We are considering an Alex

[Kyoto]

Hello everyone,
Hubby and I are becoming increasingly interested in getting a second birdie. We have been checking around the pet stores and handling some different species. The one species we have both really enjoyed was a little male Alexandrine! We were wondering what other peoples' experience with Alex parrots are like

Specifically, noise level, temperment, and neediness.

Thanks!

 

[Betrisher]

I LOVE my Beaks! Of course, the first reason I got them was their utter gorgeousness and greenness (my favourite colour), but they have turned out to be intelligent, loving, inventive and hilarious. And greedy. Which makes it very easy to teach them to do tricks, because they'll do utterly anything for a sunflower seed or a bit of peanut butter. They love to fly and so I have perches installed at strategic places in the house. They also love to bathe and some of our funniest times have involved the squirt bottle I use to mist them. Their favourite thing to do, though, is to chew things. They don't have that enormous red beak for nothin'! Therefore, most of our recycling waste goes to the Beaks so they can turn it into confetti. I also spend a fair amount of time finding them timber to chomp on, mostly Australian native timbers like eucalyptus and bottlebrush.

Having said all that, though, I'd have to say the Beaks are quite noisy. Because of space restrictions they have to live outdoors and therefore spend a lot of time flock-calling to the native lorikeets that fly overhead. This can be deafening. (NB. I don't mind it one bit, but sometimes visitors find it a bit... wearing... LOL!) I'd say they're pretty needy as well, but that's only because of their intelligence. You just need to stay a jump ahead of them with interesting and absorbing toys. One last factor is that my Beaks absolutely loathe being touched on their bodies. This means they don't 'snuggle' the way many birds do with their owners. Again, this doesn't worry me. My Beaks love me to bits and all they want to do is sit on my shoulder and appreciate me. They're extremely affectionate and so it never occurs to me to feel deprived of the 'snuggle factor'.

Of course, this is simply my own experience with my Beaks and other Alex owners may have a different story to tell. I've kept many different species and I have to say that my Alexes and my dear old Galah have been the most fun (aside from the mice I used to keep, but that's a different kettle of fish). If you do decide to get an Alex, I doubt you'd be sorry: their beauty alone makes them an outstanding choice!

 

[SilverSage]

One of my dear friends breeds several asiatic species including Alex. She loves them, they melt her heart, she is obsessed. I have interacted with her flock and find the. Fascinating. The one thing she says though is that when they bluff they bluff much harder and longer than the IRNs. So just ask yourself if you can handle a period of extreme biting. If not, perhaps look into adopting an adult Alex instead. Also, I second the thing about the noise. Her birds yell...in English! Except the one who she adopted from a couple that only spoke Japanese...I never have any idea what he is saying! They are majestic birds, but they are nothing like a conure. Also, please make sure to interact with an adult specimen before adopting one. Buying any parrot after only meeting babies is often a recipe for heartbreak.

 

[Bundiibird]

I would have to agree with everything Trish has said. Bundii loves to fly, bathe, chew, be loud, chew, preen, chew, be loud. Get the picture. . She loves to be loud and to chew on stuff. She always has to have some thing to occupy her by way of chewing or destroying stuff.

She also does not like to be touched too much however she will let my husband do most things to her. He is her favourite. She loves to bathe in her water bowl and just loves standing under the shower letting the water just run over her. It's quite funny to watch.

She certainly has a different personally to my Amazon. And as Trish mentions she is very green.

 

[Kyoto]

Thanks for all of the replies everyone,
We are in no rush, and not completely set on an alex yet, just taking our time and doing some research and trying to handle other birds as much as possible.

As far as bluffing goes, I can tolerate it... hubby I am not so certain about. He is very intelligent but ever since we played with an amazon about 4 months ago he really thinks he wants a bigger bird I'm more thinking medium sized myself, and something a little less hyperactive than a conure since she already keeps me on my toes. He won't go for a cockatiel (WHICH I KNOW IF HE GAVE IT A CHANCE HE'D LOVE IT) and I can't figure out why! We played with a really sweet one that cuddled right up to me and he really wasn't into it.

I would personally not get another baby, simply because I want our next bird to be an adoptee rather than a newborn. I'm going to be dealing with puberty with Kyo (we are probably going to wait until after this happens) so we are thinking something already a bit set in their ways would be best.

