Hello, My family is currently looking to add a second bird to our family. we currently have a pineapple conure. We love macaws but we live in a condo and feel one would be too loud. We love how smart the greys are and find them beautifull. we would want to take the bird most places we go and have the bird be friendly with kids and strangers. our condo is on the end and faces a park. everything i read on the grey is that there one person birds and dont like strangers or other people in the house for that matter. we are only considering macaws, grey and derbyan parakeet, as of now. any help would be great.
can a african grey be a family bird?
- Thread starter gasman
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Featheredsamurai
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Congo African greys are known as one person birds, if you want a true family bird I wouldn't recommend one. Tenmeh African greys are a little calmer and may work.
I have a galah cockatoo, they are awesome and love being around people. Mine will step up for nearly anyone but can be a little nippy and they should remain full flighted(unclipped) and motivated to fly for health reasons. They are a quiter cockatoo, but can have their moments.
Eclectus may also work, but require a specialized diet
I have a galah cockatoo, they are awesome and love being around people. Mine will step up for nearly anyone but can be a little nippy and they should remain full flighted(unclipped) and motivated to fly for health reasons. They are a quiter cockatoo, but can have their moments.
Eclectus may also work, but require a specialized diet
Welcome to the forums Gasman.....
There are a lot of grey owners around here, but there a couple of members on the forums who are very experienced with greys, even free-flying their companions...maybe one or both will see your thread and pop in.....they are both very interesting to have in a discussion thread, especially when talking about their birds and both have wonderful pics they might offer to share.....
Good luck on your new quest, hope all works out
There are a lot of grey owners around here, but there a couple of members on the forums who are very experienced with greys, even free-flying their companions...maybe one or both will see your thread and pop in.....they are both very interesting to have in a discussion thread, especially when talking about their birds and both have wonderful pics they might offer to share.....
Good luck on your new quest, hope all works out
- Jan 19, 2014
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Welcome! I hear you about the Macaws... Too loud for me personally! Never had a Grey, but I've heard the Timneh Grey may be a little better suited? I love their deeper colors too.
Derbyans are beautiful, but can be pretty vocal. Piercing, annoying, and loud. Hands off birds that I believe are pretty particular about who handles them. At least the ones I see at our bird store, even the young ones they get in. The adult female Derbyan who lives there would love to bite most people, but she has selected favorites.
Just curious, are you open to any other species at all, besides these few mentioned?
Derbyans are beautiful, but can be pretty vocal. Piercing, annoying, and loud. Hands off birds that I believe are pretty particular about who handles them. At least the ones I see at our bird store, even the young ones they get in. The adult female Derbyan who lives there would love to bite most people, but she has selected favorites.
Just curious, are you open to any other species at all, besides these few mentioned?
EAI
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- Jul 25, 2014
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- Budgerigar: Arrow, Esther, Kratos, Cora, Ducky.
Lovebird: Izzy, Gizmo.
African Greys could be a potential family bird with A LOT of socialization from a young start and if you were to continue it quite often. There's a Bird Man here who has an extensive assortment of birds who are completely socialized where they don't bite strangers at all (or what I've heard). They are extremely socialized due to being held by strangers for hours everyday or during special events.
But this would really take a lot of time on your part, it could also be quite hard if you have smaller children. But I would go with a Timneh just based that multiple websites said they are less phobic than Congos.
Don't forget that Budgies-Macaws are extremely intelligent and beautiful so you still have so many options to choose from.
But I would really stick away from Macaws, I don't know much about Derbyan Parakeets except that they are really pretty.
Good luck on finding the right bird!
But this would really take a lot of time on your part, it could also be quite hard if you have smaller children. But I would go with a Timneh just based that multiple websites said they are less phobic than Congos.
Don't forget that Budgies-Macaws are extremely intelligent and beautiful so you still have so many options to choose from.
But I would really stick away from Macaws, I don't know much about Derbyan Parakeets except that they are really pretty.
Good luck on finding the right bird!
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Thanks for the info so far. Yes we are considering other birds. I really like the blue throated macaw also. I'm really interested in the timneh also. We live across the street from a giant park and would love to walk the bird over there. Any more help would be great.
EAI
New member
- Jul 25, 2014
- 867
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- Budgerigar: Arrow, Esther, Kratos, Cora, Ducky.
Lovebird: Izzy, Gizmo.
Between the two, Timnehs should be a number one choice than the Blue Throated macaw. All macaws are loud no matter the size or colorings. That's the hard part, you have all these really pretty Macaws that you want but you have the noise issue in the way.
VICTORYCC124
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- May 13, 2014
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- Blue Headed Pionus 3yo (Jewel), Green Cheek Conure 3yo (Charlie), Congo African Grey 5yo (Baby Girl), White Capped Pionus 1yo (Leo), Blue Fronted Amazon 4yo (Zora)
Welcome!
I am a relatively new bird owner, we've only had Jewel for a little over a month, but I would LOVE to recommend you to a Poinus!! We started on the idea of a Conure, even considered an African Grey, but we stumbled across this breed and jumped in. We have 3 children, ages 11, 8, and 2 years. She is just the most wonderful lil thing ever! She is a little shy, but she's not nippy and responds so well to calm, gentle attention from those she does't know. I recommend researching the Poinus breed. I think they are just amazing.
Best of luck to you!!
I am a relatively new bird owner, we've only had Jewel for a little over a month, but I would LOVE to recommend you to a Poinus!! We started on the idea of a Conure, even considered an African Grey, but we stumbled across this breed and jumped in. We have 3 children, ages 11, 8, and 2 years. She is just the most wonderful lil thing ever! She is a little shy, but she's not nippy and responds so well to calm, gentle attention from those she does't know. I recommend researching the Poinus breed. I think they are just amazing.
Best of luck to you!!
