for ringnecks to settle down and be calm around people. THey can be pluckers too if not given a stimulating environment. Usually, they can do well with all members of a family, again is socialized well.

As you do you searching, keep in mind this - every parrot is an individual unto themselves, with their own personalities and foibles. Reading summaries of a species needs to be taken with this in mind. There are Amazons that are pussy cats, Greys dumb as a bag of hammers and Ringnecks who never ever tame. Think bell shaped curve. SOme will be true to type, and some on either side of that curve. However - all parrots are LOUD, and bite, need toys and playthings, good diets and exercise, and are messy.

Good luck!