Hardest types of parrots to handle

[Billy29]

What are the hardest species of parrots to train and handle and could be the most dangerous?

 

[Featheredsamurai]

I would have to say a sexually mature/going through puberty male Moluccan or male umbrella. But their is a lot of variation, some U2 and M2's are super sweet, and any species can be very difficult if not raised right.

 

[DallyTsuka]

THIS individual




danger: looks so cute, but can leave nasty bite wounds


on a more serious note (i'm joking around above) yes mollucan and umbrella too males can be very unpredictable and dangerous when hormonal. any bird can be dangerous potentially, as all birds bite, but the ones with the tendency to be moody and the ones with the larger beaks tend to be the ones with more danger potential. but, its also an individual thing lol

 

[Betrisher]

I've always said I'd rather be bitten by a Sulphur Crested Cockatoo than by a Budgie. It's the choice between crushing or piercing, I reckon. I'd rather be crushed than pierced... Having said that, though, the worst bite I've ever had was from Barney, my male Alexandrine. I had to grab him to get him out of a tight situation and he nearly removed my finger for me! I've been bitten by a frightened wild SC2 before and it was *nothing* compared to Barney's bite. Happily, Barney doesn't bite any more and we are best mates.

I do think it all depends on whether the bite is from fear or anger or whatever, and especially how impassioned the biter is as he's biting.

 

[Pajarita]

Male wild-caught amazons used for breeding or abused male senegals (it takes years and years for them to 'calm' down)

 

[MikeyTN]

My worst bite came from a Cockatoo where he bit me to the bones and I had a large gash opening that needed stitches....

 

[getwozzy]

I've always said I'd rather be bitten by a Sulphur Crested Cockatoo than by a Budgie.

LOL!! I agree!!! Quigley landed a good bite on the fatty part of my palm and I thought I was gonna die!! Lol Jackie's bites were way easier to cope with.

 

[MonicaMc]

I was thinking of the hardest species to keep within captivity... or at least to keep alive....

Red Bellied Macaw
Kea
Blue Crowned Hanging Parrot



Speaking of common species kept within captivity... erm... usually cockatoos and amazons.

 

[DallyTsuka]

black collared lovebird is another one that doesnt survive in captivity as well, i believe

 

[BillsBirds]

I have scars on my hands from my 'too, but, lately I have a nippy little parrotlet that makes us jump a mile high when he grabs us with that needlenosed pliers beak! I agree that 'toos can be the worst. Once I was bitten by a Scarlet Macaw, and it felt like my hand was caught in a car door.

 

[GinaF]

The worst bite i ever took came from a cockatoo. First an Umbrella and then an M2.
Ouch! ouch! ouch!
I whimpered for days.

 

[Pinkbirdy]

THIS individual




danger: looks so cute, but can leave nasty bite wounds


on a more serious note (i'm joking around above) yes mollucan and umbrella too males can be very unpredictable and dangerous when hormonal. any bird can be dangerous potentially, as all birds bite, but the ones with the tendency to be moody and the ones with the larger beaks tend to be the ones with more danger potential. but, its also an individual thing lol

Im sorry im Laughing so hard !!! But your so dead on with this. Here Im sure hes expecting someone with a big beak . [still smirking ]

 

[faeryphoebe1]

^ Dally Tsuka's post had me ROFL as well. I can totally relate, lol.

 

[mtdoramike]

I agree with the M2, I have seen someone's eye brow removed by one. But Beak for Beak, I would still say I would HATE to be bitten by a Greenwing Macaw, my bird groomer had the tip of her index finger removed by a Macaw while grooming him. Nasty, Nasty wound and took months to fully heal up and crushed the bone. No, you would not rather have a crushing bite than a piercing bite. A piercing bite will heal up and not be nearly as sore as a bruising crushing bite. I have had both and would rather have a piercing bite everyday and twice on Sunday than a crushing bite.

 

[ShellyBorg]

You are so right Mike! A cut will heal fast, I have had a couple deep bruises in the past form birds and they take forever to heal.