The space is somewhat of an issue for now. When the cats are gone we can open up the entire entrance level and upstairs level for birds, but for now Kyo is in one room (unless the cats are safely locked in the basement when dad isn't around that is ), so I think this alone might not allow us a larger bird. I wouldn't want to limit a bird that needs tons of room and make it unhappy.

Hubby THINKS he wants a grey, and I've had him out with me to see some in a pet store last week and the Alex was out of his cage. He was not eager to step up, but he didn't show any aggression, unlike like the grey... and the illigers macaw (which I secretly think is adorable but she terrifies me at the same time) ... and the big blue and gold macaw did. I know for sure big macaws are out of the question for us, as I simply couldn't get over the fear of that HUGE snapper.

I think we can tolerate a louder bird than Kyo, but probably not cockatoo or macaw loud. Well, I could tolerate it but I don't think hubby could (hence why I'm trying to keep his mind off a grey).

So, in an ideal situation (which I realize would never happen) the second bird would;
-Be mature
-Medium sized
-Calm
-Medium noise level
-only moderately nippy (heh I know...)
-doesn't need to be cuddly
-slightly independent
-would potentially tolerate Kyo under supervision /Kyo could tolerate them under supervision. They don't have to love each other, would just like them to respect each other if possible
-Chatty like Kyo! Interested in learning some phrases and tricks.

(anyone else see how well a cockatiel fits this description?! Hubby won't hear it though )

Anyone have any other good ideas of species to look into? We have all the time in the world.

 

[itchyfeet]

Quaker? One of the bigger conures?

 

[RavensGryf]

I think you're describing a Pionus .

Big enough to catch your husband's interest lol, and very independent. Of course ANY bird can be conditioned to be needy, but Pionus by nature are much more independent than a conure or macaw. Raven, and another Pi I used to have, as well as others I've heard of, are fine with ambient attention, and don't ask for direct attention all the time.

They're not a hyperactive species. Pionus love toys and love to play, but overall they are calm, not hyper and all over the place. They like to sit and observe their environment and watch closely first instead of diving head first into the middle of things like a conure might.

Some Pionus don't mind touching, but generally speaking they're not a cuddle species so as to not take a bunch of time away from Kyo's cuddling time lol .

They're not too loud. Probably louder than Kyoto (I can't recall what a GCC sounds like off hand) but not real loud as compared to their body size if that makes sense.

They are not prone to being excessive biters, and they are known for usually displaying obvious body language before striking. Raven bites, but that's because he's going through his first hormones and is extremely territorial, and also seeing what he can get away with since he's a teenager.

There are several types available as pets, and although none of the Pionus are really common, you do see them in ads and for adoption from time to time. By judging between Raven (male) and a female I used to have, and by most other owners accounts, females generally will make a more laid back and even tempered pet even after maturity. The males are fine, but just like the related Amazon males you just have to know about their tendencies and give them their space.

 

[Kyoto]

Quaker? One of the bigger conures?

We met a lot of quakers, and the only one that really felt like a "we could take her home and love her" was not for sale.

The others were screaming at us the whole time for being near them haha. I don't think a quaker is quite what we are looking for.

As for a larger conure, I would love that, but again another needy conure might really make my little princess Kyo jealous... but it will really depend on the individual too!

I have a feeling it will be a matter of we just happen one day to meet the one, regardless of what species it happens to be. I'm in no rush at least :3

 

[Betrisher]

Get a Galah! They fit your bill entirely, except that they're quite the little snugglers if they're taught to do so young enough. (My Dominic was a neglect victim and so is not very snuggly with me). Galahs will call in the mornings and evenings as a matter of course, but only briefly and not with the ear-splitting volume the Alexandrines are capable of. If they want your attention, they'll call 'p'snip! P'SNIP!' until you give it, but that's not an awful call and it doesn't really carry much. Best of all, though, Galahs are HILARIOUSLY funny. They have the Eye of Cuteness in abundance and will express their Great Affection for you by fluffing up their feathers, raising their hat and simply begging you to scratch their little pink heads. Honestly, you wouldn't be sorry with a Galah. You'd be happy as - well - a Galah!

 

[SilverSage]

I also think you should investigate the Pionus! Great birdies! Also, lol, you mentioned fearing macaw beaks... Did you notice that the Alex beak is nearly as big?

Plus I'm biased toward Pionus...

It sounds to me like honestly any one of several species could be your next bird, but that perhaps what you need is to find just the right INDIVIDUAL hiding in craigslist or at a rescue or something