Eclectus Parrot or African Grey ?

[funkmaster100]

Hello everyone I'm new here and I recently put a down payment on my first life companion . Its a 3 week old African Grey . he or she is due home in July . but recently i've been leaning towards a 4 week old Eclectus female that the breeder has . this is my first bird and would love some insight from the community .

 

[QuackQuack]

What is drawing you to birds? - that might help others help you decide. Do you have any bird experience? If not - skip out on the hand feeding! We love pictures here, so if you have any please post!

 

[MikeyTN]

Eclectus are very diet specific birds, as long as you can meet their diet, it's all good. Of course African Grey needs certain type of food as well. If you have a good breeder, he can give you all the information you need.

African Grey are very dusty birds as Eclectus does not create powder dust but they are messy eaters. Go visit them and see what you think as you are the deciding factor. Good Luck!

 

[funkmaster100]

I have always wanted a parrot but never had the money . my experience with birds is minimal . i currently own a peach faced lovebird that doesn't like me to much . we had him for a few years . i've been working with him recently tho and can get him to step on my finger and perch but he won't take food from me or let me scratch him

 

[QuackQuack]

I wouldn't take the lovebird too personally (some lovebirds don't come around and are better with other lovebirds), but do keep up working with him. If you are looking for a cuddler, I can tell you my grey while very needing of my interaction, did not NEED me to cuddle him. I think Ekkies are more cuddly in that respect. Be sure to quarantine your new bird when you do bring the baby home so no one makes the other sick.

 

[funkmaster100]

quarantining shouldn't be a problem . my only problem is figuring which baby to get if i'm even able to switch my order from the African Grey to the Eclectus . initially i was all about the Greys but for the past few days i've been looking at lots of eclectus parrots and i don't know what to do

 

[cdog]

If you can switch just find a baby that you really connect with.

 

[funkmaster100]

yeah if i'm able to switch i think i'll get the eclectus . their so beautiful . not to say the greys aren't but you can't deny the beauty of the female eclectus . in the beginning i thought i was sold on the beauty and talking ability of the greys .

 

[caliopi]

Do not under estimate the talking ability of the Eckies! Puffin talks and talks....and talks....and talks. In fact one day we were driving from Melbourne to Adelaide ( a ten hour drive) and Puffin talked pretty much most of the way. Now he does love the car but by the time we got to Adelaide he had learnt a new sentence ...."is he ever going to shut up" lol

Seriously I am biased. I love Puffin he is the light of of life. There is just something so incredible when your pet says " good morning, i love you mum, I really,really love you mum" and then "kisses for mum" and when you try and tell him off he says " Hey I am just a little bird" They are just so precious!

 

[mtdoramike]

I agree, Mac has the clearest speach that I have ever heard from a bird. He has a vocabulary of better than 50 words and it continues to grow daily. So be very careful what you say around them.

May I ask, how old you are and do you live alone, or at home, in an apartment or house, how close are your neighbors? Do you have disposable cash for vet bills, toys, food? This is above the cost of the bird or it's cage.

 

[FutureDVM]

I think either one would be a good choice, assuming you have the adequate space, time, and money for a large parrot. The one thing I've heard about female eclectuses is that they can be very moody and hormonal compared to the males. I'm sure they still make wonderful companions, but I've heard that the males are much more calm and less aggressive.

 

[funkmaster100]

I'll be 31 in October . I do not live alone . my family and i live in a 4 bedroom row house . cash isn't disposable but it shouldn't be a problem . i currently have a Lovebird 3 chihuahuas a pit bull a cat and a pico reef tank . i manage everything ok so 1 more mouth and well-being to look after shouldn't be a problem

 

[funkmaster100]

thanks for the insight guys but i just found out someone reserved the eclectus over the weekend guess i'll be just as happy with the Grey

 

[Sulphiria]

I adore our cag, hes so talkative and has such a personality. I do have to say of all the birds, he seems to require the most attention and isnt shy about getting it, lol. I have to admit though, if i had the time and money, eclectus would be one i would love to have too.i think either choice you make is a good one!

 

[Featheredsamurai]

When you bring home the African gray remember to socialize him a ton, and also introduce him to new items every single day. African grays can become highly phobic of new things if not properly socialized.

 

[funkmaster100]

he/she will be well socialized . someone including myself is always at home and i don't plan to keep her caged while i'm home . is it a good idea to place her cage in my bedroom ? if not my living room will do fine .

 

[Sulphiria]

Living room is probably best so they can interact with everyone and pick up words, etc faster. Unless you spend the majority of the day in your room.

 

[funkmaster100]

i am in my room a lot but now i'm thinking cage in the living room and a nice play gym in my room

 

[funkmaster100]

Here's Smokey

 

[Sadie]

awww he is so tiny! very cute!!
love the name smokey