how reawarding is it having a large parrot

[sgperth12]

I am already in love with the macaw species especially the greenwing I'm pretty obssed with them and I never had one before I'm really looking foward to the day I can actually have one of these birds to myself but how in love are you guys with your birds and how much fun is it actually

 

[Peppo]

Fun is only a small part of it. Parrots are a lot of work. Constant training, cleaning, preparing good food, making toys, finding babysitters... The list goes on. If it was all about fun, which they are a lot of fun, I would have 10 of them.

 

[kendrafitz]

It is super rewarding to have a GW. The affection, love and fun is unbelievable. That being said, the work you need to put in to have a happy and healthy parrot is tenfold.

 

[chris-md]

Interesting take: Rewarding is in the eye of the owner. As mentioned, they are a LOT of work. Having only owned conure in the past, by comparison my eclectus is extremely high maintenance, and I find I'm still emotionally adapting to the amount of work required. for some people, The amount of work required doesn't feel that rewarding; all they see is work.

For others, the warm fuzzies you get in taking wonderful care of a fantastic creature are extremely rewarding.

Me? I'm in between. It's been 5 months and I'm still adjusting. Almost where I need to be emotionally, but a larger parrot has been more daunting than my conure ever was. My Parker has his forever home and his devoted slaves, but it's taken some push to get there.

ITS NOT FOR EVERYONE.

 

[JerseyWendy]

I am already in love with the macaw species especially the greenwing I'm pretty obssed with them and I never had one before I'm really looking foward to the day I can actually have one of these birds to myself but how in love are you guys with your birds and how much fun is it actually

I would highly encourage you to go visit nearby stores. I know you're in North Jersey and somewhat time restricted at the moment due to work schedules, however, make some calls to bird stores to see who currently has some GWs available and go handle them. Better yet, there's an AWESOME rescue not too far (Helping Wings http://www.parrotforums.com/rescue-...ing-wing-rescue-blairstown-nj.html#post533772 ) Why not go pay a visit there?

I wouldn't necessarily call the experience being owned by one of these big clowns 'rewarding'. Much like Chris, I often feel like my birds' slave. :54: I'd probably felt rewarded had I adopted an older/unwanted one, if you know what I mean.

Tell you what: There's never a dull moment in my house. I'm never bored, there are always things to be done (for my gang).

And yes, when either of mine snuggle into my chin or elsewhere, it still gives me massive goosebumps.

 

[Pinkbirdy]

Their everything

 

[Kiwibird]

Most of the time, I adore my bird and he's a fun little guy to have around. Some of the time, I contemplate roasting him for dinner because he's driving me absolutely nuts or bit me. Parrots are a lot like small children- messy, loud, not always well behaved, yet no matter what they do, you still love them and once you have one, can't imagine your life without him/her How much fun can you have? That largely depends on how well you do as a bird carer. A properly socialized, well trained bird is a lot of fun, they want to hang out with you, are generally well behaved, many enjoy going out in public or riding in the car, they put on funny displays for you ect... Birds who have not been well trained or socialized can be perfectly unpleasant to have in a home when they scream, bite, chew up everything, try to attack guests ect..., but that's 150% on the owner if a bird ends up like that.

 

[Roanoke]

Also, just a side note- size isn't everything. The only difference between large and small parrots is size. Of course, this means size of voice, bite, etc. as well!
I've noticed many people act like big birds are more important. Of course, they are a status animal, so they're going to be treated that way.
But never shove the smaller ones to the side! They're just less impressive. That's it, in a nutshell.
Be sure to consider the little guys when looking for a feathered friend!

 

[ToMang07]

They are fun, and rewarding, they are also a lot of work and responsibility. I spent the better part of an hour yesterday just cleaning 1 cage, and vacuuming my room. (Wood chips EVERYWHERE!) And I have another cage and stand downstairs.

 

[brolie]

ive had my umbrella cockatoo for a little over three months now and i cannot imagine my life without her now.... i have a conure and two kids as well, so the extra responsibility isn't a huge difference to me lol... i kind of enjoy making her toys and preparing her little dinner plate every night... she's less picky than my kids! it's nice haha

 

[Birdman666]

It is super rewarding to have a GW. The affection, love and fun is unbelievable. That being said, the work you need to put in to have a happy and healthy parrot is tenfold.

Agreed.

With a bird like a greenwing, or really any big mac, you get out of it what you put into it. Daily Interaction for several hours at a time is NOT OPTIONAL.

They get mad if you lock them up in a cage, and only interact with them when and if you feel like it...

They don't come super bonded. They get that way by working with them. And it's a two way street.

 

[Roanoke]

With a bird [like a greenwing, or really any big mac] you get out of it what you put into it. Daily Interaction for several hours at a time is NOT OPTIONAL.

They get mad if you lock them up in a cage, and only interact with them when and if you feel like it.

They don't come super bonded. They get that way by working with them. And it's a two way street.

This goes for all birds. All animals, you could say. Not just 'Big Macs'.
Just sayin'.

 

[Birdman666]

With a bird [like a greenwing, or really any big mac] you get out of it what you put into it. Daily Interaction for several hours at a time is NOT OPTIONAL.

They get mad if you lock them up in a cage, and only interact with them when and if you feel like it.

They don't come super bonded. They get that way by working with them. And it's a two way street.

This goes for all birds. All animals, you could say. Not just 'Big Macs'.
Just sayin'.

True... BUT...

When a conure gets mad at you, it's a loud noise, and maybe a pin prick or two...

WHEN A GREENWING GETS MAD AT YOU... YOU BEST HOPE THERE'S A COUCH CUSHION OR BIG PILLOW HANDY... AND LOUD IS A RELATIVE CONCEPT. CONURE LOUD IS NOT UNHAPPY MACAW LOUD...

So, yeah, there's that...

 

[Roanoke]

So we shouldn't give conures as much interaction as macaws, just because we can get away with it with all fingers intact?
Mistreat them because we can physically put up with their anger?
This is a messed up world.

 

[Birdman666]

So we shouldn't give conures as much interaction as macaws, just because we can get away with it with all fingers intact?
Mistreat them because we can physically put up with their anger?
This is a messed up world.

That wasn't at all what I was saying...

My conures lived inside my shirt and had their own skateboard park, remember?!

This person was asking about LARGE PARROTS, not smaller ones.

My point was that Large macaws are significantly more DEMANDING about it. Nothing more and nothing less.

Conures are, essentially, just shrunken macaws. They are just as attention oriented.

WITH ANY BIRD (and with most things in life) YOU GET OUT OF IT WHAT YOU PUT INTO IT.

If you look for ways that life sucks (or interpret them that way) you'll usually find it.

But there's beauty too... if you look for that instead.

They're both present every day of our lives. Watch out for one, but appreciate the other.