Trying to decide on the best parrot for me. Help ?

[captainsparrow]

Eclectus is my dream bird - They're beautiful, kind, quiet and smart. but I'm just not sure I'm up to the task to taking care of one. I don't want to find myself rehoming a bird just because I wanted to "go on an adventure" and it didn't work out.

BTW, suppose I get an eckie, can it spend the day by itself while I'm at work (circa 11 hours daily except for weekends) without getting depressed (which I understand leads to plucking all sorts of trouble) ?

Captainsparrow, I suggested in an earlier post you consider why you'd like a parrot and what sort of lifestyle you are willing to accept from getting one.

Although others have been polite and helpful, I do not mind stating after reading the two above posts that you should not be considering getting a medium/large parrot.

#1 - If you have any inking or suspicion that you could go off on "some adventure" and have to rehome the parrot, then you are failing to understand the level of commitment you are signing up for here.
- Parrots are lifelong companions
- Making a decision to get a parrot is on a level of deciding to have children or get married - this is not a lark, or something fun. This is a lifelong commitment to an intelligent, emotional companion.

#2 - If you believe you are not up to the "task of taking care of one", then you are not, period. You like your friend's parrot, you like the idea of owning a parrot, but you still have doubts. That is your brain trying to overcome your emotions - you emotionally love the idea of parrot ownership, while your brain is screaming in the background "Don't do it!" Why? Your brain knows better than your heart, and your brain considers all the possible downsides of parrot ownership that your emotions do not.

#3 - Even if the Ekkie is "fine" with being alone for 11 hours a day (or more if you go out for dinner, or have a work or family function, or just want to hang at a friend's place), just because it doesn't self-mutilate doesn't mean it's fine. Due to no choice of its own, you have now made yourself the centre of this bird's world, and it now relies on you for food, cleanliness, and companionship. No, it is not fine. In fact, the only pets I've owned that are good being starved of companionship for 11 hours at time are cats and goldfish.

#4 - Not to mention the special issues Ekkies have. Diet? Fresh food isn't fresh after 11 hours. Pellets are also not advised and can lead to issues like toe-tapping disease. And besides lack of companionship, nutritional issues are suspected to be the number one cause of plucking in Ekkies. Not to mention the Ekkies I've met are notorious screamers when seeking attention, or when they hear people around but aren't getting attention (like in an apartment).

Apologies again, and I hate to be this frank, but your posts make me believe you are not at a stage in life where Parrot ownership is right for you. Based on your preference for an Ekkie, I'm also concerned about the criteria by wich you are matching a parrot to your lifestyle.

Well, you can definitely calm down. I'm afraid you misunderstood some of the things I've written and completely missed a few others. Honestly, It's like you somehow read only every 3rd sentence of what I wrote. I don't mind people being frank (quite the contrary, it's very effective) but I don't appreciate having my words twisted and being vilified for no reason.

Lets start with the basic and obvious - I scratched off Eckies (and all other large/medium birds) in my *very first* post. I'm well aware (does writing in bold somehow make things clearer?) of their special needs and that's why they are not a real possibility. Surly that doesn't mean I can't ask a few side questions about them.

The "adventure" I referred to was taking in a bird I'm not sure 100% I can give a proper home to. Which is another way of saying I'm not going to take in an eckie or any other medium/large bird just for "a lark" as you put it. Quite the opposite.

Now, I'm not going to go into a quote-apalooza just to show all the things you missed or skipped but your whole post is just irrelevant. please read again the things I wrote in their entirety. Also, have some common sense - If I wanted to get a bird on a whim I'd just do it and not come here and ask a whole lot of people a whole bunch of questions.

 

[captainsparrow]

Cockatiels can be awesome but I am not going to lie. They can turn into scary little beasts. I had one when I was young infact ever since I was born. The bird was my moms and it scared me. I got my own when I was in my 20s and the tiel I got was amazing!!!! I had no idea they could be so sweet and fun.

The big down side is the annoying whistle that they do over and over and over and over again. It's not that loud but it is annoying. They also are a bit more messy with all the dander and dusts they give off. SO they are not perfect birds. Just keep an open mind. If you are at the pet store and one picks you consider it. I had a hard time finding good tiels at the stores near me.

I ended up getting a Black capped Conure. I was looking for a green cheek. I did not want to get him because he was WAY over priced. Some how this little nippy baby just seemed to pick us. I felt he was the one. He was there for 5 days and we saw him the last 3 days and took him home that third day. Now we are working on stopping the nipping. OMG so nippy. That's something to consider with a green cheek. They love to use the beak. You have to be brave about it and not let the bites bother you no matter how hard they clamp down. I found Domestic Green cheeks or Morphs like pineapples to be more gentle and less nippy. My little guy is very confident and I liked that he adjusts well. But since he is so confident he likes to let me know what he really thinks.

Well now I feel a bit better about not getting excited about tiels

I actually read all your posts about that conure and watched the videos. I really felt your pain for not getting him for 200$ but even for the steeper price he totally seems worth it. So feisty and excited about you guys.
I'll take the nipping issue into account. My friend has a GCC and he's very nippy too though some of it can be attributed to his breeder. It seems he gets a bit too "hands on" with his birds The little guy is terrified of human fingers touching his wings which makes harness-training extra-hard.

 

[snowflake311]

I am so excited I got this bird. The first night I was not sure I got cold feet and thought maybe he was too much money and maybe he was too nippy. He was worth the extra money for sure I see that now.

I dont think green cheeks are the best first time bird in general some can be for sure. My friend has one that is so gentle never bites and is friendly she got lucky. Its her first bird. These little birds are messy! I have to clean his cage everyday. The poops are big and messy too. These guys are easy to potty train.

Just go out to stores meet birds and wait for the bird to find you. That's the best way to do it I think. Have you looked at parrotlet? I almost got one they are so cute and smart.

Good luck. Can't wait to see what you get.

Cockatiels can be awesome but I am not going to lie. They can turn into scary little beasts. I had one when I was young infact ever since I was born. The bird was my moms and it scared me. I got my own when I was in my 20s and the tiel I got was amazing!!!! I had no idea they could be so sweet and fun.

The big down side is the annoying whistle that they do over and over and over and over again. It's not that loud but it is annoying. They also are a bit more messy with all the dander and dusts they give off. SO they are not perfect birds. Just keep an open mind. If you are at the pet store and one picks you consider it. I had a hard time finding good tiels at the stores near me.

I ended up getting a Black capped Conure. I was looking for a green cheek. I did not want to get him because he was WAY over priced. Some how this little nippy baby just seemed to pick us. I felt he was the one. He was there for 5 days and we saw him the last 3 days and took him home that third day. Now we are working on stopping the nipping. OMG so nippy. That's something to consider with a green cheek. They love to use the beak. You have to be brave about it and not let the bites bother you no matter how hard they clamp down. I found Domestic Green cheeks or Morphs like pineapples to be more gentle and less nippy. My little guy is very confident and I liked that he adjusts well. But since he is so confident he likes to let me know what he really thinks.

Well now I feel a bit better about not getting excited about tiels

I actually read all your posts about that conure and watched the videos. I really felt your pain for not getting him for 200$ but even for the steeper price he totally seems worth it. So feisty and excited about you guys.
I'll take the nipping issue into account. My friend has a GCC and he's very nippy too though some of it can be attributed to his breeder. It seems he gets a bit too "hands on" with his birds The little guy is terrified of human fingers touching his wings which makes harness-training extra-hard.