Confused....Split in half. :(

[MustLoveAnimals]

As some of you know, I'm planning on bringing home a Galah Cockatoo in the near future. I've been doing TONS of research and absorbing as much information as possible.
There is now a problem surfacing......I'm split between two parrot species.
See, I have only been able to handle three Galahs, and that was at the Hookbill Fair. All of the birds' owners were from different states. I haven't been able to find a breeder in my state yet. I have emailed a few breeders, but NONE of them email me back. I've even talked to a good Avian shop owner. He told me that there are currently no breeders in my state. He has Galahs shipped from Georgia and Florida. And apparently, this was a terrible breeding season for them. I have tried to find Galah owners, there are none, or at least, they are ignoring my calls/emails. I have even tried local rescues. So as of now, I am only doing online research. I'm not gaining any experience.
Here is the other side...
I LOVE to visit the Avian shop near me. They always have Macaws (Mostly B&G). I go there a couple times a week, and the Macs are always my favorite. They are so entertaining and intelligent. They always teach me something new every time I visit them.
So, I have fallen in love with the B&G Macaws. Now I don't know what to do. I don't want to seem irresponsible with my erratic decision making. I didn't mean for this to happen.
What should I do??
Should I ignore my new love and interest in the B&G for now?
I just really wish I could handle more Galahs, so that I can learn more from them. I've been spending more time with B&Gs than anything.

 

[Roanoke]

I could write out a ridiculously long post filled with fancy words, but let me spare you the trouble and summarize it for you:
Do what you feel is right.
If you really and truly are meant to have a Galah, you will feel it deep down inside. Same for the Macaws.
It may seem like a daunting choice but you already know what you'll choose. If I were you, I'd stop all parrot-shopping and just think about it for a week or so.
Trust me, even if you don't know it yet, you've already made the decision. Good luck.

 

[MustLoveAnimals]

I could write out a ridiculously long post filled with fancy words, but let me spare you the trouble and summarize it for you:
Do what you feel is right.
If you really and truly are meant to have a Galah, you will feel it deep down inside. Same for the Macaws.
It may seem like a daunting choice but you already know what you'll choose. If I were you, I'd stop all parrot-shopping and just think about it for a week or so.
Trust me, even if you don't know it yet, you've already made the decision. Good luck.

Thank you for that.

 

[Scott]

I could write out a ridiculously long post filled with fancy words, but let me spare you the trouble and summarize it for you:
Do what you feel is right.
If you really and truly are meant to have a Galah, you will feel it deep down inside. Same for the Macaws.
It may seem like a daunting choice but you already know what you'll choose. If I were you, I'd stop all parrot-shopping and just think about it for a week or so.
Trust me, even if you don't know it yet, you've already made the decision. Good luck.

I absolutely agree! It is easy to research 'till the crows come home, but at some point "analysis paralysis" sets in and ambiguity reigns. Take a break and let your subconscious ruminate for a bit; Galahs and B&Gs are vastly different by every metric!

 

[RavensGryf]

It's not irresponsible at all! It's not like you already got the Galah THEN changed your mind!
Roanoke said it well. Go with what feels right. Also, you can research forever and still never know EXACTLY what it's like until you have them home. Especially when each bird has such an individual personality. I think you'll know what the right decision is when the time comes, whether it be a Galah, B&G, or something altogether different!

As far as 'problems' go, I think that would be a rather fun problem to have! LOL, wish I had that problem

 

[strudel]

I have a galah, and I always follow Fargo and other forum B&Gs. There's nothing wrong with liking different breeds, that's why we are enthusiasts...

It'll work out how it's meant to. If you meet "your" bird and it turns out he/she is a B&G, that's what you'll end up with. Ditto galah.

(I never went looking for a galah, I just saw her on Gumtree looking for adoption, and here she is, here with me. I saw the ad, rang up, the owner was prepared to let me have her, and I got in first. It was just how it was meant to turn out. Ditto my weiros, they needed a home, I had one for them.)

