New Here…Have A Few Questions

[FrankD]

Hi all…I am excited to be here. I am seeing a woman who has an African Grey and I absolutely love him. After doing a lot of research and giving it much consideration, I have decided to bring home my first parrot. Although I am very excited and eager, I want to make sure I make the right decisions for me and parrot both. So, I am hoping to get some feedback from more experience parrot owners on a few questions.

1. I have two children, ages 11 and 9, who live with me part-time. So, I would like a parrot which is a little more tolerable of younger kids and whose bites I won’t have to be as concerned about. But, to be clear, my children are well behaved and will be taught to treat and handle the parrot in the best manner possible.
2. I would like a parrot who is very vocal, very social and will like to hang out with me on the couch..haha
3. Finally, I would like a parrot who will interact well with a different parrot species. Though they would have separate enclosures, there is the possibility of the African Grey being part of my household in the near future.

I know this is asking a lot and that I may not find a parrot that fits all three criteria perfectly, but I figure I can at least ask and get some feedback. I live in a house and have plenty of room for a large enclosure.

By the way, I have read up on the Alexandrine Parakeet and really find them fascinating. Any thoughts from those with experience on this species as to how it with fit the questions above? But, as of now, I am really open to all parrots.

Thanks for reading and thanks in advance for any help you can provide!!

 

[thekarens]

Sun conure

 

[Nathan1]

I definitely wouldn't recommend an African Grey for you, they're known to be one person birds and very possessive. They're not a very good family bird. I'd recommend a cockatiel for children, but I presume that like many you're stuck on a larger species of parrot. In which case, you may want to look into Pionus parrots which are fairly easy going and quiet.

But please remember, visit the bird BEFORE adoption and ask lots of questions! They're all different as individuals, you can't just assume your bird will be a "Typical" bird of their species.

Good luck.

 

[Nathan1]

Sorry, I didn't see that you wanted a vocal parrot...I think you mean a good talker. If so, I'd recommend a Quaker, excellent talkers, lots of fun but they're small birds compared to an alexandrine or african grey.

If you just wanted a really loud parrot(I don't know why) I would recommend a sun conure, very high pitch and loud scream but not much of a talker.

 

[FrankD]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I did mean a loud parrot, but one who vocalizes.

I know that all Parrots are different and it will take a lot of time and effort to build a good relationship.

Let me ask this...I would really like to get two parrots so they can keep each other company. I have a really big house and have a nice spot in the family room for a fairly large cage. Besides Love birds, what parrot that fits is close to what I am looking for above would do well together in an enclosure?

Thanks again...I hope that one day I can return the favor and help someone out who is just learning

 

[Nathan1]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I did mean a loud parrot, but one who vocalizes.

I know that all Parrots are different and it will take a lot of time and effort to build a good relationship.

Let me ask this...I would really like to get two parrots so they can keep each other company. I have a really big house and have a nice spot in the family room for a fairly large cage. Besides Love birds, what parrot that fits is close to what I am looking for above would do well together in an enclosure?

Thanks again...I hope that one day I can return the favor and help someone out who is just learning

Well, most parrots will bond with each other inside a cage and therefore won't be as social/interactive with their human owners. However, caiques are unique, even a bonded pair will remain tame and social with their human owners. For that reason they're commonly kept in pairs. I wouldn't consider them noisy/vocal, but they're capable of loud screams. They're small birds, but larger than cockatiels. While they can definitely draw blood and cause allot of pain, their bites aren't deadly like the larger parrots.

P.S. I don't know why you want a vocal bird, they don't tweet and make songs they SCREAM!..Go to mytoos.com with your speakers all the way up and you'll see what I mean.

 

[Betrisher]

I've got a pair of Alexandrines and they're just gorgeous! They're very active and acrobatic and love to fly, so I have playgyms situated strategically about the house. They're also very clever and learn tricks quickly (Barney learned to open a guillotine door the other day!) One thing they are not is cuddly. They want to spend every moment with me and on me: they play, they do their tricks, they talk - but they utterly hate being touched and will use their big red beaks to prevent it. Don't get me wrong: Barney and Madge don't bite (unless provoked to), but they like their personal space to be respected. Having said all that, though, I love them like babies! They're so very funny and fun to watch and be with!

My kids (both adult now) love the Alexes to bits and always hurry to play with them when they're out of their cage. People say that a pair of birds will not bond well with a human owner. I have found that not to be the case and share very close bonds with the Beaks, who love me dearly. They are company for each other and spend much time mutually preening and muttering to each other (they sound exactly like a pair of old ladies complaining! LOL!) I think Alexandrines are the perfect bird, but I'm biased.

NB. Alexes have very big, very powerful beaks for their size. Their bite is painful! However, so is the bite of a budgie or lovebird or any other bird that gets annoyed with you. A properly socialised bird doesn't bite and will be safe for your kids to interact with.

Forgot to add: Alexandrines are very good talkers (providing you teach them, of course). I love watching people do a double-take when the Beaks tell them 'Hello' in my voice.

 

[RavensGryf]

Sun conure

Just curious why you suggested a Sun Karen? I thought you'd say a Sennie

 

[thekarens]

Sun conure

Just curious why you suggested a Sun Karen? I thought you'd say a Sennie

He said he wanted a very vocal bird, good with kids and cuddly. I think sennies would be good with older kids, but not younger. Sammie is super quiet and she can be pinchy parrot at times

 

[broxi3781]

We have a Quaker. We've only had him 2.5 weeks but he has learned to call us with a clicking noise - and will usually come if make the noise, to say hello and is starting to say "Give Me some" so they can be good talkers. He also seems to love the whole family, although it took him longer to accept me. The children love him. He is so curious and friendly. They aren't very big, but they are like a big parrot in a small package. The only issue I can think of would be time. They do seem to need a lot of time and attention as well as time out to play. This is a very intelligent animal, it needs something to occupy its mind. They are reasonably priced as far as parrots go too. I would recommend hand raised though for a real family pet - but I think this would hold true for any species. Good Luck

 

[bostjan]

We have a CAG (Congo African Grey) and two boys, 11 and 14, and they get along well. Spanky is an avid talker, and is very interactive, but not noisy. Sometimes he does get cranky, though.

Sun Conures tend to be a little more high strung and really squeaky, but they are also really funny and they can also be good talkers.