Hi, I just joined in hopes of getting some advice about what kind of bird we should get, if any at all. I know that each bird will have his/her own personality, but any species-specific advice at all would be appreciated! 
At first I had my heart set on an Eclectus- I did do my research, and a few years ago I even went and put a downpayment on a little SI girl. However, the breeder didn't have any girls at the time and then she got sick and... well, long story, but I never got the baby or my deposit back. I was pretty disheartened and gave up looking for a while.
Now I'm considering again. The main thing is, I want to be sure that whichever bird I get, I can make sure that it is happy.
I went to a small breeder to look at Red-sided Eclectus last week, and met a Ducorps cockatoo for the first time, too, as well as a Congo Grey. The baby Grey and the Ducorps were very sweet and outgoing- it was so cute how the Grey would seek scratches from anyone who would walk by, and the Ducorps seemed to love everyone as well, happily going from one person to another. The Eclectus were a little more shy with us as expected.
Our living situation is that my boyfriend and I own a small architectural design company, and ideally the bird would come to the office with us in the daytime. The plus side is that he/she would very rarely be left alone, and would always have people around. But we do not have a very steady schedule, so I am afraid that this is the main issue. Sometimes we go home at 5 pm, other times we work until 10 pm. Our office is relatively quiet (in terms of people- just a few employees and clients) and ideally, our parrot could keep screaming to a minimum. I am aware that all birds can be noisy, and moderate noise is fine. Just hoping to avoid ear-piercing, constant shrieks for the sanity of our staff.
I am also hoping to get a bird that isn't a "one-person bird", since my boyfriend and I will both be caring for him/her. I would be the primary caretaker, but since I am not in my home country now, I do need a bird who will not fall apart when I go home to renew visa/visit parents/etc. for about two or three weeks every year.
Basically, I guess I would like an intelligent, mellow bird who can be reasonably tolerant of change and go with the flow (i.e. not be prone to attack staff and clients, haha... yes, I know this is more a training issue than species). I am told a Grey is not a good idea. Dietary needs and cost are not an issue. Though far from wealthy, we have considered what it would take in material terms to raise a happy baby. I'm only concerned if we might be a good fit.
Thank you for reading, any advice at all would be appreciated! I'm going to try to cross-post in the Eclectus and Cockatoo forums.
At first I had my heart set on an Eclectus- I did do my research, and a few years ago I even went and put a downpayment on a little SI girl. However, the breeder didn't have any girls at the time and then she got sick and... well, long story, but I never got the baby or my deposit back. I was pretty disheartened and gave up looking for a while.
Now I'm considering again
. The main thing is, I want to be sure that whichever bird I get, I can make sure that it is happy. I went to a small breeder to look at Red-sided Eclectus last week, and met a Ducorps cockatoo for the first time, too, as well as a Congo Grey. The baby Grey and the Ducorps were very sweet and outgoing- it was so cute how the Grey would seek scratches from anyone who would walk by, and the Ducorps seemed to love everyone as well, happily going from one person to another. The Eclectus were a little more shy with us as expected.
Our living situation is that my boyfriend and I own a small architectural design company, and ideally the bird would come to the office with us in the daytime. The plus side is that he/she would very rarely be left alone, and would always have people around. But we do not have a very steady schedule, so I am afraid that this is the main issue. Sometimes we go home at 5 pm, other times we work until 10 pm. Our office is relatively quiet (in terms of people- just a few employees and clients) and ideally, our parrot could keep screaming to a minimum. I am aware that all birds can be noisy, and moderate noise is fine. Just hoping to avoid ear-piercing, constant shrieks for the sanity of our staff.
I am also hoping to get a bird that isn't a "one-person bird", since my boyfriend and I will both be caring for him/her. I would be the primary caretaker, but since I am not in my home country now, I do need a bird who will not fall apart when I go home to renew visa/visit parents/etc. for about two or three weeks every year.
Basically, I guess I would like an intelligent, mellow bird who can be reasonably tolerant of change and go with the flow (i.e. not be prone to attack staff and clients, haha... yes, I know this is more a training issue than species). I am told a Grey is not a good idea. Dietary needs and cost are not an issue. Though far from wealthy, we have considered what it would take in material terms to raise a happy baby. I'm only concerned if we might be a good fit.
Thank you for reading, any advice at all would be appreciated! I'm going to try to cross-post in the Eclectus and Cockatoo forums.