Bottom line is they are all good choices, so whichever you get is good, as long as you know you can handle their needs.

 

[MustLoveAnimals]

I could write out a ridiculously long post filled with fancy words, but let me spare you the trouble and summarize it for you:
Do what you feel is right.
If you really and truly are meant to have a Galah, you will feel it deep down inside. Same for the Macaws.
It may seem like a daunting choice but you already know what you'll choose. If I were you, I'd stop all parrot-shopping and just think about it for a week or so.
Trust me, even if you don't know it yet, you've already made the decision. Good luck.

I absolutely agree! It is easy to research 'till the crows come home, but at some point "analysis paralysis" sets in and ambiguity reigns. Take a break and let your subconscious ruminate for a bit; Galahs and B&Gs are vastly different by every metric!

Understood. The internet can only go so far. I really want to interact with more Galahs. The problem is that there are none here. If there is one, it's for sale. And if it's for sale, it's going to be gone within a few days.
Yes, I understand that they are completely different. I just couldn't help myself.

 

[MustLoveAnimals]

It's not irresponsible at all! It's not like you already got the Galah THEN changed your mind!
Roanoke said it well. Go with what feels right. Also, you can research forever and still never know EXACTLY what it's like until you have them home. Especially when each bird has such an individual personality. I think you'll know what the right decision is when the time comes, whether it be a Galah, B&G, or something altogether different!

As far as 'problems' go, I think that would be a rather fun problem to have! LOL, wish I had that problem

Thank you! I was worried that members might think less of me for widening my horizon. I really wish I had a Galah mentor to help me learn, first hand. There ate too many B&Gs, and not enough Galahs. It makes my learning experience more complicated. But I'll know who I will add to my family when that time comes, as everybody has mentioned.

 

[strudel]

You know what you need? A ticket to/holiday in Australia.

 

[4dugnlee]

You know what you need? A ticket to/holiday in Australia.

I'll take one too...lol:32:

I know what you mean about not knowing what to do. My next and last fid was going to be a galah. I even "warned" hubby that if/when I found one in this area there would be a third bird in our home. But then my friend asked me to take Peanut (U2). In the back of my mind I was thinking about that galah that I would never have...I chose Peanut. I would not have done it different. Peanut needed me. I could not/would not let her go back to her previous home! You will know what to do when the time comes! Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[JerseyWendy]

I don't know how current the info is on Birdbreeders, but have you contacted either:

Happy Bird Haven
We Ship
ST. CHARLES, MO 63302
314-308-9639

or
MA Exotics
House Springs, MO 63051
618-581-7176

Also, how far are you from neighboring states, and how far would you be willing to commute?

 

[Birdman666]

It'll work out how it's meant to. If you meet "your" bird and it turns out he/she is a B&G, that's what you'll end up with. Ditto galah.

Bottom line is they are all good choices, so whichever you get is good, as long as you know you can handle their needs.

Exactly.

Macaws are the most toddler-like of the bunch. They are amazing companion animals, but they are a lot of work. And yeah, the goofy factor with these guys is about as high as it gets...

If you get one, socialize it.

 

[henpecked]

I'd get a bird i could meet in person before having a bird shipped to me ,sight unseen. Personality is more important than parentage.Get the local bird and have resources close to you.

 

[Taw5106]

Last year I started looking for a bird, thinking a cockatoo is what I wanted but every time I visited parrots, nope, no decision. Then in March, I receive a call from my cousin asking me if I would take his mother's parrot, she and her husband had both passed away. I said no at first and Husband told me I had been wanting one and this one needed a home. We went and picked him up, I learned then what a Mexican Redhead was, and I was scratching his head within 5 mins of meeting him. Knew nothing about amazons but starting learning, it's been love ever since. The point, you never know what's in store, let the bird pick you. I just got very blessed and lucky. Good luck!

