Wannabe Parrot Owner

[barett]

So I will be becoming a Parrot owner within a year, but I have questions. I would like a parrot that doesn't live forever (100 years), one that is able to live either alone or with one other parrot easily, one that is able to talk, mediumish, colourful. I would not like to spend much more than 1000 dollars in Canada.

 

[Allee]

Hello and Welcome to the forums!

Most of us want our parrots to live forever or at least a hundred years. Seriously though, the lifespan of many species is sadly much shorter than a century.

[ame=http://askville.amazon.com/average-life-span-parrot/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=6986772]What is the average life span of a parrot?[/ame]

Most parrot species have the ability to talk, some species are more likely to talk than others, but there is no guarantee that any parrot will talk. African greys are popular for their speaking abilities, so are amazons, eclectus, quakers, budgies and many more. Wether or not your bird talks usually depends on the individual bird and it's training.

 

[LeaKP]

All pets are "for life" and that's a huge commitment. They generally live longer than dogs and sometimes longer than people. Very broadly speaking, the larger the parrot, the longer the lifespan. Of course that's a HUGE generalization.

I have had medium to large birds and loved them deeply and have also had smaller ones. They are all fabulous and they all need attention. My GCC can take a day or two with only a couple of hours a day out of the cage but then gets antsy. He likes to be out and about which he usually is most mornings and then all evening until we go to bed.

Hope you find the best bird for you!

 

[barett]

Thanks for the replies. I am thinking a conure.

 

[EAI]

Conures aren't the best talkers if they do talk at all. But as Allee has mentioned, it depends on the individual and how much training they receive.

I'm not sure on the regulations in Canada, but maybe a Lorikeet?

When you say $1,000, are you referring to the cost of the bird itself or the overall cost of the parrot AND supplies? Parrots (at any size) aren't that cheap, even little parakeets can rack up to $200 and upwards!

 

[barett]

I do love the lorikeets. I am saying around 1000 for the bird itself. I dont want to go too crazy knowing me ill blow that budget for sure. Which is also ok. I pretend to make a budget sometimes. I am ok with a bird that doesn't talk. The little lady wants a talker. See my quandary. I'm a teacher. So I research until I know I made an informed decision. So thank you for assisting me.

 

[thekarens]

Male poicephalus are often talkers. I have two sennies and The male is quite the talker. My female also says a few words. If I wanted a conure that talked I'd go with a blue crowned. Quakes are known to be good talkers.

Be aware though that even the species that don't live as long as say amazons often live 30 years or more.

 

[Roanoke]

Welcome! You'll find the forums quite useful.
Though they aren't the most colorful, you should do some research on Quakers.
Apparently they're very fond of talking, more so than conures (My GCC can talk up a storm when he's in the mood. Not very clearly though)
Good luck!

 

[veimar]

I wrote to this forum a day before "rescuing" our first ever parrot, a green cheek conure, from a local chain pet store. He is my sweetheart, and I got 5 more birds since then!
I really recommend a green cheek as a starter bird - they are fun, intelligent, very active, easygoing (not all, but probably most) and yes, they live only up to about 25-30 years (which breaks my heart).

 

[thekarens]

Though you can get quakers in blue and yellow now along with dilute colors.

 

[barett]

I love the conures but id like something slightly bigger.

 

[barett]

Ok ive researched hard core and figured a Senegal is a great choice.

 

[weco]

If you truly have researched them and feel you are ready to own a sennie, you're the only person who can really make that decision.....

If you're ready and have the means to properly care for one, go get one.....good luck.....

 

[barett]

So in my research and great information. I have narrowed it down to a Senegal or an African Grey. They seem the most timid and easy to care for. Thoughts?

 

[Amanda_Bennett]

I've never had a senigal, but I did have an african grey. I'm not sure "timid" or "easy to care for" are terms I would use for ANY parrot, but maybe someone more experienced will chime in.

 

[thekarens]

Shy and slow to trust is more the words I would use.

 

[barett]

Even the hand raised ones.

 

[thekarens]

They may love and trust you, but if you don't well socialize them they tend not to trust others and new people and things tend to scare them. You just have to make sure they are exposed to a lot of different people and things right from the get go. My sennies tend to startle much easier than my mac.

 

[barett]

Oh ok...ya we will make sure they are well socialized for sure. We have a bird babysitter here and she will be over to visit often.

 

[EAI]

I wouldn't use the term "easy" in terms of caring for parrots, but that's only in my opinion.
Both are more prone to being on the neurotic side and can be scared easily and can suspect subtle changes in their environments.
Senegals are highly known as one-person birds and can get very aggressive towards other people and animals because of that. So it is really crucial to have them socialized at a young age so they don't develop that type of behavior. They also go through a nippy stage where they bite and twist (or what I've heard) which looks and hears extremely painful because of their large beak-to-body ratio. However, as of now, I'd prefer that over the razor blade type of beak an African Grey has.
Which sub-species of African Grey's are you thinking about? There's the Timneh, the smaller, and Congo.