 

[ann]

I would second the M2 and U2 or large macaw. Although I was never bitten by one, I expect to because I plan to work with rescues in the future. I am trying to "prepare myself" for worse bites so I can go into rescue with more confidence. So far, the worst have been from various Amazon's and small cockatoos, and it hurts, but I have gotten used to it. Honestly though, the bites that make me want to scream are from green cheek conures and a hahns macaw.

 

[MenomaMinx]

That's easy enough – preowned parrots!

You're usually stuck with no history, no clue what the first person or persons did right wrong or indifferent with the bird, and some less reputable people will gloss over known problems with the bird just to secure a new home for the bird.

There are so many damaged psyches out there, and you're going to have to decode every single element that the bird is going to try to communicate as to what went wrong so you can make it right.

Statistically speaking, the dumping grounds are usually filled with cockatoos, macaws, timeh African grays(to a much lesser extent Congo African grays, although still represented numbers), Amazons, cockatiels, parakeets, and the occasional eclectis or pionus.

I can explain the cockatoo situation, but somebody already did it better



All About Cockatoos - MyToos.com

That website should be mandatory reading for anyone considering a cockatoo. Misunderstand me not, I even have an actual favorite breed of cockatoo {bare eyed cockatoos}, and I would gladly welcome one of those to my home. The reason I would do so however, is because I'm educated about the species. Deliberately ignorant bird owners cost birds homes :-(

As to the macaws, the actual behaviors specific to the species and then subdivided by subspecies and hybrids – well, it's a hot mess to put it mildly. Getting any information at all that's actually useful has to be compiled from message boards like this one and weighed against multiple postings of the exact same behavior in order to decide whether or not it's typical. I actually became frustrated enough as a new macaw owner to compile my own list. It's still a work in progress, but the fact remains that I had to do it means that no one else did it or else I would've been able to find it all in one place.

In any case, much like the cockatoos, macaws are extraordinarily emotionally high maintenance birds. You get a little more wiggle room for major long-term bird interaction mistakes with macaws, but not by much if you don't make corrections.

I really can't figure out what the hell is going on with the African grey owners out there. I'm referring to the irresponsible idiots I've come in person contact with since my own bird was murdered. Their excuses often express knowing the exact right thing to do, and then not doing it--WTF!

Amazons are subject to lack of full disclosure, which is a major problem with a lot of parrot species at time of original sale. Because when they're overly excited, they can become hormonal and their ability to reason goes to hell for a few minutes, the idiot that just overexcited the bird has no idea why their fingers are bloody and the bird( whose since calmed down) has no idea why the human is mad at it. That's the worst case scenario. Mostly people are just treating cheaper birds disposable, which brings me to.....

...... wait for it.....

Cockatiels and budgies

Other than allergies(something to consider with cockatiels), there is absolutely no other rational reason someone should be dumping these birds. There considered so disposable that they don't even require a license to own in the US, despite almost every other parrot species requiring one.

And let's not forget the other factor involved – time – as in the human has/makes less time for the bird, which can also lead to disastrous emotional instability to the point of self-mutilation.

There is a reason of a lot of the birds in rescues are plucked nearly naked, and it's not because they're looking for a career in softcore porn.......


As somebody already mentioned, if you're going to go species specific,Keas-- and add most of the cockatoos, all of the Vassas, those tiny bee winged whatever you call them(can't even keep them in a regular cage, but require a large flight aviary), and that's not a complete list – just off the top my head.

 

[thekarens]

I'm biased because I've never met a zon that liked me, but I have been bitten by them. The worst was a yna.

 

[Billy29]

So far my ysa is a cup cake. He gets excited to see me and wants to come out all the time.

 

[Thatdude596]

I would second the M2 and U2 or large macaw. Although I was never bitten by one, I expect to because I plan to work with rescues in the future. I am trying to "prepare myself" for worse bites so I can go into rescue with more confidence. So far, the worst have been from various Amazon's and small cockatoos, and it hurts, but I have gotten used to it. Honestly though, the bites that make me want to scream are from green cheek conures and a hahns macaw.

Were you serious about the gcc and hahns?

I haven't been really bitten remotely hard to break skin or even say ouch but I'm guessing the bigger the beak the more its gonna hurt. My mother in laws umb2 and gwm have serious beaks on them so I stay away! Heck the afg makes me timid to get close to him!