 

[strudel]

Personality is more important

I agree. That's what I mean when I talk about finding "your" bird. When you meet, you want him/her to come to your house. Part of the indecision is that all those galahs/macaws aren't "people" you've met, of course you don't know which you'll choose because they are hypothetical. You really don't have any dilemma here. A dilemma is when you've met 2 and want to bring back home both of them . Your "dilemma" is really just which one you'll meet first. That'll happen however it turns out happening.

 

[MustLoveAnimals]

I don't know how current the info is on Birdbreeders, but have you contacted either:

Happy Bird Haven
We Ship
ST. CHARLES, MO 63302
314-308-9639

or
MA Exotics
House Springs, MO 63051
618-581-7176

Also, how far are you from neighboring states, and how far would you be willing to commute?

I've tried both. No replies.
I'm about two hours from Illinois, I wouldn't mind taking multiple trips there. Of course, I wouldn't be able to go weekly.

 

[noblemacaw]

When I first got into parrots it was just me and my cockatiel Locksley. I belonged to a local bird club and back then I was exposed to a lot of different species because people use to bring their birds to meetings.

In the process of learning and experiencing I also kept switching species I wanted to have and would learn all I can about the specific species I felt was a good fit.

At one time I felt the Galah would be a good fit. Back then they were three grand and unobtainable for a just graduated student. My graduation present was to be a parrot and I did want the Rose Breasted Cockatoo (called back then) and knew a breeder that had them and would bring the babies to meetings.

My graduation present to myself was Mihijo my Noble Macaw. Nobles are larger than Hahn's but smaller than severe and RFM.

My Mihijo was my first larger parrot and first mini macaw and he was the perfect fit for me. I am a macaw person through and through but I had to learn that over with experiencing different parrots, learning and research and because of my personality.

To me macaws are easier to keep species because they seem to be to be a heartier parrot. Galah's have extra care involved (they can suffer from anxiety and prone to be overweight so have to watch diet closely and make sure exercise (for that reason I would advise to keep flighted so they can exercise more.))

I cannot tell you how many times I had switched species when I first was getting into parrots and was learning and researching. I think you will know what is a good fit. Why do you feel the Galah is a good fit for you? Think about why you want such a species. Do you or anyone else has asthma? I can no longer consider any dusty parrot because of my severe asthma. At one time the doctor wanted me to place every pet I had and I refused. I said "Help me get my asthma under control because I am not giving up my animals. They are my family."

After all these years I know several things. I can never have a African grey, cockatoo, cockatiel or budgie because they are hard on my asthma. New world birds are better because they don't have the dust. That opened me for macaws, amazons, and pionus. I know there are more but the three I mentioned are my three favorite species.

I grieved that I can no longer have cockatiels anymore. Locksley was my first bird and we had many adventures together. He helped me fall in love with parrots. My best friends cockatiel Sterling passed a couple of months ago and I do hope she eventually gets another so I can at least be around cockatiels I just can't live with them.

If Valentino my RFM is the only parrot I will have I am thankful I chose a macaw. He is as near a perfect fit as I can get. Think about why you are so attracted to the BnG? What is it about each macaw you handled that left such a positive impression on you?

Keep researching and learning, experiencing and asking questions. You seem to of found a good resource to start with. If there is a local bird club check them out. For me mine was instrumental with exposing me to the world of parrots.

There is nothing wrong with liking BnG's even though they are different from Galah's. Think about why you feel this way. In time you will be able to feel more comfortable with why you gravitate and feel positive with certain species.

 

[ParrotsAhoy]

I wanted a cat, I ended up with an Alexandrine parrot. Thats how it works in my family lol. Bird needed me and so I got him

 

[MustLoveAnimals]

When I first got into parrots it was just me and my cockatiel Locksley. I belonged to a local bird club and back then I was exposed to a lot of different species because people use to bring their birds to meetings.

In the process of learning and experiencing I also kept switching species I wanted to have and would learn all I can about the specific species I felt was a good fit.

At one time I felt the Galah would be a good fit. Back then they were three grand and unobtainable for a just graduated student. My graduation present was to be a parrot and I did want the Rose Breasted Cockatoo (called back then) and knew a breeder that had them and would bring the babies to meetings.

My graduation present to myself was Mihijo my Noble Macaw. Nobles are larger than Hahn's but smaller than severe and RFM.

My Mihijo was my first larger parrot and first mini macaw and he was the perfect fit for me. I am a macaw person through and through but I had to learn that over with experiencing different parrots, learning and research and because of my personality.

To me macaws are easier to keep species because they seem to be to be a heartier parrot. Galah's have extra care involved (they can suffer from anxiety and prone to be overweight so have to watch diet closely and make sure exercise (for that reason I would advise to keep flighted so they can exercise more.))

I cannot tell you how many times I had switched species when I first was getting into parrots and was learning and researching. I think you will know what is a good fit. Why do you feel the Galah is a good fit for you? Think about why you want such a species. Do you or anyone else has asthma? I can no longer consider any dusty parrot because of my severe asthma. At one time the doctor wanted me to place every pet I had and I refused. I said "Help me get my asthma under control because I am not giving up my animals. They are my family."

After all these years I know several things. I can never have a African grey, cockatoo, cockatiel or budgie because they are hard on my asthma. New world birds are better because they don't have the dust. That opened me for macaws, amazons, and pionus. I know there are more but the three I mentioned are my three favorite species.

I grieved that I can no longer have cockatiels anymore. Locksley was my first bird and we had many adventures together. He helped me fall in love with parrots. My best friends cockatiel Sterling passed a couple of months ago and I do hope she eventually gets another so I can at least be around cockatiels I just can't live with them.

If Valentino my RFM is the only parrot I will have I am thankful I chose a macaw. He is as near a perfect fit as I can get. Think about why you are so attracted to the BnG? What is it about each macaw you handled that left such a positive impression on you?

Keep researching and learning, experiencing and asking questions. You seem to of found a good resource to start with. If there is a local bird club check them out. For me mine was instrumental with exposing me to the world of parrots.

There is nothing wrong with liking BnG's even though they are different from Galah's. Think about why you feel this way. In time you will be able to feel more comfortable with why you gravitate and feel positive with certain species.

None of us have asthma, but my father is allergic to small mammals. I also own a 'Tiel, and he has shown no sign of being allergic to her. So, I'm assuming he is not allergic to powdery parrots.

I like Galahs because the three I handled were very affectionate, excitable, and easy going. These guys didn't know me, yet, they still wanted to be loved on. There's the Cockatoo showing. I love the idea of a parrot that wants to be rubbed and be near you. Cuddly is a definite plus. Of course, I know that it takes training and socialization for any parrot to love people.

One of the reasons I like Macaws, is because of their large size (I know, that's a terrible reason to get a bird). I've always been so intrigued by large parrots. I've always wanted to own one. After handling some B&Gs, I realized that this could be a good personality fit. I know that Macs are not typically cuddly, but I have handled a few cuddle bugs.

I understand that each parrot is different. All have seperate personalities. Like somebody here stated, I fell in love with a couple of individual parrots. Sadly, I know (after thinking practically) that I cannot bring a Macaw home while I am still living with my parents. Only due to the frequent, extremely loud screaming. I don't think my parents could handle too much of that in a day. I have heard a Galah "scream", and I happen to like it. It's nothing like the Umbrella's scream.

 

[MustLoveAnimals]

This thread has helped me a lot.
I have my eyes on a couple different species, but honestly, my heart could find an entirely different species. I could very well fall in love with a parrot I wasn't considering before. Obviously, research and knowledge of that species is very important. But I will stop thinking so much, and just let my heart decide. There are so many parrots who need loving homes here. I am still in love with Galahs and Macs though.